Journey with JunyuanThailandAsia
Koh Yao Noi was my final stop in Thailand — and, unexpectedly, the one that stayed with me the longest. After the beaches of Phuket and the wide-open calm of Koh Lanta, this quiet island felt like a gentle exhale. Life there moves slowly, landscapes remain largely untouched, and the absence of crowds gives you space to really be.
This Koh Yao Noi itinerary shows how I spent my time on the island, exploring its peaceful beaches, quiet villages, and untouched nature. If you’re planning a longer trip through the Andaman Sea islands, Koh Yao Noi fits beautifully into a broader Thailand travel route, and for me, it was the most grounding, soul-soothing leg of the journey.
Getting to Koh Yao Noi is wonderfully straightforward from Phuket, as it’s just a 30-minute speedboat ride from Bang Rong Pier, with frequent departures throughout the day. I travelled from Koh Lanta, which took around 2 hours by speedboat — and luckily, with calm sea conditions, the crossing was smooth and enjoyable. The tickets can be booked easily through 12Go Asia.
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Private infinity pool at Purana
I stayed at Purana Resort Koh Yao Noi, and it was — without exaggeration — one of my most memorable hotel stays ever. Perched on the quieter west side of the island, Purana looks out over Phang Nga Bay, where limestone karsts rise from the sea and sunsets feel almost unreal. From the moment I arrived, everything about the place invited stillness. 🍃
There was a small mix-up with my booking at first, but they handled it with such generosity that it turned into an unexpected highlight of my stay. For my first night, they upgraded me to their hilltop pool villa, and I was genuinely speechless upon seeing the infinity pool that overlooked the inlets of Phang Nga Bay. The experience was made even more special with a floating breakfast served in the pool that morning.
For the following two nights, I moved into a 'smaller' Seabreeze Pool Villa — smaller only in name — it was still spacious, beautiful, and just as peaceful. Each morning, I woke after the deepest sleep, pulled back the curtains, and watched the colours change in the sky. With the resort nestled high in the jungle, there was no traffic noise at all — just birds calling, squirrels rustling, and the soft hum of insects.
What truly elevated the experience, though, were the people. The staff treated every guest like family — warm, thoughtful, and genuinely attentive. They went out of their way to make sure I was comfortable, offering complimentary transport to and from the port. Purana felt like the perfect place to end a trip — the kind of stay that makes you cancel plans, slow down, and simply sit with the light as it shifts across the landscape. 🤍
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Koh Hong view point
One highlight of my stay was a full-day private longtail boat trip hopping through the islands between Koh Yao Noi and Krabi. Purana organised the trip for me including a beautiful (and generously sized) lunch box and even a bamboo picnic mat!
I visited islands like Koh Hong and Koh Lao Lading, alongside several smaller islands scattered between towering limestone cliffs. Certain destinations, like Koh Hong and its blue lagoon, receive a lot of day-trippers from Krabi, and can be very packed on the beach. But the scenery overall was dramatic and surreal, especially if you climb up the viewing point at Koh Hong, which offered a 360 panoramic view over the Andaman Sea. Throughout the trip, we passed dramatic rock formations rising from turquoise water and stopped at calm, white-sand beaches along the way.
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Low tide beach overlooking the limestone inlets
Koh Yao Noi is small enough to explore in a single day, and while a motorbike would have been easy, I loved discovering the island by mountain bike — one that Purana Resort kindly provided for free. I crossed from west to east over the island’s mountain spine (a very spicy climb followed by a blissful descent), then looped around the flatter southern coast. Along the way, I passed tiny villages, open rice fields, pockets of jungle, and long stretches where I didn’t encounter another soul. The east coast of Koh Yao Noi is dotted with calm, shallow beaches like Pasai Beach and Klong Jark, perfect for swimming, sunrise walks, and launching a kayak straight into Phang Nga Bay. Around Tha Khao and Manoh Pier, mangroves and sheltered inlets make for peaceful kayaking, while scenic viewpoints near An Pao and Klong Jark offer beautiful panoramas. I spotted water buffalo grazing, cranes standing still in the shallows, and was constantly reminded just how rural and quietly magical this island feels.
As I went around the island one small detail stayed with me: no one locked their motorbikes or bicycles. It sounds simple, but it spoke volumes about the safety, trust, and sense of community on the island. 🫶🏻
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Blue Lagoon
Koh Yao Noi was a beautiful way to slow everything down at the end of my trip — a place to breathe and recharge, but still offered plenty of opportunities for exploration. Its quiet roads, stunning views, and gentle rhythm made it the kind of island that stays with you long after you leave. If you’re planning your own route through southern Thailand, Koh Yao Noi slots perfectly into a relaxed Andaman Sea journey. You can see how I tied it together with Phuket and Koh Lanta in my 2-week Thailand itinerary.
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