Koh Kood vs Koh Yao Noi

See how these destinations compare for your trip.

Choose two different destinations to compare.

Not sure where to go? Find my destination

A wooden pier stretches over clear turquoise water at Koh Kood
Koh Kood island
Aerial view of the green island of Koh Yao Noi
Koh Yao Noi island
Quick verdict
Why choose Koh Kood

A stronger beach offering

Clear water and attractive sandy coves make Koh Kood one of Thailand’s strongest choices for a quiet beach stay.

Why choose Koh Yao Noi

More cultural experiences

Fishing villages and community-based activities make everyday island life part of the visitor experience. Another assessed advantage: a broader food offering.

Koh Kood and Koh Yao Noi in Thailand Dots show representative locations, rather than destination boundaries. Koh Yao Noi Koh Kood

Side by side

What feels different

Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.

Koh Kood Factor Koh Yao Noi

Why we rate Koh Kood 9/10

Clear water and attractive sandy coves make Koh Kood one of Thailand’s strongest choices for a quiet beach stay.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 6/10

The island has sandy and rocky shorelines, but its appeal is broader than a classic white-sand beach holiday.

What we assess

Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.

Why we rate Koh Kood 8/10

Palm-lined bays, jungle and waterfalls give the island a lush, unhurried setting.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 9/10

The island’s green interior and views across Phang Nga Bay are a defining part of the stay.

What we assess

The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.

Why we rate Koh Kood 3/10

Fishing villages and temples offer a glimpse of local island life, though major cultural attractions are few.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 7/10

Fishing villages and community-based activities make everyday island life part of the visitor experience.

What we assess

The variety, depth and practical access to historic places, temples, architecture, traditions and cultural experiences during a typical stay.

Why we rate Koh Kood 5/10

Resort restaurants and a few village spots provide satisfying Thai and seafood meals, with limited choice between bases.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 7/10

Local seafood and village restaurants offer a satisfying island food experience, with fewer choices than a large resort centre.

What we assess

Food quality, variety, distinctive local cooking and how readily visitors can find good places to eat, regardless of price.

Why we rate Koh Kood 2/10

Evenings are mostly quiet, with drinks at accommodation and a small number of low-key bars.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 2/10

Evenings are generally quiet, with dining and relaxed resort settings rather than a developed bar scene.

What we assess

The choice, variety and liveliness of evening venues, their opening hours and how easily you can enjoy a typical night out.

Why we rate Koh Kood 9/10

A relaxed pace and low-key development make quiet beach stays the norm, especially away from the main piers.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 9/10

A peaceful atmosphere and community-oriented tourism are central to the island’s character.

What we assess

How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.

Why we rate Koh Kood 6/10

Snorkelling trips and nearby-island outings are available, but services are less frequent and varied than at larger hubs.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 7/10

Boat connections and organized bay excursions make nearby islands accessible, with schedules and conditions to check locally.

What we assess

The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.

Why we rate Koh Kood 4/10

Transfers and organised trips can cover key outings, but the island’s dispersed beaches and limited public transport reduce flexibility.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 4/10

Walking works around some village and beach bases; longer outings need a planned taxi, transfer, bicycle or tour.

What we assess

Freedom to explore without renting a scooter, using walking, public transport, taxis, tuk-tuks, ride-hailing or boats; transport price is assessed separately.

Why we rate Koh Kood 5/10

Simple stays exist, but boat transfers, limited transport and resort-based meals can make a modest trip harder to keep cheap.

Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 6/10

Local stays and meals offer accessible choices, while boat transfers and higher-end resorts create a wide cost range.

What we assess

How easily you can enjoy a typical stay on a modest budget, including simple accommodation, food, realistic transport and characteristic activities.

Scores out of 10 · Higher means more of that characteristic About these scores

How to read the scale
Scores run from 0 to 10 and describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic.

Higher does not always mean better
A higher nightlife score means a livelier scene. A higher quietness score means a calmer atmosphere. The right balance depends on your trip.

Close scores mean similar experiences
Small differences should not decide your trip on their own.

Koh Kood

Choose Koh Kood if...

  • You want clear-water beaches and a peaceful place to slow down.
  • You want waterfall and forest outings alongside relaxed beach days.
  • You prefer quiet evenings and a small-scale island stay over busy nightlife.

The trade-off

Beaches and restaurants are scattered, and transport choices are limited. Staying away from the main services can mean relying more on your accommodation for meals, rides and excursions.

Koh Yao Noi

Choose Koh Yao Noi if...

  • You want a quiet island base with bay scenery and a slower pace than Phuket or Ao Nang.
  • You are interested in local village life, fishing and community-based activities.
  • You are comfortable arranging boat transfers and rides around the island.

The trade-off

The island is quieter and less built up than major resort centres, so transport, evening plans and some services need more advance thought.

Plan your trip

When to go

See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.

Selected month comparison for Koh Kood and Koh Yao Noi
FactorKoh KoodKoh Yao Noi
Average daytime high 32°C 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 51 mm 50 mm
Rainy days 4.9 5.6
Crowds High High
Stay prices High High
Sea conditions Calm Calm
Average daytime high 32°C 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 82 mm 24 mm
Rainy days 7.4 3.4
Crowds High High
Stay prices High High
Sea conditions Calm Calm
Average daytime high 33°C 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 140 mm 81 mm
Rainy days 12.6 7.5
Crowds High High
Stay prices High High
Sea conditions Calm Calm
Average daytime high 33°C 34°C
Monthly Rainfall 196 mm 135 mm
Rainy days 14.9 11.7
Crowds Moderate Moderate
Stay prices Typical Typical
Sea conditions Calm Variable
Average daytime high 33°C 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 420 mm 237 mm
Rainy days 21.9 18.9
Crowds Low Low
Stay prices Low Low
Sea conditions Variable Rough
Average daytime high 32°C 33°C
Monthly Rainfall 777 mm 249 mm
Rainy days 25.4 18.6
Crowds Low Low
Stay prices Low Low
Sea conditions Rough Rough
Average daytime high 31°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 1024 mm 240 mm
Rainy days 26.6 19.1
Crowds Low Low
Stay prices Low Low
Sea conditions Rough Rough
Average daytime high 31°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 970 mm 309 mm
Rainy days 27 19.5
Crowds Low Low
Stay prices Low Low
Sea conditions Rough Rough
Average daytime high 31°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 816 mm 350 mm
Rainy days 24.8 21.7
Crowds Low Low
Stay prices Low Low
Sea conditions Rough Rough
Average daytime high 32°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 338 mm 336 mm
Rainy days 21.3 22.7
Crowds Moderate Low
Stay prices Typical Low
Sea conditions Variable Rough
Average daytime high 33°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 85 mm 178 mm
Rainy days 9.1 15.9
Crowds High Moderate
Stay prices High Typical
Sea conditions Calm Variable
Average daytime high 32°C 32°C
Monthly Rainfall 28 mm 82 mm
Rainy days 3.5 10.3
Crowds High High
Stay prices High High
Sea conditions Calm Calm
Monthly conditions for Koh Kood and Koh Yao Noi
DestinationJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Average daytime high
Koh Kood
32°C
32°C
33°C
33°C
33°C
32°C
31°C
31°C
31°C
32°C
33°C
32°C
Koh Yao Noi
33°C
34°C
34°C
34°C
33°C
33°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
32°C
Monthly Rainfall
Koh Kood
51 mm
82 mm
140 mm
196 mm
420 mm
777 mm
1024 mm
970 mm
816 mm
338 mm
85 mm
28 mm
Koh Yao Noi
50 mm
24 mm
81 mm
135 mm
237 mm
249 mm
240 mm
309 mm
350 mm
336 mm
178 mm
82 mm
Rainy days
Koh Kood 4.9 7.4 12.6 14.9 21.9 25.4 26.6 27 24.8 21.3 9.1 3.5
Koh Yao Noi 5.6 3.4 7.5 11.7 18.9 18.6 19.1 19.5 21.7 22.7 15.9 10.3
Crowds
Koh Kood High High High Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Moderate High High
Koh Yao Noi High High High Moderate Low Low Low Low Low Low Moderate High
Stay prices
Koh Kood High High High Typical Low Low Low Low Low Typical High High
Koh Yao Noi High High High Typical Low Low Low Low Low Low Typical High
Sea conditions
Koh Kood Calm Calm Calm Calm Variable Rough Rough Rough Rough Variable Calm Calm
Koh Yao Noi Calm Calm Calm Variable Rough Rough Rough Rough Rough Rough Variable Calm

Temperatures are historical average daytime highs, not the highest temperatures you might experience. Rainfall and rainy days are monthly averages, not a forecast. A rainy day need not mean rain all day.

Stay prices are relative to each destination’s usual rates. Holidays can bring extra crowds and higher prices. Sea conditions vary by beach and day; check local conditions before boat trips.

Koh Kood: Thai Meteorological Department — TRAT, 1991–2020.

Koh Yao Noi: Thai Meteorological Department — PHUKET, 1991–2020.