Koh Yao Noi vs Ubon Ratchathani
See how these destinations compare for your trip.
Choose two different destinations to compare.
Not sure where to go? Find my destination
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
More island-hopping options
Boat connections and organized bay excursions make nearby islands accessible, with schedules and conditions to check locally. Another assessed advantage: a stronger beach offering.
Easier exploring without a scooter
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport. Another assessed advantage: a livelier nightlife scene.
Side by side
What feels different
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored each place.
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.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
This inland city has no sea-beach offering; riverfront areas are a different experience.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
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.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 4/10
Riverfront and temple settings add interest, but the dramatic Mekong landscapes require longer provincial journeys.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Koh Yao Noi 7/10
Fishing villages and community-based activities make everyday island life part of the visitor experience.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
City temples and candle-making traditions provide strong Isaan cultural interest, with the festival adding a seasonal highlight.
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 Yao Noi 7/10
Local seafood and village restaurants offer a satisfying island food experience, with fewer choices than a large resort centre.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Isaan, Vietnamese-influenced and Chinese-Thai food gives independent city dining strong variety and character.
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 Yao Noi 2/10
Evenings are generally quiet, with dining and relaxed resort settings rather than a developed bar scene.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 6/10
Local pubs, clubs and riverside bars provide worthwhile evening choice beyond food markets.
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 Yao Noi 9/10
A peaceful atmosphere and community-oriented tourism are central to the island’s character.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 5/10
Quieter hotel areas are available, but the normal stay is in a working regional city with busy roads and evening venues.
What we assess
How easily you can enjoy a peaceful stay, considering traffic, nightlife noise, crowds and practical quieter bases.
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.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 0/10
Ubon is inland and has no practical sea-island excursions.
What we assess
The variety of worthwhile sea-island trips, convenient departures, journey times and flexibility under normal operating conditions.
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.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 7/10
Airport, rail and local rides make a city stay workable without riding; dispersed sights and distant outings need transport.
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 Yao Noi 6/10
Local stays and meals offer accessible choices, while boat transfers and higher-end resorts create a wide cost range.
Why we rate Ubon Ratchathani 8/10
Simple rooms and local meals suit modest budgets, with private transport for provincial sightseeing the main extra expense.
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 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.
Ubon Ratchathani
Choose Ubon Ratchathani if...
- Wat Phrathat Nong Bua
- Thung Si Mueang and city cultural life
- Isaan food and seasonal Candle Festival traditions
The trade-off
City sights are dispersed, and the best-known provincial nature attractions are not close to every city hotel.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus your comparison.
| Factor | Koh Yao Noi | Ubon Ratchathani |
|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 50 mm | 3 mm |
| Rainy days | 5.6 | 0.6 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Calm | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 24 mm | 11 mm |
| Rainy days | 3.4 | 1.4 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Calm | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 36°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 81 mm | 29 mm |
| Rainy days | 7.5 | 3.7 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Calm | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 34°C | 37°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 135 mm | 83 mm |
| Rainy days | 11.7 | 6.5 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Variable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 35°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 237 mm | 223 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.9 | 14.8 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 249 mm | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.6 | 16.7 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 240 mm | 294 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.1 | 19 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 309 mm | 291 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.5 | 20.6 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 350 mm | 314 mm |
| Rainy days | 21.7 | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 336 mm | 112 mm |
| Rainy days | 22.7 | 9.9 |
| Crowds | Low | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Low | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Rough | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 178 mm | 22 mm |
| Rainy days | 15.9 | 2.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate | Unknown |
| Stay prices | Typical | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Variable | Not applicable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C | 31°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 82 mm | 5 mm |
| Rainy days | 10.3 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | High | Unknown |
| Stay prices | High | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | Calm | Not applicable |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| 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
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
32°C
|
34°C
|
36°C
|
37°C
|
35°C
|
34°C
|
33°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
32°C
|
31°C
|
| Monthly Rainfall | ||||||||||||
| 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
|
| Ubon Ratchathani |
3 mm
|
11 mm
|
29 mm
|
83 mm
|
223 mm
|
237 mm
|
294 mm
|
291 mm
|
314 mm
|
112 mm
|
22 mm
|
5 mm
|
| Rainy days | ||||||||||||
| 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 |
| Ubon Ratchathani | 0.6 | 1.4 | 3.7 | 6.5 | 14.8 | 16.7 | 19 | 20.6 | 19.1 | 9.9 | 2.9 | 0.8 |
| Crowds | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Noi | High | High | High | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Noi | High | High | High | Typical | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Typical | High |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Noi | Calm | Calm | Calm | Variable | Rough | Rough | Rough | Rough | Rough | Rough | Variable | Calm |
| Ubon Ratchathani | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable | Not applicable |
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 Yao Noi: Thai Meteorological Department — PHUKET, 1991–2020.
Ubon Ratchathani: Thai Meteorological Department - UBON RATCHATHANI (48407), 1991-2020.
Keep exploring
Considering somewhere else?
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)