Southern Thailand · island
Koh Yao Yai
Coastal scenery, unhurried island days and a choice of resort bases in Phang Nga Bay.
Where in Thailand
The feel of the place
A quiet island stay with village life and substantial resort options.
Koh Yao Yai combines quiet coastal stays and village outings with several substantial resorts. Choose your base carefully: the island is spread out, and beach character changes with location and tide. Boat arrival, on-island transport and excursion arrangements are separate parts of the stay.
Keep in mind
The island is dispersed, beaches are tide-sensitive, and a resort transfer does not provide effortless transport everywhere else.
Get to know Koh Yao Yai
What is Koh Yao Yai like?
Our editorial assessments · Select a factor to see how we scored this place.
Why we rate Koh Yao Yai 7/10
Several appealing beach bases and Laem Had provide strong coastal appeal, with substantial tidal and location differences.
What we assess
Beach appeal, convenient access and variety during a beach-focused stay, within the destination itself.
Why we rate Koh Yao Yai 8/10
Green island landscapes, coastal views and the Laem Had sandbar provide a strong natural setting.
What we assess
The visual impact of natural surroundings and how central those landscapes are to a typical stay.
Why we rate Koh Yao Yai 5/10
Village and fishing-community outings offer worthwhile local context, with less depth of major heritage sights than cultural cities.
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 Yai 6/10
Village food and several resort restaurants provide useful choice, though dining is dispersed rather than concentrated in a large town.
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 Yai 2/10
Resort bars and quiet coastal evenings are available, with few late-night options beyond the main resort venues.
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 Yai 9/10
Quiet coastal stays and an unhurried village setting are central to the island experience, with local variation around piers and resorts.
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 Yai 8/10
Arranged trips reach nearby islands and Phang Nga Bay, with weather, group size and the chosen base affecting convenience.
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 Yai 6/10
A chosen resort base works with arranged transfers and taxis; exploring the spread-out island requires planning and extra rides.
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 Yai 6/10
Simple bungalows and village food are available, but the smaller budget selection and boat or road transfers add costs.
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 characteristicAbout these scores
How to read the scale
Scores describe how strongly a destination offers each characteristic. They are editorial assessments, not visitor ratings.
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.
Plan your trip
When to go
See how temperature, rainfall and travel conditions change through the year. Select a month to focus on your travel dates.
| Factor | Koh Yao Yai |
|---|---|
| Average daytime high | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 50 mm |
| Rainy days | 5.6 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Calm |
| Average daytime high | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 24 mm |
| Rainy days | 3.4 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Calm |
| Average daytime high | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 81 mm |
| Rainy days | 7.5 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Calm |
| Average daytime high | 34°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 135 mm |
| Rainy days | 11.7 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Variable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 237 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.9 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Variable |
| Average daytime high | 33°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 249 mm |
| Rainy days | 18.6 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Rough |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 240 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.1 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Rough |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 309 mm |
| Rainy days | 19.5 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Rough |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 350 mm |
| Rainy days | 21.7 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Rough |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 336 mm |
| Rainy days | 22.7 |
| Crowds | Low |
| Stay prices | Low |
| Sea conditions | Rough |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 178 mm |
| Rainy days | 15.9 |
| Crowds | Moderate |
| Stay prices | Typical |
| Sea conditions | Variable |
| Average daytime high | 32°C |
| Monthly Rainfall | 82 mm |
| Rainy days | 10.3 |
| Crowds | High |
| Stay prices | High |
| Sea conditions | Calm |
| Destination | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average daytime high | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Yai |
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 Yao Yai |
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 Yao Yai | 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 Yao Yai | High | High | High | Moderate | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Moderate | High |
| Stay prices | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Yai | High | High | High | Typical | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Low | Typical | High |
| Sea conditions | ||||||||||||
| Koh Yao Yai | Calm | Calm | Calm | Variable | Variable | 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 Yao Yai: Thai Meteorological Department - PHUKET (48564), 1991-2020.
The practical side
Getting to and around Koh Yao Yai
Arriving
Arrive by boat from a mainland pier, with some resorts offering scheduled transfers linked to airport pickups. Confirm the specific pier, last boat and weather arrangements with the operator.
Without a scooter
A chosen resort base works with arranged transfers and taxis; exploring the spread-out island requires planning and extra rides.
Before you decide
How does Koh Yao Yai compare?
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Copyright of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
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