Laem Had Beach - Ko Yao Yai - Phuket Thailand

Thailand is full of jaw-dropping gorgeous islands, there are over 300 islands in Thailand.

Ko Yao Noi remains a beautiful island, where most people still believe that the island should be preserved from human degradation. It is often described as one of the last islands in the region to not be overly developed.

Ko Yao Yai is also a natural beauty, remaining the least developed of the two islands. Ko Yao Yai is significantly larger than Ko Yao Noi due to a lack of infrastructure in some areas of the island. This Thai island offers peace and quiet (which is becoming harder to find in Thailand these days). Its name translates to ‘big long island, although I think it should translate to ‘big long do nothing and relax in paradise island’

Sea Gypsies (Moken people) were inhabiting the Bay before anybody else, except maybe other nomadic people like forest hunters and collectors. The 3,500 or so inhabitants of Koh Yao Noi are thought to be recent migrants from the Malay Peninsula (Satun, Trang).

Numerous cave paintings hidden in the many islands of the bay, extending from 2000 years ago to last century, attest the influence of distinct communities in the emergence of a mixed origin population, living now in the provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Satun.

The most recent migrations (17th-18th century) from Satun and Trang to Ko Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi is attested by the fact that the particular dialect spoken on the island still bear obvious Malaysian lexical traces, particularly regarding toponyms and vernacular names of the flora species.

The main industries on the island are fishing and rubber planting. A little rice farming and some fruit, palm and coconut plantations are evident. Boat building and farming techniques here have been passed from father to son and, while some of the youngsters leave Ko Yao to seek the bright lights of Phuket, most return to their tight knit community.

Being one of the biggest islands in the Phang Nga Bay archipelago, Ko Yao Noi is home to a hospital, several schools and a post office. 24 hour electricity supply, Internet access, mobile telephone connection and Automatic Teller Machine are available.
The population of Ko Yao is predominately Muslim, so alcohol is only available in resort bars and restaurants, save for a shop just south of the market on Ko Yao Noi, where they have spirits, beers, and wine coolers.
As with Ko Yao Noi the most efficient way to get from the Chonglad Pier to any accommodation is to make use of the tuk-tuk’s that will be waiting on your arrival. Charges are typically 300B.
Once at your accommodation most larger resorts will have motorcycles or bicycles for rent. Due to the terrain on Ko Yao Yai it may be wise to hire a automatic scooter for traveling longer distances (meaning > 10km) and having bicycles for use when traveling in a close proximity.

You can also walk along the roads and either flag down a ute taxi or try to get a lift from the locals. Ko Yao Yai, like Ko Yao Noi is a very safe island and vehicles rarely travel above 50 km/h, so hitch-hiking is not exactly a dangerous pursuit here.