Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai sit in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, halfway between Phuket and Krabi, yet they feel a world apart from either. These two laid-back islands are ringed by quiet beaches, mangrove channels and shallow, sheltered anchorages that stay calm for most of the year. That makes them one of the best short-cruising destinations near Phuket: close enough for a relaxed day charter, scenic enough to justify an overnight under the karsts. This guide covers the best routes, what to see, when to go, how a day charter compares with an overnight trip, and roughly what it costs to charter a yacht or catamaran to the Koh Yao islands.
Why cruise the Koh Yao islands by private yacht
The Koh Yao islands lie inside Phang Nga Bay, screened from the open Andaman by Phuket to the west and the mainland to the east. The water here is calm and shallow, with none of the swell you meet on offshore passages, so even guests who normally feel queasy on boats tend to be comfortable. The short hop from northern Phuket also means more time at anchor and less time underway.
A private charter lets you reach the quiet eastern and southern bays that day-tour fleets skip. You set the pace: anchor off a near-empty beach, drift through the mangroves by tender or paddleboard, or push on to a fishing village for lunch. Catamarans are especially popular here because their shallow draft lets them tuck into bays the bigger monohulls cannot, while their wide, stable decks suit a slow day of swimming and sunbathing.
For couples and families who want comfort over speed, a crewed motor yacht adds an air-conditioned saloon, a proper galley and shaded aft decks, turning the cruise into a floating retreat between Phuket and Krabi.
Koh Yao Noi vs Koh Yao Yai
Koh Yao Noi is the smaller, more developed of the two, with a cluster of low-key resorts, beach cafes and the long, shallow sweep of Tha Khao and Klong Jak beaches on its east coast. From a yacht it is the easier island to combine with a beach landing, a village stop and a sunset at anchor.
Koh Yao Yai is larger, quieter and more rural, with rubber plantations, fishing communities and long stretches of undeveloped shoreline. Its western and southern bays make calm overnight anchorages, and the channel between the two islands is a sheltered playground for swimming and watersports.
Most charters take in both: a daytime stop on the busier Koh Yao Noi side and a quiet night anchored off Koh Yao Yai, with the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay as a backdrop in every direction.
Day charter vs overnight
A full-day charter, typically eight to nine hours from a northern Phuket marina, is enough to cross to the islands, anchor for a swim and lunch, land on a quiet beach and explore a bay or two before heading back. It is the most popular format and the best value for a first visit.
An overnight charter changes the trip entirely. You anchor in a sheltered bay after the day boats have gone, watch the sun drop behind the karsts, and have the morning water almost to yourself. Because the Koh Yao islands sit between Phuket and Krabi, an overnight also makes it easy to fold in nearby Koh Hong, the Phang Nga sea caves or the islands toward Krabi on the same loop.
Many guests book a one- or two-night Koh Yao cruise as a relaxed alternative to a multi-day liveaboard, especially families and couples who want calm water, comfort and scenery rather than serious diving.
Suggested routes
Classic islands loop (day trip): depart from Ao Po Grand Marina or Yacht Haven on northern Phuket, cross to the channel between Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai for a swim and watersports, land on a quiet beach for lunch, then return with a second swim stop on the way back.
Koh Yao overnight (one night): the same start, then anchor off the sheltered side of Koh Yao Yai for the night with paddleboarding and a sunset on deck, returning the next afternoon via a beach landing on Koh Yao Noi.
Bay explorer (overnight, two nights): combine the Koh Yao islands with Koh Hong and the Phang Nga sea caves, canoeing into the hongs at the right tide and anchoring in a different bay each night — a route best arranged on a private charter where you control the timetable.
Best time to go
The Koh Yao islands are sheltered enough to cruise comfortably for most of the year. The main high season runs from November to April, with the clearest skies and calmest conditions from December to March, when light winds make the anchorages especially settled.
The southwest monsoon, roughly May to October, brings more rain and afternoon wind. The bay around the islands usually stays workable on calmer days, but squalls are common and the crossing from Phuket can get choppy, so flexible timing helps.
If your trip also involves offshore diving, note that the Similan Islands and the national-park dive season runs only from about 15 October to 15 May, when the marine park is open. Cruising the Koh Yao islands, by contrast, is not tied to those park dates and can be enjoyed year-round in suitable weather.
Combining Koh Yao with Andaman diving
Like the rest of Phang Nga Bay, the Koh Yao islands are a sheltered cruising and beach destination rather than a serious dive area. The water is calm and great for swimming and snorkelling around the fringing shallows, but guests after world-class reefs usually pair a Koh Yao cruise with a separate trip to the offshore sites.
The standout offshore dive is Richelieu Rock (5–35 m, intermediate to advanced), famous for seasonal whale-shark and manta sightings and best from February to April. The Koh Bon and Koh Tachai pinnacles (advanced, to roughly 40–45 m) are other Similan-area highlights, reached by liveaboard or long day boat during the open-sea season.
For an easier introduction closer to the bay, the Boonsung Wreck off Khao Lak (13–20 m, beginner to intermediate) is a gentle reef-and-wreck dive. These sites all require the open-sea season and a dedicated dive trip, unlike the all-weather calm of the Koh Yao anchorages.
How much does it cost
Prices vary with the size and style of boat, the season and the length of the day, so treat the following as realistic retail starting points for a private charter rather than fixed quotes.
A sailing catamaran for a full-day Koh Yao charter typically starts from around 20,000–40,000 THB for the whole boat, which makes it strong value for a family or small group. A larger luxury or sport catamaran for a full day generally starts from roughly 60,000–90,000 THB.
Crewed motor yachts run higher: a classic or mid-size motor yacht for a full day usually starts from about 40,000–60,000 THB, while premium flybridge yachts begin higher again. Overnight charters are priced per night and include crew; the final figure depends on cabins, catering and route, so we quote each itinerary individually.
Featured vessels for this trip
Estrella · Leopard 43
Blue Wings · Lagoon 440
Bon Voyage · Voyage 500
Grand Banks 53ft "Sambuca"
Mami Wata · Halvorsen 1954Frequently asked questions
Where are the Koh Yao islands and how far are they from Phuket?
Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai lie in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket and Krabi. From the northern Phuket marinas they are a short, sheltered crossing of roughly an hour by yacht or catamaran, which leaves plenty of time at anchor on a day trip.
Do I need to be a diver to enjoy a Koh Yao charter?
No. The Koh Yao islands are a cruising, beach and swimming destination, not a dive site. Most guests come for the calm anchorages, quiet beaches, snorkelling in the shallows and watersports. Serious diving happens at separate offshore sites such as Richelieu Rock.
Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai — which should I visit?
Most charters take in both. Koh Yao Noi is smaller and more developed, with easy beach landings and a few cafes; Koh Yao Yai is larger, quieter and more rural with calm overnight anchorages. The sheltered channel between them is ideal for swimming and watersports.
Is a Koh Yao cruise suitable for families and non-swimmers?
Very much so. The water is calm and sheltered, the crossing is short, and yachts and catamarans offer shaded space and easy swim access. That makes the Koh Yao islands popular with families, couples and older guests who want scenery and comfort over open-sea passages.
Day trip or overnight — which is better for Koh Yao?
A full day covers the main beaches, a swim stop and lunch on board and is the best value for a first visit. An overnight charter lets you enjoy the anchorages after the day boats leave, watch the sunset among the karsts and easily fold in nearby Koh Hong or the Phang Nga sea caves.
How much does a Koh Yao yacht charter cost?
As a guide, a sailing catamaran for a full day starts from roughly 20,000–40,000 THB for the whole boat, larger luxury catamarans from about 60,000–90,000 THB, and crewed motor yachts from around 40,000 THB upward. Overnight rates are quoted per itinerary, depending on cabins, catering and route.