Where should I stay on Koh Tao for a diving course?

Sairee Beach. Most dive schools are based there, many bundle accommodation with courses, and being able to roll from bed to briefing to boat is exactly the convenience you want mid-course.

Which part of Koh Tao is best for non-divers?

Chalok and the southern bays for calm swimming and an easy pace, or an east-coast cove like Tanote if snorkelling is your thing — some of the island's best reef sits within fin-kick of the beach.

Is Koh Tao good for families?

Yes, with the right base. Chalok Baan Kao and Shark Bay offer sheltered, shallow water and a quieter scene than Sairee. Just note the island is hilly and taxis are pricey, so pick a bay you're happy to mostly stay in.

Do I need a scooter on Koh Tao?

Not if you stay on the west side — Sairee and Mae Haad connect by an easy flat walk. For the east and south coasts you'll want wheels or boat rides, but be honest about your riding: Koh Tao's hills are steep and its roads unforgiving for beginners.

Where to Stay on Koh Yao Noi: The Quiet Island in Phang Nga Bay

A working island, not a resort strip

Koh Yao Noi lies in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, with Phuket to the west and Krabi to the east, and it has resisted becoming either. Most people here fish or farm rubber, the island is predominantly Muslim, and there is no bar street, no fire show and very little to do after nine in the evening.

Limestone karsts across Phang Nga Bay at first light

That is the point of it. What you get instead is a quiet road through rice fields and rubber plantations, water buffalo standing in the wet season paddies, and a horizon full of the limestone towers that everyone else pays for a day trip to see. Dress modestly away from the beach, and expect alcohol to be available in tourist places rather than everywhere.

Transport

Tickets & connections

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Tours & activities

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Quick guide

Where to base yourself

Hat Pasai — the main beach, small resorts and restaurants
Klong Jark — quieter, some of the best places to stay
Tha Khao — the fishing village, boats to Krabi, local life
Inland — homestays and rice fields, cheapest and most local
Koh Yao Yai — the bigger neighbour, quieter still

The east coast: where the views are

Almost all the accommodation is strung along the east coast, facing the bay and the sunrise. Tha Khao in the north is the old fishing village and the arrival point for boats from Krabi; Hat Pasai in the middle is the most popular stretch of sand, with a handful of small resorts and beach restaurants.

Klong Jark further south is quieter again, with a couple of the island's nicer places to stay and a genuinely undisturbed beach. Anywhere along here you wake to karst islands out of your window, which is what people come for.

Good to know

Before you book

The beaches are very tidal. A pool matters more here than on most islands.
This is a Muslim island: cover shoulders and knees away from the beach.
There is almost no nightlife. That is the reason to come, not an oversight.
Rent a scooter or a bicycle — the island is small, flat in places and made for it.

The tide is part of the deal

Koh Yao Noi's beaches are shallow and heavily tidal. At low water the sea can retreat several hundred metres and leave flats you walk out across; a few hours later it is back. If you want to swim on demand, book somewhere with a pool, and check the tide before you plan a beach afternoon.

This is not a flaw so much as the character of a bay island. The trade-off is that the water inside Phang Nga Bay is sheltered — calmer and more usable in the monsoon months than the open west coast of Phuket, and perfect for kayaking out among the limestone.

Frequently asked questions

Is Koh Yao Noi worth visiting?

If you want Phang Nga Bay without Phuket's traffic or Krabi's crowds, very much so. If you want nightlife or a long swimming beach, choose elsewhere.

Can you swim on Koh Yao Noi?

Yes, but around the tide. The east coast beaches go far out at low water, so most visitors swim at high tide or use a hotel pool.

How do you get to Koh Yao Noi?

By boat from Bang Rong pier on Phuket, about half an hour, or from the Krabi side near Ao Thalane. Both run several times a day.

Is alcohol available on Koh Yao Noi?

In tourist restaurants and resorts, yes. It is a Muslim island, so it is not sold everywhere and there is no bar scene.

Where to stay on Koh Yao Noi