22 March 2008

Phang Nga - Ko Yao Yai


Ko Yao covers an area of 137 square kilometres. The majority of the population are Muslim. The island is made up of 2 large islands: Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai.
Attractions on Ko Yao Noi include:

Hat Pa Sai, situated 7 kilometres from the District Office on Ko Yao Noi. This white sandy beach is covered with shady trees. From Hat Pa Sai, a scenic view of the islands of Krabi province can be seen in the distance.

Hat Tha Kao,situated 5 kilometres from the District Office on Ko Yao Noi. The beach features boulders, rocks, and pebbles of various shapes, size, and coloration. During the low tide, you can walk to another small island nearby.

Attractions on Ko Yao Yai include:

Ao Ti Kut, located at Ko Yao Yai. This bay has a white sandy beach. To the north of the bay, there is a beautiful rocky cape with a beach lined with pine trees.

Ao Klong Son offers a beach of fine, white sand and shady pine trees. On the left end of the beach is a colourful rock formation with equally beautiful multi-coloured pebbles. Swimming and snorkelling to see beautiful coral is recommended.

Ao Hin Kong, situated on Ko Yao Yai. It is a shady beach lined with Cotyletobium trees. This bay is home to young rays, which makes it unsuitable for swimming. Ao Hin Kong is also a habitat of Muslims who earn their living from fishing.

Ao Lan, the bay offers a beautiful beach, ideal for swimming. To the north, there is a cape which has a steep cliff and at the base of the cliff, the water is quite deep. Boat riding is the most convenient mode of transport to get there.

Ao Sai is blessed with powdery white sand. The bay also has beautiful rock formations. Swimming can be enjoyed.

Hat Lo Pa Raet features a long stretch of a white sandy beach teeming with groves of coconut trees. To the north of the bay is a cape with a beautiful rock formation and the water around the cape is suitable for swimming.

Laem Nok Ok, located on Ko Yao Yai. The beach here has rock formations and pebbles of many colours. Swimming is recommended.

How to Get There

Travelling to Ko Yao can be made from Phuket, Phang-nga, and Krabi, but the most convenient route of all is from Phuket.

To get to Ko Yao Noi, visitors can take a ferry departing from Phukets Bang Rong Pier at 11 a.m., 12 noon, 1 p.m. 2.30 p.m. and 5 p.m. On return, the ferry departs from Ko Yao Noi at 7 a.m. and 7.30 a.m. One-way fare is 40 baht. The trip takes 45 minutes. A chartered long-tail boat costs 1,000 baht per trip.

Travelling to Ko Yao Yai,visitors need to ride a ferry from Phukets Thian Sin Pier. The ferry leaves the pier at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. On return, the ferry departs from Ko Yao Yais Lo Chak pier at 12 noon. The trip takes an hour. One-way fare is 50 baht.

There are also long-tail boat shuttle services between Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai. The trip takes 10 minutes.

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