About the ride from Koh Yao Noi to Phuket
Phuket has everything you could possibly want from a tropical island; stellar beaches, waterfalls, rainforest, upmarket spas and sophisticated nightlife. It's a great place to base yourself if you want to explore the dive sites of Thailand’s Andaman Coast including the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Koh Lanta and Koh Phi Phi. Phuket Town is an interesting place for a wander, and, if you visit the island during the world-famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival you can expect singing, dancing, fireworks and fabulous food.
Whether you’re returning to civilization after a break on idyllic Koh Yao Noi or heading to Phuket for the first time, this 35 KM ride is a mere 30 minutes by high-speed ferry, or slightly longer by speedboat. Boats leave several times during the day from Manoh Pier in the south of the island and arrive at Bang Rong on Phuket.
When you arrive at Bang Rong you might want to linger - the picturesque fishing community is surrounded by mangrove forests and has some good seafood restaurants. Or, if you're catching a flight from Phuket, Bookaway offers a combined ticket that includes the 30-minute taxi ride to the airport.
If you’re planning the next leg of your journey, Phuket has an international airport with flights to Bangkok and cities outside Thailand including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Beijing and Dubai. You can also take a ferry from Phuket to other islands in Phang Nga Bay, including the Phi Phi Islands and Koh Yao Yai.
What you’ll see when traveling from Koh Yao Noi to Phuket
This is a short but sweet boat ride across gorgeous Phang Nga Bay. If you’re taking the ferry, you’ll want to be on the sundeck!
How to get from Koh Yao Noi to Phuket
By high-speed ferry
The high-speed ferry is a small, modern ferry with seats in an air-conditioned cabin. There’s also a sun deck if you want to enjoy the view on the way.
Have your passport to hand as you may need it when you check in. Ferries can sometimes be unreliable, especially during stormy weather. If your boat is cancelled, you’ll be able to obtain a refund or wait for the next one.
If you’re flying out of Phuket, you might want to consider a combination ticket, which includes the ride from your hotel to the pier on Koh Yao Noi, the ferry crossing and onward transportation to Phuket International Airport.
By speedboat
Speedboats leave every day at 1130 and 1520. They’re slower than the high-speed ferry and have covered seating. Given that the scenery on this journey is gorgeous you might want to take a slower boat anyway. However, if you're pregnant or have back problems you might want to choose a less bumpy option.