Distance 19 km (11.9 miles) | |
Price range US$ 10-US$ 403 | |
Ride Duration Range 20m-2h 30m | |
Earliest Departure 23:30 | |
Latest Departure 23:30 | |
Most Popular Operator |
Find up-to-date information on departure times, schedules, and prices so you can easily compare and book your tickets.
Fastest ferry: 20m
Cheapest ferry: US$ 10
Trade Koh Yao Yai for the vast beauty of Phuket to discover yet another Thai island brimming with natural beauty and adventures for travelers of all tastes.
To hop from Koh Yao Yai to Phuket, you must take a ferry to cross the Andaman Sea to cover the 23.2-kilometer (14.4-mile) distance.
You can opt for a ferry and arrange transport to and from the pier or take a bus or van and ferry combo to streamline the transition.
With approximately 14 million annual visitors, Phuket is one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations thanks to its spectacular scenery, welcoming atmosphere, and a myriad of exciting adventures on offer.
Visitors return repeatedly because of the numerous white-sand beaches, wild party scenes, and sumptuous food. You’ll want to set up camp here for a lifetime!
Adventure lovers can trek in the jungle, learn to kayak, and walk with elephants. Phuket is also a fantastic destination to get your scuba-diving PADI certificate and discover the incredible underwater seascapes surrounding this vast island.
If high-octane adventures don’t appeal to your holiday tastes, don’t worry; there’s something for everyone in Phuket. Travelers favoring relaxation over adrenaline rushes can spend their time alternating between beach days and massages.
No matter what you choose to do while you’re in Phuket, the trip is sure to be a memorable one.
Keep these sites in mind when planning your days:
Attend Wat Chalong: Prepare for your trip by dressing to cover your shoulders and knees, or you won’t be allowed to enter this fascinating temple complex. Wat Chalong is dedicated to two monks who took charge of the resistance against the Chinese rebels in 1876.
Go swimming at Bang Pae Waterfall: Next, head to one of Phuket’s many waterfalls to cool off amid truly surreal scenery. Bang Pae is inside Khao Phra Thaeo National Park. Spend the afternoon exploring the park, but the waterfall is the main attraction thanks to its vast size and beauty.
Relax by the beach with a Thai massage: Phuket has plentiful top-quality massage parlors, so you’ll no doubt find the perfect spot near your accommodation. However, the best place to get a massage in Thailand is right next to the beach. A short walk along any beach will reveal small huts where you can experience the magic, with the waves lulling you into a state of serenity.
Sample delicious Thai dishes at the markets: Phuket has numerous day and night markets where you can look for souvenirs, but more importantly, they are a treasure trove of delicious food. Skip the Western-themed restaurants and trawl the markets to sample Thailand’s best dishes, including pad krapow and khao soi.
See the Big Buddha: Check out the giant White Buddha atop Nakkerd (meaning snake) Hill overlooking the island. Prepare for a steep drive to the top, and consider taking a taxi if you’re not confident driving a moped. However you get there, you’ll know it was worth it when you see the verdant views of the jungle-rimmed beaches below.
Party the night away: Travelers in Phuket must experience the vibrant nightlife here. There are dozens of thriving clubs and bars to dance at until dawn while sipping tasty cocktails. Make sure to check out the beachside parties and jungle raves, too!
Travelers figuring out how to get from Koh Yao Yai to Phuket have three options. You can take a ferry and travel independently to and from the port. Or opt for a bus + ferry or van + ferry combined trip and get picked up or dropped off at your accommodation (or the airport).
A ferry is the most affordable way to travel from Koh Yao Yai to Phuket.
You’ll need to arrange your travel to the pier on Koh Yao Yai and then arrange transport to your accommodation on the other side.
Taxis, called songthaew’s, are nearly always available on Thailand’s many islands, so you can hail one on the way to the pier. On the other side, you’ll also find numerous taxi operators waiting to take people to their final destination.
A ferry ticket costs approximately $8-15 for a 20- to 50-minute journey across the Andaman Sea.
Ferries typically have an open back, so you’ll enjoy a salty sea breeze on the way there.
The ticket includes one large bag and one small piece of hand luggage, and life jackets are provided.
Ferries leave from various piers on the island, but the most common departure points are Chong Lard Pier and Klong Hia Pier. Boats typically arrive at the Bang Rong Pier or the Thiensin Pier on the east coast of Phuket.
There are numerous daily departures, with even more services available during the dry season from November to April.
Bad weather may delay or cancel boats. Don’t worry if this happens; your ticket will be refunded or you'll be booked onto the next service.
If you want to streamline the journey to Phuket, book a bus and ferry combination.
With this option run by Koh Yao Sun Smile, you’ll get picked up from your hotel on Koh Yao Yai and driven to Chong Lard Pier.
After the 20- to 60-minute journey (depending on the location of your accommodation), you’ll take a 30-minute speedboat to Bang Rong Pier.
Although the transport is described as a bus, it will likely be either a songthaew or a car that picks you up.
The total journey time is about 1.5 hours; this option costs approximately $15.
Possible amenities include:
A luggage allowance of two bags per passenger
Water provided
Children aged 0-2 travel for free if they sit on parent's laps.
Another option is a minivan and ferry combination. It’s just like the bus + ferry combo but in an air-conditioned minivan.
There are various pick-up and drop-off points on both islands, including your hotel and the airport. Each operator is different.
You’ll have a luggage allowance of one large bag and one piece of hand luggage per passenger.
The total journey time for this option is approximately one hour and forty-five minutes to two hours and thirty minutes. Opting for a van and ferry combination will cost around $20 for a single ticket.
If you are traveling in a group, you can book a private minivan with five passengers for approximately $150.
The best thing about the journey from Koh Yao Yai to Phuket is undoubtedly the views.
As you zip across the Andaman Sea, you’ll watch the green-tipped island of Koh Yao Yai disappear on the horizon before turning to greet the verdant landscape of Phuket.
Grab a seat by the window or on the deck to watch the sparkling waters race by and let the salty spray cool you off.
The best time to visit Phuket is during the dry season, which starts in November and ends in late April and early May. Temperatures will remain between 75.2°F and 90°F (24°C and 32°C), perfect for beach days and sightseeing adventures.
This season brings bountiful sunny days without the intense humidity of the monsoon season, which spans from May to October.
You could easily spend weeks in Phuket discovering its many delights.
However, if you’re traveling through Thailand for a limited time, set aside two to four days for Phuket. A few days will give you enough time to check out a temple, relax on the beach for a day, try snorkeling, and immerse yourself in the nightlife.
Phuket is an amazing launching pad for exploring many areas of southern Thailand.
Head north to immerse yourself in the spectacular natural beauty of the world-famous Khao Sok National Park, where you can swim in the wild and trek into the luscious jungle to meet monkeys and elephants.
Alternatively, you could return to the smaller islands by taking a trip to Koh Tao or Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. These smaller islands offer a more serene atmosphere than the party-centric Phuket.
If you want to discover the cities of Thailand, hop on a flight to Chiang Mai to explore the northern gems, making sure to stop off in Chiang Rai to visit the glorious White Temple, Wat Rong Khun.
Based on 282 reviews from Bookaway users who traveled from Koh Yao Yai to Phuket
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