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Hidden paradiseThis module gives you paradise in a nutshell. Of all the of islands in Thailand, Ko Yao Yai is perhaps the quietest and least developed. It is unspoilt bliss- a perfect, pristine spot for travellers seeking a desert island experience. Ko Yao Yai lies in an inland sea to the south of Thailand. It’s surrounded by myriads of uninhabited rocky islands that thrust up from under the water. These islands have many secluded coves and tiny, hidden bays. Ko Yao Yai itself has a few residents, but hardly any tourists at all.You will spend two nights in a beach bungalow on a white powdery beach lined with palm trees. This is set against a staggering backdrop of dense jungle. The day after you arrive, you will take a daytrip to hidden lagoons, abandoned beaches and superb snorkelling spots. Afterwards, you can enjoy the incredible sunset from the comfort of a hammock on the beach. |
Duration | 3 days / 2 nights Daily from Phuket or Krabi (closed in September and October) | Accommodation | Two nights in a bungalow with shower, toilet and fan (upgrade to air conditioning possible). |
| Price | £175 per person - based on 2 people | Includes | Transport. Accommodation with breakfast. Longtail boat excursion with snorkelling. |
Travel | Transfer by ferry to Yoa Yai island, transfer on the island and transfer from the ferry on the mainland | Excludes | Return ferry to Ko Yao Yai (Approx £1) Other meals, drinks, excursions and entrance fees |
Day 1: Arrival on Ko Yao YaiToday, you will be collected in Phuket or Krabi and taken to the pier for the ferry crossing. Watch the locals cramming the tiny vessels with rice, pots, pans, and sometimes even goats. You'll pay less than £1 for the ferry crossing, handing the fare directly to the boatman. An hour and a half later, you will arrive at Ko Yao Yai- an idyllic island standing in Phang Nga Bay. On the way, you'll pass the sheer limestone rockfaces for which the bay is famous, and watch seabirds soaring lazily in the cloudless sky.You’ll be met at the pier on Yao Yai Island by your friendly hosts. From here, it's only a 30min drive to the beach where you'll stay for the next two nights. In your small and personal resort, the bungalows are made of palm wood, and equipped with fans, toilets and showers. There's no warm water here, but high temperatures make it totally unnecessary and you're unlikely to notice its absence. There are also no shops and no restaurants- you really are marooned on a desert island. Take enough cash and a credit card with you, as there’s no cash dispenser or change available here. You will eat in the fantastic open-air restaurant, and there's bound to be fresh fish on the menu. The welcoming owner usually stops by for a chat and a drink or two with the guests. |
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You are free to enjoy the tranquility of the island for the rest of the day. If you feel like doing something active, you can hire some snorkelling gear or book a massage. You can also hire mopeds and Jeeps to explore the island- just ask at reception. Ko Yao Yai is quite large, and you'll drive through cashew orchards, rubber trees, and paddy fields. The majority of the locals are Muslim, so please dress modestly if you are leaving the beach (your shoulders and knees need to be covered).The sunset views from the beach by your hotel are indescribably beautiful. Grab a cocktail and stretch out in a hammock to watch the burning, orange sun sink into the shimmering ocean. Life really doesn't get much better than this. |
Day 2: Ko Yao Yai - Longtail Boat TourToday is a fantastically relaxing day. Munch breakfast to the sound of waves gently lapping the shore and feel the sun on your skin. Around 9.00am, you will set off in a longtail boat for Ko Hong, an island with two white 'bounty' beaches and a breathtakingly beautiful lagoon. The lagoon is a lake formed by the collapse of a huge cave in the middle of the island (Ko Hong means 'room island'). It is surrounded by sheer limestone walls dotted with caves, and inhabited by creatures like bats and swallows. If you want, take a dip into the deep turquoise water.In the afternoon you'll visit another beach where the water is so clear that you can see every marking on the tropical fishes from the boat. You can snorkel amongst the coral, and shoals of rainbow-bright fish. You'll get back to Ko Yao Yai at around 3pm, giving you a few hours to soak up the sun before it begins to set. |
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Day 3: Ko Yao Yai - DepartureToday, you will have an early start. At 6am, you'll set off to the pier and take the local boat out eastwards towards Krabi. It leaves at around 7:30am. You will need to pay your own fare for the ferry trip (again, this is less than £1). The early morning trip across the misty bay is completely unforgettable- the atmospheric unlike anything else. You'll be met at the pier to the north of Krabi, when you arrive. If you're concluding your Thailand journey with the Ko Yao Yai module, you'll be taken to Bangkok Airport from Krabi.There is also a speedy, modern boat from Ko Yao Yai to Phuket. Transport is arranged upon your arrival in Phuket - to the airport, to your hotel or to the bus station for Khao Lak. You can travel back to Phuket via Ko Phi Phi, so you can make a round trip of the whole Phang Nga Bay. Those travelling further into Southern Thailand are taken from Krabi to the pier for Railay Bay. |
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If you’re on a quiet, island-hopping holiday then you can be dropped off in Krabi for the Trang bus. Those travelling north can go overland by bus from Krabi to Surat Thani to begin Giant Trees and Lakes, or to Ko Samui. |
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