ABOUT KOH YAO NOI

The island of Koh Yao Noi is still largely unspoiled & untouched, & is covered in lush tropical foliage. The island is situated in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket & the mainland of Krabi. Phang Nga Bay is known for its’ unique limestone formations & pristine beaches & was most famously captured in the James Bond film – “The Man with the Golden Gun” & “The Beach” with Leonardo Di Caprio.

The island is the smaller of the two Koh Yao islands (the other being Koh Yao Yai / Ko Yao Yai). Koh Yao Noi is peaceful, quiet & tranquil; the perfect place to get away from the crowds of the more well-known tourist hubs of Phuket & Ao Nang, Krabi.

The 3,500 or so inhabitants of Koh Yao Noi, are thought to be recent migrants from the Malay Peninsula (Satun, Trang).

The most recent migrations (17th-18th century) from Satun & Trang to Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi is attested to by the fact that the particular dialect spoken on the island still bears obvious Malaysian lexical traces, particularly regarding toponyms & vernacular names of the flora species.

The main industries on the island are fishing & rubber planting. A little rice farming & some fruit, palm & coconut plantations are also evident.

Boat building & farming techniques here have been passed on from father to son for generations, & while some of the youngsters leave Koh Yao (Ko Yao) to seek the bright lights of Phuket, most return to their tight-knit community.

There are no nightclubs, beer bars or other forms of ‘night’ entertainment. These things tourists can find elsewhere in abundance.

Koh Yao Noi’s community objectives are to preserve the lifestyle of the local fishermen, help visitors understand the history of the local people through authentic & mutually respectful cultural exchange, preserve the local environment &, of course, provide the local people with an alternate source of income.

Paradise Koh Yao has a variety of excursions to take you right into the heart of island life, or you may even choose the more adventurous options of hiking or mountain biking from the resort.

Fully experiencing the island of Koh Yao Noi (Ko Yao Noi) is about combining nature, local lifestyle & fresh seafood. You may even like to participate in local lifestyle activities such as fishing, or even working in the rice fields.

Thailand’s Andaman Sea surrounds Phuket & fills Phang Nga Bay. Tides change twice a day at 12 hour intervals. The sea level rises & falls under the influence of the gravitational pull of both the moon & sun, with the time of the tides varying each day. During the “spring” tides, the days around the new & full moon, the sea level varies from 2.5 to 3.0 meters, but during the “neap” tides (the lowest level of high tide) the sea level varies only 0.8 to 1.0 meters. An extreme low tide can be clearly seen when the coral reefs in front of the beaches of Koh Yao Noi become exposed.

The resort provides information on tide times, & moon phases on a nightly newsletter, so you can best understand the natural cycles during your stay. Alternatively you may wish to visit:

Tide Tables: http://www.tide-forecast.com/locations/Phuket/tides/latest

Swimming in the sea on the islands of Koh Yao

During high tide, swimming in the sea at Paradise is a refreshing pleasure. Experience the warm, tropical waters of Phang Nga Bay, where the water is protected from the large waves & currents of an open ocean. For further exploration, taking a kayak from the resort allows you to check out the nearby towering limestone formations, lagoons & beaches.

At low tides, swimming at any of the beaches on the island itself is limited due to the unique fringe of coral reef. Fortunately, Paradise Koh Yao is surrounded by beautiful, pristine islands & deserted beaches, which can be reached via longtail boat for swimming & snorkelling during low tide, or there is always our salt-water infinity pool.

Discover marine life

As the tide drops & exposes the coral reef, a variety of marine life becomes visible. Have a look at the lively animals such as mussels, shells, different species of crabs, & much more. Sometimes you will spot local fishermen searching for mussels & crabs, as they earn a living from the sea (or at least get some lovely seafood on the dinner table). We advise our guests to wear beach shoes or slippers when exploring the reef at low tide.

Drop the Pick & Come Ashore

Yachts from around the world anchor off, & come ashore, for great food & refreshing cold drinks. Paradise Koh Yao is a fantastic homeport from which yachts can explore the various sites & anchorages of Phang Nga Bay.

Yachts must generally anchor well offshore because of the shallow waters that surround many of the islands, including Koh Yao Noi, in Phang Nga Bay. At Paradise Koh Yao, there is a channel & dock that allow a dinghy landing on any tide.

For further information:  Enquiry Form