At a Glance
- Departure pier: Nopparat Thara Pier, Krabi
- Arrival pier: Koh Yao Noi Pier
- Ferry company: Bundhaya Speedboat (and others)
- Journey time: Approximately 35 minutes
- Cost (family of 4): Approximately 24 EUR for 2 adults and 2 kids
- Departures: Multiple daily — we took the 3pm departure
- Booking: Book online via Bookaway or buy at the pier
- Family friendly: Yes — life jackets provided, boat holds around 50 people
Koh Yao Noi is one of those islands that still feels like Thailand used to feel. Quiet, local, unhurried, and without the full-moon party crowds that have overrun so many of its neighbours. Sitting in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, surrounded by dramatic limestone karsts and impossibly turquoise water, it’s the kind of place you tell people about in hushed tones so it doesn’t get discovered.
Getting to Koh Yao Noi was part of the fun. We visited as a family of four: two adults and two kids aged nine and six and the journey from Krabi was straightforward once we knew what we were doing. Here’s everything you need to know.
In This Article:
- Where is Nopparat Thara Pier and how to get there
- How to book your ferry ticket
- What to expect on the Bundhaya Speedboat
- Arriving at Koh Yao Noi — getting to your accommodation
- The wrong accommodation story – a warning
- Is Koh Yao Noi worth it for families?
- Frequently asked questions
Where is Nopparat Thara Pier and How to Get There
Nopparat Thara Pier is located about 18km west of Krabi town, near Ao Nang. It is not the same as the main Krabi Town pier which is a mistake that’s easy to make and worth double checking before you book a taxi.
From Krabi town the drive takes around 25-30 minutes depending on traffic. From Ao Nang it is closer, only about 5-10 minutes. Most hotels in the area will be able to arrange a taxi or you can use Grab, which we done.
Allow plenty of time to get to the pier, especially with kids. Whilst the boats have scheduled time, they often leave when they leave and so aren’t always on time. But still worth getting there early to ensure last minute hiccups.
At the pier, there are just a few cafes but slightly overpriced so it maybe worth getting the kids fully fed before arriving.
There was hardly anywhere to buy snacks either, so make sure you’ve stocked up before you leave for the pier.
There are some decent toilets nearby which was useful.
Once you’re at the pier, it feels a little chaotic, as there’s several operators with pop-up stalls selling tickets and organisers travelling into not-very orderly queues to board their boats.
We found our company quickly and check-in was a simple – give your name, it gets ticked off the list and you get a coloured sticker with your destination on it. After dropping your bags next to the operators stand, you’re free to wander around until boarding time.
Find accommodation in Satun, Thailand here
How to Book Your Ferry Ticket
You have two options: book online in advance or buy at the pier on the day.
Booking Online with Bookaway (recommended)
We booked through Bookaway and found the process straightforward. You choose your date, your departure time, your operator and pay online. Your booking confirmation is all you need and you just show it at the pier, once you’ve found your operator.
The advantages of booking in advance:
- Guarantees your place on the boat as crossings can fill up in peak season
- Easy to compare operators and times
- Gives you peace of mind especially travelling with kids
- Bookaway has good customer service: we have had to cancel bookings before and found them responsive and quick with refunds
Book your Koh Yao Noi ferry here
Buying at the Pier
Perfectly possible outside of peak season. Just turn up at Nopparat Thara Pier, find the ticket booths and buy directly. Cash is usually preferred though some operators take card.
The downside of this approach is that there is no guarantee of a spot if the boat is full, and you lose the flexibility of planning around confirmed departure times.
What to Expect on the Bundhaya Speedboat
We travelled with Bundhaya Speedboat and found it a good experience. Here is what to expect:
- The boat holds around 50 passengers and was almost full on our crossing
- Life jackets are provided and you are expected to wear them. The boat does move a decent speed and just a week before our trip, several tourists had been seriously injured when a speedboat had collided with a longtail boat nearby.
- The journey takes approximately 35 minutes
- It is a speedboat so it is not the smoothest ride so if anyone in your group is prone to motion sickness, sit towards the middle and have medication ready, although we found it ok and we had one member who is prone to sea sickness
- The boat stops at Koh Yao Noi before continuing on to Koh Yao Yai so make sure you get off at the right stop. Yours will be first.
- There is no food or drink on board so bring water and snacks especially for kids
For kids: Our nine and six year old both loved it. The speed and the views across Phang Nga Bay are genuinely spectacular with limestone karsts rising out of turquoise water in every direction.
Arriving at Koh Yao Noi: Getting to Your Accommodation
When the boat docks at Koh Yao Noi pier you will be met by local taxi drivers which are usually operating songthaews (covered pickup trucks used as shared taxis across Thailand).
Tell them the name of your accommodation and they will direct you to the right vehicle. The fare is usually negotiated or fixed by zone but best to agree the price before you get in.
We were squashed into the absolute max with bodies and bags covering every inch of space so it was a little uncomfortable but the journey was short.
Important: Koh Yao Noi is a fairly large island and accommodation is spread across it. Make sure the driver knows the exact name and location of where you are staying and not just a vague area.
We stayed at an awesome hut called Baan Ja Da (book here)
The Wrong Accommodation Story – A Small Warning
We learned this the hard way.
We told our songthaew driver the name of our accommodation and he nodded confidently and drove us to what he was convinced was the right place. It wasn’t. He had taken us to a different guesthouse with a similar name on the other side of the island.
By the time we realised, the driver was long gone and by the time we had sorted out the confusion and got ourselves to the right place, we had lost over an hour and the kids were tired, hungry and not at their most philosophical about the situation.
Our advice:
- Show the driver the exact name of your accommodation on your phone
- Show him the map location if possible
- Have your accommodation’s phone number handy and call them if there’s any confusion and let them talk to the driver directly
Is Koh Yao Noi Worth It for Families?
Absolutely but with the right expectations.
Koh Yao Noi is not a party island. It is not Phi Phi or Koh Phangan. It is quiet, Predominantly Muslim, and genuinely local in a way that many Thai islands have long since stopped being. The beaches are beautiful, the pace is slow, and the Phang Nga Bay scenery is extraordinary.
For families it works brilliantly precisely because of this pace.
However, there isn’t a huge amount of things to do in terms of masses of activities, outside of spending time at the beach.
There are kayaking trips through the mangroves, snorkelling, cycling around the island, longtail boat trips to empty beaches and the simple pleasure of somewhere that hasn’t been overwhelmed by tourism yet.
The highlight of our trip for sure was the longtail boat trip to Four Islands – the main island being Hong Island. You’ll see this trip advertised everywhere. The islands each company goes to will differ but the star of the show is Hong Island – described as the “new Maya Bay” (Koh Phi Phi, where the beach was filmed).
It really is a truly magical spot, and does get crowded but totally worth it. The boat trip itself was magical experience for the kids to glide around the silky ocean with the wind in their hair in the blistering sun.
Getting around is the biggest challenge on Koh Yao Noi as there are hardly any taxis, no buses and no rental cars.
We hired a sidecar which turned out to be a disaster (Blog here) and in the end hired a scooter, which was a challenge with 4 of us, as we had to do two trips each time, but we never went too far so wasn’t a big issue.
Ready to Book?
This post contains affiliate links. If you book through these links we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — which helps keep Roaming Wild running. Thank you!
- Book your Krabi to Koh Yao Noi ferry Bookaway Ferries
- Book transport tickets around Thailand: Click here
- Book Baan Ja Da (where we stayed): Click here
- Find other accommodation in Koh Yai Noi: Click here
- Find accommodation in Krabi: Click here
- Hire a car in Krabi: Click her
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How long is the ferry from Krabi to Koh Yao Noi?
A: On the speedboat with Bundhaya it takes approximately 35 minutes from Nopparat Thara Pier. Slower traditional ferries take longer – around 1.5 to 2 hours.
Q: How much does the ferry from Krabi to Koh Yao Noi cost?
A: We paid approximately 24 EUR for two adults and two children booked through Bookaway. Prices vary slightly by operator and season. Booking online is generally the same price or slightly cheaper than buying at the pier.
Q: Which pier do I use for the Koh Yao Noi ferry from Krabi?
A: Nopparat Thara Pier, located near Ao Nang approximately 18km west of Krabi town. Do not confuse this with the main Krabi Town pier which serves different routes.
Q: Can I buy ferry tickets to Koh Yao Noi at the pier without booking in advance?
A: Yes, you can walk up and buy tickets at the pier on the day. However, in peak season (December to February) the boats can fill up so booking in advance via Bookaway gives you peace of mind especially when travelling with children.
Q: Is the ferry to Koh Yao Noi suitable for young children?
A: Yes, life jackets are provided and required. The crossing is 35 minutes which is very manageable for kids. The scenery through Phang Nga Bay is spectacular so they will have plenty to look at. Both our kids loved every minute of it.
Q: How do I get from the ferry pier to my accommodation on Koh Yao Noi?
A: Songthaew drivers meet the ferry at the pier and will take you to your accommodation for a negotiated fare. Agree the price before you get in, show the driver the exact name of your accommodation on your phone, and have the accommodation’s phone number handy in case of any confusion.
Have you done the Krabi to Koh Yao Noi crossing? We’d love to hear about your experience – drop a comment below. And if you found this guide useful, share it with someone planning the same trip.
More Thailand transport guides:
- How to get from Thailand to Langkawi by ferry – here
- Car ferry to Koh Lanta -everything you need to know – here
Read more of our Thailand adventures here
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