Koh Yao Noi : the Island Tour 

 All about Koh Yao Noi

To get to know Koh Yao Noi better, you will find below 2 more parts in which you will be able to see photos, videos, information, schedules and prices...

Koh Yao Noi How to get there ?

The Island Koh Yai Noi

  The Tour in the Than Bok Khorani Archipelago


This excursion in the small islands of the Than Bok Khorani archipelago is a very pleasant outing.

Visitors can arrive from Krabi which is just opposite, or from Phuket which is a little further away.

Departure from Krabi: 

Visitors will find many small agencies on Ao Nang that can organize this jump for them without any problem.
The archipelago is 8 km away from Ao Nang... a crossing of only a few minutes ! For the people of Krabi, this outing can possibly be organized directly from Ao Nang...

Departure from Phuket :

The way is a little more complicated since it is advisable to organize your trip from Phuket (your hotel) to Bang Rong Pier. The duration of this trip depends on where your starting point is. The minibus or taxi drivers will be able to calculate the necessary time, in any case, it is necessary to arrange to be at the mbarcadère at 8:00 am, the boat to take is the 8:40 am one.

Schedule Go: 
Departure from: Bang Rong Pier - Manoh Pier: 08:40 - 09:10 am
Departure of the Tour as soon as you arrive at Manoh Pier at 09:15 am.

Timetable Return:
End of the island tour: return to Manoh Pier around 3.30 pm.
Departure from Manoh Pier -> Bang Rong Pier: 4:00 pm - 4:30 pm


 Organize the island tour...

There's nothing easier than organizing this tour. You will find all the explanations you need to get started in this mini-adventure in the following article including the rate on the " Tours " table (line 1)
Just click on this link:  How to organize the Island Tour ?

 Tour of Koh Yao Noi Islands: The Global Tour

 Koh Yao Noi Islands Tour: Small islands details

The pier... at Manoh Pier
The departure is at about 9:15 am from Koh Yao Noi (Manoh Pier). On the boat, fresh water, watermelon, bananas, pineapple. Also available for snorkeling, masks and flippers (ask before).

Always a friendly atmosphere

During these trips, it often happens to cross paths with other groups of diverse origins... very often, fortunately, there are exchanges of smiles, friendly greetings and as always, there are those who have nothing against being photographed! 
It is also here that we realize that Europeans have fallen behind a little...
A guide, probably Chinese, who gives me a dazzling smile... it's so easy here, so enjoyable... I'd be wrong to deprive myself of it. 
A little mechanical adjustment on the spot...?

Koh Hong, The Beach

The island's beach, "Pelay Beach" is on the east coast. Pedestrian access to the island by a floating pontoon requires payment of the National Park entrance fee of 200 THB per person.
The cliffs and trees that line this beach offer very pleasant shaded areas. The water is crystal clear and turquoise: right next to the beach, hundreds of fish come to eat out of your hand. It is the opportunity to practice snorkeling (swimming with mask and snorkel), and to discover an incredible marine fauna: a few meters underwater, multicolored fish, crabs, clams, sea urchins, sea cucumbers and other wonders cover the sea floor.
This place being quite splendid, you can very well be satisfied to spend the day there... There are no umbrellas, no deckchairs, none of those pesky things like jet-skis, bananas, parasites, parasailing... The place being part of the National Park, a certain discipline is imposed (no smoking).
There are no restaurants
Our guide takes us along the cliffs on the west side, to see niches where swallows' nests can be found and guards staying on site to watch over this very popular spot.  

The Swallows

The swallows live in the dark of the caves and in groups of the same species, but several species can cohabit in the same cave. They are found in their natural state in Thailand, often near the coast or on small uninhabited islands.

A number of small islands in Thailand near Phuket are not open to tourists especially during the months of February to May when they are guarded by armed guards.

Why this surveillance? Because these islands are home to the nests of sea swallows, which breed in sea caves, and these nests are a popular dish among Thais.
There are three harvests per season, the first nest is harvested when it is just built. The swallows build another one which is harvested again and the last nest is not harvested until the chicks are gone. In this way, the species is normally preserved.

There are two types of edible nests. White nests are made almost entirely of mucus, which is of very good quality, and black nests where the mucus is mixed with the swallow's feathers. The whiter and more transparent the nest, the more reputable it is.

In Asia, these bird's nests are luxury products, used as an ingredient in haute gastronomy. The basic price for the raw material is more than 1,000 euros per kilo. The nests go all over Asia. Beforehand, they go through cleaning laboratories to thoroughly remove feathers and sand. In restaurants, they will be made into dessert or sweet soup. For the Chinese, these bird nests have many virtues.
Swallow's nests are widely used in the Asian pharmacopoeia and are attributed many virtues. In China and South-East Asia, they are traditionally reputed to be a good fortifier, to postpone old age, to facilitate digestion and to speed up convalescence.

This being the case, it seems that this dish has no taste and a gelatinous consistency not very pleasant.

A small beach (Rep.2 photo below) on the north side of the island of Kong Hong... nice place to have a picnic during the lunch break...

 Koh Hong, le Lagon

To the north of Koh Hong Island is the lagoon, which is only accessible to small boats via a passage that opens out into the sea. It is an ideal place for swimming, with very shallow and clear water. The tide is very sensitive. This lagoon is truly heavenly with breathtaking colours.
The small boats easily find a place, the occupants going to take their bath sitting quietly on a sandbank, 
A really idyllic place, where it is good to spend some time without looking at your watch... the noises of the engines once stopped give way to an extremely enjoyable silence.  

A small beach in Koh Hong, for a picnic

From time to time, depending on the tide, or the influx of visitors, lunch can be served on this small beach north of Koh Hong. Sitting on a mat on the sand and under a tree, this moment is particularly pleasant and appreciated by the visitors of the day...

 Koh Ra Ding

The flea hop we make, brings us in a few minutes from our previous stage to Koh Ra Ding. Just before reaching Koh Ra Ding which is a small beach where many boats stop for lunch, we pass by this other cave dug in the cliff and in which live there too, people... who are in fact guardians... of swallows' nests.

Swallow's nests are a very popular Thai speciality, very expensive too. In Asia, it is believed to have all the virtues.

In Asia, these bird's nests are luxury products, used as an ingredient in haute gastronomy. The basic price for the raw material is 1,000 euros per kilo. The nests go all over Asia. Before that, they go through cleaning laboratories to thoroughly remove feathers and sand. In restaurants, they will be made into dessert or sweet soup. For the Chinese, these bird nests have many virtues.

So you can easily understand why these places are carefully guarded...
We arrive at Koh Ra Ding ... small quiet beach ...
Here, in this country, you just have to put your camera in position for people to start taking smiling poses... as I have often written here, Thai people love to be photographed... and for a photographer it's a real joy... 

Koh Pak Bia

On our arrival in Koh Pak Bia, we discover another paradisiacal place: a simple strip of white sand that connects two islets, a rather exceptional place, with few people and a dreamlike panorama.

Koh Nok

Koh Nok is very close to Koh Yao Noi. It is in fact the first island you see from the Manoh Pier pier. Small sand tongue, the view is magnificent: the white of the sand, the turquoise blue of the sea, the dark blue of the sky, a set of pastel colors absolutely fantastic ...

Laem Had Beach

Arriving from Koh Nok, if the time is not too late, a small stop at Laem Had Beach will not be unpleasant especially at low tide ... this place is almost in front of Manoh Pier ... 
Arriving from Koh Nok, if the time is not too late, a small stop at Laem Had Beach will not be unpleasant especially at low tide ... this place is almost in front of Manoh Pier ... 
Arriving from Koh Nok, if the time is not too late, a small stop at Laem Had Beach will not be unpleasant especially at low tide ... this place is almost in front of Manoh Pier ... 
Arriving from Koh Nok, if the time is not too late, a small stop at Laem Had Beach will not be unpleasant especially at low tide ... this place is almost in front of Manoh Pier ... 

 Précaution

Swimming when you arrive on these small islands is part of everyone's pleasure and it is quite normal... nevertheless, you should know that most of these places have many rocks and corals.
I advise you to equip yourself with shoes that allow you to go in the water without injuring yourself, especially at low tide. A coral cut is always painful and the risk of infection is quite high.

 The Video : The Island Tour

 All about Koh Yao Noi

To get to know Koh Yao Noi better, you will find below 2 more parts in which you will be able to see photos, videos, information, schedules and prices...

Koh Yao Noi How to get there ?

The Island Koh Yai Noi