Arriving on a Little Piece of Paradise, Ko Yao Noi Island

ko-yao-noi-thailand (10) A power boat in southern Thailand greeted us as we arrived by taxi from the Phuket Airport. The blue waters beckoned and invited us along for the journey. Boats in this part of the country are great melting pots. Europeans, Americans (north and south) and plenty of folks from all parts of Asia were coming to Ko Yao Noi for a variety of reasons – to get away budget style, to park it at one of the small luxury properties, for honeymoon or ferrying supplies across the water. We were coming here for some R&R and to explore this relatively quiet island (compared to the hustle and bustle of Phuket city on the mainland).

We arrived at a small privately owned property (Villaguna) overlooking an amazing view of the Phang Nga Bay and the picturesque limestone islands in the background. Renting motorbikes is the way to see the island – we took off for the other side of the island – following a road that had no outlet. This immediately separated us from the tourists that race back and forth on the main road. We stumbled into women collecting snails from the brackish water, saw plenty of rubber trees and stopped to explore several small villages.

We stumbled upon a sign for “Long Beach” in the Northeast part of the island. After 3 km of riding our motorbikes fast over dirt roads we arrived at a little bit of secluded paradise. A husband wife team own this tiny part of the island and they run a little fruit and drink shop. This would be the perfect spot for a resort – but the owner would have significant development costs due to its remote location. I much prefer it’s current natural setting.