Discovering Koh Yoa Noi and Krabi with children
Koh Yao Noi is a small island located in Phang Nga Bay, in the south of Thailand. Between fishing, agriculture and sustainable tourism, the island has managed to preserve its authenticity.
Day 9: Discovery of peaceful Koh Yao Noi
At the end of the day, we arrived at our idyllic hotel: Namm Natawn , a true haven of peace in the heart of the rice fields. We booked pretty huts on stilts , surrounded by greenery.
What we loved:
- The winding road through the rice fields to reach the hotel.
- The absolute calm of the cabins, perfect for recharging your batteries.
Small downside:
- The cold water 💦 of the shower, which surprised us a little. But with 38°C in the shade , we quickly learned to appreciate this freshness!
In the evening, we had dinner at the Krang-Na Restaurant , a great discovery to start our stay in this magical place. 🌿✨
Day 10: Discover Koh Yao Noi by scooter
New day and new adventure, we rented scooters to go around the island. We paid 250 bahts, or about €6.25 per day for a scooter and about €2 for petrol.
For beginners, don't worry, there is very little traffic and you rarely exceed 50km/h.
Gasoline is sold on the roadside either in hand-cranked tankers like this one or in plastic bottles.
Koh Yao Noi is a fairly small island and there is little traffic. I can only advise you to rent a scooter , the feeling of freedom is great.
THA KHAO BEACH
First stop at Tha Khao Beach, where the water recedes at low tide and allows you to walk to an islet.
We really liked the little restaurant on the beach, Stella restaurant , the dishes are super good and the view is great.
We continued the tour of the island, without asking too many questions. In the evening we joined the Sunset bar . Magnificent place to contemplate the sunset while drinking very good cocktails in a very friendly atmosphere! Go there, you will not regret it.
Day 11: Boat trip from Koh Yao Noi
New boat trip, which we had booked the day before near the pharmacy (next to the 7eleven on the main street) with a charming gentleman.
Excursion to Hong Island / Ko Lao Ka / Ao Hong / Kao Lao Lading / Nok Island
After 30 minutes by boat, first stop on Hong Island.
Of all the excursions I have been able to do in the Andaman Sea, the one to Hong Island remains my favorite . This small island offers a lagoon with crystal clear waters and incredible views of the typical islands of Thailand.
We are dropped off for 1 hour on Hong Island . We chose to go straight to the viewpoint, and it is so beautiful seen from above. Don't forget your shoes because even if the staircase is well laid out it is made of metal.
We then took the boat back for a snorkeling session near the island of Ko Lao Ka . Here, we put on our mask, jump into the water and discover magnificent seabeds.
When everyone got back on the boat, we headed back to the first island to enter the Ao Hong lagoon by boat. The water is sublime, like in the Pinterest photos but this time you are there.
After a few minutes of sailing, the captain dropped us off at Kao Lao Lading for a 45-minute break. He gave us our lunch, and we discovered a hidden bay , accessible by a narrow passage, which opens onto a dream setting. We settled in the shade of the coconut trees to enjoy our picnic before diving into the water.
The place is of course extremely busy . Regulating the time on site helps to limit the number of people on the beach.
We then set sail again towards Ko Phak Bia , a lovely little island with swings hanging from the trees and a peninsula accessible at low tide.
Finally, our captain took us to an island inhabited only by monkeys . We were able to feed them from the boat and watch them swim to retrieve the pineapple pieces we had thrown to them. A unique experience, which our children loved !
Day 12: we leave Koh Yao Noi for Krabi
We took a speed boat to reach Krabi, our new stopover for 3 nights. We stayed at the Sunda Resort hotel . Our room overlooked the pool which was very convenient with our girls. The hotel allows you to reach the seabed in 10 minutes on foot.
For our first day, we chose to enjoy the hotel pool before heading out to dinner at the Krabi night market. And honestly? Big disappointment. As soon as you arrive, the ultra-touristy atmosphere is obvious.
The food stalls are all identical, with large uniform tarpaulins that take away all charm and authenticity. Far from the typical small markets that we love, here, everything seems formatted to please tourists. Right next door, a huge stage offers "holiday club" style shows, with a row of plastic chairs lined up in front... In short, not my thing at all.
Day 13: Railay beach
For this second day in Krabi, we decided to buy tickets in a seaside hut to go spend the day at Railay beach . It takes barely 10 minutes to reach Railay beach from Krabi beach.
What to do in Railay Beach?
Here are the must-sees not to be missed:
Enjoy the dream beaches 🌴
- Railay West : The most beautiful, with fine sand and turquoise water.
- Phra Nang Beach : Incredible spot with caves and impressive rock formations.
Climbing the mythical cliffs 🧗♂️
- Railay is a top place for climbing , accessible to beginners and pros alike. (On site, you can see a lot of people equipped for climbing on the beach)
Explore Princess Cave (Phra Nang Cave) 🏝
- A sacred place filled with unusual offerings dedicated to fertility.
Go kayaking or paddle boarding
- Rent a kayak to go along the cliffs and discover secret coves.
Discover the hidden lagoon
- A slightly sporty mini-hike leads to a secret lagoon nestled in the heart of the cliffs.
Railay Beach is the perfect place to disconnect and enjoy an exceptional natural setting. 🌴✨
✨ My advice: Sleep one night on Railay Beach . We didn't do it but I regretted it. The evening without the horde of tourists and the breakfast in premier mode on the beach must be exceptional.
✨ Tips: When you arrive, you have to go swimming on the left . If you go to the right on the big beach you risk cutting your feet.
The island is not very big, there is this big beach where you arrive then a street of restaurants/shops and on the other side we find Phra Nang Beach .
Walking to this beach, we found a lot of monkeys. 🐒 So be careful if you have food in your hands because they won't hesitate to jump on you to eat some too.
Arriving at Phra Nang Beach, you will find the starting point to access the Railay Beach Viewpoint , which is an unmissable spot to admire a breathtaking view of the peninsula.
We didn't go up there, because it was too dangerous with our daughters, but the view must be sublime from up there. We had read that the climb is short but intense (about 15-20 minutes). The path is very steep and slippery , especially after the rain. Bring good shoes and avoid flip-flops! A rope is installed to help climb.
✨ Tips: The climb is physical and dirty , expect to have your hands and clothes covered in red earth. Avoid the hottest hours of the day. Access is free but there are hours to respect.
We really liked Phra Nang Beach . There is a very original temple there, dedicated to fertility. The adjoining beach is magnificent with the vertical rocks so typical of Thailand as a backdrop. 🌊 🐚
Day 14: Wat Tham Suea and restaurant with a view
For our last day in Krabi, we rented scooters. Once again the desire for freedom was felt and we rode to the Tiger Cave Temple or Wat Tham Suea.
🏔️ Climbing Wat Tham Suea: A Challenge Rewarded
This temple is one of the most impressive sites in Krabi. And when we came here we certainly didn't expect to achieve such a sporting feat haha! To get to the top and enjoy the view, you have to climb 1,260 steps ! The climb is physical, especially in the Thai heat, and with two little girls. (some steps are the size of their half legs). But they made it to the top and the encouragement is going well during the climb.
The view is well worth the effort: a sea of lush jungle , spectacular karst cliffs and a huge golden Buddha. Bring water, take regular breaks and you will reach the top. To keep you from getting discouraged, you can read the number of steps on the posts all along the climb.
After catching our breath we got back on the scooters to go have lunch in a restaurant in the middle of the jungle which is so worth the detour.
🍽 Kuan Nom Saow Restaurant: a hidden gem in Krabi
This restaurant is a cabin perched above an ocean of greenery. Access via a bumpy forest road is well worth it! We came by scooter without any problems. If you come by taxi, ask him to wait for you while you have lunch.
The service is super fast, the food is delicious and there is even a small play area for children. We loved the pad thai and the sticky mango rice. One of the only restaurants in Krabi with reasonable prices.
We ended the day with a sunset and a massage.
For the last part of our trip we ended up with 3 days in Bangkok .
And there are so many things to say about Bangkok that I made a whole article about it. I hope you will enjoy discovering Koh Yoa Noi and Krabi as much as we did.
