About this tour
When Mia from our BugBitten team caught the Koh Yao Sun Smile speedboat from Ao Nang to Koh Yao Yai, it was a straightforward 40-minute crossing that cuts through the Andaman Sea between limestone cliffs and turquoise water. The boat picks you up from your hotel in Ao Nang or nearby beaches, whisks you across to the quieter island of Koh Yao Yai, and dumps you ready to explore. It's the ferry crossing done properly — fast, reliable, and no faffing around. Basic travel insurance is thrown in, which is a small plus.
Highlights
- Hotel pickup means no hunting for the pier or waiting in chaos
- 40 minutes cuts through dramatic limestone scenery to a quieter island
- Runs daily year-round with flexible scheduling in high and low seasons
- Basic travel insurance included in the fare
- Speedboat pace beats slower ferries by half
- No drop-off stress — you arrive ready to move
What to expect
The boat collects you from your accommodation in Ao Nang early enough to catch a mid-morning or afternoon departure depending on season. You'll be grouped with other travellers — mostly tourists and a few locals — and bundled onto a solid speedboat built for these waters. The journey itself is brisk; you'll motor past karst cliffs and scattered islets, and the sea spray is part of the deal, so don't wear anything precious.
The crossing is bouncy in rough conditions and perfectly smooth when the Andaman cooperates. Our experience was straightforward — no drama, no delays, and you land on Koh Yao Yai's main pier ready to head straight into your next move. The boat operates three times daily in peak season (November to April) and drops to one afternoon slot in the quieter months, so flexibility helps. Bad weather can push things around, but refunds are handed out if that happens.
What travellers say
- Hotel pickup eliminates dock-hunting hassle entirely
- Only 40 minutes versus slower ferries taking twice as long
- Runs every day, three times daily in peak season
- Basic insurance included without extra cost
- Island of Koh Yao Yai stays quieter than Phuket counterparts
- Rough sea conditions make the ride uncomfortable for some travellers
- Low season runs single afternoon departure — not flexible
- No return hotel drop-off; one-way only
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This is genuinely the easiest way to island-hop from Ao Nang without renting a scooter or joining a bigger tour boat. It's quick, daily, and the hotel pickup saves you from finding the dock. Koh Yao Yai itself is far less rammed than Phuket or Phi Phi, so if you're after somewhere quieter, this ferry lands you there fast.
The crossing is choppy if the sea's rough — not dangerous, but uncomfortable for anyone with back problems or pregnancy (both flagged as unsuitable). Small kids sit on laps, which works fine for lap-sitters but nowhere to move around. There's no return drop-off included, which is worth knowing. Peak season (Nov–Apr) runs three departures daily but books out; low season drops to one afternoon slot, so plan around that. Bad weather can cancel or delay, though you get your money back.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.