Ko Yao Yai

We say goodbye to the south and head to an island in the north of Phuket. Ko Yao Yai is largely untouched by tourism. It is a small original fishing island with dream beaches and unique panoramas. The way there is ultimately easier than expected. In our hotel, no one can give us information that is not linked to a taxi. So we first take the hotel's shuttle to Nai Harn Beach. Luckily, two more passengers join us who want to go to Phuket Town. Unfortunately, we can't find the local bus, but the four of us share a shared taxi. The two Germans are spending the winter in Thailand, making us a little jealous. The driver stops at a bus stop in the city and signals to us that we have to change vehicles. The Thais are a very nice, polite, and patient people, so the bus driver ultimately eliminates our doubts about whether the destination was understood correctly. '100 percent' confirms this. After an hour's bus ride, we arrive at the pier and take the speedboat to the desired island. A taxi driver is already waiting for us on the island to take us to the hotel. This accommodation is truly a worthy conclusion to the shared time. An incredible view of countless islands on the horizon and a luxurious bungalow with a feel-good character. We let the hotel staff take us to a very special beach. A peninsula that reaches far into the gulf and also has palm trees on a white beach to offer. Here you can spend a few hours until we are picked up again. The evenings are so incredibly pleasant that you can sit outside and relax until late at night.

The next day, after breakfast, we start an exploration tour on a scooter. The island can be circumnavigated on a single road. Driving here is particularly fun. A relatively lonely path that leads through a lush green landscape. Occasionally, small villages line the roadside, and there are always magnificent views of the sea. The first beach is away from all restaurants or hotels. There is only a small mobile kitchen and a toilet here. We share the beach with seven or eight other tourists and countless little crabs. After a swim and sunbathing, we continue on to the adventure. According to the navigation system, there is a small remarkable shortcut, but it leads through the forest and is not paved. We try our luck and end up on an unpaved road that looks very beaten up by heavy rain. With calm and patience, we are indeed shaken vigorously, but we also master the most difficult passages. We even come across a scooter with two locals coming towards us, who smile encouragingly at us...I interpret it as 'encouraging' and not 'amusing'. After an exhausting half an hour, the road turns into an asphalted street, and we are more than relieved to have survived this section. The second beach is almost touristy and offers some shops and dining options. After the beach action, we treat ourselves to a Thai crepe, a so-called Roti Pancake. Very thin, crispy, and absolutely recommended. In the late afternoon, we visit a market of the locals. There is even a bouncy castle for children and it is a meeting point for the islanders. We treat ourselves to a few servings of corn and then find a cozy beach bar to relax. We enjoy the last evening together to the fullest with cocktails and good food. A very beautiful and relaxing time comes to an end.