Koh Yao (Islands)
The Sea Gypsies has for centuries inhabited Koh Yao Islands - the group located between Phuket and Krabi. Often referred to as the secret getaway for locals in Phuket and Krabi, Koh Yao represents the best of what Thailand has to offer visitors.
Kho Yao are two main islands - Koh Yao Noi (small island) and Koh Yao Yai (big island), with Yao Noi being the most developed of the two with modern facilities and better infrastructure.
A proud history
Cave paintings in the island group goes back from 2000 years ago and documents a long and proud history of sea farers who found shelter in Koh Yao all year around. Moken people (sea gypsies) were the first to settle down permanently - later followed migrants from the Malay peninsula, in what today is Satun and Trang provinces.
The main industries on the islands have always been fishing, and more recently rubber plantations.
