Koh Yao Noi stands apart from its better-known southern Thai neighbors for all the right reasons. While South Thailand’s beauty remains astounding, many travellers, especially those craving the castaway charm of the region’s past, have grown weary of the chaotic nightlife, the hoards of backpackers clutching plastic cocktail buckets and the overcrowded longtail boats that now define much of the once-idyllic island scene.
But Koh Yao Noi is a rare exception. Floating in the turquoise Andaman Sea between Phuket and Krabi, the island feels like it’s been forgotten or bypassed by the country’s hurried development and instead remains blissfully low-key, with lush green hills, quiet white-sand beaches, aquamarine waters and a sleepy central village.
If there were ever a perfect setting for a Six Senses resort, this would be it. Perched on jungle-covered hills, the island’s untouched atmosphere offers guests that precious off-grid feeling without sacrificing luxury. Clever landscaping ensures privacy and discreet architecture preserves uninterrupted views, so much so that it can feel like the most breathtaking views in Thailand belongs to you alone.
Getting to the resort is an experience in itself. After a late arrival into Phuket, we were swiftly transferred to Ao Po Grand Marina, where chilled towels, homemade granola bars and a plush, fully staffed speedboat awaited. We reclined on what was effectively a floating double bed and cruised through the moonlit silhouettes of Phang Nga Ba’s limestone karsts, the bright lights of Phuket fading into the distance behind us.
There’s something undeniably magical about arriving at a resort in the dead of night, and waking up to complete surprise. Though I’d missed my first glimpse of the famous islands and fluorescent green waters, early next morning I was rewarded with something just as memorable. Awoken by jet lag at 6 a.m., I stepped out onto our villa’s upper terrace to a crescendoing chorus of jungle sounds, a harmony of cicadas, birds and crickets that I hadn’t head since nights spent in the Amazon rainforest. As the sun rose, limestone outcrops emerged through the morning mist, framed by our villa’s jungle of coconut palms, banyan trees and alocasia leaves. Two oriental pied hornbills perched just ahead, completing the kind of movie-magic wake-up call you never forget.
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The View one-bedroom villa / ©Six Senses Yao Noi
Stay
One of the standout reasons we fell in love with Six Senses Yao Noi was the villa accommodations. Stilted and thatched, the resort’s 56 pool villas are built like luxurious treehouses, discreetly perched along winding jungle paths navigated by chauffeur-driven gold buggies, their rooftops just visible through the trees. Each is enveloped in a unique landscape, some tucked deep into the forest, others just steps from the beach and many opening onto panoramic views of Phang Nga Bay. We made use of the villa’s impressively spacious outdoor area, with an expansive deck, shaded sala and al fresco dining space, and spent sunset floating in our private infinity pool, listening to the jungle sounds and watching tropical birds and lizards dart through the trees.
Inside, the villas feel grounded in nature without compromising the brand’s signature five-star comfort. Blending teak, bamboo and driftwood, the villa’s sliding walls blur the line between inside and out, while sunken ocean-facing bathtubs and open-air showers let you stay immersed in the elements.
The Ocean Retreat is one of the resort’s most impressive options. As the largest villa at Six Senses Yao Noi, it’s ideal for families or groups, with sweeping views of the bay, a huge private pool and enough space to feel like your own compound, and the two-bedroom layout can be extended to three by connecting it with the neighbouring Ocean Deluxe Pool Villa.
If you’re looking for a romantic escape, it’s hard to imagine a better honeymoon setting than The View. Perched high above the resort with 180-degree vistas, this one-bedroom villa is designed for seclusion. Vaulted ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows frame sea and sky, while outside, there’s a private terrace with a pool shack for DIY cocktails and a sunken dining area. For cosy nights in, there’s even a private cinema.
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Dine
While breakfast is served at The Living Room, we started our morning with a buggy ride to the resort’s organic farm just outside the hotel gates, collecting eggs from free-range hens and ducks to bring back for breakfast. The brand’s dedication to sustainability is evident here, from the jazz playing over the henhouse to relax the free-range chickens to the baby goats munching on leftover food waste.
The Living Room’s breakfast spread is generous, featuring both Western and Asian fare. Don’t skip the Thai iced tea, spicy curries or the perfectly ripe dragonfruit. Guests can also enjoy lunch and casual dinners here, with views out to the beach and limestone islands beyond.
For more elevated dining, The Hilltop is perched on the highest point of the resort, where guests can dine by the infinity pool by day, and indulge under the stars by night. Our favourite meal was at the more understated Nithan, tucked inside a wooden open-air structure in the jungle, where we enjoyed exquisite Thai cooking. Upstairs, private dining pavilions offer seclusion, while those after something more theatrical can book the Chef’s Table experience.
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Whether you’re looking to dip a toe into relaxation or dive into a full reset, the spa has something to offer, as treatments range from energising Thai massages to immersive wellness programs.
Guests of The Hilltop can enjoy a sustainably-crafted menu and views overlooking the spectacular limestone formations of Phang Nga Bay.
A boat tour of Phang Nga Bay is unmissable. The calm, clear waters and dramatic limestone islands make this one of the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia.
Relax
Tucked into the hillside, the Six Senses Yao Noi’s Spa is designed as a miniature stilted village, inspired by traditional northern Thai architecture. Whether you’re looking to dip a toe into relaxation or dive into a full reset, spa treatments range from energising Thai massages to immersive wellness programs, where guests can sign up for multi-day pathways focused on immunity, mental clarity, detox, sleep and more.
We tried a Wellness Screening, a non-invasive diagnostic measuring key biomarkers such as stress, sleep and metabolism. For those staying longer, the results can be used to design a completely bespoke wellness program. For us, it informed our relaxing yet restorative evening massage, where the therapists incorporated elements of traditional Thai stretching, with jungle sounds as our soundtrack.
For those who prefer a more traditional wellness routine, there’s a 24-hour fitness centre, steam and sauna rooms, a meditation space and a beauty suite. Morning yoga in the open-air pavilion is a must and if you’re up for something energising, the Thai kickboxing sessions in the beachside ring come with an ocean breeze and unforgettable views.
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Explore
The beauty of this resort if you can do as much—or as little—as you like, with the addition of each guest’s Guest Experience Maker and the handy Six Senses app allowing guests to easily organize, cancel and re-organize activities with ease. For days of poolside lounging, head to The Hilltop, home to the resort’s show-stopping infinity pool with one of the best views in Thailand. Below, Mai Thai Beach offes tranquil stretch of sand accessible only to resort guests, where you can paddleboard, kayak or catch a movie at one of the resort’s open-air film nights. A highlight is the James Bond dinner experience, where guests watch The Man with the Golden Gun beachside, each course inspired by the film’s exotic settings and finished with a martini, shaken not stirred.
A boat tour of Phang Nga Bay is unmissable. The calm, clear waters and dramatic limestone islands make this one of the most dramatic landscapes of Southeast Asia. We boarded a longtail boat and spent a dreamy afternoon exploring the same karsts we’d admired from our villa, swimming in still lagoons, discovering hidden beaches and soaking in the view from sea level.
Villas from $1,500 per night, sixsenses.com