Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat

The useful trick here is simple: this 40-minute speedboat replaces a slower, more awkward trip back to the mainland. You meet Green Planet’s crew at Manoh Pier on Koh Yao Noi, ride across the Andaman Sea, and arrive at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang.

I like the daily departures and the practical hotel transfer option. I also like the small touch of a complimentary bottle of water, which one passenger received at boarding. The main catch is that you must arrange your own way to Manoh Pier, and the free hotel drop-off only applies to covered Ao Nang hotels.

Key points

• Meet at Manoh Pier at 3:40 pm: Arrive 15 minutes early on the southwest side of Koh Yao Noi.
• Short stop at Koh Yao Yai: The boat may pause to pick up or drop off other passengers.
• Fast crossing: The ride takes about 40 minutes, leaving you more time in Ao Nang.
• Hotel transfer included in some cases: From Nopparat Thara Pier, Green Planet offers a free transfer if your hotel is within its service area.
• Weather can affect departure: Rough seas or limited availability can cause a delay, postponement, or cancellation with a full refund.
• Book ahead for peace of mind: The mobile ticket gives you a confirmed place on a service that can fill well before departure.

Leaving Koh Yao Noi from Manoh Pier

Your trip begins at Manoh Pier, on the southwest side of Koh Yao Noi. The scheduled departure is 3:40 pm, and you should meet the Green Planet crew 15 minutes before that time.

This is not a hotel pickup service, so getting to the pier is your responsibility. That detail matters on Koh Yao Noi, where your accommodation may be some distance from Manoh Pier. Ask your hotel to help arrange transport, and allow enough time for the ride across the island.

At the pier, look for the Green Planet crew and have your mobile ticket ready. The booking confirmation is issued at the time of reservation, so you do not need to wait for a paper voucher. Keep your phone charged and make sure the ticket is easy to open before you leave your hotel.

The departure point is functional rather than a sightseeing stop. You are here to board a boat, not spend an afternoon at a harbor. Still, arriving early gives you time to find the crew, settle your bags, and avoid the last-minute scramble that can spoil a short transfer.

One useful detail comes from the service itself: a bottle of water may be handed to you when you board. It is a small courtesy, but welcome in Thailand’s heat and handy during the crossing.

The 40-minute crossing across the Andaman Sea

Once underway, the speedboat takes you toward Ao Nang. The ride lasts about 40 minutes, though the exact timing can change with sea conditions and the stop at Koh Yao Yai.

The main pleasure is the view. You can sit back and watch the Andaman Sea pass around you while the pilot handles the navigation. This is transport first, but it is far more pleasant than treating the journey as a chore. The open-water setting gives you a clear sense of the islands scattered between Phang Nga and Krabi.

Speedboats are not quiet ferries. The ride may feel lively, especially if the sea is choppy. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where you feel most comfortable, keep your eyes on the horizon when possible, and avoid arriving on an empty stomach. The supplied information does not specify seating or onboard facilities, so keep your expectations practical.

The boat can carry up to 75 people. That is the maximum group size, not a promise that every departure will be full. If the boat is busy, expect a shared transfer rather than a private ride. The benefit is the low price and quick crossing. The trade-off is less personal space and less control over the schedule.

The Koh Yao Yai stop adds time and context

The boat makes a short stop at Koh Yao Yai to pick up or drop off other passengers. This is part of the normal route, not a sightseeing excursion.

You may remain aboard while the crew handles the transfer. The stop gives you a brief look at another island in the Koh Yao group, but do not plan to get off and explore. The service is designed to move people between destinations, and the stop keeps the boat useful to more than one island.

For most passengers, the pause should be minor. It does mean the crossing is not a guaranteed nonstop 40 minutes from pier to pier. If you have a tightly timed evening plan in Ao Nang, keep some extra room in your schedule. The boat’s advertised duration is approximate, and weather or loading conditions can affect it.

I see this stop as a fair compromise. You get a direct island-to-mainland connection without arranging several separate boats, and the route serves passengers from both Koh Yao islands.

Arriving at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang

The boat ends at Nopparat Thara Pier, in the northern part of Ao Nang. This is the point to remember when planning your onward ride.

Green Planet includes a free transfer to your Ao Nang hotel only if the hotel is within the service area. You need to provide the hotel name when booking so the operator can confirm whether the drop-off is covered.

That promise is useful, but do not read it as a universal hotel shuttle. If your hotel falls outside the covered zone, you will need to arrange the final leg yourself. The information provided does not state the boundaries of the service area or list every qualifying property, so check your exact hotel before paying.

Nopparat Thara Pier is also a reasonable arrival point if you plan to continue on your own. You are already in Ao Nang, rather than being left at a distant mainland transport hub. Still, your booking includes the pier arrival and possible hotel transfer, not a guaranteed door-to-door service for every address.

The timing also works well for many island-to-coast itineraries. A mid-afternoon departure lets you enjoy the morning and early afternoon on Koh Yao Noi, then reach Ao Nang with time to settle in. The exact arrival time is not stated, so avoid booking a nonrefundable evening activity immediately after the boat.

What the $24.12 fare buys you

At $24.12 per person, this is a reasonable fare for a quick island transfer, especially when you compare it with the cost and hassle of arranging separate boats and a mainland ride.

You are paying for one-way speedboat transport, basic travel insurance, and possible hotel drop-off in Ao Nang. The transfer option is the part that adds the most value. If your hotel is covered, you avoid negotiating another ride after arriving with luggage.

The fare is less compelling if you still need a separate taxi from the pier, or if your hotel is outside the service area. Even then, the speed and advance booking can justify the price for you if you value a fixed departure more than the lowest possible transport cost.

The mobile ticket is another practical advantage. You can book ahead, keep the confirmation on your phone, and avoid searching for a boat at the last minute. The service is available daily in both low and high season, though availability is not unlimited.

The advance-booking pattern is worth noting. This departure is often reserved well ahead of time, with an average booking lead of 172 days. That does not mean you must book six months ahead, but it does suggest that you should not assume a same-day seat will be available, especially in high season.

Punctuality, water, and the small details

The strongest practical praise attached to this crossing is punctuality. One passenger specifically found the pickup on time and contrasted it with less reliable transport services. Since you are told to meet the crew at the pier rather than wait for a hotel pickup, punctuality mainly means the boat operation and boarding process stay on schedule.

That matters on a short connection. A late departure can turn a simple transfer into a stressful evening, particularly if you have a hotel check-in or dinner plan in Ao Nang.

The welcome bottle of water is worth mentioning because it tells you what kind of service to expect: basic, helpful, and focused on getting you across. This is not a sightseeing cruise with a full program or a personal guide. It is a working transfer operated by a crew that also handles the navigation and island stop.

The service has a rating of 4.5 from two reviews, so the available feedback is positive but limited. I would put more weight on the clear logistics than on the small sample: the boat runs daily, the crossing is short, and the route is straightforward.

Weather is the one factor you cannot control

The Andaman Sea can change the plan. Bad weather, rough sea conditions, or limited availability can delay, postpone, or cancel the transfer.

If Green Planet cancels for those reasons, you receive a full refund. That is reassuring, but it does not replace the time you may lose, so avoid scheduling an important flight or fixed tour immediately after this boat.

A flexible plan works best. If you have a same-day connection from Krabi or a firm appointment in Ao Nang, leave a generous buffer or consider spending the night before near your departure point. The data provided does not give a backup departure time, so you should not assume another boat will leave soon after a cancellation.

For a normal holiday transfer, the weather policy is fair. Sea transport must respond to conditions, and a full refund is better than being pushed onto an unsafe crossing. Just remember that the refund covers the canceled activity, not any separate hotel or transport costs you arranged around it.

Who should choose this speedboat

I would choose this service if you want a fast, prearranged connection from Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang and your hotel is within the covered drop-off area.

It suits you especially well if:

• You want to spend most of the day on Koh Yao Noi before leaving.
• You prefer a confirmed boat over finding transport at the pier.
• You are comfortable with a shared speedboat carrying up to 75 people.
• You like the idea of a short sea ride with views rather than a longer route.
• Your Ao Nang hotel can be confirmed for the free transfer.
• You can keep your evening schedule flexible in case of sea delays.

It may not suit you if you need a guaranteed nonstop crossing, dislike speedboats, or must arrive at a precise time. It is also less convenient if reaching Manoh Pier is difficult from your accommodation, since hotel pickup on Koh Yao Noi is not included.

Families and most able-bodied passengers can participate, according to the supplied information. Still, the service does not provide detailed information about luggage handling, seating, or special mobility arrangements. If you need a specific accommodation, ask before booking rather than guessing.

Booking details worth checking before you pay

Give Green Planet the exact name of your Ao Nang hotel. This is not a minor formality. The hotel name determines whether the free transfer from Nopparat Thara Pier applies.

Plan to reach Manoh Pier by 3:25 pm, fifteen minutes before the scheduled 3:40 pm departure. Since hotel pickup is not included, build in time for your own ride to the pier.

The transfer is one way. If you need to return to Koh Yao Noi later, arrange that separately.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. That gives you some room to adjust plans, though the weather-related cancellation policy is separate and is handled by the operator.

Should you book the Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang boat?

Book it if speed, a confirmed departure, and a possible hotel transfer matter more to you than having a private or fully flexible ride. At $24.12, the price is sensible for a 40-minute crossing, daily operation, and the convenience of avoiding several transport changes.

Before booking, confirm two things: that you can reach Manoh Pier on time, and that your Ao Nang hotel is covered for drop-off. If both answers are yes, this is a practical way to leave Koh Yao Noi without wasting a day in transit.

If your schedule is tight or weather is a serious concern, add a buffer and keep your first evening in Ao Nang open. With that small bit of planning, Green Planet’s speedboat does what it promises: it gets you from island to mainland quickly, with sea views along the way and less transport fuss at the other end.

FAQ

Where does the boat leave from?

The boat leaves from Manoh Pier on Koh Yao Noi, in Ko Yao District, Phang Nga.

What time should I meet the crew?

The scheduled departure is 3:40 pm. You should meet the Green Planet crew 15 minutes before departure.

Where does the boat arrive in Ao Nang?

The boat arrives at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang.

Is hotel drop-off included?

A free transfer from Nopparat Thara Pier is available if your Ao Nang hotel is within the covered drop-off area. You need to provide the hotel name.

Is hotel pickup on Koh Yao Noi included?

No. You must make your own way to Manoh Pier.

How long does the crossing take?

The speedboat ride takes approximately 40 minutes, with a short stop at Koh Yao Yai to pick up or drop off passengers.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

Bad weather, rough sea conditions, or limited availability may cause a delay, postponement, or cancellation. A full refund is provided for a cancellation caused by these conditions.