Review · THAILAND SPEEDBOAT TOURS

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat

★ 4.5 · 2 reviews From $24 a head Bookable on Viator
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The useful thing about this transfer is that it turns a potentially awkward island-to-mainland journey into a single booked ride. You meet the Green Planet crew at Manoh Pier, cross the Andaman Sea by speedboat, and reach Nopparat Thara Pier in about 40 minutes, with a possible stop at Koh Yao Yai.

I like the daily service and the practical hotel connection in Ao Nang. I also like the small touches: a bottle of water was handed over at boarding, and the crossing was described as smooth and punctual. The main thing to watch is the weather, since rough seas can delay, postpone, or cancel the boat.

Key points to know before booking

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat - Key points to know before booking

  • Meet at Manoh Pier at 3:25 pm: The scheduled departure is 3:40 pm, so arrive 15 minutes early.
  • Expect a short Koh Yao Yai stop: The boat may call there to pick up or drop off other passengers.
  • Reach Ao Nang in about 40 minutes: This is much quicker than arranging a slower, more complicated connection.
  • Hotel transfer may be included: From Nopparat Thara Pier, Green Planet offers a free transfer if your Ao Nang hotel is in the covered area.
  • Give your hotel name when booking: The drop-off service depends on the exact location.
  • Plan around the sea: Bad weather, rough conditions, or limited availability can affect the schedule.

Why this Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang ride is useful

Koh Yao Noi is close to Ao Nang on a map, but island travel is rarely as simple as looking at the distance. You need a boat, a mainland arrival point, and often a final ride to your hotel. This Green Planet service handles the main part of that chain in one booking.

The speedboat leaves from Manoh Pier on the southwest side of Koh Yao Noi. Its scheduled departure is 3:40 pm, and you should arrive by 3:25 pm. That early arrival matters. A speedboat pier is not the place to arrive at the last second while searching for a confirmation email or asking where the boat goes.

The service runs daily in both low and high season. That makes it a useful option for a planned move from the island to the Ao Nang area, rather than a transport choice available only on selected dates.

You are booking a one-way transfer, not a sightseeing cruise. The Andaman Sea views are part of the ride, but the main purpose is to get you across the water with less fuss. I see that as the right way to judge this trip. It is transportation with a pleasant setting, not a full tour with guided stops.

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Leaving Manoh Pier at 3:40 pm

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat - Leaving Manoh Pier at 3:40 pm

At Manoh Pier, you meet the Green Planet crew before boarding. The supplied timing says to arrive 15 minutes before departure, which means 3:25 pm for the listed 3:40 pm boat.

Bring your booking confirmation on your phone. The ticket is mobile, so there is no need to print anything unless you prefer a paper backup. Confirmation is sent at the time of booking, which lets you keep the transport details together with your travel plans.

One small detail is worth noting: the information for this service says hotel pickup is not included. You make your own way to Manoh Pier. That is different from the hotel drop-off offered at the Ao Nang end, so allow time to reach the pier from wherever you are staying on Koh Yao Noi.

A bottle of water was given as a welcome on one recent crossing. That is not a major feature, but it is useful on a warm afternoon, especially if you have already packed and checked out of your accommodation.

The 40-minute crossing across the Andaman Sea

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat - The 40-minute crossing across the Andaman Sea

Once underway, the speedboat takes you toward Ao Nang. The listed ride time is about 40 minutes, although the actual journey can vary with sea conditions and the stop at Koh Yao Yai.

You can sit back and watch the Andaman Sea pass by while the pilot handles the route. The boat is designed to save time, so you should expect a practical, motor-powered crossing rather than a slow ferry ride. For me, the real value is the time saved at the end of an island stay. A shorter transfer gives you more of the day in Ao Nang and less time spent piecing together transport.

The ride is not guaranteed to be perfectly calm. The operator specifically notes that poor weather and sea conditions can cause delays, postponements, or cancellations. That is normal for a boat crossing, but it matters if you have a flight, a hotel check-in deadline, or another fixed appointment after arrival.

I would avoid scheduling anything that depends on arriving at an exact minute. The normal journey is short, but the sea gets the final say.

The Koh Yao Yai stop and what it means for you

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat - The Koh Yao Yai stop and what it means for you

The speedboat makes a short stop at Koh Yao Yai to pick up or drop off other people using the transfer. This is not presented as a sightseeing visit, so you should treat it as a brief operational stop rather than time to explore the island.

For most people, this is a minor interruption. The full journey is still listed at about 40 minutes, and the stop helps the operator serve more than one island route. It also means you should not assume the boat will run directly from Manoh Pier to Ao Nang without pausing.

If you are hoping for a quiet, nonstop crossing, this is the main detail to keep in mind. If your priority is a simple and reasonably quick connection, the stop is a fair trade.

The route gives you a look at the Andaman Sea between the islands and the mainland. Views are weather dependent, of course, and the boat ride is the experience itself. There is no guide-led commentary or scheduled attraction along the way, so bring your attention to the water, the passing islands, and the changing view as the boat heads toward Krabi.

Arrival at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang

The boat arrives at Nopparat Thara Pier, on the northern side of Ao Nang. This is the stated end point for the boat portion of the trip.

From there, Green Planet can provide a free hotel transfer in Ao Nang, but only if your hotel is within the covered drop-off area. You need to provide the hotel name when booking. Do not assume every hotel in the wider Krabi area qualifies simply because it uses an Ao Nang address.

This final connection is one of the strongest reasons to consider the service. Arriving at a pier with luggage is manageable, but finding another taxi or transfer after a boat ride adds another task. If your accommodation is covered, the included ride reduces that hassle and makes the journey feel like a proper point-to-point transfer.

The wording matters, though. The boat does not drop you directly at every hotel. It brings you to Nopparat Thara Pier, then the free hotel transfer applies only within the stated service area. Confirming your hotel name ahead of time is the sensible move.

The service also does not include pickup from your Koh Yao Noi hotel. You still need to arrange the first part of the journey to Manoh Pier.

Is $24.12 good value?

At $24.12 per person, the price is reasonable if you value speed and a simpler arrival in Ao Nang. You are paying for the speedboat crossing, basic travel insurance, and possible hotel drop-off on the Ao Nang side.

The value is strongest for people carrying luggage or working with a tight travel plan. A cheaper boat option might exist at another time, but a low fare is less useful if it leaves you arranging several separate rides. Here, the boat and the possible final transfer are planned together.

The price is less compelling if you are already staying close to the pier, have plenty of time, and can easily arrange your own mainland transport. In that case, flexibility may matter more than a pre-booked connection.

I also think the price should be judged alongside the daily operation. You are not limited to a rare departure during one part of the season. The service runs in both low and high season, although availability can still be limited on particular dates.

Basic travel insurance is included. The supplied details do not explain the full coverage, so I would not treat it as a replacement for your own travel insurance. It is best viewed as a modest added protection attached to the transfer.

Who should book this speedboat transfer?

Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang by Green Planet Speed Boat - Who should book this speedboat transfer?

This ride suits you if you want to leave Koh Yao Noi and reach Ao Nang without arranging every step independently. It works especially well for:

  • People who prefer to book transport in advance
  • Anyone who wants a fast crossing instead of a slower boat journey
  • Visitors with an Ao Nang hotel that qualifies for the free drop-off
  • People traveling during either low or high season
  • Anyone who would rather use a known meeting point than negotiate transport on arrival

It may be less suitable if you need a guaranteed arrival time. Sea conditions can change the schedule, and the stop at Koh Yao Yai adds a small variable to the route. It is also not the right choice if you need pickup from your Koh Yao Noi hotel, since that is not included.

The maximum group size is 75 people. That tells you this is a shared transfer, not a private boat. The group size may feel perfectly practical for a short crossing, but you should not expect a private guide or a custom route.

Timing, luggage, and practical planning

The most important timing detail is simple: arrive at Manoh Pier 15 minutes before the scheduled departure. For the listed 3:40 pm departure, that means being ready at 3:25 pm.

Keep your mobile ticket easy to reach. You may also want your Ao Nang hotel name and booking details available, since the operator asks for the hotel information for the drop-off service.

The supplied information does not state a luggage limit, so I would avoid assuming that oversized or unusually heavy items are accepted without question. If you have bulky equipment, ask before booking rather than arriving at the pier and hoping for the best.

The boat runs daily, but daily operation is not the same as a guarantee in every kind of weather. Green Planet may delay, postpone, or cancel the crossing for bad weather, rough seas, or limited availability. If the operator cancels for those reasons, the information provided says you receive a full refund.

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. That gives you some useful flexibility if your island plans change, but it does not remove the need to watch the weather near departure.

What the positive feedback tells me

The clearest praise concerns punctual service and a trouble-free crossing. One German-language comment specifically noted that the pickup was on time, unlike other organizations, and also mentioned the complimentary bottle of water. The crossing itself was described as smooth.

That combination is important for a transfer. Punctuality matters more here than entertainment, because you are trying to move between two destinations. The water is a small courtesy, but it shows attention to the basic comfort of the ride.

There are only two published ratings in the supplied information, with an average score of 4.5 out of 5. That is encouraging, but it is not a large sample. I would place more weight on the concrete details, punctual departure, a smooth crossing, and a useful welcome drink, than on the score alone.

There are also no detailed comments about the exact hotel drop-off process, luggage handling, or how the Koh Yao Yai stop affects the total time. That is why I would confirm your hotel area and keep a little spare time in your Ao Nang plans.

Final call: should you book it?

Book this transfer if your main goal is a quick, pre-arranged move from Koh Yao Noi to Ao Nang. The 40-minute speedboat ride, daily schedule, Andaman Sea views, and possible hotel transfer from Nopparat Thara Pier make it a sensible choice at $24.12.

Before paying, check three things: you can reach Manoh Pier by 3:25 pm, your Ao Nang hotel is within the covered drop-off area, and your schedule can tolerate a weather-related delay. If those points work, this is a practical boat transfer with a good balance of speed and convenience.

FAQ

Where does the speedboat leave from?

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

What time should I arrive at Manoh Pier?

The scheduled departure is 3:40 pm. You should meet the Green Planet crew 15 minutes earlier, at about 3:25 pm.

How long does the boat ride take?

The crossing takes approximately 40 minutes. There may be a short stop at Koh Yao Yai to pick up or drop off other passengers.

Where does the boat arrive in Ao Nang?

The boat arrives at Nopparat Thara Pier in Ao Nang.

Is hotel transportation included?

A free transfer from Nopparat Thara Pier to your Ao Nang hotel is available if the hotel is within the covered drop-off area. Hotel pickup on Koh Yao Noi is not included.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours before the experience for a full refund. Bad weather, poor sea conditions, or limited availability may also lead to a delay, postponement, or cancellation with a full refund.

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