Experience the Phang Nga Bay in style and silence. The Six Senses Koh Yao Noi luxury resort offers you both and more. Here is my hotel review.
If you think of Thailand, you might not think of lonely beaches and quiet nature. Recent years have seen a real tourism boom in the country that swept away all wishes for solitude. On Koh Yao Noi, a small island in the middle of the Andaman Sea close to Phuket, you can still celebrate ennui in style (check out my travel guide to Koh Yao Noi). While Koh Yao Noi offers little in the way of infrastructure and major tourist attractions, it does offer a world-class resort: The Six Senses Koh Yao Noi. There is probably no better place to stay in Thailand if you are looking for solitude, breathtaking nature, a respite from the stress at home, and responsible tourism.
I visited the beautiful hotel twice. One in 2015 and a second time more than ten years later in 2026. Here’s my review
Note: I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. I had no association with the Six Senses whatsoever when writing this review. My opinions are my own, as was the money that paid for both my stays.
What to expect at Six Senses Koh Yao Noi hotel
The Six Senses resort on Koh Yao Noi belongs to the luxury hotel chain of the same name. The focus of Six Senses lies on sustainable luxury tourism. So you will eat only organic food (they actually produce some of it themselves!), all buildings and furniture will be made from renewable materials, and even for the outdoor activities, there will be a noticeable emphasis on sustainability. The whole resort actually feels more like a national park and not so much like a hotel.
Now don’t be fooled by this somewhat misleading preface –the hotel offers all the amenities of an international 6-star hotel. In fact, the whole resort doesn’t offer single rooms at all. Everyone will have their own villa located on a hill with the perfect view of the Phang Nga Bay and more than enough distance to your neighbor to allow for all the privacy they could want.
The food, while being organic, is way above what you can normally expect in Thailand. In fact, I haven’t eaten better anywhere else. There is also an excellent spa at the hotel, a water sports center, and even a kickboxing ring! At the highest point of the hotel, you will find a large infinity pool with a very opulent bar and probably the best view of the Phang Nga Bay in Thailand.
For those who like to be on the beach and hear the waves crashing against the surf, the hotel also offers a somewhat small private beach. Given that most of the roughly 20 resident tourist will have their own private beach, or stay at their own private pool, or visit the big infinity pool on the hilltop, you will have those that puplic beaches mostly to yourself. There will be a big outdoor cinema at the beach at night as well.
I will say that the beach is really small, and it can get really hot around noon. So, if you are someone who wants to spent 90% of your time at the beach, this hotel is NOT for you. You get picture-perfect views of the Phang Na Bay from your room or the hilltop pool, but the beach itself is rather mediocre. Service is lovely, sure, but it’s nothing to write home about.
Also, if you expect plush furniture and staff wearing frocks, you will be disappointed, though. In accordance with the general theme of the hotel, everything and everyone will be very relaxed and low-key. Nothing whatsoever should distract you from the beautiful nature around you. The whole Koh Yao Noi resort is well designed, but rather in terms of not offering a distraction, and the perfect setting for a relaxing holiday. To enhance this experience, everyone is allotted his or her own butler. He/She will care for all your outdoor activities and any other needs you may have. You will not lack anything at all.
The villas at Six Senses Koh Yao Noi
I already mentioned that there are no single rooms at Six Senses. The whole resort is located on a hill and consists of 55 distinct villas. Since the villas are not only quite big but also very far away from each other, the whole resort is interconnected by small roadways. To get anywhere, you will need to pick up an electro golf cab. The staff is very friendly, and calling one to get anywhere only takes a minute or so. Naturally, you are allowed to walk as well. But taking the cab is quite fun!
But back to the rooms! Each villa features its own spacious infinity pool, a sun deck, a big living room, a dressing room, a very big bathroom, an additional outdoor shower and a kind of patio-like living room amounting to a total of roughly 150 square meters. Some villas in the Six Senses Koh Yao Noi hotel do have their own access to the beach. Basically, all villas share the same amenities – the main difference lies in the location.
On my second stay, we booked one of the beach villas. Those are a bit bigger and can accommodate up to 4 people. They have direct access to the beach (which I love), but don’t expect a large stretch of blond sand all for yourself. It’s more or less direct access, and that’s it. The views from your private pool are hard to beat, though. I don’t think I can name more than 5 luxury hotels on this planet with better views from your hotel room.
Please know that not all villas offer direct views of the bay. I highly recommend booking one of the ‘Ocean Pool Villas’. The glorious view of the Phang Nga Bay is more than worth the upgrade. You will spend a lot of time in your villa (since you got your own private pool, there is actually little reason to get outside); you will regret looking only at the jungle foliage.
In all honesty, the public spaces of the resort are rather disappointing. While the hilltop pool is spectacular, it’s also often extremely crowded with loud music and typically quite a few kids. During my two stays (each 10 days) at the hotel, I don’t think I spent more than 5 hours combined at the beach or the main pool. The serenity you can enjoy at your villa and the views are why you should book this hotel.
Another thing you absolutely need to be aware of is the fact that everything looks a bit “run down”. This is, more or less, by intention. The focus is on sustainable materials. But those very materials, combined with the high humidity on this tropical island, will deteriorate faster than you can look. The team is probably trying their best, but the hotel is more than 20 years old now, and it shows.
Koh Yao Noi is also extremely secluded, with very little infrastructure on the island itself. While the proximity to one of Thailand’s most famous national parks comes with its perks, it also means that access to international interior design, appliances, and craftsmen is a lot more limited.
Naturally, all hotel rooms also offer the obvious stuff like a telephone, a docking station for mobiles, a big fridge (that actually deserves its name), coffee and tea machines, satellite TV, and so on. The staff will also provide you with daily fresh fruit, organic mineral water, and snacks on a complimentary basis.
You’ll lack for nothing, but everything will have this rustic charm that will not be everyone’s taste exactly.
Restaurants and Food at Six Senses Koh Yao Noi
The resort has 3 restaurants worth mentioning (there is a 4th, but that is some sort of cooking school). One is located high on the hill offering a spectacular view, and two others overlooking the beach in quiet the romantic setting. All three can be easily recommended, all three offer organic food, and all three stick to the highest international standards. Personally speaking, I’d stick to the Thai cuisine. While they make a reasonable attempt at cooking international classics, it’s not their strong suit.
Most of the restaurants are naturally a bit more on the expensive side and a lot more expensive than anything you will find on the island. But I would say 8 out of 10 meals I had at the restaurant were downright delicious to the point I had absolutely nothing to complain about. And, mark my words, for me this is very rare – even though I almost exclusively stay at the top luxury hotels of the world.
The Six Senses Koh Yah Noi resort also offers spectacular dinner events. Like a picnic on the beach or on an island in the middle of the Phang Nga Bay (they will also prepare delicious lunch boxes for you if you are going out on a day trip). Since your villa will be very big, you can also arrange for a private barbecue in your room, with your own private chef preparing the choicest meats. Don’t miss this experience!
Breakfast at Six Senses Koh Yao Noi resort is also worth a special mention. From my experience, breakfasts in southern countries so far away from Europe are usually good, but not outstanding. Not so here: There is a definite focus on local breakfast cuisine with curries, noodle soup station and the like. Still, the hotel is aware that many Westerners will want to enjoy their bread, cereals, or egg delicacies for breakfast. The kitchen really tries to make you feel at home, even though all food stuff has to be shipped in from far away and under constant cooling.
You will find the best Italian hams and sausages, aromatic French bakery wares, and a decent cheese selection. In fact, the buffet is split up into different little shops. So it almost feels like going grocery shopping for breakfast – yet in a very relaxed way. What makes this breakfast so outstanding is that they really focus on fresh produce. In fact, you can even collect your own eggs at their farm early in the morning.
All in all, you will definitely enjoy the food at the hotel – even if you are not a big fan of Thai food like me.
How to get to Six Senses Koh Yao Noi hotel
Since Koh Yao Noi is located off the common tourist routes. Someone from the hotel will pick you up from the international airport in Phuket for an extra fee that is, if you ask me, the only way to get to the hotel. A limousine will take you to the harbor on the east coast of Phuket. From there, they’ll provide a speedboat to take you to Koh Yao Noi. All in all, this will take roughly two hours. Admittedly, this sounds like a lot, but the staff really tries to make your transfer as relaxing as possible. Also, keep in mind that the boat trip will be straight through the spectacular karst islands of the Andaman Sea, and you will be rewarded with the utter solitude on the island. Naturally, Six Senses Koh Yao Noi offers the same service on your way back.
This service is not exactly cheap but the alternative is taking the public ferry which only runs a couple of times a day. You still will need a private pick up from the pier on Koh Yao Noi and a way to actually get to the pier. You will save a couple of bhat that way (but not as much as you’d expect; especially in a larger group), but the whole trip will become a 6-hour long ordeal instead a smooth transfer.
The resort has its own little harbor and a couple of boats you can rent for a day trip to any destinations of your choice. Since Koh Yao Noi is located rather close to Koh Phi Phi and other famous nature reserves, this is definitely one of the big advantages of the hotel
My Summary
Even decades after its opening, Six Senses Koh Yao Noi still deserves its 6-star rating – barely so. The location, the solitude, and the food are truly outstanding. The staff is very friendly, English speaking, and for the most part well-trained. Due to the fact that the interior design focuses on sustainable materials, you might miss a bit of the stylish class of other leading houses around the world.
I think a proper refurbishment would do the resort good. Come here, if you want to enjoy quality time with your loved ones in the solitude of your private villas. Come here, because the food is delicious. Book a stay if you want a relaxed atmosphere without high heels and neckties. Those are the reasons why I returned to this unique property, and I would do so again. Just don’t expect glitz, glamor, and a mile-long beach. And, again, the jungle villas with no views are something I would avoid.
Check out prices for Six Senses Koh Yao Noi here >
What is your opinion? Would you visit Six Senses Koh Yao Noi? Or is the island just too remote for you?
Disclaimer: I had no association with Six Senses Koh Yao Noi whatsoever when writing this review. My opinions are my own, and so was the money that paid for the stay. All in all, I stayed 10 nights at this luxury hotel. All pictures are authentic and my own.
