The Santisook Bungalows in Phang Nga Bay are locally owned and run by locals. We love the family atmosphere and friendly service that are standard on Ko Yao Noi.

Every baht that is spent in this bungalow stays on Ko Yao Noi. That's the way things must be in order to maintain the cultural integrity of the island.

Locally owned and operated, sustainable development is the direction that the community leaders desire and we support their efforts fully.

The view from the bungalows is nice, but the grounds are so pretty that you might not look out in the bay.

Several small islands sit just off the long beach infront of the bungalows. Early birds can get some wonderful photos as the sun rises over the islands. The mountains of Krabi Province stand tall behind the islands. Khao Phanom Bencha rests off in the distance. Often shrouded in clouds, the summit area is home to some of the more rare animals including Malaysian Sun Bears and White-handed Gibbons. But you don't have to climb a mountain to enjoy tropical wildlife.

Ko Yao Noi sustains a healthy population of birds, monkeys, monitor lizards, barking deer and very colorful insect life. Oriental Pied Hornbills frequent the trees surrounding the bungalows. Ruddy Kingfishers, bright purple kingfishers with a wonderful 'trilly' call, zip around in the mangrove on either side of the bungalows; as do Brown-winged, White-throated and Collared Kingfishers. Mangrove Pittas sometimes visit too. Stunning scenery? ... you bet!

The bungalows are stylish and clean. Each bungalow in this small-scale operation is different. There are some with queen-sized beds and one that's a big family-sized bungalow. They have electricity all night, so the fans don't cut off in the middle of the night.

The restrooms are clean. You'll have to take a traditional Thai shower. Well, a traditonal shower is often dipped from a large barrel. What I mean here is that it'll be cold water. It'll certainly wake you up in the morning.

All of the bungalows have decks with comfy lounge chairs.

They also have a small 'sala' with hammocks. This place is all about relaxing.

The food at the restaurant is outstanding. In fact, it's some of the best around. If you'd like to give real Thai food a try, the cooks won't hold back on the spices. If your palate is more tender, don't worry, they can tailor it down to any level you wish. Breakfast varies from all of the standard styles of eggs, to yummy Thai rice porridge, to thick fruit pancakes. Buffet style meals are also available for groups or large families.

During holiday seasons such as Christmas, Chinese New Year (mid February) and the Thai New Year (mid-April), it is often difficult to get the rooms we desire. If you plan on coming during these times, book your trip as soon as possible. The rooms at the other bungalow operations are nice as well though. There are a couple of other operators very close to our primary bungalows that are well within our quality standards and they too are all locally owned and operated. We can stay at one place and eat at another. That's easy.