Religion and Culture
Buddhism is the prevalent religion in Thailand, however, the vast majority of inhabitants in Koh Yao Yai are of Muslim faith and retains traditional culture of which almost unchanged. Largely unaffected by booming development in nearby Phuket, the people of this island lead a simple life bond with the sea along with making a living from the sea. Boat building and farming techniques here have been passed from father to son and, while some of the youngsters leave Koh Yao to seek the bright lights of Phuket, most return to their tight knit community.