Ao Yai — Long Beach — runs for several kilometres along the western shore of Koh Phayam and faces directly into the Andaman sunset. The sand is fine and pale, the water clear and warm, and the beach is dotted with small bungalow resorts and beachside restaurants serving grilled fish and fresh cashew dishes. It is quiet in a way that is increasingly hard to find in Thailand.
The beach is best from November through April, when the seas are calm and the sky clear. From May through October the monsoon brings rough surf and strong winds — some guesthouses close for the season, and the island settles into a very quiet mode. The cashew trees in the interior flower in the dry season, and the harvest in March and April fills the air with the smell of roasting nuts.