Coral Island (Koh Hey)

Coral Island (Koh Hey) Near Phuket

Coral Island, known locally as Koh Hey (เกาะเฮ), is one of the closest islands to Phuket. It is only 6.5 km off the south coast and takes about 15 minutes by speedboat from Rawai Beach or Chalong Pier. The island has two beaches (Long Beach and Banana Beach), clear water for snorkelling, and enough activities to fill a half-day or a full day.

It is one of the easiest island trips from Phuket because the crossing is short, the sea is usually calm, and it works well even during the low season when longer boat trips to the Similans or Phi Phi can be rough. Day trip packages start from about 1,700 baht per person, including hotel transfer, speedboat, snorkel gear, and lunch.

Coral Island works well as a family outing. The 15-minute boat ride is short enough for young children, the water on Long Beach is shallow and calm, and there is food, shade, and snorkel gear on the spot. It is one of the easiest day trips for families with kids from Phuket.

Long Beach

Long Beach is the main beach on the island, stretching along the east side with white sand and shallow turquoise water. There are several restaurants and bars along the tree line. Water activities include banana boats, parasailing, kayaking, snorkelling, and even introductory scuba diving right off the beach.

Long Beach has improved in recent years. The sand is excellent, the water colour over the shallow seabed is striking, and there are enough tall trees to provide shade throughout the day. It is quieter than Banana Beach because most tour groups now go directly to the other side. That makes Long Beach the better choice if you want a more relaxed experience. I usually stay here for lunch at one of the beachfront restaurants rather than joining the crowded buffet on Banana Beach.

Banana Beach

Banana Beach is the smaller of the two beaches, on the west side of the island. It is where most tour speedboats now arrive, and it has a well-organised setup with restaurants, shops, beach chairs, and a full range of water activities. If you book a standard day trip package, this is where you will likely spend most of your time.

The routine is straightforward: you arrive by speedboat, get assigned a beach chair, receive an orientation about activities and the buffet lunch schedule, and then the day is yours. Snorkelling gear is included in most packages, and extras like parasailing, banana boats, and jet skis are available for an additional fee. The beach itself is pretty, with clear water and soft sand. It gets busiest between 10 am and 2 pm when multiple tour groups overlap. If you arrive on the first boat (around 9:30 am), you get a quieter window before the crowd builds.

A standard Banana Beach day trip costs about 2,200 baht per person, including hotel transfer to Chalong Pier, speedboat, snorkel equipment, buffet lunch, and a beach chair.

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Where to Find the Quieter Spots

If you prefer a calmer experience, there are two easy options. The first is to walk from Banana Beach to Long Beach. A dirt path connects the two beaches, and it takes about 10-15 minutes. Most tour groups stay on Banana Beach, so Long Beach is noticeably quieter, especially in the afternoon.

The second option is to head to the far end of Long Beach. The water there is calm and full of fish, and it is a good spot for snorkelling close to shore. Just remember to walk back in time for your boat departure.

How to Get to Coral Island

Most visitors book a day trip package through a tour counter or their hotel. Packages typically include hotel pickup, speedboat transfer from Chalong Pier, snorkel gear, lunch, and a beach chair. Prices start at about 1,700 baht for Long Beach trips and 2,200 baht for Banana Beach packages.

You can also arrange your own boat from Rawai Beach. Longtail boats at the pier offer return trips for around 1,500-2,000 baht per boat (not per person), which works out cheaper if you are in a group. The crossing takes about 15 minutes.

Coral Island is accessible year-round. The water between Phuket and the island is sheltered, so even during the monsoon season (May to October), the crossing is usually smooth. This makes it a good alternative when weather conditions cancel trips to more exposed islands like the Similans.

Insider Tips

If you want a quieter day, book a Long Beach trip rather than a Banana Beach one. Long Beach gets far fewer tour groups and has better shade under the trees. You can snorkel, swim, and eat at the beachfront restaurants without being part of an organised schedule.

Arrive on the first boat if you go to Banana Beach. The 9:30 am arrivals get 30-60 minutes of relative calm before the next wave of speedboats shows up. By 11 am it is busy.

Bring cash. Card payments are limited on the island, and you will need cash for extra activities, drinks, and tips. Waterproof bags for your phone are useful for snorkelling photos.

Visit at high tide for the best water colour and swimming. At low tide, the water can be very shallow close to shore, especially on Long Beach.

If you want an overnight island experience near Phuket, Racha Island is a similar distance and has several well-maintained resorts with confirmed availability. Coral Island previously had a resort on Long Beach, but as of 2026, its status is uncertain.

Coral Island Through the Years

Coral Island has changed dramatically since my first visit in the late 1990s. Back then, Long Beach had a handful of basic huts and almost no visitors. The water was the same impossible blue, but there was nobody there to see it. Banana Beach was completely undeveloped, just sand, and a couple of longtail boats pulled up on shore.

The island became a mass tourism destination in the 2000s as tour groups discovered the short boat ride and photogenic water. Banana Beach was built up with restaurants, shops, and activity stations almost overnight. In recent years, the balance has shifted. Long Beach is quieter than it has been in a decade, and even Banana Beach is better managed. The island is still busy, but for a quick half-day escape from Phuket with genuinely beautiful water, it remains one of the easiest options.

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