Which Islands Near Phuket Should I Visit?
There are hundreds of islands around Phuket. Some are towering limestone cliffs rising above the water, while stunning white sandy beaches surround others. Visiting them all would take a lifetime. You can explore these islands in three ways: 1) take a day trip, 2) spend a night or more on one, or 3) consider island hopping or even a private cruise. Here are a few islands near Phuket that we’ve had the chance to visit, with more to come as we continue our travels.
Phi Phi Island
(About 2,800 baht with transfer – 50 mn Speedboat – Full day)
Phi Phi is the most visited island in South Thailand, mostly departing Phuket or Krabi. It became even more popular after the famous movie “The Beach” and the beautiful Maya Bay. Phi Phi mainly consists of two large islands: Phi Phi Don, where all the hotels, restaurants, and busy nightlife are, and Phi Phi Leh, a protected national park without construction.
Phi Phi Don is divided into several beaches with different atmospheres: Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay (the town), Long Beach, Laem Ting Beach, and Loh Bagao Beach. You can choose depending on your travel style and how you want to spend your holiday. Tonsai’s central area is mostly a destination for young travellers who want to party on a tropical island with beautiful beaches and an easygoing atmosphere, not to mention the many cannabis shops.
To make the most of it, take a two-day trip. It’s a little far and can be tiring to reach by speedboat, but you’ll have the best beaches to yourself in the morning.
Popular Ways to Discover Phi Phi Island
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Similan Islands
(About 2,400 baht with hotel transfer – 2 hours minibus + 1.30-hour speedboat – Full day)
The Similan Islands are a bit far from the island of Phuket, and you will have to dedicate an entire day to visit them, but the experience is so incredible that you will never regret it. The Similans used to have tents and even basic bungalows, but these are now gone, and only day trips are available. In addition, the islands are only open during the high season, usually October to May, so check before planning.
Because it is an archipelago, a trip to Similans would usually consists on passing by a few island, snorkeling near one of them, then stop for lunch at the largest one, famous for its rocky formation called Donald Duck Rocks. The place is so beautiful that you don’t need to be an excellent photographer to get striking photos.
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Racha Island
(About 1,200 baht – 30 mn by speedboat – Full day)
Racha Island is a small hideaway twelve miles south of Phuket, about two hours by boat or 30 mn by speedboat. This lovely tiny island is very well-known by divers as a clear dive site. The two beaches on the main island are beautiful, and the island is fun to explore.
You can go there on an easygoing day trip, but the best way to enjoy the island is to stay at one of the three resorts available on the island: The Racha, a luxurious resort with private villas in front of the white sandy beach, and the Rayaburi and Baan Raya Resort.
Koh Bon
(about 1,000 baht for longtail to cross – 2 minutes ride)
Koh Bon is one of the closest islands to Phuket, and it can easily be reached from Rawai Beach by longtail boat. This small hideaway features two beaches. One beach used to be used exclusively by the now-closed Evason Resort’s guests. The other beach is home to the very friendly Bon Restaurant and is an enjoyable stop for lunch followed by a lazy day on the beach or playing some water activities.
Maiton Island
(2,800 Baht – 15 minutes by speedboat – Full day tour)
Maiton Island is a small, idyllic spot 15 minutes south of Phuket that used to be home to a luxury hotel. The hotel no longer operates, but the beach is still accessible and is a great day trip with a picnic and snorkelling among a thousand fish. Expect to pay 2,800 baht for a day (including lunch).
Rang Yai Island
(mostly a private island)
Rang Yai Island is a beautiful private island located about five kilometres east of Laem Hin Pier. If you want to experience a Robinson Crusoe lifestyle, Rang Yai is a great place to spend the day (they used to have bungalows for rent, but these don’t exist anymore). You can spend time swimming, eating, and even visiting pearl farms. It costs around 2,000 baht (round trip) to reach Rang Yai by longtail boat from Laem Hin pier.
Koh Khai
(1,000 baht – 20 mn speedboat – Half day)
The Koh Khai are three tiny but trendy islands just 15 minutes from Phuket’s east coast. People go there to soak in the sun and play in the clear water for a few hours. Just remember that feeding the many hungry fish is illegal and could get you in trouble!
Coral Island
(About 1,200 baht – 15 mn speedboat – Full day)
Coral Island, or Koh Hae, is one of the few islands you can reach within fifteen minutes by speedboat and spend the day playing on the beach, even during the low season. The only accommodation is the small but welcoming Coral Island Resort offering small bungalows right on the beach with two beautiful beaches.
Interested in Coral Island Tours?
Stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, mesmerizing underwater world, and more...
Koh Panyi
(1,600 baht with James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay + hotel transfer – Full Day)
Koh Panyee, in the bay of Phang Nga near Phuket, is quite a touristic fishing village that is almost entirely built on stilts. This village is still a very unusual and exciting place to visit, but the trick is to go there early to be the only visitor in town! Read more
James Bond Island
(1,600 baht with Koh Panyee and Phang Nga Bay + hotel transfer – Full Day)
It’s not really an island as you imagine it, but it’s definitely surprising and very popular since that old James Bond movie; usually, people visit it together with Koh Panyi and the rest of Phang Nga Bay.
Popular Ways to Discover James Bond Island
Koh Hong
(Only available as a full-day island hopping tour)
Koh Hong is one of the four tiny Hong islands in Phang Nga Bay, belonging to the National Marine Park. The most beautiful part of the island is the inside lagoon, which has white sand and excellent blue water, where many fish swim around visitors. The island is near Krabi and can, therefore, get busy.
Koh Yao Noi
(1,700 Baht with hotel transfer – 30 minutes by longtail boat)
Koh Yao consists of two large islands located halfway between Phuket and Krabi. Koh Yao Noi, the smallest of the two, has several hotels, such as the beautiful Six Senses Hideaway Resort and 9 Hornbills Tented Camp. These islands can be reached from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast of Phuket or Krabi. The island has no majestic sights but is a favourite mountain bike day trip. The east coast has rice fields, a small village on stilts, and a few rubber plantations.
Other more modest nearby islands
Koh Kaeo
Koh Kaeo, facing the famous Promthep Cape, is just a tiny island you can visit by longtail boat from Rawai. Apart from a small beach, the only particular signs of this island are the two large golden Buddhas, one sitting and one standing, and a small temple on top of the hill.
Koh Maphrao
Koh Maphrao, or Coconut Island, is quite a large but unknown island close to Phuket. The luxurious Coconut Village is almost the only reason to go there. If you happen to eat at Laem Hin or Kru Suwit Floating Restaurant, you will see the island on the other side of the bay.
Koh Sirey
Koh Sirey is indeed an island, but you would never guess it from a map, and many probably have never heard of it. Connected to Phuket town by a very short bridge, this small piece of land doesn’t have any particular signs, but this is where you will find the beautiful Westin Siray Bay Resort.
Map of Islands near Phuket
Contact a local tour agent in Phuket
Phuket 101 is not a travel agency, but you can get in touch with a local tour agent to get better prices as well as local information or even custom tours by using this link: https://www.johnwelcometravel.com/
WhatsApp +66805349982 and +66619516982 if the first number is busy
More reading
Island hopping around Phuket
Phang Nga Bay – The Many Ways to Explore Phang Nga
Fast facts about Phuket islands
⛱️ Most popular: | Phi Phi Islands |
🏝️ Easiest island to visit: | Coral Island |
🏝️ Most beautiful island Resort: | Koh Racha |
🏝️ Most surprising: | Koh Panyi |
🏝️ Most traditional: | Koh Yao Noi |
🏝️ Most amazing: | Similans |
🏝️ Nearest island for lunch: | Koh Bon |
🏝️ Best remote beach | Naithon Beach |
FAQs about islands near Phuket
a. The closest islands are:
Koh Bon
Rang Yai
Coral island
Koh Khai Noi
a. The most famous islands you can visit on a day trip are:
Similan islands
Maiton Island
a. You can book a hotel on those islands:
Phi Phi Island
Coral island
Koh Racha
Koh Yao islands
Coconut Island
a. Nearby islands can easily be accessed by longtail boats from one of the east coast piers. You can book other island trips via a tour agent or hotel reception.
a. Tour agents can arrange some island hopping, but the best way is to ask a specialised travel agent to plan custom private cruises.