Phuket sits in one of the most remarkable stretches of water in Asia. Within two hours’ boat ride in any direction, there are more extraordinary islands than most people manage to see in a lifetime of visiting. Limestone karsts, hidden lagoons, snorkelling reefs, deserted beaches, fishing villages, marine parks, sea cave systems — all of it accessible from a single base.
Island hopping is one of the great pleasures of a Phuket trip. But it requires a bit of navigation. Not all islands are equally worth the journey. Some are genuinely spectacular; some are busy enough to disappoint; a few are best accessed in a particular way at a particular time. Let me give you the honest guide.
The obvious starting point and, for most visitors, the priority. The Phi Phi archipelago sits about 46 kilometres southwest of Phuket — under an hour by speedboat — and consists of six islands, two of which are worth spending time on.
Phi Phi Don is the inhabited island, with the main village, beach, restaurants, and accommodation at Tonsai Bay. Phi Phi Leh is the dramatic uninhabited island that contains Maya Bay and Pi Leh Lagoon. The snorkelling between the two islands is among the best accessible snorkelling in the region.
The best way to visit: a small group day trip departing early from Phuket. Going early means arriving at the best spots before the crowd. A maximum of 18 people means there’s space to actually snorkel without fighting through a group of strangers.
About 30 kilometres due south of Phuket, the Racha Islands are a popular day trip for divers and snorkellers. Racha Yai has a resort and a beach; Racha Noi is largely uninhabited and its dive sites — stronger currents, more advanced — attract sharks, rays, and open-water species.
The snorkelling at Racha Yai’s main bay is exceptional — clear water, bright sandy bottom, healthy coral bommies, and a good variety of fish. Turtles are regular visitors and dolphins have been spotted near Racha Noi. A quieter and often more satisfying alternative to Phi Phi if you’re primarily interested in the marine life rather than the beach scenery.
Just three kilometres off the southeast coast of Phuket, Coral Island is a good option for a half-day rather than a full day — close, calm, good snorkelling in the main bay, and a beach that’s more manageable than the famous spots further out. Popular with families because of the short crossing and sheltered conditions. The hornbills in the trees are a bonus that kids tend to love.
The limestone karst landscape of Phang Nga Bay isn’t a single island — it’s a network of more than 40 islands spread across 400 square kilometres of national park. The most famous is Ko Tapu, the narrow spike that appeared in The Man with the Golden Gun. But the real draw is the bay itself: the hidden lagoons inside the hollow islands (known as hong), the sea cave systems, the floating village of Koh Panyi.
This is genuinely one of the most extraordinary landscapes in Asia and the best way to experience it is by canoe — it’s the only way to access the hong, which are the highlight. We include sea canoeing on all our Phang Nga Bay trips for this reason.
Sitting in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, the Koh Yao islands offer a completely different pace to the Phi Phi crowds. These are quiet, largely unspoiled, with traditional Muslim fishing communities, rubber plantations, and a slow-moving island life that feels genuinely removed from the tourist infrastructure of Phuket.
Not a snorkelling or beach destination in the conventional sense — more for travellers who want to see Thai island life as it actually exists. Accessible by speedboat from Phuket’s east coast in about 20 minutes.
If you have a diving background or a serious interest in marine life, the Similan Islands are a pilgrimage. Located about 60 kilometres northwest of Phuket, this archipelago of 11 islands is protected as a national marine park and has some of the finest diving in the world — extraordinary coral coverage, huge visibility, sharks, rays, whale sharks on lucky days.
Day trips from Phuket are possible but long — typically 6am to 6pm with two to three hours each way on the boat. Liveaboard trips are the proper way to experience the Similans. The islands are closed May to October for conservation. If diving is your priority, this is worth planning the whole trip around.
Further south and slightly west, Koh Lanta is accessible from Phuket in about two to three hours depending on the route. It has a distinctive character — longer, quieter beaches, a traditional fishing community at old Lanta town, and a relaxed pace that’s noticeably different from Phuket or Krabi. Better as an overnight or two-night trip than a day trip.
The most efficient approach for a week-long trip is to base yourself in Phuket and do day trips to the islands that matter most to you. Phi Phi on day one or two (go early, small group). Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island on another day (our sunset trip is the standout). The Racha Islands if diving or quieter snorkelling is a priority.
For a longer trip — ten days or more — consider Phuket as a base for the first week, then either moving to Krabi or Koh Lanta for the second week, or doing a liveaboard in the Similans if diving is the goal.
The one mistake I see regularly: trying to do too many islands in too little time. Each of the best island groups deserves a full day.
If you want a broader overview of the islands near Phuket and how to access them, our guide to the best islands near Phuket has you covered.
— Captain Mark
Exceptional, uncrowded island day trips from Phuket. Family-owned and operated since 2004.
© 2026 Phuket Sail Tours. Privacy Policy | Web Design & Digital Marketing
