Islands Around Phuket
The Thai word for island is normally written 'Koh' but is pronounced closer to 'Gaw'. Apart from the main island, Phuket province includes 39 smaller islands and islets covering a total of 70sq km and there are many more islands within easy boating distance in Phang Nga and Krabi provinces. There are so many islands that it would take months to fully explore them all. There are many beautiful beaches some of which are totally deserted. You can also find superb snorkeling and diving sites comparable to the best in the world.
Any tour shop will be able to book you on a boat trip to see the islands of your choice. It is hard to beat the organised tours in terms of price or convenience. They will collect you from your hotel, deliver you to the boat and collect you again afterwards. The problem with tours is you are on a timetable and may be in a large group. If you do not want to take a tour then it is possible to visit the closer islands yourself. If there is a group of you then it may work out cheaper than taking a tour. Simply drive to the coast nearest to the island you want to visit and rent a longtail or speedboat at the beach. The driver will take you to the island you want to see and wait while you are there. The price will depend on the season, how long you want the boat and how far you want to go.
During the rainy season, the sea may be choppy and some of the islands will be inaccessible.
Phang Nga Bay
Northeast of Phuket is Phang Nga Bay in Phang Nga province. This beautiful area is a National Park featuring spectacular limestone outcrops jutting vertically from the sea. Mangrove forests line the bay and the many tributaries running into it. The bay is sheltered from the rainy season waves so it is calm all year round.
The
area came to world attention when it was featured in the 1974 James Bond movie
'The Man with the Golden Gun'. In the movie, Bond flies through the spectacular
scenery in a light airplane providing dramatic panoramic views of the bay.
He lands on Scaramanga's island where they do battle across the beach and
in a hall of mirrors. The island's Thai name is Koh Pingkan but the Thais
are not ones to miss a marketing opportunity, so it is generally known as
James Bond Island. The distinctive rock, that in the movie houses a laser
gun, is James Bond Rock. It has become the major attraction of the bay but
there is so much more to see.
Another regular stopping off point for the many tour boats is the Muslim Sea Gypsy village on Koh Panyi. This village is built on stilts above the water. Hordes of tourists come here to eat and buy trinkets. Once they have all gone, the village reverts to a Sea Gypsy fishing village.
The bay is full of many other interesting limestone islands, some containing caves or horngs (collapsed cave systems that are now open-air rooms within the island). You can rent sea canoes and paddle around some of the islands.
The easiest way to visit Phang Nga Bay is on a tour but you will find yourself in the crowds. It is a much more satisfying experience to hire your own boat and do your own thing. You can rent boats at one of the piers at the northeast end of Phuket or drive across Sarasin Bridge into Phang Nga province and follow the many signs towards Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island.
Alternatively, you can book a speedboat tour. You will pay more but get around much quicker and have more time to enjoy the sights. To book a speedboat tour click the link below.
Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi islands (pronounced pee pee) are 40km southeast of Phuket. There are two islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lay. You can do a day trip to Phi Phi but you spend four hours travelling there and back and only have four hours at the islands - it is not enough time to appreciate these beautiful islands. It is better to stay for one or two nights. Ferries leave from Phuket's Rassada Port every morning between 8:00 to 08:30. During the high season, there is also a ferry at 13:30. Ferries return from Phi Phi at 9:00 and 14:30. You can buy tickets at the pier or from tour shops. It is hard to beat the deals offered by the tour shops that can include transfer to and from the pier and can also offer discounted accommodation on the island.
You can rent a speedboat to Phi Phi but it is well beyond attempting in a longtail. If you want to book a speedboat tour to Phi Phi then click the link below.
The islands are stunning limestone cliffs soaring from the turquoise sea. They have beautiful sandy beaches lined with coconut palms and are surrounded by coral bays. They appear in most lists of the worlds 10 most beautiful islands. Unfortunately, they are a very popular destination and during the day, there are lots of speedboats and tour boats buzzing around the islands.
The accommodation is all on the larger island Phi Phi Don. It ranges from simple beachside bungalows to up-market resorts. In December and January, it is worth booking accommodation in advance as the island may be full. The island sustained a lot of damage from the tsunami and at the time of writing, it is not fully recovered. However, it is very much open for business.
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The majority of accommodation is at the beaches around Ton Sai Bay which is the area the ferry boats arrive. Most of the accommodation is budget beach bungalows. For a quieter location and more luxurious accommodation head to Laem Thong. This beach is a 30 minute longtail boat ride from the pier and has some more upmarket resorts.
Holiday
Inn Resort Phi Phi (4 Star)
Zeavola
Resort & Spa Phi Phi (5 Star)
Activities on Phi Phi include snorkeling and diving. You can take a boat to Phi Phi Lay which has some excellent snorkeling. It also has Maya Beach which was made famous in the movie 'The Beach' starring Leonardo DiCaprio. Other activities on Phi Phi include rock climbing, kayaking, fishing or just lazing on the beach. If you have time, you should trek up to one of the viewpoints for stunning picture postcard views of the two bays of Phi Phi Don separated by a sandy isthmus only 200 meters wide.
There are a number of smaller islands in the vicinity that are easily reached
by boat. They have some good diving and snorkeling. The whole area is part
of Hat Noppharat Thara & Koh Phi Phi National Park which also includes
Noppharat Beach on the Krabi mainland.
Koh Yao Noi & Koh Yao Yai
These two islands are truly an escape. They are part of Phang Nga province and lie to the east of Phuket approximately halfway between Phuket and Krabi. The local Muslim population has strived to maintain their way of life and the natural beauty of their islands while still welcoming visitors. They are wonderfully friendly people and you will rarely pass someone without seeing a smile. In respect to the local religion, you should dress modestly and only drink alcohol within your resort or other establishments that sell it.
Koh Yao Noi is the smaller of the two islands at 45sq km but is the more developed with a population of 4000. Koh Yao Yai is 92sq km and has a population of around 1000. There are several bungalow operations along the beaches on the east coast of Koh Yao Noi. These range from simple wooden huts from 400 baht a night to an up-market resort at 20,000 baht a night. At the moment, there are only a handful of bungalows on Koh Yao Yai.
Paradise Koh Yao Hotel (4 Star)
The
beaches on Koh Yao Noi & Yai do not compare with the golden, powdery sands
on the west coast of Phuket but they are pleasant enough. You can swim or
just take a stroll and enjoy the scenery. These islands are sheltered from
the rainy season waves so they are good to visit even during the low season.
Both islands are granite based but from their east coasts, you look out across the spectacular limestone islands of Krabi. Apart from chilling out, one of the best things to do is rent a boat and explore these islands. If you go direct to the boatmen, you can get a longtail for 1500 baht or a speedboat for 5000 baht. If you book a boat through your resort or other third party, they will charge a contact fee. There are some beautiful small islands with coves, caverns, caves and stunning secluded beaches. There is also good snorkeling around some of the bays. Make a point of visiting Koh Horng and Koh Pak Bia.
If you do not want to stay at Koh Yao Noi then one other way to explore the beautiful islands of Krabi Bay is to do a one-day speedboat tour from Phuket. Click below for more details.
To get to Koh Yao Noi or Koh Yao Yai, you take a ferry from Bang Rong Pier in the northeast of Phuket. Drive up Thepkrasattri Road, turn right at Heroines Monument, and then follow the signs to the pier. The word ferry is a little grandiose for what is basically a scaled up longtail. You cannot take a car across but they will put motorbikes on the boat. The fare is 100 baht. Boats leave Bang Rong Pier at 8:30, 9:30 11:00, 12:30, 14:30, 16:00 & 17:00. The boat takes an hour to reach Koh Yao Yai and after a brief stop, it continues for the short hop to Koh Yao Noi. Boats return from Koh Yao Noi at 07:00, 07:30, 10:00, 13:30, 16:00 & 17:00.
Although this side of Phuket is normally sheltered from the rainy season waves there is no guarantee of good weather. In March 2005, a storm blew up and one of these ferries sank with the loss of ten lives. The boat was heavily over laden when a squall struck. Since then, they have improved safety standards and they do not allow the boats to set off overloaded. A new large ferry is due to start operation sometime in 2007.
Koh He (Coral Island)
This is the most popular of the islands just south of Phuket. You can rent a boat from Rawai Beach or Chalong Pier for the 9km ride. A longtail should cost between 1000 and 2000 baht for the return trip which takes around 25 minutes each way.
Coral Island has two pleasant beaches with restaurants and sun loungers. If you are unlucky enough to go when the tour boats arrive, it can get very busy. The main appeal of Coral Island is the coral reefs just off the beaches. These shallow reefs are close to shore and ideal for novice snorkelers and children.
The only accommodation on the island is the mid range Coral Island Resort.
Coral Island Resort (3 Star)
Koh Bon
Just a kilometer from Rawai Beach, this small island has sandy beaches and some good snorkeling. There is little on the island apart from some accommodation owned by the Evason Resort and Spa. They try to claim it is a private island but of course, the beaches are public. It is just a short boat trip from Rawai Beach.
Koh Lon (koh lone)
Just
off the south coast in the middle of Chalong Bay is Koh Lon. This large island
has several good beaches dotted around and some nice snorkeling sites.
The small resident population is mostly Muslim and make their living farming and fishing.
The main beach and all the accommodation is on the northern side of the island facing Phuket. There are several mid-range bungalow operations on the island. You can get a boat from Chalong Pier.
Baan Mai Restaurant and Cottages (4 Star)
Koh Racha Yai & Noi
These two islands lay about 18km south of Phuket. Sometimes known as Raya Yai & Raya Noi - 'yai' means big and 'noi' means small. You can rent boats from Rawai or Chalong Pier. In the dry season, a longtail can do the trip but this will take up to two hours. It is better to take a speedboat or book yourself on to a diving or snorkeling boat trip.
Racha
Yai has two beautiful sandy beaches. There is excellent snorkeling in the
bays and a good range of diving sites around the island. There are bungalows
available and a couple of restaurants on the beach. The island has limited
electricity supplies and very little to do at night. There is an up-market
resort called The Racha that has its own electricity supply, satellite TV
and a pool. This resort tries to be eco-friendly and helps dispose of the
rubbish across the whole island.
Racha
Hotel (5 Star)
Ban
Raya (3 Star)
Racha Noi is the smaller island and does not have any good beaches and there is no accommodation. There are some good diving and snorkeling sites around this island
Koh Kai Nok
This is a picture postcard sandy islet. A wide sandy beach surrounds a small green knoll. It is a popular day trip location. Just across the water is a smaller island, Koh Kai Nai. Between the two islands there is good snorkeling. There is no accommodation on the island. The island is east of Koh Sirey. You can book a tour or rent a boat from Koh Sirey or Laem Hin Pier.
Koh Maiton
This small island is a little further out on the way to Phi Phi. It is a forested island with a sandy beach and a single resort. There are no day trips out to this island but you can rent a longtail although it will take an hour to get this far out. Not many people visit here apart from those staying at the resort.
Maiton Island Hotel (4 Star)
Koh Rang Yai
This
lovely island is off the east coast of Phuket. It has a nice sandy beach on
its eastern side. The water is clear and inviting. The island gets a steady
flow of daytime visitors but still maintaiins a nice relaxed and friendly
atmosphere.
This island has become a bit of an activity centre. The forested interior has some good trails for hiking or you can rent a mountain bike. There is also kayaking, beach volleyball and football. There is even a little pitch-and-put golf course, although only good enough for a bit of a laugh.
There is a small pearl farm and shop. The prices are a little touristy but they do have some beautiful pearls so it is worth a look.
Most visitors daytrip but there is accommodation available. You can get a bungalow for 1000 baht a night. Right at the northern end of the beach is Coconut Village which is a little group of basic huts available from 400 baht a night.
Koh Rang Yai is an easy 20 minute boat ride from Laem Hin Pier. You can rent a longtail for the return trip for around 1000 baht. You could make it a two island tour with a visit to Koh Kai Nok.
Koh Naka Yai and Koh Naka Noi
These two islands are off the north east coast of Phuket. Koh Naka Yai has some beautiful coconut palm fringed beaches and the northeastern coast has great views across Phang Nga Bay. There is one small village but the island has also caught the eye of the developers who are now building some resorts. Koh Naka Noi is mainly known for its pearl farm which is open to visitors.
You can include the islands in a tour or rent a boat from Ao Po Pier at the northeast tip of Phuket.
Similans
These islands are also part of Phang Nga province but to the west. They are a 100km boat ride northwest from Phuket's Chalong Bay. It is possible to do a day trip on a speedboat but really, this is too much of a rush to fully appreciate these islands. A much better option is to do a liveaboard - a boat where you can sleep and spend a few nights there.
The Similan Islands are a National Park that is only officially open from November to April. They are low lying, forested, granite islands not as spectacular as the limestone cliffs of Phang Nga Bay. The real appeal of the Similans is what lies under the water. It is generally accepted as being one of the world's top ten diving sites.
Shallow coral gardens inhabited by a mass of sea fauna provide one of the most memorable snorkeling experiences you could imagine. The sloping coral reefs sliding down into the depths are better suited to scuba diving as is the west side of the islands where the waves have created caverns and caves for the more experienced divers. If you are lucky, you may experience the breath taking sight of a giant whale shark.
There are nine islands. Many have beaches where you can relax and some are big enough to spend a little time hiking. If you do not want to sleep on a boat, you can camp on the islands or the National Park has a few bungalows for rent. There are no hotels or resorts.
