South of Phuket are two of the most popular island day trips: Coral Island, the closest island to Phuket at about 20 minutes by speedboat, and Racha Yai, about an hour away, known for some of the clearest water around Phuket. There are many ways to visit them, so it helps to decide three things first: which island, which boat, and what time you want to start.
At a glance
| Tour | Islands | Boat | Time | Departs from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Island Kahung Beach Full Day | Coral Island (Kahung Beach) | Speedboat | 09:30–15:00 | Chalong Pier |
| Coral Island Kahung Beach Half Day | Coral Island (Kahung Beach) | Speedboat | 12:00–16:30 · no lunch | Chalong Pier |
| Racha + Coral Island Full Day | Racha Yai + Coral Island | Speedboat | 09:30–16:30 | Chalong Pier |
| Racha Island Catamaran Full Day | Racha Yai + Coral Island (lunch) | Catamaran | 08:30–16:30 · 1 Nov–15 May only | Chalong Pier |
| Banana Beach + Racha + Promthep Full Day | Coral Island (Banana Beach) + Racha + sunset at sea | Catamaran yacht | Back at 19:00 · Mon · Wed · Fri · Sat | Chalong Pier |
| Racha + Coral Island Yacht Full Day | Racha Yai + Coral Island | Yacht | 11:00–19:30 · lunch and dinner | Chalong Pier |
| Raya Noi, Raya Yai and Maiton + Water Slide | Racha Noi + Racha Yai + Maiton | Speed catamaran | About 9 hours · every day | Sea Star Pier (Laem Nga) |
Question 1. Which island?
- Coral Island only — the closest island to Phuket. Kahung Beach has fine white sand, shallow water and beach chairs in a designated area. Scuba diving, sea walking, parasailing and banana boats are available on the beach, paid on the spot. Good for a first day in Phuket or for families with small children.
- Racha Yai — further out, known for some of the clearest water around Phuket. Some tours name the snorkelling bays (Ter Bay, Siam Bay, Patok Bay). Choose it if snorkelling is the main reason for your trip.
- Both in one day — most tours combine snorkelling at Racha Yai with lunch or beach time on Coral Island.
- Racha Noi and Maiton — the Sea Star speed catamaran is the only tour with both on its route: the Pirate Beach viewpoint on Racha Noi, a water slide, paddleboards and canoes at Banana Bay, snorkelling at Racha Yai, then Maiton Island, where wild dolphins are sometimes seen on the way.
Easy to mix up
- Banana Beach is on Coral Island (Badaro Yacht tour). Banana Bay is on Racha Noi (Sea Star tour). Different islands.
- Raya and Racha are the same islands, spelled two ways.
- If the sea is rough, the Racha + Coral Island speedboat tour may go to Maiton Island or Khai Island instead of Racha.
Question 2. Which boat?
| Boat | What it’s like | Tours |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | The fastest way out (about 20 minutes to Coral Island, about an hour to Racha Yai), but it bounces more on waves | Coral Island full day · half day · Racha + Coral Island |
| Catamaran | Two hulls, so it rocks less, with a wide deck, shade and seats. Slower: the Racha catamaran leaves at 08:30 and reaches Racha Yai at 10:30 | Racha Island Catamaran · Banana Beach + Racha + Promthep |
| Speed catamaran | A fast catamaran: about 60–70 minutes to the first stop | Raya Noi, Raya Yai and Maiton |
- Travelling with children or older family members, or worried about seasickness? We recommend a catamaran first. (The Sea Star tour is not recommended for guests over 70.)
Question 3. What time do you want to start?
- Early start, back by late afternoon: most full-day tours. Pickup is around 08:30 for the Nikorn Marine speedboat tours, 06:30 for the Racha catamaran, and between about 06:40 and 08:00 for the Sea Star tour, depending on your area.
- Free morning: the Coral Island half day picks up around 11:00, leaves the pier at 12:00 and is back at 16:30. No lunch is included.
- Late return: the Racha + Coral Island Yacht runs 11:00–19:30 with lunch and dinner included. The Badaro catamaran stays out for the sunset near Promthep Cape and returns to Chalong Pier at 19:00.
Which one should you pick?
| If you… | Pick |
|---|---|
| want an easy beach day with small children | Coral Island Kahung Beach Full Day |
| have only an afternoon free | Coral Island Kahung Beach Half Day |
| want to snorkel at Racha and still see Coral Island, quickly | Racha + Coral Island Full Day |
| want both islands with less rocking | Racha Island Catamaran Full Day (1 Nov–15 May) |
| want a sailing day ending with the sunset | Banana Beach + Racha + Promthep |
| want a late start, with lunch and dinner included | Racha + Coral Island Yacht |
| want a water slide, quieter islands and a chance of dolphins | Raya Noi, Raya Yai and Maiton + Water Slide |
TripRAON tip
Kahung Beach gets busy in the morning; the half-day tour leaves at noon and skips the morning crowds. If snorkelling matters most, pick a tour that stops at Racha. Water sports on Coral Island are paid separately on the spot, so check the price before you start. Bring a waterproof bag for your phone: you’ll get in and out of the boat more than once.
Before you go
- Passport details: the Coral Island tours and the Racha + Coral Island speedboat tour need full English names and passport numbers for everyone, booked at least one day before. Badaro Yacht asks for passport copies for the insurance before your booking is confirmed, and takes bookings until 17:00 (Thai time) the day before.
- Chalong Pier: every tour that leaves from Chalong Pier needs an online registration. In this guide, that means the Nikorn Marine, Badaro Yacht and Ombre tours. See our guide Chalong Pier online check-in.
- Minimum group: Banana Beach + Racha + Promthep runs only with at least 10 guests. On the Sea Star tour, the operator may cancel if there are fewer than 10. Either way, a cancelled tour is fully refunded.
- Pregnancy and babies: the Badaro and Sea Star tours are not recommended for pregnant women or babies under 1 (Sea Star also for guests over 70 or with limited mobility). Please message us before booking.
- Child fares differ by operator (Badaro Yacht: child fare for ages 4–12, under 4 free). For the other tours, please message us before booking.
- Cancellation: Nikorn Marine, Badaro Yacht and Ombre — free up to 2 days before your date. Sea Star — free until 16:30 (Thai time) the day before.
- Bring a swimsuit, a change of clothes, a towel, sunscreen and a waterproof bag.
FAQ
Is Coral Island the same as Koh Hae?
Yes. Coral Island is the English name for Koh Hae. Kahung Beach and Banana Beach are two beaches on the island.
Which tour is best for snorkelling?
Any tour that stops at Racha: Racha + Coral Island, the Racha catamaran, the two yacht tours and the Sea Star tour. On Coral Island you can also see fish in the shallow water.
Will we see dolphins?
The Sea Star tour is the only one with Maiton Island on its route, and wild dolphins are sometimes seen on the way. They are wild, so it isn’t guaranteed.
Questions? Send us a message (messages 24 hours · replies daily 08:30–22:00 Thai time · WhatsApp · LINE · KakaoTalk).
Related tours
- Nikorn Marine · Coral Island Kahung Beach Full Day
- Nikorn Marine · Coral Island Kahung Beach Half Day
- Nikorn Marine · Racha + Coral Island Full Day
- Nikorn Marine · Racha Island Catamaran Full Day
- Badaro Yacht · Banana Beach + Racha + Promthep Full Day
- Ombre · Racha + Coral Island Yacht Full Day
- Sea Star · Raya Noi, Raya Yai and Maiton + Water Slide by Speed Catamaran
Photos: Nikorn Marine · Sea Star Andaman · Badaro Yacht