Phuket’s location makes it perfect for island hopping—you’re surrounded by some of Thailand’s most beautiful islands, from the famous Phi Phi Islands to quieter gems like Koh Lanta and the Racha Islands. After doing most of these island trips over multiple visits, I can tell you which ones justify the early starts and boat rides, and which feel like tourist processing.
The Phi Phi Islands are genuinely spectacular despite the crowds, the Racha Islands offer excellent snorkelling without the chaos, and Koh Lanta delivers that proper island escape if you’ve got time for an overnight stay.
What I appreciate about island hopping from Phuket is the variety—you can choose between party islands, diving destinations, quiet beaches, or cultural experiences. Most tours are well-organised with decent boats and guides, and solo travellers will find it easy to join group trips without feeling awkward.
Table of Contents
The Islands Worth Visiting
Phi Phi Islands (The Most Famous for Good Reason)
The Phi Phi Islands consist of Phi Phi Don (inhabited, with accommodation) and Phi Phi Leh (uninhabited, home to Maya Bay). Yes, they’re touristy. Yes, they’re crowded. And yes, they’re absolutely worth visiting—the limestone cliffs rising from turquoise water are genuinely spectacular.
Maya Bay (made famous by The Beach) closes annually for a few months (typically August-September) to recover from visitor impact, but you can still admire it from the water. Most tours include Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon, Monkey Beach, and snorkelling stops.
The best approach is the sunset tour—you arrive after day-trippers have left, see Maya Bay in better light, and often spot bioluminescent plankton in the evening water. It’s a long day (typically 11am-8pm) but worth it.
Solo travellers will find these tours perfectly manageable. Everyone’s focused on the scenery and snorkelling, and the boat journey creates natural conversation opportunities.
Racha Islands (Excellent Snorkelling, Fewer Crowds)
Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi lie about 20 kilometres south of Phuket (roughly one-hour speedboat journey). The larger island, Racha Yai, has accommodation if you want to stay overnight. Racha Noi is day-trip only but offers some of Thailand’s best snorkelling.
The water clarity is exceptional, coral reefs are healthy, and you’ll see abundant tropical fish, sea turtles if you’re lucky, and occasionally manta rays. The beaches on Racha Yai (particularly Patok Bay) are lovely—white sand, clear water, and considerably fewer people than Phi Phi.
These tours work brilliantly for people who want the island experience without the Phi Phi crowds. It’s more about snorkelling and beach relaxation than spectacular limestone scenery.
Koh Lanta (The Proper Island Escape)
Koh Lanta sits off Krabi province (about 2 hours by speedboat from Phuket) and deserves more than a day trip if possible. The island has that laid-back, developed-enough-but-not-overdeveloped vibe that’s increasingly rare in Thailand.
If you’ve got 2-3 days, stay overnight—the island offers excellent accommodation options, proper restaurants, sunset bars, night markets, cooking classes, and various activities from diving to kayaking through mangroves. The beaches stretch for kilometres with golden sand and that relaxed atmosphere.
Day trips are possible but feel rushed. You spend 4 hours travelling for a few hours on the island. If time is limited, prioritise other islands closer to Phuket.
The cooking classes here are excellent—proper traditional settings rather than tourist operations.
Coral Island (Koh Hae) – Perfect for Beginners
Just a few kilometres from Phuket, Coral Island lives up to its name—the surrounding coral reefs are impressive, and the calm, clear water makes it ideal for beginner snorkellers and divers. It’s the closest island to Phuket, making it perfect for half-day trips.
The island gets busy with day-trippers (it’s very accessible), but if you stay at Coral Island Resort overnight, you’ll experience peaceful evenings once the tours leave. The snorkelling is genuinely good despite the tourist numbers—the coral has recovered well, and fish life is abundant.
It’s not as dramatic as Phi Phi or as exclusive as the Racha Islands, but for convenient, quality snorkelling close to Phuket, it delivers.
Recommendation: Kahung beach full day trip by speedboat with Nikorn Marine
Koh Maiton (The Private Island Experience)
About 15 minutes from Phuket by speedboat, Koh Maiton offers that exclusive island feeling. It’s less visited than other islands, which means quieter beaches and better snorkelling conditions.
Private catamaran charters here work beautifully—you control the schedule, choose your snorkelling spots, and have the boat to yourselves. It’s pricier than group tours but justified if you’re a small group wanting flexibility.
The island suits people who’ve done the main tourist islands and want something quieter. It’s not as spectacular as Phi Phi, but the peaceful atmosphere makes up for it.
Koh Hong and Multi-Island Tours
Koh Hong (part of Phang Nga marine park) features beautiful lagoons, limestone cliffs, and excellent kayaking opportunities. It’s commonly combined with other islands on full-day tours from Phuket.
These multi-island tours typically include 3-4 stops—Hong Island, James Bond Island, canoeing through caves, and snorkelling spots. They’re full days (8am-6pm typically) but offer variety if you want to see multiple places rather than spending all day at one island.
The downside is you’re on a schedule—30 minutes here, an hour there—so you don’t deeply experience anywhere. But for first-time visitors wanting an overview, they work well.
Recommendation: Explore mangroves, James Bond Island and monkey temple
Lesser-Known Options
Koh Bon (15 minutes from Rawai) is a hidden gem with excellent snorkelling, minimal development, and that genuine “local island” feeling. You’ll see crabs scuttling across the sand and enjoy uncrowded beaches.
Koh Maprao (5 minutes from Phuket) offers simple accommodation and an extremely slow pace of life. It’s for people who want to properly disconnect—there’s not much to “do,” which is rather the point.
Practical Island Hopping Information
Best Season for Island Trips
November to April offers calm seas, good visibility, and reliable weather. May to October (monsoon season) sees many tours cancelled due to rough seas. Some islands are inaccessible during monsoon months.
Booking Tours
Peak season (December-March), book 2-3 days ahead. Tours sell out, especially for Phi Phi and Similan Islands. Shoulder season you can often book the day before.
What to Bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen (regular sunscreen damages coral)
- Waterproof bag for phone and valuables
- Cash (islands have limited ATMs)
- Seasickness tablets if prone to motion sickness
- Water shoes (beaches can be rocky)
- Light long-sleeve shirt for sun protection
Solo Traveller Considerations
All these tours work perfectly solo. You’ll be grouped with others, the activities (snorkelling, beach time) don’t require partners, and the boat journeys create natural socialising opportunities. Many solo travellers meet people on these tours.
Physical Requirements
Most island tours require reasonable swimming ability and basic fitness. You’ll be getting on and off boats (sometimes in water), snorkelling in open sea, and walking on beaches. If you have mobility issues, mention this when booking—some islands are more accessible than others.
Getting to Phuket
- From Singapore: Direct flights take under 2 hours on Scoot, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar, or AirAsia.
- Transport from Airport: Private transfers are most convenient for reaching your hotel. Shared minivans work for budget travellers.
- Getting to Departure Piers: Most island tours include hotel pickup and return—this is standard and included in tour prices. If booking independently, hiring a car gives you flexibility, or use Grab for individual transfers.Visa & Insurance
- Check Thailand visa requirements for your nationality. Travel insurance should cover water activities—most island tours involve snorkelling and boat travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion
Phuket’s surrounding islands genuinely deliver diverse experiences—from the spectacular Phi Phi limestone cliffs to the excellent Racha Islands snorkelling, from proper island escapes like Koh Lanta to quick trips to Coral Island. The key is matching the island to what you want: dramatic scenery, quality snorkelling, peaceful beaches, or cultural experiences.
The tours are generally well-run, boats are decent, and safety standards are good. Solo travellers will find it easy to join group tours, and the variety means you can do multiple island trips without repetition.
Book your flights to Phuket, secure accommodation near departure piers (Chalong or Rawai areas work well), and pre-book your island tours for peak season.
Follow along on Instagram @trulyexpattravel where I share real-time travel updates, behind-the-scenes moments from tours, and daily life in Singapore.
Join the Truly Expat Facebook community here—a supportive space for women travellers to ask questions, share tips, and connect before trips.
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you book through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you—this helps me keep creating free, detailed travel guides. I only recommend services and products I genuinely use and trust after years of travel across Asia.
Pin it for later
Would you like to read more about Phuket?
Tried and Tested Recommendations
Visa – If you looking for an easy way to get a visa, or if you aren’t sure if you really need one in the first place. Ivisa makes the process easy, with a click of a button and few simple steps you will be able to sort out your visa requirements in a flash!
Insurance -We all know how important travel insurance is when you are abroad, but we also know how expensive it can be as well, right? Well, I am here to help solve both those problems. Safetywings is both affordable and reliable and better still easy to purchase. There are no hidden agendas, just choose the dates you will be away and check the coverage you need. It is that simple.
Car Hire– If you are planning to hire a car on your next trip, DiscoverCars is the perfect solution, why? Because you will find it in most countries around the world and all mandatory fees are included in the price, so there are no hidden surprises.
E-sim– If you want to know the most affordable way to be connected when travelling, it is with an e-sim. I have to admit I have come late to the party on this one, and I wish I had known earlier as it would have saved me hundreds of dollars in the past. I have been using Airalo for the past few months now and it has been so easy to set up and use while I am away.
Airline Tickets– CheapOair is a leading provider of airline tickets, hotel rooms, rental cars and vacation packages with top travel brands to choose from globally. The CheapOair brand provides diversified travel services, however I highly recommend checking out their airline ticket options for best prices.
