Phuket Island Hopping: 15 Stunning Islands & How To Visit Them
Are you kind of a person who wants to Phuket Island Hopping and want to explore and experience some of the nearby islands, but not sure where to start?
This Phuket island hopping guide features all the most famous islands that you can easily access to visit as a day trip from Phuket. and also includes a few lesser-known islands nearby and some well-known islands in less distance away that are well worth a visit.
In addition, for each of the islands featured in this Phuket island hopping guide, I have included practical tips and information on how to get there.
Phuket is a perfect base for island hopping in southern Thailand. In fact, the infrastructure is of a high standard that makes it possible to see so many amazing islands without ever having to switch hotels.
So if you have less time and want to explore the most spectacular islands as a day trip from Phuket, you’ll be delighted to know that there are many amazing choices. Those islands are featured in the beginning of article (#1-8).
Many bigger islands not far away from Phuket are probably worth a longer trip and for an overnight stay. So in this post, I also included a few islands that you can visit from Phuket, but where you better stay overnight.
While, Practically, they could also be visited as a day trip from Phuket, I personally would advise you to stay on those islands a bit longer. You’ll find these islands featured towards the end of this article (#9-10).
At the very end of this article, I have also included 5 islands (#11-15) that islands are very near to Phuket, but they are more local and therefore rarely visited by day-trippers, let alone organized tours. Each of these five islands are worth a short time to visit, but they are also perfect as a place to stay in the Phuket area.
Extraordinary location, no crowds, and unique luxury resorts – these islands are a significant alternative if you are not interested in staying in the large hotels along the full packed beaches on Phuket itself. After all, staying on a small paradise-like island is the ultimate island-hopping experience.
This Phuket island hopping guide not only features the most stunning islands near Phuket, but it also gives you full of practical tips and information showing you how to visit them. And Find out them!
Here are some of the best islands you can visit from Phuket:
1. Koh Phi Phi
I’ll start with one of the most heavenly islands of the Andaman sea and my personal favorite day trip from Phuket – Phi Phi islands.
The name Koh Phi Phi really refers to not one island, but a group of six islands closely together(cluster of 6 islands). Most day trips and tours will focus only on the two biggest islands – Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Lee.
Phi Phi Don is the only inhabited island of Phi Phi islands and it is a real tourist hub with busy boat piers and a big choice of restaurants, shops, and accommodations for all kinds of budgets.
Without being affected by its reputation of being a party island, it’s effectively worth a visit due to its heavenly location.
On the silent side of the island, you can still find white sand beaches and azure blue waters enclosed by some amazing scenery. Make sure to also go up to the two viewpoints overlooking the wide surroundings. The views are stunning!
Koh Phi Phi Leh is a depopulated island, certainly best known for its not visited by many people and incredibly attractive Maya Bay, featured in the famous movie The Watch. To get here, you’ll need to take a boat.
All the guided Phi Phi islands tours from Phuket visit both islands and make many stops along the way, including several snorkeling(deep-sea diving) locations.
The most renowned stops are Pileh Lagoon, Viking Cave, Monkey Beach, and lunch takes on Bamboo Island.
How to visit Phi Phi islands from Phuket:
- On your own. There are so many ferry and speedboat connections available between Phuket and Phi Phi Don. A speedboat takes about 60 minutes , whereas this ferry will take 120 minutes. You can easily visit Phi Phi Don on your own. However, if you also want to see Phi Phi Leh and the stunning coastline, you’ll need to hire a local long-tail boat to get there. There are a number of boats on both harbors of Phi Phi Don and you can just negotiate the trip and the cost once you get over there.
- With a tour. There are so many options when it comes to tours from Phuket to Phi Phi islands. Prices depend upon the type of boat, small group of people vs big group of people, and the time of the day (early morning tours are a bit more expensive). But in terms of itinerary, it’s pretty much the same.
2. Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island
Phang Nga Bay & James Bond Island are the second group of islands that are a must when you begin island-hopping from Phuket, is Phang Nga Bay Marine National Park.
There are moreover 100 islands in this area, but its main landmark is the so-called James Bond island
Familiar for its appearance in the 1974 James Bond film ‘The Man With The Golden Gun‘, the phenomenal Khao Ping Kan with a 20-meter tall islet Koh Tapu, has acquired the name ‘James Bond Island’. With masses of tourists visiting the island to take part in the spectacle generated by the towering vertical karsts on emerald-green water, it is best to get here in the early hours to avoid the crowds.
exactly 40 kilometers off Phuket, many tour companies offer full-day and half-day tours around the Phang Nga Bay.
Systemized day trips typically include hotel pick-ups, minivan transfers to Phang Bay and back, a long-tail boat or speedboat to James Bond Island, along with the 200 TBH entrance fee to the national park. Systemized trips as well include lunch and a stop at the floating fishing village of Koh Panyee.
Additional key points of interest of Phang Nga Bay are the sacred Buddha Cave Temple, Wat Tham Suwana Kuha, and Hong Island (you can also see it as an independent day trip below).
If you go with a tour, you generally have the option to explore the caves and the phenomenal coastline by canoe or kayak also.
How to get to Phang Nga Bay from Phuket:
On your own. You can explore all the fascinations of Phang Nga Bay by hiring a long-tail boat. If you have a car or a motorbike, you can drive to Klong Khein Pier and rent a long-tail boat for a half-day excursion (it can be budget friendly or high priced– depending on how many people share the boat). Possibly, you can also drive to Sam Chong Seafood, a floating restaurant that serves good-value tasty food and arranges long-tail boat hires as well.
Book a tour. There is a big variety of organized tours offering island hopping at Phang Nga Bay.
Never mind how you visit, Phang Nga Bay is definitely worth a trip. Unquestionably, this is one of the finest best day trips you can make from Phuket!
3. Ko Hong
A wonderland, away from the bustle of Phuket, is one of my cherished islands in Thailand, Ko Hong.called as Hong Island, it is situated near dozens of other uninhabited islands in Phang Nga Bay.
Hong Island is one of the huge islands in the bay. On coming, there is a little additional park entry fee. On this beach you can see the softest white sand with stunning views of limestone cliffs and gentle emerald waters. It is the absolute spot to lay out and relax or spend some time deep-sea diving.
If you come here with a tour, then continue to the back of the island, where a small entrance heads into a lagoon inside the middle of the island. It is superb for kayaking!
Exclusive Ko Hong tours spend most of their time at Hong Island. However, they also take the time to explore all parts of several other incredible islands in the area.
How to get to Ko Hong from Phuket:
- On your own. It is workable to rent a private long-tail boat from a local fisherman for the day. This is a ideal option for couples, families, or groups of friends looking for a more private experience and more say in the time spent on the island. It is easy to find local fishermen near the main pier in Phuket or anywhere along the beach. There are frequent language barriers in Thailand, but with persistence, we found a local Thai person to help arrange the tour for us and negotiate a price. The tour was basic, with nothing provided (no food, water, etc.…); just a long-tail boat, wind against our faces, and a smiling captain steering the boat.
- With an organized tour. Tours to this part of Phang Nga Bay by long-tail boat range in cost. Prices depend if the tour is on a long-tail or a fast boat. There seem to be more tours going to Ko Hang from krabi than from Phuket, but there are a couple of James Bond Island tours that visit Hong Island as well.
4. Koh Racha Yai & Koh Racha Noi
The Racha Islands, Racha Yai & Racha Noi can be found a just 20km south of Phuket. Despite being so close to the busy Phuket, the islands are still quite off the beaten path. The laid back atmosphere and lack of crucial evolution will give you an hint of how Koh Phi Phi was 20 years ago.
In the Thai language “yai” refers big and “noi” refers small. The smaller Racha Noi island is uninhabited and has more rocks than beaches. Fishing and diving are the major charms at Koh Racha Noi.
The larger island, Koh Racha Yai, is the key attraction with stunning beaches, private bays, a few bars, and accommodations.
Crystal clear water and an abundance of sea life make for exceptional diving and snorkeling, which is one of the key attractions to Koh Racha Yai. Patok Bay has the longest beach of dazzling white sand and it’s here that all the boats moor.
From the jetty continue up the beach and follow the track to the village in the middle of the island. The small village has hut-like restaurants and shops that you can look most things youwould need for a short stay.
If you continue with the dirt track up and over the hill you’ll reach the equally gorgeous Siam Beach. This is the quieter side of the island where you can get away from the day-trippers on Patok Beach. If you’re fortunate, you may see the large monitor lizards and the odd water buffalo in the coconut groves. Walking from one side of the island to the other should take at least 15 minutes.
Transport on Koh Racha Yai is mainly by foot, but you can rent bicycles and motorbikes. Make your way to the West of the island for some amazing sunsets.
How to get to Koh Racha Yai from Phuket:
- On your own. Boats to Koh Racha Yai leave from Chalong Pier or Ra Wai beach and take 35 minutes. You can rent a speedboat or a ferry shuttle. It is also possible to take a long-tail boat from Chalong Beach to Racha Yai, but it will take more than an hour and could be threatening should the weather suddenly change.
- Book a tour. While not as popular as the other island-hopping options from Phuket, it is possible to find organized tours to Koh Racha Yai. Most of them involve scuba diving, but there are also more relaxing tours more focused on water sports, snorkeling, and beaches.
5. Coral Island – Koh He
Ko He (also Koh Hay or Koh Hae) or in English called as Coral Island, is situated nearest to Phuket of all the islands in this selection. Despite that, it’s not hard to find places that are not yet fully overrun with tourists.
It’s a notable getaway for those looking to visit a white-sand blue-sea island near Phuket.
Coral Island is notable for its huge variety of water sports and activities like diving and snorkeling. The place to be on Coral Island is the white-sand Long Beach, but it always fully crowded with day-trippers from Phuket.
A better option for those looking to escape the crowds a bit more is Banana Beach, just 10-15 minutes walkable distance.
How to get to Coral Island from Phuket:
- On your own. You can get to Coral island by boat from Ao Chalong pier.
- With a tour. You can join an Organized tour that covers Racha Yai and Ko He as a day trip from Phuket
6. Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are a group of eleven islands off the coast of Southern Thailand that you can be visited on a day trip from Phuket or Khao Lak.
This island archipelago is one of the finest snorkeling spots in Thailand and I definitely recommend a visit if you are looking for an outstanding island hopping experience in the Phuket area.
Depending on which place you are staying in Phuket, and from which pier your tour terminates, the whole journey to Similan Islands by car and speedboat can take up to 2-3 hours. Journey times can become extends due to traffic and unpleasant weather, but it’s worth the trouble.
How to get to Similan Islands from Phuket.
The finest way to get the most out of your visit is to take an Organized day trip to the Similan Islands If you book a tour, they will arrange everything including pick up from your hotel, drops you off at the end of the trip in your hotel, and take you to all the finest snorkeling spots in the Similan Islands.on your Phuket Island Hopping
7. Surin Islands
Surin Islands, north of Similan Islands, is an archipelago of 5 islands. They are a bit further away from Phuket than most other islands and are therefore not as well known or visited. It’s a real heaven with natural pure beauty, the way many known Thai islands used to be some 20 years ago…
With emerald green waters, colorful coral, and lots of sea life, Surin Islands is known as one of the perfect for snorkeling and diving locations in Thailand.
How to get to Surin Islands from Phuket. Surin Islands are quite distance from Phuket, so the best way to get there is by booking an organized day tour. If you go on your own, there are boats running from Khao Lak, but depending on the time schedule you might have to stay there (camping?) at least one night. On Your Phuket Island Hopping
8. Koh Jum – Ko Pu
Koh Jum, also called Ko Pu, is one of Thailand’s silent and less evolved Andaman islands. The island with two names (the northern part is called Koh Pu, while the southern part is named as Koh Jum) is accessible from both Krabi and Phuket
Yeah, the western coastline of Koh Jum is known for its stunning and diversified beaches .
The beaches located in this island are Lubo Beach ,also known as the northernmost beach and Ao Ting Rai,Ao Si There is a smattering of low-key bungalow resorts along the beachfront that serve drinks and food (drop-ins welcome).
Next south, Golden Pearl Beach is home to hardly any luxury villas. Water activities include swimming, snorkeling, and scuba diving with local outfit, Koh Jum Divers.
There is nothing much available to do in Koh Jum and that’s literally what makes the island so pleasant. You won’t find any rowdy bars, full moon parties or shopping malls. At the time when I visited, there wasn’t even an ATM
Book a motorbike or bicycle to explore more of the island. Don’t miss Baan Ko Pu and Baan Ko Jum, the biggest towns, they both have markets and mosques to see (the island’s residents are mostly Muslim).
You can also hike in the jungle interior and up Mount Pu, but make sure to book a local guide who knows the area well.
How to get to Koh Jum – Ko Pu from Phuket. A high-speed ferry connects Phuket’s Ao Po Pier to Baan Koh Jum. The trip takes around one and half hours.
Visitors also have the option to buy a van-ferry joint ticket from Phuket Airport or the bus terminal. Note that boats are sometimes canceled during the rainy season, so it’s best to check availability in advance before your trip.
9. Koh Lanta
Situated about 70km away from Phuket, Koh Lanta is not immediately the first destination that comes to mind when exploring island hopping options from Phuket.
I personally won’t advise going to Koh Lanta for just a day, but if you can stay on the island overnight, it’s fully worth the trip. It was one of the cherished islands from my trip in Thailand!
Even if you take the beginning boat from Phuket to Lanta in the morning, you’ll likely have just 4-5 hours on Koh Lanta. The last boats from Koh Lanta to Phuket leave around at 1-1.30 PM. Koh Lanta is a huge island with lots going on, therefore I suggest that you stay on Koh Lanta for at least 1, preferably 2 nights. That way you can actually explore the island a lot more.
Koh Lanta has miles of calmness, sandy beaches and very few people compared to the other well known islands nearby. This makes it a welcome interlude from Phuket, which is generally packed with tourists.
The island is also neighbouring by healthy coral, so snorkeling is always a delight here. The finest way to do it by boat via a snorkeling tour that allows you to reach more remote snorkeling locations near Koh Lanta.
The Mu Ko National Park located in the southwest of Koh Lanta is prominent for hiking. Don’t miss the lighthouse where you can enjoy some gorgeous views. In addition to this remote beautiful white sandy beaches here.
How to get to Koh Lanta from Phuket. It takes 1.5 hours from Phuket to Lantha through the speedboat journey. If you are likely to visit Koh Lanta just for a day or two, don’t take a slow ferry as it can take more than 4 hours.
The speedboat costs more, around 1300-1500 TBH, but it’s so worth it. Boats to Lanta leave from Rassada Pier in Phuket. On Koh Lanta, the boats arrive at the Salandar Pier, which is situated on the northwest side of the island.
You can book a boat transfer from Phuket to Ko Lanta and just visit for a day, but if you are on a hectic timetable, make sure to book a boat there and back in advance!
Once you are here in Ko Lanta, you can then do the tours that start on the island itself . Currently, there are no day trips from Phuket that include the transfer as well as sightseeing, because it is normally easy to schedule yourself. And also because most people stay in Ko Lanta longer than a day (it is my own recommendation as well).
10. Ko Samui
Koh Samui is one of the most stunning islands in Thailand. It is one of the islands where you want to stay longer! not just because it’s a really long distance from Phuket, but also because it has so much to see that it would be a mortify to not explore this island a bit more.
After all, Ko Samui is one of Thailand’s biggest islands.On your Phuket Island Hopping
If you have just limited time and want to visit Koh Samui from Phuket, I want you to know that it is possible. Below you can find all the practical information, in the meantime here are some insider tips on how to see the best of Ko Samui in just a day.
Start your day at the Rich Resort in Lamai – their breakfast is healthy and tasty and very less cost. On top of that, you can also take a dip in their swimming pool overlooking Lamai beach.
Next, you may want to rent a motorbike or a car for the day as it’s much easier to get around. If you are visiting Ko Samui for just a day, make sure to arrange the vehicle to drop off at the airport; this can make things so much easier. And don’t forget to drive on the left!
The first stop I suggest is the Lamai viewpoint. Afterwards continue to Grandpa & Grandma rocks (also known as Hin Ta & Hin Yai Rocks).
Another few minutes drive further you can see Overlap Stone. Don’t forget the Secret Buddha Garden (or Magic Garden). After that, you can visit Na Muang Waterfall 2 (not 1, it is a bit distance if you have less time).
I suggest moving to Na Than Pier for lunch (a great place for sunsets too). After that, you can drive back towards the airport and check out the Chewang area along the way.
Instead, if you still have half a day left, make a repeat trip through Maenam beach, fisherman’s village, and The Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai).
- By plane. For a day trip, the finest way to travel from Phuket to Ko Samui is by taking a plane. The return flight from Phuket to Koh Samui will only take around 60 minutes and Bangkok Airways offers several flights a day. You may go through more on flights (roughly $100 one way), but gain the whole day to explore Ko Samui. You can drive across the island in about an hour, but with various stops, you probably need at least one full day to see some of the finest places of Ko Samui. If you are planning to do this exactly, make sure to book your flights well in advance.
- By car. The second option is to rent a car in Phuket, drive to Don Sak Pier in Surat Thani and get on a ferry. It departs every hour from 6 am to 7 pm. This path takes about 6 hours one way and isn’t really practical if you have just a day. So in this scenario, you surely want to stay in Ko Samui for at least one night. So, start early that you could have some time to explore this island.
The selection above features some of the best islands that you can easily visit from Phuket. This list is not complete yet, of course, and there are countless possibilities. Below you can find several wonderful lesser known local islands close to Phuket.
These islands are more apt for those looking to escape the crowds. They are so close to Phuket that can also serve as an ideal standby home base for your island-hopping trip
I have also opted for this option and, instead of staying in busy Phuket, chose a resort on a little island nearby.
Here is a selection of some incredible off the beaten path islands close to Phuket:
11. Coconut Island
It’s a calm island with a local village and no day trippers at all. And also, it is so close to Phuket that it makes us book day trips to the other islands nearby without paying more for the same tours offered by the hotel.
TIP: booking online is so much cheaper!
12. Naka Yai Island
Naka Yai island, just a stone’s throw away from mainland Phuket, is well known with day-trippers as well as honeymooners. It’s called Pearl Island and it could be incomplete without a short stop at the pearl farm.
With many wide sandy beaches, few people, and stunning views of nearby Phang Nga Bay, it’s the best day trip from Phuket. There is also a unique resort on the island that makes me want to book a trip back to Thailand right away.
The finest way to get to Naka island is by taking a long-tail boat from Ao Por Pier ; it takes just 15 minutes.
13. Ko Yao Yai
Another marvellous island that I heard nothing but good things about is Ko Yao Yai, just 25 minutes by speedboat from Bang Rong Pier in Phuket.
There are several generally nice accommodations on this island and budget friendly options.
It’s a completely less known island getaway for everyone looking for a more unique island experience near Phuket.
14. Ko Yao Noi
A bit more developed nearby Koh Yao Noi island is also easily reachable from Bang Rong Pier. It takes about an hour to get there.
It’s a very local island with few tourists and eco-friendly activities and accommodations. If you are looking for a somewhat different island experience in the Phuket area, this could be a solution for it.
15. Ko Mai Thon
If you are really looking for a unique and romantic island getaway near Phuket, make sure to visit Ko Mai Thon. Maiton is a private island and the best way to visit it is by staying at the exclusive resort (I’m not sure it’s still operating at the moment of the last update though…).
Crystal clear green waters and white-sand beaches, in combination with this gorgeous resort – it’s a fantasy island excursion and an experience you won’t find in Phuket itself.
Maiton is an ideal honeymoon island in Thailand! If you have a tighter budget, you can also visit Maiton island as a day trip from Phuket.In your Phuket Island Hopping