Phuket is technically an island itself (the largest in Thailand) but since it's connected to the mainland via bridges, it seems more like a peninsula. In certain areas, Phuket is indistinguishable from a big city - full of traffic, shopping malls and high-rise hotels. This can make you crave that traditional island experience you were promised in the travel brochure.
Fortunately, Phuket is situated in the heart of the Andaman Sea, not too far from a range of beautiful, undeveloped islands. Venture northwest into the open ocean and you’ll find protected marine parks, such as the Similan and Surin Islands. Or head off the east coast and you’ll discover sleepy retreats nestled in Phang Nga Bay, such as Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. You can even go as far as the Phi Phi Islands to tick Maya Bay off your bucket list.
We love taking island tours from Phuket. After a day out in the Andaman, we come back to our base in the Old Town to gorge on delicious food or to our resort in Bang Tao Beach to watch a blazing sunset. Sunkissed and sapped from the day’s adventure, we always sleep like babies as soon as our heads hit the pillow. This feeling is hard to beat, especially when you get into a nice rhythm with a few boat trips lined up over a week-long stay.
Boat trip to Ko Panyi
10 Best Islands to Visit Near Phuket
1. Similan Islands
Mu Ko Similan National Park is a collection of 11 islands scattered across the Andaman Sea, off the west coast of Phang Nga Province. These islands are among our favorites in all of Thailand - featuring spectacular white sand beaches, emerald green waters and unique granite boulders. The highlight is (without doubt) Donald Duck Bay where most boat tours begin the day. Despite the crowds and effort to get there from Phuket, the raw beauty of the islands is enough to make you forget about any of its inconveniences.
Read more: Similan Islands Travel Guide: Beaches, Snorkeling & Tours
Similan Islands
Similan Islands
2. Ko He (Coral Island)
A much easier day trip from Phuket is Coral Island: just 20 minutes by speedboat or 45 minutes by longtail. This island is famous for Banana Beach - not to be confused with the Banana Beach on the Phuket mainland. It’s the perfect excursion for families, offering clear shallow waters for swimming and fun banana boat rides. Parents can relax on sunloungers while the kids play, and there’s even a restaurant and ice cream shop to take refuge in when the afternoon sun gets too intense.
3. Ko Panyi
If you’re up for a road trip to Phang Nga Bay, be sure to check out Ko Panyi along the way: a floating fishing village surrounded by limestone karsts and mangrove waterways. To get here, you’ll first need to ride to Surakul Pier before jumping in a colorful longtail boat. The village is a delight to explore, with all sorts of narrow alleys and quaint shops to get lost in, plus the gold-domed mosque and floating football pitch. Stay for a seafood lunch and then visit Samet Nangshe Viewpoint for iconic views of the bay.
Ko Panyi
Ko Panyi
4. Phi Phi Islands
While we do recommend staying overnight in Koh Phi Phi, a day trip from Phuket can work just as well. There are plenty of boat tours to Maya Bay in the peak season (November-April), often combined with other nearby spots such as Pi Leh Bay, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island. In many ways, Maya Bay is overrated these days. The crowds and regulations make it a very limiting experience, but we don’t blame you if you want to capture a few photos for your Instagram. The limestone cliffs are still extraordinary.
Read more: Is Maya Bay Worth Visiting? Rules, Crowds & What to Expect
Phi Phi Islands
Maya Bay
5. Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi
The contrast between Phuket and the twin islands of Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi is a refreshing one, and the views out across Phang Nga Bay from both are amazing. These tranquil, rugged islands are only a 30-minute speedboat ride from Phuket and just 10 minutes apart from each other. You could start your day by walking along the sandbar of Laem Haad Beach, as long as you time the tide right. Then you might be tempted to pop over to Koh Yao Noi for a scooter loop of the island, stopping for lunch and exploring the rice paddies and rubber plantations of its interior.
Koh Yao Yai
Koh Yao Noi
6. Racha Islands
Another pair of islands that are worth visiting are Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. The main island is home to Siam Bay, known for its pristine white sand and Mediterranean-esque headlands. Snorkeling and diving are popular activities on both islands, especially at the more untouched Koh Racha Noi where giant manta rays can be seen during certain months.
7. Surin Islands
Getting to the Surin Islands from Phuket is no easy task, made even more tiring when you’re the first to be picked up and last to be dropped back at your hotel (like we were). But the reward is getting to experience a remote set of islands, stunning snorkeling sites and a Moken village that’s holding on tight to its seafaring traditions. This archipelago is located just south of the Myanmar maritime border, so it feels like a true off-beat adventure.
Read more: Surin Islands: How to Visit from Phuket or Khao Lak
Surin Islands
Surin Islands
8. Koh Khai Islands
Three tiny islets await at the Koh Khai Islands, situated roughly halfway between Phuket and Koh Yao Yai. Koh Khai Nok and Koh Khai Nai are the most visited of the trio, since they boast the biggest platforms of white sand alongside a few amenities such as rustic beach bars and souvenir shops. There’s not much to do apart from swim, snorkel and have a cold one at the beach bar - not a bad way to spend the day if you ask us.
Koh Khai Islands
9. Coconut Island
Coconut Island is more suitable for an overnight stay at one of the luxury resorts such as Barcelo Coconut Island or Island Escape Burasari, rather than as a day trip. However, it’s still possible to visit on your own. You can take a longtail from Laem Hin Pier and then discover the island on foot or pay for a local Saleng driver to show you around. The island is characterized by coconut palm trees and rubber plantations, as well as resort gardens, orchards, a handful of secluded beaches and a small fishing community.
10. James Bond Island
Our list of the best islands to visit from Phuket has to include James Bond Island - it’s one of the most recognizable sights in Thailand after all. The island is actually called Khao Phing Kan and it features more than just the famous limestone spike from the movie. Tours here also include stops at beaches, caves and other limestone formations that round out the day nicely.
James Bond Island
How to Plan Your Island Tours in Phuket
After deciding which islands you’d like to visit, organizing your tours from Phuket is a breeze. There’s basically two options at hand: small group tours or private charters. Most solo travelers and couples will opt for the small group tours as they clearly offer the best value for money. However, private charters can still be affordable when split between large groups or families.
Boat tours in Thailand are almost always all-inclusive which means you normally don’t have to worry about hotel transfers, national park entry fees, snorkeling gear and lunch. To secure your spot in the busy season, booking via GetYourGuide is a great option. Otherwise, you can simply wander to one of the travel agencies in Patong, Kata or the Old Town to book yourself in.
When to Go Island Hopping in Phuket
November-April is when the Andaman Coast is at its driest, with the most reliable months being January and February. You can’t go wrong during this time: the seas are usually calm and you’ll pretty much be guaranteed sunshine every day. The two months to actively avoid in Phuket are August and September, when heavy rain and rough seas make the logistics that much harder. Some islands even completely close, such as Maya Bay.
FAQs: Visiting the Islands Near Phuket
Is Phuket or Khao Lak a better base?
In our opinion, Phuket is still the better overall package, unless your main goal is to head to the Similan or Surin Islands. The departure piers for these two island chains are located just south of Khao Lak, which removes the need to take a long van ride. Apart from that advantage, Phuket just offers more as a destination. You can base yourself here for weeks, or months, and never run out of incredible islands, beaches and food to enjoy.
How expensive are island tours in Phuket?
Depending on the distance and duration, island tours typically hover around the 2,000-4,000 THB range. That said, they can drop to as low as 1,500 THB for half-day trips to Coral Island. It’s not something you want to be spending money on every day, as that will surely blow your budget, but a couple of tours mixed in with free activities gets the balance about right.
Are any of the islands worth staying overnight?
Many of the islands surrounding Phuket make for a wonderful 2-3 night stay, particularly Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi. Santhiya Resort is a top choice in this regard, or the ultra-luxurious Cape Kudu Hotel. If you’re more of a party animal though, Koh Phi Phi is where you should hang out. It combines nightlife and “island time” in the most intoxicating way.
