*1 baht ≒ 4.5 yen
INDEX
- There are many islands around Phuket, Thailand!
- 4 classic islands to visit on an island hopping trip
- Don't miss this miraculously beautiful beach! | Phi Phi Islands
- Take a commemorative photo in front of a large rock that looks great on social media | Tapu Island, Phang Nga Bay
- Enjoy the beauty of the underwater world at the diving mecca | Similan Islands
- If you want to have fun easily, go here | Coral Island
- There are other unique islands you can't miss!
- Take a trip to enjoy the new charm of Thailand
There are many islands around Phuket, Thailand!
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
It takes about 13~14 hours by plane from Tokyo to Phuket. The beautiful sea is a popular tourist attraction. In addition to the Phi Phi Islands, which have been the setting for famous movies, there are many fascinating islands around Phuket Island, such as Coral Island, which is only 15 minutes from Phuket Island, Khao Tapu Island, where strangely shaped rocks and stalactite caves are found, Similan Islands, a world-famous diving site, and Maiton Island, where you can have a chance to see dolphins.
4 classic islands to visit on an island hopping trip
You may be thinking, "It seems difficult to visit multiple islands one by one...", but don't worry. There are many tours departing from Phuket, and you can enjoy island hopping that is perfect for you according to your destination, type of boat (speed boat, medium-sized boat, wooden boat called longtail boat, etc.), and activity. The price varies depending on the conditions, but it is about 1,200 to 6,000 baht (about 5,500 to 27,600 yen in Japanese yen). From here, we will introduce four recommended islands.
Don't miss this miraculously beautiful beach! | Phi Phi Islands
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
The most popular island hopping destination in Phuket is the Phi Phi Islands. It is located about 40km southeast of Phuket. It is made up of six islands, but the most popular ones for island hopping are Phi Phi Don Island and Phi Phi Le Island. Phi Phi Don Island is the center where accommodations, restaurants, and shops are gathered. On the other hand, Phi Phi Le Island is an uninhabited island, and its stunning scenery created by untouched nature is its charm.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Phi Phi Le Island was temporarily closed for environmental reasons but has now reopened with limited daily visitor numbers, but no swimming allowed.
Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Le, known as the setting for the movie "The Beach," is surrounded by steep limestone cliffs and features a white sand beach and clear emerald green waters.
iStock/Anna_Jedynak
Additionally, there is Monkey Beach near Ton Sai Bay on the west side of Koh Phi Phi Don. The beach itself is beautiful and a popular snorkeling spot, but as its name suggests, it is also famous as an island where many wild monkeys live. The monkeys are not afraid of people and will come close to you, but you should be careful of contact with them. You should be cautious, especially if you are carrying food, so it is recommended that you watch them from a distance if possible.
Phi Phi Islands
| access | ： | 1. Speedboat tour from Phuket Island (approximately 1,500 baht, approximately 6,750 yen) takes about an hour. ② Take a large ferry tour from Phuket Island (approximately 1,200 baht, approximately 5,400 yen) for about 2 hours. 3) Take a regular ferry from Phuket Island (approximately 650 baht, or 2,925 yen) for about 2 hours. |
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| web | ： | Phi Phi Island (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
Take a commemorative photo in front of a large rock that looks great on social media | Tapu Island, Phang Nga Bay
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Phang Nga Bay is a vast bay between Phuket Island and the mainland, located about 30km northeast of Phuket Island, and is dotted with about 160 islands. The most famous of these is Koh Tapu. It is known as James Bond Island because the movie "The Man with the Golden Gun" was filmed there. The strange rock formations that look like a club stuck into the sea are sure to look great on social media! You can also explore the caves made of strangely shaped stalactites.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
The bay, designated as a national park, is home to a diverse ecosystem including shallow waters, tidal forest marshes, mangroves, dense seaweed beds, and coral reefs, and is home to a variety of creatures including near-threatened birds such as the black-necked plover and the Asian dowitcher as well as dugongs. The best way to explore the area is by kayak.
Phang Nga Bay, Tapu Island
| access | ： | 1) Take a speedboat from Phuket Island for a tour that includes Bond Island, cave tours, and mangrove exploration (approximately 2,000 baht, or 9,000 yen in Japanese yen), which takes about an hour. ② Take a leisurely short-distance tour from Phuket Island on a long-tail boat (approximately 1,500 baht, or 6,750 yen in Japanese yen) for about 2 hours. *Luxury tours using cruise ships are also available. |
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| web | ： | Phang Nga Bay, Tapu Island (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
Enjoy the beauty of the underwater world at the diving mecca | Similan Islands
iStock/invictus999
The Similan Islands are located about 80km northwest of Phuket Island. If you're lucky, you can see up to 30m deep in the highly transparent blue waters of these islands. You can see the corals and various creatures that live there, making it a paradise for divers! It's no wonder that divers from all over the world come to the Similan Islands. The vast ocean area, covering 140 square kilometers, has been designated a marine national park.
iStock/kenzaza
iStock/Magnus Larsson
Originally it consisted of nine islands, but in 1998 "Koh Bon" and "Koh Tachai" were added, and now it consists of 11 islands. These islands are made of granite and were formed during the Cretaceous period about 6,500 years ago, when the dinosaurs were nearing extinction. The eastern side of the islands is lined with gently sloping beaches, while the western side has steep rocks that drop directly into the sea. This unique topography is perfect for diving. It is said that there is a high chance of encountering rare marine life such as sea turtles and manta rays.
One thing to keep in mind is the time of year you visit. Due to considerations of the impact on the environment, access is only permitted from mid-October to early May. For the same reason, there are no accommodations on the Similan Islands, so if you need accommodation, you'll need to look elsewhere.
Similan Islands
| access | ： | From Phuket Island, it takes about 1.5 hours by speedboat, or about 4 hours by regular boat. *It is common to join an island hopping tour. Prices vary depending on the tour company, but a day trip snorkeling tour is about 3,000 baht (about 13,500 yen in Japanese yen), and a day trip diving tour is about 6,000 baht (about 27,000 yen in Japanese yen). |
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| web | ： | Similan Islands (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
If you want to have fun easily, go here | Coral Island
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Coral Island is a nearby island about 3km southeast of Phuket Island, and can be reached in about 15 minutes by speedboat. The coral reef stretches close to the beach, making it a great snorkeling spot where many fish live. Another point is that the sea is calm throughout the year because the island is less affected by the monsoons due to its geographic location.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
The island has two main beaches: Long Beach and Banana Beach.
"Long Beach" is characterized by its long sandy beach, as its name suggests. It is a place with a beautiful contrast between the white sand and the blue sea. Restaurants and bars are dotted along the beach, and you can enjoy various water activities such as banana boats, parasailing, snorkeling, and scuba diving.
There are accommodation options available, including resort hotels, so we recommend spending a night here and enjoying some quiet time away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket Island.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Banana Beach is about a 15-minute walk from Long Beach along a path through the jungle. It used to be a quiet, secluded beach, but now it is a popular spot visited by many tourists. Here, you can enjoy not only snorkeling, but also sea walking, where you walk underwater wearing a special helmet.
Coral Island
| access | ： | It takes about 15 minutes by speedboat from Phuket Island, or about 30 minutes by regular boat. *Prices vary depending on the tour company and tour content, but most tours include the Racha Islands and Maiton Islands. A day snorkeling tour costs about 2,500 baht (about 11,250 yen in Japanese yen). |
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| web | ： | Coral Island (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
There are other unique islands you can't miss!
In addition to the four islands mentioned above, there are many more attractive islands around Phuket.
You might even encounter wild dolphins! | Maiton Island
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Located about 9km southeast of Phuket Island, off the coast of Maiton Island is a great spot to encounter dolphins. The dolphins will come close to the boat. However, as they are wild animals, it is up to luck whether you will encounter them.
iStock/jaturunp
Maiton Island is also known as Honeymoon Island, and is popular for its romantic white sand and blue sea on its private beach.
In fact, only hotel guests and island hopping participants are allowed to stay here, so the environment is protected. You can swim in the beautiful shallow waters, snorkel, and enjoy fishing.
Maiton Island
| access | ： | Approximately 20 minutes by speedboat from Phuket Island. *There are various tours available, including dolphin watching and touring "Phi Phi Island" and other islands. Prices vary depending on the operator, but a day tour costs about 3,000 baht (about 13,500 yen). |
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| web | ： | Maiton Island (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
Racha Islands - A wide range of fun activities
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
The Racha Islands are located about 30km south of Phuket Island. There are two islands, Racha Yai Island (Big Racha Island) and Racha Noi Island (Small Racha Island), and they are bustling with tourists.
The reason is that it has a high average score for everything. Ao Tawan Tok, the gateway to Koh Racha Yai, has clear waters where you can easily enjoy snorkeling, and there are luxury resort hotels, bungalows, restaurants and bars so you won't have any trouble finding accommodation or food. Meanwhile, Koh Racha Noi is an uninhabited island with beautiful nature where you can enjoy diving, so you can find a way to enjoy yourself that suits you.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Racha Island
| access | ： | Just over 30 minutes by speedboat from Phuket Island. *Prices vary depending on the operator, but a day trip is about 1,500 baht (about 6,750 yen in Japanese yen). There are also courses that include "Coral Island" and "Maiton Island". |
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| web | ： | Racha Islands (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
The landmark is a strangely shaped rock that looks like a chicken | Koh Gai
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Gai is the Thai word for chicken. As the name suggests, the rock located at the southern end of the island looks like a chicken's head. Located about 46 km east of Phuket Island, the island's beaches are quiet and calm due to the relatively small number of tourists. It's recommended for those who want to spend a relaxing time. The sea is also very clear, so you can fully enjoy snorkeling and swimming.
Photo courtesy of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
During low tide, you can also see a natural phenomenon where a white sand road appears between the island and the neighboring island of Tup. Be sure to time your visit accordingly.
Koh Gai
| access | ： | Approximately 1 hour by speedboat from Phuket Island. *It is common to join a tour around "Phi Phi Island" and other islands. Prices vary depending on the operator, but a day trip is about 3,000 baht (about 13,500 yen). |
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| web | ： | Koh Gai (Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) official website) |
Take a trip to enjoy the new charm of Thailand
When you think of travelling to Thailand, you think of sightseeing in Bangkok, gourmet food, shopping, spas, and beach resorts in Phuket and other places. However, island hopping to visit the jewel-like islands is also a recommended activity. Enjoy the luxury of visiting several islands with different personalities in one day!
*The above prices are approximate rates based on information from various travel agencies.
Article provided by: Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT)
Interview: Masao Umemoto
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The contents published are accurate at the time of publication and are subject to change.
