Eleven islands, from Phi Phi, Racha and Coral Island to the Similans and Phang Nga Bay. Boat times and prices on each card come from our route guides.
Phi Phi, Racha and Coral Island lead this list, with the Similans close behind.
They split by distance. Coral Island, Koh Khai and Coconut Island are half-day hops of 10 to 30 minutes. Racha, Phi Phi, the Yao islands and Phang Nga Bay, with James Bond Island and Koh Panyee, are full days. The Similans are a long day from Khao Lak, and Koh Lanta, about 1 hour 30 by speedboat, is somewhere to stay rather than visit.
The calm season is November to April. The Similans close from 16 May to 14 October, and Phang Nga Bay is sheltered enough to run in almost any weather.
Phuket's best-known island day, about an hour by speedboat from Rassada Pier, with Maya Bay and the beach bars of Phi Phi Don. A day tour covers the bays; a night or two on Phi Phi Don lets you see them without the crowds.
Clear water and white sand south of Phuket, a speedboat ride from Chalong, and the best swimming-and-snorkeling day after Phi Phi. It's car-free, with resorts for a night if you want one.
The easy island off Rawai, about 30 minutes from Chalong in calm water, with water sports and shallow beaches that suit younger children.
Where to stay
My pick at each price level in Phuket, going by Google's hotel class. Hotels from my ranked list of the 10 best come first, then the best-reviewed. Each button opens the hotel on Booking.com with your dates filled in.
#1Luxury · 5-star
Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket4.7 (6,964 reviews)
Upscale beachfront resort on Karon Beach with a water park, spa, fine dining, and famously warm staff.
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The Andaman's best snorkeling and diving, open only from 15 October to 15 May. Tours leave from Thap Lamu near Khao Lak, an hour closer than Phuket at each end of the day, for about ฿2,200–3,200.
The bigger of the two Yao islands in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, rural and quiet, with secluded beaches and dive sites a short speedboat ride from Phuket's east coast.
The smaller Yao island, 30 to 40 minutes by speedboat to Manoh pier, with limestone views across Phang Nga Bay. Of the two Yaos, it's the better base for a few quiet nights.
James Bond Island, the Ko Tapu spire from the 1974 Bond film off Khao Phing Kan's beach in Phang Nga Bay. Day tours add sea-cave canoeing and the stilt village of Koh Panyee, and run in almost any weather because the bay is sheltered.
The closest island escape, ten minutes by longtail from Laem Hin pier for ฿20–150, a quiet village island of coconut groves with no beach clubs and no crowds.
The closest beach island to Phuket's east coast, 15 minutes by speedboat, a dome of rock and trees ringed by white sand and clear shallow water.
A long island of quiet beaches to the southeast, about 1 hour 30 by speedboat from Rassada Pier for ฿1,260–1,700, all year. It's a place to stay a few nights rather than a day trip.
A Muslim fishing village on stilts under a limestone cliff in Phang Nga Bay, home to the floating football pitch and the lunch stop on James Bond Island tours.
Phi Phi, for Maya Bay and the scenery. For an easier day with less time on the boat, Racha Yai is a speedboat ride south of Chalong, and Coral Island is about 30 minutes from Chalong in calm water.
Phi Phi by speedboat is the classic, about an hour each way from Rassada Pier. Phang Nga Bay, with James Bond Island, sea-cave canoeing and the stilt village of Koh Panyee, is the best choice in rough weather because the bay is sheltered. In season, the Similans are the best snorkeling day.
From 15 October to 15 May. The national park closes for the rest of the year. Tours leave from Thap Lamu near Khao Lak and cost about ฿2,200–3,200.
Yes. Speedboats from Rassada Pier take about 1 hour 30 and cost ฿1,260–1,700, all year. Ferries via Phi Phi take about four hours in high season.
