Phuket Islands - features and tours

Phi Phi

The islands of Phuket are a panacea for those who are tired of civilization and want to relax among the pristine tropics. They are divided into uninhabited and inhabited, near and far (5-15 km and 40 km respectively).

Content:

    • Racha Yai & Co Racha Noi
    • Ko Naka Yai
    • Mu Ko Yao
    • Ko Panyi
    • Ko-He
    • Phi Phi Islands
    • Ko Lanta
    • James Bond Islands
    • Ko Rang Yai
    • Mu Ko Similan
    • Mu Ko Surin

There are dozens of islands around Phuket. Some you can get to on your own. But in the vast majority of cases, without buying a guided tour can not do. You can buy it in any travel agency in Phuket.

Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi

Racha Islands are located 12 km south of Phuket. Most visitors come for one day. You can get there from Rawai and Chalong piers. The trip takes 45 minutes by boat and 1,5-3 hours by boat. The island has two sandy beaches: Batok and Siam. The first is crowded, the second - on the contrary. The island on the water you can go around in 30 minutes, and on land it is convenient to move on foot. There are no waves in the bays, so diving is successful in any weather and in any season. There are a couple of cozy restaurants on the waterfront, and bungalows with drinks and meals on the beach.

koh-racha-yai

Uninhabited rocky Ko Racha Noi with coral reefs. Located 10 km away from its twin. With scuba diving here is more difficult because of the large granite boulders on the bottom. But the emerald waters in the coastal zone - a gift for anglers.

Ko Naka Yai

Naka Yai Island is a 15-minute drive from Phuket. It is a mystery for tourists with beautiful scenery, sandy beaches with coconut palms. On the west side is a small fishing village (only 200 inhabitants).

naka yay

The Thai authorities will turn this place into an exclusive resort in the coming years. The best way to get to Naka Yai is from the east coast of Phuket. For this you should hire a boat at Ao Po Pier or buy a tour. On the island, scuba dive, enjoy nature, relax on the soft sand. There are sun loungers, umbrellas and bars on the shore.

Mu Ko Yao

An archipelago of 44 islands, located in the south of Phang Nga Bay, between Krabi and Phuket. The Yao Islands were settled by Thais several hundred years ago. Now it is home to about 13 thousand people. Most of the locals are Muslim. They fish, grow rubber, fruit and nuts.

Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai

For tourists are of interest - Ko Yao Noi and Ko Yao Yai. These are resorts with a developed tourist business, suitable for long-term accommodation.

Ko Yao-Noi is 50 square kilometers, with mountains, beaches, and jungle. It is home to rhinoceros birds.

There is an asphalt road on the island, which is used by the sunteo. You can rent a scooter. Rental price is 200-300 baht per day.

Koh Yao Noi offers biking tours, kayaking, diving lessons, snorkeling, trips to Phang Nga Bay, and a variety of tours to the Andaman Sea islands. There are several fish restaurants and stores on the waterfront.

On Ko-Yao-Yai, pristine, exotic nature has been preserved. The island's rocks are decorated with drawings of ancient inhabitants.

Briefly about how to get to the islands of Ko Yao:

  • Boats leave Phuket for the islands of Ko Yao daily.
  • It will take you 1-1.5 hours to travel.
  • The fare is 50 baht per hour.
  • Between the piers of Ko Yao Yai and Ko Yao Noi sail Thai boats every day.
  • The cost is 20 baht and it takes 10 minutes to get there.

Ko Panyi

From Surakul Pier to Ko Pani it takes 20 minutes by boat. The island is visible from the windows of planes landing in Phuket. Most of the land is covered by vertical limestone cliffs, and hundreds of houses stand above the bay on stilts.

ko panyi

There are already about 2,000 Thai Muslims living here, who are engaged in fishing. The island has its own school, mosque, souvenir stands, cafes. For 300 baht you can rent a hut for the night. A visit to Ko Pani is part of many excursion programs.

Ko-He

Just 9 kilometers southeast of Phuket is a small island Ko Koh Khe, which is part of the Marine Park. The main large beaches of the island - Long Beach and Banana Beach - are connected by a road lying through the rainforest. At a distance of 100 meters from the shore grew coral reefs.

On Ko He is popular for extreme water activities: parasailing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, catamaran and banana boat rides.

The highlight of He Island is the rich underwater world. Excellent barbecue dishes are on the menu of the restaurants.

The drive from Rawai and Chalong piers takes 30 minutes. For overnight stay it is better to stay in a campsite or at the Coral Island Resort Hotel. The island is open to visitors all year round, because the monsoons do not affect its climate.

Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi archipelago consists of six islands. Phiphi Don and Phiphi Lei - the largest. On their shores filmed the movie "The Beach" with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Phi Phi beach

Only Phiphi Don is inhabited. It consists of two limestone monoliths connected by a strip of sand. On the spit there is a village and a pier. And between the rocks, covered with dense vegetation, there is a narrow strip with houses for tourists, nightclubs and beach restaurants.

There is no traffic on Phiphi Don except for the police and ambulance. People move on foot or by bicycle.

Phi Phi Lei is uninhabited, so day trips are organized there. The island consists of limestone rocks. In the caves, the Thais use bamboo sticks to collect swallow's nests, from which they make delicious soups.

Briefly about the road to the islands:

  • The road to the islands from Phuket by ferry takes 1.5 hours.
  • You can book a tour at any travel agency in the province.
  • The cost of a one-day tour ranges from 700 baht.
  • If you decide to go on your own, it is better to buy ferry tickets at the same travel agencies, not on the pier.
  • The trip will cost 550 baht two-way (with an open return date).

Ko Lanta

Lanta Island is an independent resort located a long way south of Phuket. Features pristine nature and lack of civilization.

Ostrov-Ko-Lanta

It is good to come here to bask on the beaches, as there is no special entertainment. After sunset, the beaches are deserted.

James Bond Islands

These are two islands located in Pang Nga Bay, 6 km from the province of the same name. They are Khao Ping Kan and Tapu.

Khao Ping Kan resembles the outline of a butterfly: two parts, connected by a strip of sand. There are two beaches on the island.

Tapu Island is a 20-meter-high, sheer, bushy cliff. The limestone monolith tapers to the bottom, the top is 8 m in diameter and the base is 4 m. It became a symbol of the James Bond movie "The Man with the Golden Gun".

to tapu

Phuket travel agencies offer comprehensive tours, which include a visit to the James Bond Islands. The price ranges from 1,500 to 3,000 baht (price depends on the program and season).

Ko Rang Yai

Rang Yai is known among the islands of Phuket because of the pearl farm. Located 5 km from the province, can be reached by boat in 15 minutes. The local store sells pearls of different sizes and colors.

On Ko Rang Yai popular sporting activities: biking, kayaking, volleyball, sports and recreational air gun shooting, golf, snorkeling, diving, hiking through the jungle.The island has only one hotel and several guest houses.
To get to the island of Rang Yai is better with a tour. The cost - from 1000 baht.

Mu Ko Similan

The Similan Archipelago is 11 islands with a total area of 142 square kilometers north of Phuket. Scientists believe that the islands originated from a volcanic eruption over 60 million years old. Since 1982, the islands had the status of Mu Ko Similan National Marine Sanctuary and were under the patronage of King Rama 9.

Similanskie-ostrova

A large area of the islands is occupied by jungle. The beaches consist of fine white sand.

  1. Coral reefs and rock caves form mazes and sea gardens in coastal waters.
  2. About 500 species of marine life live here.
  3. The transparency of the water is unique! The sea can be seen more than 35 feet deep.

Paradise for divers, and the most famous among the extreme island of the archipelago - Ko Bon. You can spend the night on Ko Similian and Ko Miang. There are no entertainment and souvenir shops on the archipelago.

Mu Ko Surin

Surin Archipelago consists of 5 islands located north of Phuket. In the 1950s, there were research stations here.

In 1971, the authorities began to consider granting the islands the status of a Marine National Park, because the local flora and fauna were recognized as unique. The official decision was made in 1981.

The animal world of Moo Ko Surin is represented by 30 species of animals and about 100 species of exotic birds, and fish can be caught by hand. The island is home to rare sea turtles, which are protected by the state.

On Surin Nua they offer overnight accommodations in bungalows, tents, or specially converted boats. On the other islands - no accommodation. Phuket agencies offer multi-day tours to the archipelago.

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