Islands Near Phuket: 10 Worth Adding to Your Itinerary
Phuket is fabulous — but it’s also busy. The good news is that some of Thailand’s most stunning and far less crowded islands sit right on its doorstep. Whether you want deserted beaches, world-class diving, hidden sea caves or just somewhere to exhale after the pace of Patong, there’s an island nearby that fits. Here are ten worth making the effort for.
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Is Phuket an island?
Yes — Phuket is an island, and Thailand’s largest. It covers around 576 square kilometres and connects to the Thai mainland by two bridges in the north. Despite being an island itself, Phuket is also the jumping-off point for dozens of smaller islands spread across three neighbouring provinces: Phang-Nga to the north and east, and Krabi to the southeast.
Phuket province alone has over 30 islands, though many of them are small and uninhabited. The ones below range from a quick 30-minute ferry to a two-hour speedboat journey, and each one has a different feel.
The 10 Best Islands Near Phuket
Choose a couple or add them all to your Thailand bucket list, you won’t be disappointed.
1. Koh Phi Phi
Koh Phi Phi is the most famous of the islands near Phuket, and for good reason. There are actually two Phi Phi islands — Phi Phi Don, where you stay, and Phi Phi Lay, the uninhabited one that became famous as the filming location for The Beach.
Phi Phi Don has no vehicles. You get around on foot through narrow streets lined with restaurants, dive shops and guesthouses. The main bay, Ton Sai, is the social hub of the island and gets busy in high season. If you prefer something quieter, Long Beach on the east side of the island is worth considering.
Phi Phi Lay’s Maya Bay closes each year from 1 August to 1 October for reef recovery, so check the dates before you go.
Getting there: Ferry from Rassada Pier in Phuket — around 1 hour 45 minutes on a regular ferry, or 1 hour by speedboat. Ferries run regularly throughout the day.
2. Koh Lanta
Koh Lanta Yai is a long, thin island about 30 kilometres from top to bottom. It sits east of Phi Phi and is actually part of Krabi Province. It has a very different pace to Phi Phi, a quieter, more local in feel, and less party-focused than some of its neighbours.
The west coast is where most visitors stay, with a string of beaches that catch the sunset over the Andaman Sea. Long Beach (Phra-Ae) is the most popular area, offering a mix of budget guesthouses and mid-range resorts along a stretch of sand that goes for about 3 kilometres.
The southern end of the island is covered by Koh Lanta National Park. Lanta Old Town on the east coast is worth a morning visit — it’s a quiet fishing town on stilts over the water with some good lunch spots above the sea.
Getting there: Ferry from Rassada Pier, Phuket — approximately 2 hours. There are also connections from Phi Phi if you’re island hopping.
3. Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi
These two small islands sit in the middle of Phang-Nga Bay, east of Phuket. They’re often overlooked in favour of flashier destinations, which is exactly what makes them worth visiting.
Koh Yao Noi is the smaller of the two and has a strong local Muslim community feel — very few large resorts and a pace of life that hasn’t changed much. Koh Yao Yai is larger and gives you more room to explore by scooter, with the beach at Laem Had being a highlight.
Both islands are also well placed for day trips to James Bond Island in Phang-Nga Bay.
Getting there: Speedboat from Bang Rong Pier in northern Phuket — around 30 minutes to Koh Yao Noi.
4. Railay
Railay is not technically an island — it’s a small cape connected to the Krabi mainland — but the only way in or out is by boat, so it has all the feel of one.
The cape has two beaches: Railay West faces the sunset and has calm water; Railay East is mangrove-fringed and less swimmable. The limestone cliffs that rise above both beaches make Railay one of the best rock climbing destinations in Southeast Asia. There are routes for complete beginners through to advanced climbers.
It’s a good spot for one or two nights of rest between the more popular islands, and small enough to walk across in about 15 minutes.
Getting there: A 10 minute long-tail boat from Ao Nang in Krabi, which is a 1 hour 15 minute ferry from Koh Lanta. There are also direct speedboat connections from Phi Phi.
5. Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are one of the main reasons divers come to Phuket. The archipelago sits around 70 kilometres off the coast of Phang-Nga Province — about a 2-hour speedboat journey from Phuket — and is part of Mu Ko Similan National Park.
The islands are open to visitors from 15 October to 15 May only, closing for the wet season to allow the reef to recover. The best months for diving and snorkelling visibility are December to April. The national park charges a 500 baht entry fee per adult.
There is no overnight accommodation on the islands themselves. Most people visit on a long day trip from Phuket, though trips departing from Khao Lak in Phang-Nga get you there faster and give you more time in the water.
Getting there: Day tours depart from Phuket — allow around 2 hours each way by speedboat. Tours from Khao Lak are shorter (around 1 hour) and worth considering.
6. Koh Racha (Racha Yai & Racha Noi)
The Racha Islands sit about 20 kilometres south of Phuket and are among the easiest day trips from the main island. Racha Yai is the larger of the two and has calm, clear water that makes it popular for snorkelling. Ao Batok on the south side of Racha Yai is a favourite spot for spotting manta rays between February and April.
Racha Noi is smaller and uninhabited, with stronger currents that make it more suitable for experienced divers. Both islands see far fewer visitors than Phi Phi and have a more relaxed atmosphere. We took this catamaran tour that included Racha Island and Coral Island and ended up at Promthep Cape for sunset. We had a fabulous day.
Getting there: Speedboat from Chalong Pier, Phuket — around 45 minutes to Racha Yai.
7. Coral Island (Koh Hae)
Coral Island — known locally as Koh Hae — is one of the closest islands to Phuket, sitting just 3 kilometres off the coast near Chalong. It’s a popular half-day trip for people who want calm water and a simple beach day without a long journey.
The island has two main beaches: Long Beach and Banana Beach. The snorkelling around the coral reef is decent, though the reef has suffered some damage from tourist traffic over the years. It’s a better choice for families with young children than for experienced divers looking for pristine reef.
Getting there: Speedboat from Chalong Pier — around 15 minutes.
8. Koh Mook (Muk)
Koh Mook is in Trang Province, south of Koh Lanta, and the main reason people visit is the Emerald Cave. If you are braver than I, you swim or snorkel, through a narrow 80-metre tunnel cut into the limestone cliff and emerge on a hidden beach completely enclosed by rock walls, open only to the sky above.
The cave can only be accessed at low tide, and it gets busy with tour boats in high season. Going early gives you a better chance of having it to yourself for a few minutes. Koh Mook itself is a quiet island with good beach accommodation if you want to stay overnight rather than come on a day trip.
Getting there: Koh Mook is most commonly visited as part of a four-island day trip from Koh Lanta. It can also be reached by ferry from Pak Bara or Trang on the mainland.
9. Surin Islands
The Surin Islands are part of Mu Ko Surin National Park and sit in the Andaman Sea about 60 kilometres from the coast of Phang-Nga. They’re further from Phuket than the Similans and less visited, which means the reef and marine life are in better condition.
The islands are well known for snorkelling with manta rays between February and April. There is a sea nomad (Moken) village on Koh Surin Tai, the southern island, which is one of the few remaining permanent Moken settlements in Thailand.
Like the Similans, the park is closed during the wet season — generally mid-May to mid-October.
Getting there: Day trips depart from Khura Buri Pier in Phang-Nga — around 4 hours by boat from Phuket. This is a long day; staying overnight in Khao Lak and departing from there makes more sense.
10. James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan)
Officially called Khao Phing Kan, this spot in Phang-Nga Bay became known internationally after appearing in the 1974 film The Man With The Golden Gun. The iconic image is the needle-like limestone pillar, Ko Tapu, rising from the bay just offshore.
It’s one of the most visited day trips from Phuket and can get very busy, particularly between 10am and 2pm. Most tours include a stop at the sea cave at Koh Panyee, a Muslim fishing village built on stilts over the water.
Going with a private long-tail boat rather than a group tour gives you more control over timing. Check out our review of the day we sent exploring James Bond Island.
Getting there: Day tours from Phuket — around 1.5 to 2 hours by speedboat through Phang-Nga Bay.
How many islands are near Phuket?
Phuket province itself has over 30 islands, most of them small and uninhabited. When you include the neighbouring provinces of Phang-Nga, Krabi and Trang — all within day trip or short ferry distance — the number runs into the hundreds. The ten above are the ones most worth prioritising.
When is the best time to visit the islands near Phuket?
December to April is the most reliable window for calm seas and clear visibility. The months on either side can be fine, but more unpredictable. July to October sees some ferry services cut and certain islands — including the Similans and Surins — close entirely due to monsoon weather. If you’re planning a multi-island trip, aim for January to March for the best conditions across the board.
Ready to plan your route?
Once you know which islands appeal to you, our self-guided Phuket island hopping itinerary shows you exactly how to connect them by ferry — with travel times, prices, and the best order to visit.
Ready to start planning your Thailand trip? Our Facebook community Thailand Awaits is here to help. Join fellow travellers, get your questions answered by Thailand experts, and access free planning resources.
