Being the biggest island in Thailand and one of many nation’s hottest vacationer locations, boredom is one thing you’ll by no means expertise in Phuket.
Whereas there are countless issues to do in Phuket and you’ll have tons of enjoyable on the attractive seashores, a lot of Phuket’s hidden gems are farther afield.
Phuket has 32 smaller islands within the Andaman sea surrounding it so island hopping from Phuket is tremendous straightforward and one of many highlights of a visit to Thailand.
As I’ve lived in Phuket for over 3 years, I’ve been fortunate sufficient to check out most of those island hopping excursions and day journeys from Phuket. So right here is my choose of the ten greatest together with well-known sights, fashionable islands and lesser-known native treasures.
There are tons of inexpensive tour packages that make superb half day or full day journeys from Phuket. Plus, the encircling provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi supply much more great and distinctive day journeys.
Whether or not you’re after cultural gems or the very best diving and snorkeling spots, a nature lover in search of some tranquility, or a seaside bum on the lookout for the final word Phuket island hopping expertise, learn on to find the very best Phuket day journeys.
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Essentially the most handy technique to e book the most well-liked Phuket day excursions and journeys is on Viator or Get Your Information. These trusted platforms supply the possibility to learn actual opinions and e book your day journeys earlier than you get to Thailand. Most excursions additionally embrace lodge pick-up for a stress-free expertise.
P.S. In case you’re touring in peak season positively e book upfront as spots do refill. In case you haven’t booked your lodge but take a look at my information on the place to remain in Phuket and in the event you’d favor to go to the islands independently, you may e book your ferry tickets on-line at 12Go Asia.
High 10 Island Hopping Excursions and Day Journeys from Phuket
1. Previous Phuket City & Large Buddha
Earlier than you begin exploring the close by islands and taking day journeys from Phuket, I like to recommend exploring the island’s tradition and historical past with a Phuket metropolis tour.
Phuket City is the island’s cultural hub. If potential, go on a Sunday to expertise the bustling Sunday strolling market within the Previous City. Nonetheless, no matter day you go to, you’ll discover a vibrant environment.
One of the simplest ways to discover Phuket City is on foot – strolling round admiring the Nineteenth-century colourful homes and trying out the distinctive boutique lodges, retailers and cafes.
Then, head to Wat Chalong, one of the vital stunning Buddhist temples in Phuket after which head to the well-known Large Buddha temple.
This iconic sculpture is constructed excessive up on a mountain and is a formidable 148 toes tall and 83.5 toes large. Together with its peaceable mountain environment, you’ll discover epic views over Phuket Island!
Getting there:
Phuket City and Chalong are within the southeast of Phuket Island. In case you’re staying within the seaside cities on the west coast, like Patong Seashore, it is going to be a 30-40 minute drive to the Previous City. The most effective time to go to the Large Buddha is at sundown.
Whereas it’s straightforward to discover this space by yourself through taxis, there may be additionally an incredible half-day group Phuket Metropolis Tour that may choose you up out of your lodge. This can be a nice tour for anybody keen on historical past, tradition and spirituality because it visits all three of Phuket’s cultural highlights – Phuket Previous City, Wat Chalong and the Large Buddha.
Non-public, customisable excursions and enjoyable ATV journeys as much as the Large Buddhas are additionally potential. Try all of the choices on Get Your Information.
2. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are undoubtedly the most well-liked day journey vacation spot from Phuket. Six islands make up the Phi Phi Islands, making it a great island-hopping Phuket day journey!
The biggest and busiest island is Phi Phi Don – the archipelago’s solely inhabited island. It is stuffed with resorts and exquisite seashores, similar to Monkey Seashore.
Koh Phi Phi Leh is among the uninhabited islands and residential to Maya Bay, made well-known after getting used because the filming vacation spot for the 2000 movie “The Seashore.” Bamboo Island is one other fashionable spot on Phi Phi island hopping excursions.
Getting there:
The Phi Phi Islands are situated off the east coast of Phuket, within the province of Krabi. Being a well-liked day journey from Phuket, you’ll don’t have any bother discovering group excursions to the Phi Phi islands.
For instance, this Phi Phi tour contains stops at Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Ko Phi Phi Don, Viking Cave and Bamboo Island. It’s one of many best possible day journeys from Phuket and they’re going to additionally choose you up and drop you again from any lodge in Phuket.
Nonetheless, in the event you’ve bought extra time you even have the choice to remain in a single day at one of many lodges on Phi Phi Don and go to Krabi the following day, the place you may take a protracted tail boat to the unbelievable limestone cliffs of Railay Seashore.
3. James Bond Island
James Bond Island is one other of the most well-liked excursions from Phuket on account of being the filming location of the 1974 James Bond film “The Man with the Golden Gun.”
James Bond is simply one of many 100 stunning islands in Phang Nga Bay, northeast of Phuket. This space is stuffed with fascinating limestone formations and sea caves, in addition to many unbelievable swimming and snorkeling spots.
Getting there:
Boat excursions are greatest for exploring Phang Nga Bay, and there are various choices. I took this Luxurious Sundown Cruise, which included a good lunch and dinner onboard whereas cruising round Phang Nga Bay. Together with James Bond Island, this distinctive tour included sea canoeing by means of the limestone caves of Hong Island.
4. Racha Islands
The Racha Islands encompass Racha Noi and Racha Yai, situated within the southern a part of Phuket, slightly below Coral Island. Racha Island is among the many greatest scuba diving and snorkeling spots within the Andaman Sea, so you will see that many diving journeys going right here.
The islands are a real paradise – white sand, crystal-clear waters, and no automobiles. Plus, it takes simply 45 minutes to get there, making it probably the greatest day journeys from Phuket for all water and seaside lovers.
Getting there:
To discover the Racha Islands, you may be a part of a gaggle scuba diving or snorkeling tour, or you may simply prepare a protracted tail boat or speedboat switch from Rawai or Chalong pier.
One other fashionable selection is the beach-club fashion Hype Luxurious Catamaran. On this journey, you may have loads of time to sunbathe on varied Racha Island seashores and go to Banana Seashore on the close by Coral Island. On the best way again, you’ll get pleasure from a “floating celebration” with tapas, drinks, and an on-board dwell DJ.
5. Naka Island
Naka is one other of the shortest day journeys in Phuket. Naka Island is one among Phuket’s hidden gems and is right for anybody who seeks a calming day of sunbathing and swimming quite than journey.
Naka can be dwelling to the luxurious lodge “Naka Island Resort.” Whereas it’s costly to remain right here, day trippers can get a day cross to make use of the resort’s services, together with the pool, use of snorkeling gear, and water sports activities tools like kayaks.
Getting there:
Naka Island is only a 10-minute boat journey from Ao Por Grand Marina within the North East of Phuket. As it’s such a brief distance and there may be not a lot to do on the island, take into account together with Naka in a self-guided island hopping journey with Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi (see under).
6. Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi
Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi are two islands barely east of Naka. Koh Yao Yai is the largest, dwelling to gorgeous resorts, stunning seashores, and mesmerizing nature.
One resort I like to recommend trying out is Santhiya, an unlimited hillside resort constructed from pure teakwood. Santhiya gives a day cross to make use of the resort’s two swimming pools (together with an infinity hilltop one).
Koh Yao Noi is a a lot smaller island, which is simply as stunning, however the seashores supply totally different views from Koh Yao Yai. It’s because the north of Koh Yao Noi faces the gorgeous limestone cliffs and caves of Phang Nga Bay. In the meantime, the island’s south is stuffed with lush nature, together with rice fields and coconut groves.
Getting there:
You’ll be able to entry these two islands through a 20 to 30-minute ferry from the Royal Phuket marina in northeast Phuket. You’ll be able to e book your ferry simply on-line at 12Go Asia. There’s additionally a ferry between each islands that takes simply 10 minutes, making for easy island hopping in Phuket.
7. Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are one of the vital well-known diving spots on the planet. Thus, these pristine islands make for one of the vital fashionable Phuket day journeys. Right here, you may spot turtles, leopard sharks, Shovelnose rays, and plenty of extra uncommon species.
Nonetheless, whereas the turquoise waters and marine life are the highest sights right here, the surroundings is spectacular, too, with many distinctive rock formations. For instance, the Sail Rock hike is among the hottest on-land actions right here.
Getting there:
The Similan archipelago consists of 11 islands, 70 km off the coast of Phang Nga. Nonetheless, it is among the longer day excursions from Phuket, so put together for a 10-12 hour day! There are additionally multi-day journey choices, the place you sleep at a campsite or in a cabin on one of many islands.
Try the totally different choices for Similan island journeys on Get Your Information to seek out the very best one for you. Be aware that the Similan Islands are closed throughout the monsoon season (June to September).
8. Surin Islands
Whereas staying in Khao Lak I needed to go to the Similan islands. Nevertheless it was a busy interval and the journeys had been all absolutely booked – so ensure you e book upfront in the event you’re visiting Phuket within the peak season! Anyway, as an alternative, I made a decision to go to the lesser-known Surin Islands.
What’s distinctive about these islands is that they’re dwelling to an indigenous tribe referred to as The Moken. The Moken had been beforehand sea nomads/gypsies however settled within the Surin Islands within the Nineties.
Residing in such an remoted area (a 4-hour boat journey to the mainland), the Moken dwell a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer way of life. They sleep in very fundamental, humble wood huts on the seaside, and you’ll go to their village to see how they dwell.
Except for the Moken, you’ll discover some pretty seashores and snorkeling spots within the Surin Islands, together with Mai Ngam Seashore.
Getting there:
The Surin Islands are situated far off the west coast of Phang Nga. The one technique to go to the Surin Islands from Phuket is through a tour. I did a snorkeling journey much like this one, which included snorkeling, seaside time, and a go to to the village.
Whereas the Surin Islands are completely value visiting, it’s a VERY lengthy boat journey (from Phuket or Khao Lak). Due to this fact, you spend a lot of the day on a small pace boat, which might not be ideally suited for some.
9. Khao Sok Nationwide Park
Khao Sok is an unbelievable nationwide park within the northern a part of Phang Nga, the province immediately above Phuket. Khao Sok Nationwide Park is dwelling to the oldest evergreen rainforest on the planet – 160 million years outdated. Due to this fact, you may look forward to finding countless lush jungles and numerous wildlife, together with 48 mammal species and 311 species of birds!
One other iconic a part of Khao Sok is Cheow Lan Lake. Majestic limestone mountains and cliffs encompass this serene lake, and there are various floating raft homes and bungalows – a part of the resorts you may keep at.
Getting there:
You’ll be able to go to Khao Sok on a day journey from Phuket. Nonetheless, it’s a lengthy drive from Phuket Island (about 3.5 hours a technique), so notice that you’ll have to go away within the early morning and spend a lot of the day in a minivan.
Contemplating this, I extremely suggest taking a 2 day 1 night time Khao Sok tour the place you’ll keep the night time in one of many floating raft homes in Khao Sok Nationwide Park – which is an entire expertise in itself. That means, you’ll get to expertise the tranquility of the lake after darkish and witness a panoramic dawn (in the event you’re up early sufficient).
You may as well journey independently by bus and prepare your personal lodging, then you definitely’ll even have the possibility to discover the close by Khao Lak, which, as you’re about to find, is one among my favourite components of Thailand!
10. Khao Lak
If you wish to escape the crowds of Phuket and Patong seaside throughout excessive season, Khao Lak is undoubtedly the place to go. Khao Lak is situated on the west coast of Phang Nga and is extremely quiet and largely untouched in comparison with Phuket.
The lengthy stretch of coast gives quite a few serene seashores, together with Pakarang and Pak Weep Seashore. Each of those seashores have quiet components in addition to mini “seaside villages” with a number of native eating places and “on-the-beach” therapeutic massage retailers. There are additionally a number of waterfalls close by and a spot the place you may go bamboo rafting alongside the river!
Getting there:
Relying on the place you’re staying in Phuket, Khao Lak is a 1.5 to 2.5 drive, making it one of the vital accessible day excursions from Phuket. You’ll be able to hire a automotive and drive your self, take the general public bus (from Phuket bus terminal 2, simply north of Phuket city), or e book a non-public switch.
Last Ideas
The huge quantity of islands surrounding Phuket are one cause why I like this a part of Thailand a lot so ensure you get out and discover!
Whether or not you’re right here for one week or one month, you should definitely take a look at all of the sights and issues to do on Phuket island itself in addition to leaving sufficient time to do a number of of those Phuket day journeys and island hopping excursions to discover this Thai paradise absolutely.
And in the event you haven’t booked your lodge but take a look at my insider’s information on the place to remain in Phuket. And, in the event you need assistance determining methods to match all of the highlights into your vacation, take a look at my 7 day final Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Krabi itinerary for the final word Thailand seaside expertise.
And in the event you plan to see extra of Thailand take a look at my different blogs and guides for extra ideas. My complete Thailand Journey Information and checklist of the very best locations to go to in Thailand offers you loads of inspiration.
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