Phuket Day Trips: Phi Phi, Phang Nga and Racha

October 18, 2026

Match the trip to the month

The sea decides which day trips work. Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh is closed to landings from about 1 August to 30 September each year, and it reopened on 1 October 2026. The Similan Islands national park closes in the monsoon and is open from 15 October to 15 May, and this season began on 15 October 2026. Phang Nga Bay is sheltered, so boats run through the monsoon, with cancellations on rough days. Check the park listings before you pay a deposit, because weather can shut a park early.

Phi Phi Islands

Ferries and speedboats leave from Rassada, Chalong and Royal Phuket Marina, with the speedboat taking around an hour and the large ferry around two. At Maya Bay the rules are strict. Visitors may wade but not swim in the bay. Boats tie up at the Loh Samah pontoon on the far side of the island, and a boardwalk of 5 to 10 minutes leads to the sand. Reports mention hours of about 07:00 to 18:00, a limit of roughly 375 people an hour, and about an hour on the beach. Sunscreens with oxybenzone or octinoxate are banned. The details come from operators and press, so ask your tour company what applies on your date. Pileh Lagoon permits swimming in marked areas only.

The island park fee is about 400 THB for adults, and tours usually include it. The national park listing shows a lower base rate, so expect some difference.

Phang Nga Bay

Ao Po pier is the usual starting point, about 45 minutes by road from Patong. Day boats stop at Khao Phing Kan, the island people call James Bond Island. The needle rock beside it, Ko Tapu, is off limits to boats. Koh Panyee, a stilt village, has a floating football pitch built by local teenagers in 1986. Budget about 300 THB for the park fee. Between about 10:00 and 14:00 the main stop is crowded, so an early or late slot is calmer. One listing site says the park closes from 16 May to 14 October, while other sources disagree, so ask your operator about monsoon-month trips. The Phang Nga Bay guide covers the landing details.

Similan Islands

From Phuket this is a very long day. Khao Lak is the practical base, with departures from Thap Lamu pier at about 05:30. The fee is about 500 THB for adults, tickets are issued electronically only, and the park applies a daily quota. Island 8 (Sail Rock) and Island 4 allow landings, while Island 7 is for snorkelling and diving alone. No camping or overnight stays are allowed. Surin Islands park is 3 to 4 hours from Phuket by road, so it does not work as a day trip. See the Similan park page .

Closer islands

Racha Yai and Coral Island (Koh Hae): speedboat packages from Chalong cost about 900 to 1,500 THB, and a private longtail from Rawai to Coral Island is about 1,200 to 1,800 THB for the boat.
Koh Bon: two kilometres off Rawai, a longtail ride of 10 to 15 minutes, about 1,000 to 1,200 THB return for the boat.

These prices are rough guides, so agree them first. Overloaded boats and monsoon seas have caused fatal accidents in Thai waters, so pass on any boat that looks crowded. Speedboats slam in rough water, which is hard on backs and in pregnancy.

To compare island tours, search Phuket island tours on GetYourGuide .