Phuket Islands

Ko Bon is a small island to the south of Phuket.

Get in : It is accessible in just 10 minutes by boat from Rawai or Laem Ka. You can also charter a longtail from most of Phuket's main beaches.

See: The island has a white sandy beach, suitable for swimming and a one-day tour.

Ko Hae (Coral Island) sometimes spelled Ko Hey and also known as Coral Island, is an island off the southeast of Phuket in Thailand

Do: Snorkeling Although the masses of tourists that arrive everyday have taken their toll on the corals, there are still some nice corals to be found in the deeper waters farther from shore. About 100 meters from shore on both Long & Banana Beaches there are vast Staghorn Coral Reefs.

Visibility can be okay to very limited due to the island's very close proximity to Phuket, currents, and water runoff.

Caution is advised for those swimming and snorkeling in the waters further from shore - there is heavy boat traffic all day.

Ko Lon is a small island off the coast of Phuket.

Get in: Ferry services from Ao Chalong are operated only in the early morning.

See: The island is mountainous with level land along the shore. The mainly Muslim inhabitants engage in fishing, rubber and coconut planting.

Ko Mai Thon is a small island off Phuket's southeast coast.

See: The island is highly prized for its still perfect natural environment, including fine white beaches and crystal waters; ideal for swimming, diving, or fishing. Those not wishing to stay overnight may take a daytime excursion organised by tour agencies.

Ko Maphrao (Coconut Island) lies off Phuket’s east coast.

Get in : The island can be reached by boat from Laem Hin pier, to the north of Phuket Town, within 15 minutes.

Do : Activities on the islands include visiting the fishery villages, walking along nature trails, fishing and biking.

Ko Racha (Ko Raya) Ko Racha Yai and Ko Raya Noi, also known as Ko Raya Yai and Ko Raya Noi, are twin islands off the southeastern coast of Phuket. Known for their crystal clear blue waters these islands have been an almost exclusive paradise for divers for years. With Racha Yai's white sand beaches and expanding accommodations, Racha Yai is growing in popularity.

Get in: Ko Racha Yai with its gleaming beaches can be reached by chartered boat from Ao Chalong and Rawai. Travelling time varies by type of boat:

Speedboats make the journey in about 45 minutes.

Dive boats, fishing boats, and large boats travel time is about 1 1/2 - 3 hours depending on the season (longer in the Summer Season).

Longtail boats can be chartered when the winds and waves are mild. Travel time in a longtail is over 2 hours in calm seas. Caution should be taken when chartering a longtail - if the weather turns you may become stranded overnight on the island or the boat may capsize.

Sightseeing and snorkeling services are available from tour operators in town. Accommodation is available. A hilltop viewpoint on the bay’s south offers a magnificent view of the whole island.

Ko Racha Noi, 10 kilometres from Raya Yai, is the result of coral reef build up, and there are more rocks than beaches. In a small bay on the west is a boat anchorage. The waters at Raya Noi are emerald green, and the fishing there is famous, but swimming is not recommended.

Racha Yai is an available travel and tour option year round. When the seas and winds are too strong, boats will cancel their trips for safety reasons. During the summer season this only occurs a few times.

Get around: Once at Racha Yai your feet become your carriage. The island has a small network of dirt paths that link all of the beaches and resorts. You can easily walk from Bungalow Bay to Siam Beach and back again. Longtail boats are somethimes available for rent to visit other beaches if you are not inclined to walk.

See: Looking back towards Phuket from Siam Beach is one of the best things to do. Most visitors to Racha Yai come to escape the noise and distractions of Phuket and Coral Island.

Walking around some of the island's pathways you will be treated to views of wonderful coconut groves and the occasional water buffalo grazing nearby.

Do: Rustling Palms on Raya Coral Island. Ko Raya is the perfect destination if you're looking to escape the more popular (and busier) Phuket. On this 4 day trip to the peaceful island of Ko Raya, you'll find picture-perfect bays, white beaches, waving coconut palms and a turquoise sea with some fantastic coral reefs. It's also a great place to learn to dive, so you can book an introductory dive during your stay.

Snorkeling

One of Phuket's best kept secrets is the wonderful snorkeling at Koh Racha Yai. Perhaps due to the extra distance from Phuket or the Island's lees familiar or attractive name means that there are significantly less visitors to this island than almost every other island around Phuket. The physical layout of Racha Yai offers places to snorkel no matter what time of year it is. even on days when there are large waves, there will be a protected cove to snorkel in.

Water clarity and visibility is some of the best in Phuket. The water has a turquoise color and has a lot of marine life. The depths range from a few meters and deeper. Most snorkeling is done from speedboats or from the shore in Batok Bay and Raya Bay.

Scuba Diving

Racha Yai is Phuket's best-known scuba diving site, with its sloping rocky reefs and its plentitude of solid coral forests. There is also Ter Bay where there is an exciting wreck in the depths of 25 -35 meters. The area south Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a haven for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The overall topography is strikingly different from Racha Yai with huge granite boulders. The diving in Racha Noi compared to Racha Yai is definitely more challenging but the rewards are far greater.

SNUBA

Racha Yai's coral reefs and shallow depths make it a great location for SNUBA. SNUBA combines the ease of snorkeling with the excitement of diving. SNUBA is popular with families, couples, and small groups looking to combine a day of snorkeling with something a little more adventurous and exciting. Ages 8+ can try SNUBA and there is no certification required to participate. Professional dive guides accompany the tours, provide instruction before and guide guests underwater. SNUBA is offered only through licensed SNUBA Recreational Centers.

Swimming

The waters around Racha Yai and Noi are crystal clear and turquoise in color. Swimming near the beaches and in the bays is a great way to spend the day. The water is warm and inviting. Bungalow Bay has an area sectioned off for swimming. Use caution when swimming outside of designated swimming areas off shore as there are a number of dive boats and speedboats that come in and out of the bays. Currents inside the sheltered bays are usually not and issue, but use caution when swimming out further from shore. Ask a dive operator or instructor for advice on the current conditions.

Relaxing

Racha Yai is one of the nicest islands to simply get away from everything and relax. Less boats and tourists visit this island and Jet Skis & Para sailing are officially banned.

The beaches are white powdery sand with plenty of space to spread out. The sun lounge chairs for rent are spaced a good distance apart from each other and there is only one row unlike the crowded beaches of Phuket and Coral Island where the chairs are sometimes 5-6 deep.

Buy: There isn't much to purchase on Racha Yai. There is a little shop on the side of Bungalow Bay that has miscellaneous sundries. If your child has forgotten their swimsuit they even have swimsuits for sale.

Ban Raya and The Racha Resort have small mini-marts for juices, water and snacks.

Ko Sire also Ko Si Re, Ko Si Le, is an island off Phuket. The name is pronounced "Sih Reh" (two syllables).

Get in: Separated from the mainland of Phuket by the Khlong Tha Chin, a shallow mangrove swamp, this twenty-square kilometre island is connected by a causeway to the city.

See:
- Wat Ko Si-Re, on the hill, has a large Reclining Buddha and provides fine views of the surroundings.

- Phuket's largest settlement of Sea Gypsies (Chao Le), can be found on Ko Si-Re at Laem Tuk-kae. The muddy seabed means the island is not good for swimming.

Do: Visit the Sea Gypsy community. It may seem run down and dirty - but the people are real and have genuine smiles!

Buy: Barbara. Cheap pearls of all colours from the sea Gypsie as well as shells and mobiles. Very good prices compared to Phuket Town. Bargain with a smile - the sea Gypsies are very friendly!

Ko Yao sometimes written Koyao, is a group of islands between Phuket and Krabi. There are two main islands, Ko Yao Noi ("Small Long Island") and Ko Yao Yai, with Noi being the more developed of the two.

Ko Yao Noi remains a beautiful island, where most people still believe that the island should be preserved from human degradation. It is often described as one of the last islands in the region to not be overly developed.

Ko Yao Yai is also a natural beauty, remaining the least developed of the two islands. Ko Yao Yai is significantly larger than Ko Yao Noi due to a lack of (basic) infrastructure in some areas of the island.

Sea Gypsies (Moken people) were inhabiting the Bay before anybody else, except maybe other nomadic people like forest hunters and collectors (Sakai, Negritos). The 3,500 or so inhabitants of Koh Yao Noi are thought to be recent migrants from the Malay Peninsula (Satun, Trang).

The Mon population, linguistically and culturally belonging to the Khmer ethnolinguistic group, did settled in peninsular Thailand since ever, ruling maritime states like the one of Ligor (Nakhon Si Thammarat). They melt continuously with Southern migrants from Malaysia and with Northern rulers (Thai), over centuries of commercial exchanges and political conflicts. Most probably the Mon stock remains prevalent for most of the people living nowadays in Southern Thailand, including people of Koh Yao.

Numerous cave paintings hidden in the many islands of the bay, extending from 2000 years ago to last century, attest the influence of distinct communities in the emergence of a mixed origin population, living now in the provinces of Phang Nga, Phuket, Krabi and Satun.

The most recent migrations (17th-18th century) from Satun and Trang to Ko Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi is attested by the fact that the particular dialect spoken on the island still bear obvious Malaysian lexical traces, particularely regarding toponyms and vernacular names of the flora species.

The main industries on the island are fishing and rubber planting. A little rice farming and some fruit, palm and coconut plantations are evident. Boat building and farming techniques here have been passed from father to son and, while some of the youngsters leave Ko Yao to seek the bright lights of Phuket, most return to their tight knit community.

Get in: Arrive at Phuket either by

By long-distance bus from Bangkok or one of the larger cities North of Phuket

By air-plane to Phuket International Airport. Air Asia, Silk Air and Tiger Airways have regular international flights from Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. Domestically, [www.bangkokair.com Bangkok Airways], Thai AirAsia and One-Two-GO Airlines fly from Bangkok, Chiang Mai and Ko Samui for generally less than US$ 30 - US$ 50 one way.

Boats depart Phuket (two piers), Krabi (Tha Len) and Phang Nga for Ko Yao Noi at the following times:

Phuket (Bang Rong Pier): 09:30; 11:00; 12:30; 14:30; 16:00 and 17:00

Phuket (Rastdad Pier): 10:30 and 14:00

Krabi (Tha Len): 11:00 and 13:00

Phang Nga: 07:00

Boats depart Ko Yao Noi for Phuket (two piers), Krabi (Tha Len) and Phang Nga at the following times:

Phuket (Bang Rong Pier): 07:30; 10:00; 13:30 and 15:00

Phuket (Ratsada Pier): 08:05 and 15.05

Krabi (Tha Len): 07:30

Phang Nga: 07:30

All trips cost 100 Baht per person, 120 Baht to transport a motorcycle, one-way. Pay on the boat.

Regular long-tails ply between Chonglad Pier on Ko Yao Yai and Manok Pier on Ko Yao Noi during daylight hours – 20 Baht per person, 30 Baht extra to bring a motorcycle, takes 10 to 15 minutes.

All boat transfers to/from Koh Yao Noi, updated monthly. http://www.koyaonoi.com/Ferries.html

For those not on a budget or short on time Destination Air flies from various destinations in the Thai Islands to Ko Yao several times daily.

Get around Ko Yao Noi: Ko Yao Noi covers about 50 square kilometres. Upon arrival at Manok Pier there is no accomodation available within walking distance. There will generally be between ten and twenty ute-style tuk-tuk's waiting to take you to accomodation. The going rate on the island is 85B.

Ko Yao Noi has approximately 18 kilometres of concrete and dirt road around it. Thee main road is a two-lane concrete road that performs a ring around the entire perimeter of the island (excluding the most Northern parts - there are only dirt roads in this area of the island). There are several interior roads that are a combination of either sand/dirt or concrete.

The most efficient way to get around the island is to hire a scooter. Sabai Corner Bungalows offers scooters for rent for 200B per day. No licence is generally required and helmets are provided. Just walk into the restaurant/reception. You will see the various scooters lined up out the front of the hotel.

Otherwise, ute tuk-tuk's are available to give you lifts across the island. Simply flag one of these vehicles down as they drive past. Failing that, if you simply wait most locals will be happy to give you a lift - however, it may mean squishing onto a scooter that already has three Thai adults and a baby on it!

Bicycles are also an excellent mode of transport and the main circle road around the island only has one large hill that must be navigated. The relevant flat terrain makes it perfect for leisurely rides. Bicycles can be hired from Sabai Corner Bungalows or any accomodation you may choose to stay at.

Get around Ko Yao Yai: As with Ko Yao Noi the must efficient way to get from the Chonglad Pier to any accomodation is to make use of the ute tuk-tuk's that will be waiting your arrival. As Ko Yao Yai is larger than Ko Yao Noi there is no exact charge but anything over 150 Baht is usually too much.

Once at your accomodation most larger resorts will have motorcycles or bicycles for rent. Due to the terrain on Ko Yao Yai it may be wise to hire a automatic scooter for travelling longer distances (meaning > 10 km) and having bicycles for use when travelling in a close proximity.

You can also walk along the roads and either flag down a ute taxi or try to get a lift from the locals. Ko Yao Yai, like Ko Yao Noi is a very safe island and vehicles rarely travel above 15 kilometres per hour, so hitch-hiking is not exactly a dangerous pursuit here.

See: Ko Yao Noi is mountainous in the centre and has beaches to either side. The East side has beaches suitable for swimming and snorkeling and the West is a picturesque blend of rice flats and mangrove trees. The island is a sanctuary for at least 4 species of hornbills, very commonly seen around.

Do: Professionel Muay Thai with a worldchampion in boxing and Muay Thai, diving at Koh Yao International Diving School at Koh Yao Noi.