Snorkelling in Phuket: Coral Island,
Racha or Phi Phi — where's best and when
Phuket’s water is clear, the reefs are alive and there are turtles — all true. But snorkelling spots differ a lot: at some the reef starts three metres from your towel, at others it is two hours away by speedboat. Here are four places in order of distance from Phuket, with prices and departure days from our catalogue, and an honest word on where to go for the water itself.
Coral Island (Koh Hae): the closest
Fifteen minutes by speedboat from Chalong pier. The white Kahung beach, sunbeds, a buffet restaurant and a reef right off the shore: walk in from the beach and fifty metres out the corals begin at three to eight metres deep. Plenty of fish, and turtles drop by. The best option for a first snorkel and for a day with children.
A full day with transfer, guide, sunbeds, mask, lunch and insurance — 1,300 ฿ per adult, 1,000 ฿ per child aged 4–11, from 08:45 to 15:00, daily. One drawback: weekends are busy. A weekday or the first departure solves it.
See the tour →Koh Racha Yai: the best balance
Half an hour from Chalong. Patok beach with white sand, Kon Kae lagoon with glassy water, and reefs richer than Coral Island’s. Reef sharks are seen here regularly: under a metre long, harmless, and the first to leave. The reefs drop to twenty metres, so Racha works equally for snorkelling and for a first scuba dive.
Racha and Coral Island in one day — snorkelling on the Racha Yai reefs in the morning, beach and lunch on Coral Island after: 1,500 ฿ per adult, 1,200 ฿ per child, 08:45–16:30, daily.
See the tour →Racha, Coral and Maiton — three islands in a day: snorkelling at Maiton, lunch on Coral, Patok beach and Kon Kae lagoon on Racha. 1,700 ฿ per adult, 1,500 ฿ per child aged 4–9, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
See the tour →“Your first reef shark at Racha: you realise it is just swimming past and ignoring you completely. You don’t forget that.”
The Phi Phi Islands: snorkelling plus scenery
The most beautiful views above the water and good ones below: the reef at Bida Nok rock and Loh Samah bay. A detail the brochures leave out: the reef near the main beaches has suffered from boat traffic, so going to Phi Phi only for snorkelling is not the best idea. But if you take the islands for Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, the snorkelling is included and it is good.
The Blue Planet speedboat: Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, the Viking cave, Monkey Beach, snorkelling and lunch on Phi Phi Don, and Khai Island to finish. 1,700 ฿ per adult, 1,500 ฿ per child aged 3–10, 07:00–17:30, daily.
See the tour →Surin and Similan: the absolute top, but seasonal
If snorkelling is the point rather than a beach add-on, this is another level: visibility of 20–30 metres, untouched reefs, a huge variety of fish. The national parks open only from November to May. The Surin Islands in one day — 3,500 ฿ including the park fee, gear and lunch; a long day with an early pickup, back by evening. The Similans by speedboat with a Russian-speaking guide are 2,800 ฿, season from 15 October.
See the tour →See the tour →If a mask isn’t enough: snorkelling and diving in one day
Joy Dive — a dive-boat trip from 08:15 to 16:30: no certificate needed, an instructor stays with you, and non-divers snorkel from the same boat. 2,000 ฿ with transfer and lunch. A good way to find out whether you want a course without buying one.
See the tour →Where to go: the short answer
First time or with kids — Coral Island, 1,300 ฿. You want fish and reef — Racha, 1,500–1,700 ฿. You want views and snorkelling — Phi Phi, 1,700 ฿. Snorkelling matters most and it’s the season — Surin, 3,500 ฿.
The best season
December–March: maximum visibility and the calmest sea. April–May is still good, with warmer water. June–October is the rainy season: snorkelling at Coral Island and Racha still runs, but visibility drops and there can be swell from the west; Surin is closed. Morning always beats afternoon: the water is clearer before noon and there are fewer boats.
What to bring
A mask and snorkel come with every one of our routes, but your own mask fits better — if you have one, bring it. A rash guard or T-shirt: your back burns in twenty minutes in the water. Sunscreen that is waterproof and oxybenzone-free: the ordinary kind is banned on Phi Phi. A waterproof phone pouch, a towel, a little cash for a coconut. Life jackets are provided on every boat.
FAQ
Can I snorkel if I can’t swim? Yes — in a life jacket or with a noodle, off the beach at Coral Island. On Racha’s deeper reefs it helps to at least be able to float.
Are there turtles? They are seen at Coral Island and Racha, more often in the morning. Nobody guarantees it; it is the sea.
Are the sharks dangerous? The blacktip reef sharks at Racha are not. They are under a metre long and keep away from people.
What about children? Child fares from age 3–4, and life jackets and masks come in children’s sizes. Coral Island is the easiest choice: the reef is off the beach, with sunbeds and shade nearby.
Do I need fins? Not for snorkelling off the beach. On Phi Phi and Surin fins are part of the gear.
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Snorkelling in Phuket: Coral Island,
Racha or Phi Phi — where's best and when
Phuket’s water is clear, the reefs are alive and there are turtles — all true. But snorkelling spots differ a lot: at some the reef starts three metres from your towel, at others it is two hours away by speedboat. Here are four places in order of distance from Phuket, with prices and departure days from our catalogue, and an honest word on where to go for the water itself.
Coral Island (Koh Hae): the closest
Fifteen minutes by speedboat from Chalong pier. The white Kahung beach, sunbeds, a buffet restaurant and a reef right off the shore: walk in from the beach and fifty metres out the corals begin at three to eight metres deep. Plenty of fish, and turtles drop by. The best option for a first snorkel and for a day with children.
A full day with transfer, guide, sunbeds, mask, lunch and insurance — 1,300 ฿ per adult, 1,000 ฿ per child aged 4–11, from 08:45 to 15:00, daily. One drawback: weekends are busy. A weekday or the first departure solves it.
See the tour →Koh Racha Yai: the best balance
Half an hour from Chalong. Patok beach with white sand, Kon Kae lagoon with glassy water, and reefs richer than Coral Island’s. Reef sharks are seen here regularly: under a metre long, harmless, and the first to leave. The reefs drop to twenty metres, so Racha works equally for snorkelling and for a first scuba dive.
Racha and Coral Island in one day — snorkelling on the Racha Yai reefs in the morning, beach and lunch on Coral Island after: 1,500 ฿ per adult, 1,200 ฿ per child, 08:45–16:30, daily.
See the tour →Racha, Coral and Maiton — three islands in a day: snorkelling at Maiton, lunch on Coral, Patok beach and Kon Kae lagoon on Racha. 1,700 ฿ per adult, 1,500 ฿ per child aged 4–9, on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
See the tour →“Your first reef shark at Racha: you realise it is just swimming past and ignoring you completely. You don’t forget that.”
The Phi Phi Islands: snorkelling plus scenery
The most beautiful views above the water and good ones below: the reef at Bida Nok rock and Loh Samah bay. A detail the brochures leave out: the reef near the main beaches has suffered from boat traffic, so going to Phi Phi only for snorkelling is not the best idea. But if you take the islands for Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon, the snorkelling is included and it is good.
The Blue Planet speedboat: Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay, the Viking cave, Monkey Beach, snorkelling and lunch on Phi Phi Don, and Khai Island to finish. 1,700 ฿ per adult, 1,500 ฿ per child aged 3–10, 07:00–17:30, daily.
See the tour →Surin and Similan: the absolute top, but seasonal
If snorkelling is the point rather than a beach add-on, this is another level: visibility of 20–30 metres, untouched reefs, a huge variety of fish. The national parks open only from November to May. The Surin Islands in one day — 3,500 ฿ including the park fee, gear and lunch; a long day with an early pickup, back by evening. The Similans by speedboat with a Russian-speaking guide are 2,800 ฿, season from 15 October.
See the tour →See the tour →If a mask isn’t enough: snorkelling and diving in one day
Joy Dive — a dive-boat trip from 08:15 to 16:30: no certificate needed, an instructor stays with you, and non-divers snorkel from the same boat. 2,000 ฿ with transfer and lunch. A good way to find out whether you want a course without buying one.
See the tour →Where to go: the short answer
First time or with kids — Coral Island, 1,300 ฿. You want fish and reef — Racha, 1,500–1,700 ฿. You want views and snorkelling — Phi Phi, 1,700 ฿. Snorkelling matters most and it’s the season — Surin, 3,500 ฿.
The best season
December–March: maximum visibility and the calmest sea. April–May is still good, with warmer water. June–October is the rainy season: snorkelling at Coral Island and Racha still runs, but visibility drops and there can be swell from the west; Surin is closed. Morning always beats afternoon: the water is clearer before noon and there are fewer boats.
What to bring
A mask and snorkel come with every one of our routes, but your own mask fits better — if you have one, bring it. A rash guard or T-shirt: your back burns in twenty minutes in the water. Sunscreen that is waterproof and oxybenzone-free: the ordinary kind is banned on Phi Phi. A waterproof phone pouch, a towel, a little cash for a coconut. Life jackets are provided on every boat.
FAQ
Can I snorkel if I can’t swim? Yes — in a life jacket or with a noodle, off the beach at Coral Island. On Racha’s deeper reefs it helps to at least be able to float.
Are there turtles? They are seen at Coral Island and Racha, more often in the morning. Nobody guarantees it; it is the sea.
Are the sharks dangerous? The blacktip reef sharks at Racha are not. They are under a metre long and keep away from people.
What about children? Child fares from age 3–4, and life jackets and masks come in children’s sizes. Coral Island is the easiest choice: the reef is off the beach, with sunbeds and shade nearby.
Do I need fins? Not for snorkelling off the beach. On Phi Phi and Surin fins are part of the gear.
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