🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026
The most popular islands around Phuket for a day-trip snorkeling run are three: Coral Island (Koh Hae), Maiton, and Racha. All three sit to the south and east of Phuket, with boats leaving mainly from Chalong Pier or Rawai Beach. Each island has a completely different feel, and this article will help you work out which one suits how you like to travel.
First, straight up: how clear the water is depends heavily on the season. The best of it runs from November to April. During the monsoon (May–October) the Andaman side tends to be choppier and murkier, and on some days tours don't sail at all because the swell is too strong. If you're coming in the rainy season, always check conditions with your tour operator first.
Pick the island that fits your style
Coral Island (Koh Hae)
The closest — just a 15-minute boat ride — with a full set of water activities. Great for families and anyone who wants an easy swim without going far.
Maiton Island
A small, quiet island with a chance of spotting a pod of dolphins on the way over. Clear water, few people — ideal if you want to escape the crowds.
Racha Island
The clearest water of the group, fine white-sand beaches, and good dive spots. The pick if you're serious about snorkeling and coral.
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Coral Island (Koh Hae) — closest and most complete
Koh Hae, which foreigners call Coral Island, sits just about 6.5 km off Phuket's southern shore. A speedboat from Rawai Beach or Chalong Pier gets you there in around 15 minutes. That closeness makes it the go-to island if you've only got half a day or you're traveling with kids. The island has two main beaches: Long Beach on the east side and Banana Beach on the west.
These days most speedboat tours dock on the Banana Beach side, which is well organized with restaurants, sun loungers, and a full menu of water activities. Long Beach is white sand with shallow, clear blue water — perfect for kids to splash around. The coral at Koh Hae sits in shallow water, so you can see it just snorkeling at the surface, but honestly it's not as healthy as Racha's, because of the crowds and the constant boat traffic.
- Snorkeling — included in almost every package, with gear and life vests provided.
- Sea Walker (underwater walk) — you wear a helmet and walk along the seabed looking at coral for about 20 minutes. No swimming required, so it's good if you're nervous in the water.
- Parasailing + banana boat — fun activities off the beach, charged separately per ride.
- Discovery Dive — try a scuba dive without a license, with an instructor with you the whole time, for around 45 minutes.
Straight up
Koh Hae gets very busy from late morning into the afternoon, when the tour boats all arrive at once. If you want a calmer vibe, take a morning tour or one that leaves before 9am, so you get the island while it's still quiet.
Maiton Island — quiet, clear water, a shot at dolphins
Maiton (sometimes spelled Maithon) is a small private island southeast of Phuket. Its draw is that on the way over you have a chance of spotting a pod of dolphins playing in the sea — so many people call this stretch the dolphin route. Fine white sand, clear water, and far fewer people than Koh Hae make it a good fit for anyone after some calm.
Maiton tours usually run as a half-day catamaran trip, or get bundled into a 3-island package with Racha and Koh Hae. The snorkeling spots around the island have clearer water and healthier coral than Koh Hae — but keep in mind that dolphins are wild animals, and no tour can guarantee you'll see them 100%. Operators only know the times and spots where the odds are best.
Tip
If seeing dolphins is your main goal, pick an early-morning tour. Dolphins tend to feed in the morning when the sea is still calm, so your odds are better than on an afternoon run.
Racha Island — clearest water, best diving
If you're serious about snorkeling and coral, Racha is the answer. The island splits into Racha Yai (Big Racha) and Racha Noi (Little Racha), south of Phuket, about 30–45 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Pier. The water here is emerald green and so clear you can plainly see the sandy bottom and the coral — it's the clearest of these three islands.
Racha Yai's prettiest beach is Ao Tawan Tok (Patok), with fine white sand and shallow, clear water. The best-known dive spots are Kon Kae Bay and Siam Bay, where you'll often see coral, clownfish, pufferfish, and giant sea stars. Racha Noi runs deeper and suits scuba diving more, since it tends to have big schools of fish and good underwater visibility.
- Kon Kae Bay — a popular snorkeling spot with shallow coral and plenty of fish.
- Siam Bay — another surface-snorkeling spot with clear water and lots of fish.
- Patok Beach — the prettiest white-sand beach, great for lounging and shallow swimming.
- Racha Noi — for scuba divers; good visibility and frequent big schools of fish.
Straight up
You can stay overnight on Racha — there are resorts on the island. If you want the beach to yourself in the morning before the tours arrive, one night is well worth it, because from late morning the tour boats start rolling in and the island picks up.
Which tour, and how much
Island tours around Phuket range from a single island to all three at once. The prices below are rough per-person rates for join (shared group) tours in 2026, which usually include hotel transfers, the speedboat, snorkeling gear, lunch, and a beach lounger. The actual price depends on the operator and the time of year.
Coral Island (Koh Hae) half-day / full-day tour
The closest, and great for beginners and families — swimming, surface snorkeling, with optional water activities. Good value if you're short on time.
Racha + Coral Island tour
A popular package — Racha's clear water paired with Koh Hae's convenience. Snorkeling at 2–3 spots and lunch on the island.
3-island tour: Maiton + Racha + Coral Island
The most complete — a shot at dolphins off Maiton, snorkeling at Racha, then a swim to finish at Koh Hae. Good if you want to see it all in one day.
Racha Noi + Racha Yai tour (dive-focused)
For people who are serious about diving — multiple dive spots and good visibility. Best for scuba divers and anyone who loves clear water.
Maiton dolphin-watching tour (catamaran)
A half day focused on cruising for dolphins and snorkeling around Maiton. Quiet, few people, ideal for anyone after a calm atmosphere.
Fees that often aren't included
Many tours don't include island-entry or national-park fees, charged on the spot for a few hundred baht per person. Keep some cash on you, and ask the operator clearly before booking what the price covers.
A 2-day, 1-night island plan
If you've got two days, I'd split it into a day on the close-in islands and a night on Racha, so you see both the buzz and the quiet. Here's a sample plan with timings that actually work.
Koh Hae + Maiton, out in the morning, back in the evening
Overnight on Racha, focused on clear water and diving
What to pack before you snorkel
- Reef-safe sunscreen — ordinary sunscreen damages coral and is banned in some spots; choose an oxybenzone-free formula.
- A long-sleeve rash guard — better sun protection than sunscreen, and it doesn't leech chemicals into the sea.
- A dry bag or phone pouch — you will get wet on the boat, so keep your valuables dry.
- Cash — island-entry fees, optional activities, and most island shops take cash.
- Seasickness pills — the monsoon swell is strong, and taking one 30 minutes before boarding helps a lot.
On safety
If you're not a strong swimmer, wear a life vest the whole time you're in the water, and only snorkel within the area your guide marks out. The current around parts of Racha is stronger than it looks — don't swim out far on your own.
Plan your whole Phuket trip — where to stay, where to eat, and the islands to hit.
See the Phuket travel guide →