Islands Near Phuket: Where Can You Sail in a Day?
Nineteen islands lie within reach of Phuket by boat, and Horizon Cruises Phuket takes private groups to them on 91 skippered boats, sorted by travel time, not distance. Coral Island is the closest, 20–25 minutes from Chalong Pier; Phang Nga Bay is about half an hour from Ao Po Grand Marina; Phi Phi takes one to two hours; the Similans and Surin are overnight routes. Write to us on WhatsApp for the boat that fits your island and group.
South: short runs from Chalong Pier
These are the islands people pick for a first day on the water, a half-day trip, or a relaxed day with children.
| Island | From Chalong | By motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Coral Island (Koh Hey) | ~9 km (5 nm) | ~20–25 min |
| Maiton | ~15 km (8 nm) | ~25–35 min |
| Racha Yai | ~26 km (14 nm) | up to an hour |
| Racha Noi | ~37 km (20 nm) | ~1–1.5 h |
Coral Island for beaches and a first snorkel; Maiton for a quiet bay with nothing built on it; the Racha Islands for the clearest water within a day's reach. Coral and Maiton combine neatly into one trip on a speedboat.
Phang Nga Bay: half an hour from Ao Po
The closest water to Ao Po Grand Marina, and the most sheltered from ocean swell. Limestone cliffs, hidden lagoons, calm sea almost year-round.
| Destination | From Ao Po | By motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Hong Island (Phang Nga) | ~18 km (10 nm) | ~25–30 min |
| Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi | ~16 km (9 nm) | ~30–35 min |
| James Bond Island (Ko Tapu) | ~20 km (11 nm) | ~30–45 min |
The short approach is the point of this direction: James Bond Island is about 20 km from Ao Po against roughly 53 km from Chalong, so the hour you save stays with the islands. A single day here usually combines Ko Tapu, the hidden lagoon at Hong and the stilt village of Koh Panyee.
The Krabi side: about an hour from Ao Po
| Destination | From Ao Po | By motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Pak Bia | ~26 km (14 nm) | ~45 min – 1 h |
| Hong Island (Krabi) | ~26 km (14 nm) | ~45 min – 1 h |
| Koh Lao Lading | ~28 km (15 nm) | ~45 min – 1 h |
| Chicken Island (Koh Kai) | ~42 km (23 nm) | ~1–1.5 h |
| Koh Poda | ~40 km (22 nm) | ~1–1.5 h |
| Railay Beach | ~44 km (24 nm) | ~1–2 h |
This is the direction for people who have already seen Phi Phi: the same limestone scenery with noticeably fewer boats. Several points combine easily into one route. Chicken Island can also be reached from Chalong — about 52 km and one to two hours.
Phi Phi: from either marina
| Departure marina | Straight line | By motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Chalong Pier | ~48 km (26 nm) | ~1–2 h |
| Ao Po Grand Marina | ~54 km (29 nm) | ~1.5–2 h |
Phi Phi and Bamboo is the most-booked full-day route: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, snorkelling. Every way of getting there, including the ferry and group tours, is compared in Phuket to Phi Phi.
Far expeditions: a long day or an overnight
| Destination | From Chalong | By motor yacht |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Ha and Koh Rok | ~106 km (57 nm) | ~2.5–4 h |
| Similan Islands | ~119 km (64 nm) | ~3–4.5 h |
| Surin Islands | ~183 km (99 nm) | ~4.5–7 h |
| Koh Lipe | ~184 km (99 nm) | from 4.5 h |
This is territory for boats with cabins and range: the Similans and Surin are far better with an overnight than pushed into a single day. Such routes are the domain of luxury yachts and larger crewed motor yachts.
How to choose
- Half a day with children — Coral Island or Maiton on a speedboat.
- A first full day — Phi Phi or Phang Nga Bay.
- Maximum time on the islands — Phang Nga Bay from Ao Po: the shortest approach of all.
- You have seen the classics — the Krabi side, or Racha Noi.
- A large group — a power catamaran: level deck and room to move.
- A quiet day under sail — the near bays on a sailing catamaran.
- An expedition — the Similans or Surin, with an overnight.
All distances are approximate straight lines from the marina that serves each direction; the actual route on the water is always somewhat longer. The exact departure point depends on the boat and the route and is confirmed when you book. Full descriptions are on the destinations page.
Frequently asked questions
Which island is closest to Phuket?
From Chalong Pier it is Coral Island (Koh Hey): about 9 km, 20–25 minutes by motor yacht. From Ao Po Grand Marina the nearest is Hong Island in Phang Nga Bay — about 18 km, 25–30 minutes.
Where can you go from Phuket for one day?
The classic full day is Phi Phi, or Phang Nga Bay with James Bond Island and Hong. For half a day, Coral Island and Maiton. For something less crowded, the islands on the Krabi side.
Which islands are too far for a day trip?
The Similans, Surin and Koh Lipe are technically reachable in a long day, but the comfortable format for all three is an overnight route on a boat with cabins.
Where do the boats leave from?
South to Coral Island, Maiton and Racha — from Chalong Pier. Into Phang Nga Bay and towards Krabi — from Ao Po Grand Marina in the northeast. Phi Phi runs from both. The exact marina depends on the boat and route: see where yachts depart from in Phuket.
How far is Phi Phi from Phuket by boat?
About 48 km (26 nautical miles) in a straight line from Chalong Pier, which a motor yacht covers in one to two hours, or about 54 km (29 nautical miles) from Ao Po Grand Marina, one and a half to two hours. Phi Phi and Bamboo Island is the most-booked full-day route from Phuket: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and the snorkelling stops. The actual track on the water is somewhat longer than the straight line.
Which islands near Phuket are best for a half day?
Coral Island and Maiton, both a short run south from Chalong Pier. Coral Island (Koh Hey) is the nearest of all, with beaches and an easy first snorkel; Maiton, roughly 15 km out and about half an hour away, is a quiet bay with nothing built on it. The two combine neatly into one short trip on a speedboat, which is the usual choice for a half day with children.
Why is James Bond Island quicker from Ao Po than from Chalong?
Because Ao Po Grand Marina sits at the mouth of Phang Nga Bay. James Bond Island (Ko Tapu) is 30–45 minutes by motor yacht from Ao Po, against roughly 53 km from Chalong Pier, about an hour more under way. The time saved stays with the islands, so a trip from Ao Po usually fits Ko Tapu, Hong's enclosed lagoon and the stilt village at Koh Panyee without rushing.
Which islands near Phuket are the least crowded?
The Krabi side of Phang Nga Bay: Koh Pak Bia, Hong Island (Krabi), Koh Lao Lading, Chicken Island, Koh Poda and Railay Beach, about an hour from Ao Po Grand Marina by motor yacht, offer the limestone scenery of Phi Phi with far fewer boats around, and several of them combine into one route. If you have already seen the classics, Racha Noi is the southern alternative.
Do we need a boat with cabins for the Similan Islands?
For comfort, yes. The Similans are about 119 km (64 nautical miles) from Chalong, three to four and a half hours each way by motor yacht, so a single day is mostly spent under way. The usual format is an overnight on a larger crewed motor yacht or a catamaran with cabins, the same approach as for Surin and Koh Lipe. The Similan Islands page describes the stops and the park season.
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