Phuket Islands: features of tourism and recreation. Useful to the traveler information about Phuket Islands.

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The islands of Phuket attract not only diving enthusiasts, but also tourists who have “wanderlust” in their blood. You can feel like a real navigator, discover new places, sunbathe and swim in the solitude "worthy" of Robinson, and return to comfort and civilization in the evening.

Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi

The twin islands of Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi are located 12 km south of Phuket and are famous for their excellent conditions for diving and snorkeling.

The white sandy beaches of Ko Racha Yai can be reached by speedboat or boat from Chalong and Rawai piers. Traveling by boat will take 45 minutes, by boat from one and a half to three hours. It is best to move around the island on foot, along the roads winding among the coconut trees, watching the lazily grazing buffaloes, or go around the coast of the island by boat.

The beach here is relatively sparsely populated, and diving is possible at any time of the year and in any weather - there is no excitement in the bays of the island. The island has two good restaurants, as well as bungalows offering snacks and drinks on the beach.

Ko Racha Noi, located 10 kilometers from Ko Racha Yai, rests on the base of coral reefs, and therefore the coast here is more rocky. In the emerald waters of the island, according to experts, just great fishing. Diving here is more difficult because the bottom is covered with huge granite boulders.

Naka Yai and Naka Noi Islands

Naka Yai Island is not yet very explored by tourists. East End The islands are almost deserted, and there is a small village on the western side, but there are plans to turn the island into an exclusive resort town.

You can get to Naka Yai by hiring a boat on the east coast of Phuket. You can also buy a one-day tour for diving enthusiasts. Most of Naka Yai's beaches are sandy and wide, and the views from its east coast are simply breathtaking.

Neighboring Naka Noi is known as " pearl island”, here is a pearl farm, to which everyone inevitably leads tourist routes islands.

Ko Yao Islands

Ko Yao is a group of islands between Phuket and Krabi. Ferries depart here daily from Bangrong Pier on the east coast of Phuket. The fare is 50-70 THB per hour. Ko Yao Noi, a 50 square kilometer island, is mountainous in the center and surrounded by beaches to the east and mangroves to the west. You can get here by boat. The main road encircles the entire island. You can travel around the island by tuk-tuk (it is especially convenient to climb the mountain in this way), but if you decide to stay here, it is better to hire a scooter for 250-300 THB per day.

Prices on the page are for April 2019.

From entertainment, Ko Yao offers boat trips, cruises to neighboring islands. Near the beaches there are several good fish restaurants, there is Internet access, several shops, including the new Seven-Eleven. Life on the island is quite traditional, so if possible, avoid revealing outfits and drinking alcohol outside of restaurants.

On Ko Yao Noi, you can see exotic hornbills.

Ko Yao Yai is much larger than its neighbor Ko Yao Noi, but preserved in its original beauty. There is practically no infrastructure on the island. On the rocks of the island you can find prehistoric drawings of the ancient natives, many of which are several thousand years old.

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Koh Pani Island

Ko Pani is a 20-minute boat ride from Surakul Pier in Phang Nga Province. You could see this island from the window of the plane heading to Phuket. From above, it seems that the village magically appeared in the middle of the bay. Most of the island is vertical limestone cliffs, and hundreds of huts, restaurants and other buildings are built on stilts above the bay. This small Muslim community has its own school, mosque, many souvenir shops and several restaurants overlooking the sea, as well as bungalows where you can spend the night for 350 THB.

Ko Hae Island

Koh Hae Island is located southeast of Phuket. On an island surrounded coral reefs and having two magnificent beaches, Long Beach and Banana Beach, boats sail from Rawai and Chalong and day trips organized excursions. The island attracts diving enthusiasts - about a hundred meters from the coast there is a huge cluster of coral reefs, surrounded by amazing clear water. Parasailing, banana boating, kayaking, BBQ and overnight camping are available on Koh Hae.

What is the exchange rate for the Thai Baht today? In the post, all prices will be given in local Baht, so the exchange rate of Baht today is important: 1 Euro = 38 Baht; $1 = 35 Baht.

What is more profitable, to go on an excursion or to see the sights on your own? Since Thailand is still a wild country and with its own mentality, far from all corners of the country can be reached in a comfortable civilized way. Besides, public transport here is specific: the locals charge taxi prices for visitors, it is not safe to rent bikes or a car, so the easiest option to ride around the area is to take a tour. The funny thing is that excursions can come out at a price lower than if before different places islands to get on their own.

What language are the tours in?? Most of the tours are conducted in English and Russian. It didn't matter to us what language to listen to the guide in, and we traveled with both Russians and foreigners. The level of excursions and transport is approximately the same for everyone. True, sometimes scammers come across with terrible transport and service; a lot of negative reviews are written about such companies on the Internet.

Where to buy excursions? Tours can be bought online or at tour kiosks in Phuket. On the island itself, in all places where tourists crowd, it feeds a large number of sellers of excursions, often these are outbids. Prices vary greatly: for the same excursion, the price for the same service can differ by 2-3 times! Finding direct sellers of your excursions is unrealistic: everything is confusing in Phuket, and you’ll understand who organizes the tour, who is outbid, and who is outbid. Everywhere near hotels shopping centers, on the beaches, on pedestrian streets there will be a huge offer of travel options. Some will say that the occupancy is high, and you need to go faster, otherwise the places will run out. Maybe at the peak of the season this is true, but we calmly bought everything the day before the excursions, and there were no problems with places. You can also bargain with the seller of excursions, and if he is ready to greatly reduce the cost of the excursion, then it means that the organization of such a tour will be dumb, or they may simply not come to the hotel for you. Therefore, it is better to buy excursions in trusted companies.

Entrance tickets to events. In addition to trips, sellers of excursions can buy entrance tickets for various events. Often it is much more profitable than buying tickets yourself. For example, at Simon's Transvestites show, we bought tickets for 550 baht (we bargained, the initial price was 700), and at the box office the entrance ticket cost 800-1000 baht. As you can see, you can save a lot.

Excursions to the islands

The most popular excursions are visiting exotic islands: Similan Islands, James Bond Island and others. We went on a couple of such excursions, and this is how one of the excursions we visited called “Phi Phi Islands for 1 day” went, which consisted of the following: a visit to DiCaprio Phi Phi Island with Maya Bay, Paradise Island Kai, snorkeling, lunch and swimming on Phi Phi Don island, monkey beach, swimming in a picturesque radon bay with beautiful sheer cliffs.

• 7:30 - We were picked up by minibus from the hotel and taken to the pier. From type Patong, Karon transfer to the pier is free.
• 8:00 - Arrival at the pier. At the pier, there is a safety briefing on the water and on a speedboat. Here you can drink tea or coffee with cookies, this was included in the price of the tour. One of the representatives of the company in a shop near the pier offered tourists to buy the necessary things for the tour: a hat, sunblock, protective cases for the phone for $ 5 (they cost $ 1 on aliexpress). The only divorce is to rent fins. it was said that while snorkeling, you can hurt your feet on the corals. But while swimming, the legs did not reach the corals at all, and 200 baht for renting fins for one person was wasted.
• 9:30 - Arrive at Phi Phi Le Island at Maya Bay in 45 minutes. The trip was on a speedboat, we were lucky and there were no waves. The boat goes very fast, and in the presence of waves it shakes so that people feel sick. Even in calm weather, the water so overflows normally onto the deck. I want to warn you that it is better not to take expensive things on the tour, and you need to go immediately in bathing suits.
• 10:30 - We sail from the island of Phi Phi, go to see the monkeys, swim in a romantic beautiful bay.
• 12:00 - Arrival at Koh Phi Phi Don for lunch at a beach restaurant. Lunch is dumb and very meager, drinks and food are included in the price of the tour. After lunch, we swam, took more photos, walked around the island. And here is an unpleasant moment: on the island we took people who went on a two-day excursion. And this means that there were 32 people on our boat instead of the allowed 25. It became uncomfortable to ride due to lack of space.
• 13:30 - Went to the bay for snorkelling. After diving, the captain of the ship sliced ​​a cold watermelon, which came in handy, for the heat was already hellish. After swimming, we arrived at the paradise island with white sand Kai.
• 16:00 - Departure to the port in Phuket. After 20-30 minutes we were in place and after another 30 minutes we were taken to the hotel in a Toyota minibus.

Summing up, I can say that the tour went well, the guide was a cheerful positive guy. I liked that the boat was always free cold water and the speedboat and minibus transfer were fairly new and comfortable. We visited all the places described in the booklet. The only negative moments: a divorce when renting fins, people added to the boat and an unpleasant photographer girl who obsessively and shamelessly offered her services. A girl should learn culture and buy a normal camera for shooting.

The tour cost us 2000 baht, masks and snorkeling tubes were included in the price of the tour (scam travel agencies ask for a surcharge of 300-500 Baht for mask rental). The most interesting thing is that there were people on the tour who bought the tour from the tour operator in the hotel for 3200 baht.

If you decide to visit the Phi Phi Islands on your own, then you need to take a steam bath to get to the pier, then you need to find a ferry, on which it takes a long time to reach the island. And in order to ride to Maya Bay, you will need to negotiate with the local natives. As a result, the final cost of the trip is not clear, you can spend precious rest time waiting for the ferry, boats - all this is a hassle, and it is easier to go on an excursion.

Conclusion about excursions to the islands: All excursions from Phuket to the nearest islands are about the same: transfer from the hotel to the port, speedboat, islands, lunch, swimming, islands, road back. If you are traveling for 2 days, then there will be an overnight stay at the hotel. My advice, if you have limited time in Phuket, it is best to go to Phi Phi for 1 day, and to the Similan Islands for 2 days, because. the road to these islands is much more tiring, and these islands are very picturesque, just like the Seychelles.

Sightseeing tours in Phuket

Phuket sightseeing tours are a great way to spend time and explore the main points of the island. The tour is cheaper than renting a taxi and buying entrance tickets on your own. All sightseeing tours around the island are a kind of hodgepodge, collected from visits to several places, shows and elephant rides.

We chose a trip that included visits to the following places: Kata Viewpoint, Elephant Ride, Monkey Show and Baby Elephant Photo Show, Chalong Temple, Pearl Factory, Nut and Honey Factory. Our tour cost 700 baht, although the Indian seller originally wanted 1300. The duration of our tour was 3-4 hours.

Below will be a list options sightseeing tours around Phuket, which can be found in local travel companies.

• Elephant ride 30 minutes; Viewpoint Kata; Elephant show; Big Buddha; Monkey show; Show with snakes; Visit to the pearl factory and shopping, Visit to the factory of nuts and honey.
• Market; Chalong Temple, Elephant Show; Big Buddha; Visit to the pearl factory and shopping, Visit to the factory of nuts and honey.
• Viewpoint Kata; Chalong Temple; Elephant show; Big Buddha; Chinese temple; Visiting a pearl factory and shopping, Visiting a nut and honey factory and Watching the sunset at .
• Elephant ride 30 minutes; Viewpoint Kata; Chalong Temple; Big Buddha; Monkey show; Jungle quad biking Visit to the pearl factory and shopping, Visit to the factory of nuts and honey.
• Elephant ride 30 minutes; Viewpoint Kata; Chalong Temple; Big Buddha; Monkey show; Elephant show; Jungle quad biking Visiting the pearl factory and shopping, Visiting the factory of nuts and honey; Canoeing through the mangroves; Walk through the old town of Phuket Town.
• Big Buddha; Elephant ride 30 minutes; Bird show; Dolphin show; Chalong Temple.

The cost of such excursions varies, as a rule, from 500 baht to 2500 baht. The cost depends on the comfort of the minibus, the adequacy of the driver, the number of places visited and the cheating dealers. The duration of these excursions varies from 2 to 7 hours. Considering that on farms riding only on elephants costs 500-1000 baht, then I think that visiting such an excursion is very profitable.

Complete table of all excursions in Phuket

Name Excursions in Phuket	approximate price in Bath
Excursions to the islands
11 islands 2 days / 1 night - you will be taken to the main islands andaman sea	4100
James Bond Islands	1550-3800
Krabi Islands	1600-2000
Phi Phi for 1 day by speedboat	1500-3200
Phi Phi for 2 days	3600
Islands Coral, Racha, Maiton	1400
Similan Islands for 2 days, overnight in a tent	4450-4800
All the islands of the Andaman Sea in 1 day	3200-3700
National parks
Khao Lak Safari	1100
Khao Sok jungle and safari 1 or 2 days	1500-4300
Leisure
Splash Jungle Water Park + transfer	1000-1700
Wakeboarding	800-1600
Diving on Paradise Island	2500-3900
Jungle quad biking	1050
Flight of the Gibbon - an attraction that is a flight on a cable between platforms laid in the jungle.	1800-2700
Rafting in the mangroves	900-1700
Fishing	1250-2500
Safari	800-1400
Entry tickets
3D Museum or Museum of Optical Illusions (Phuket Trick Eye Museum)
XXX show for adults is where the actors get up with their genitals	800-900
Botanical Garden and a butterfly garden	800
Dolphinarium. Swimming with dolphins for 5000.	600-1000
Zoo + transfer	750
Tiger Kingdom + transfer	1000-2000
Shell Museum	200
Oceanarium	180
Bird Park + transfer	700
Upside Down House	500
orchid garden	200
Thai boxing at Bangla stadium or Sai Nam Yen	1200-1800
Show Siam Niramit	1400-1700
Transvestite Show Aphrodite	550-800
Simon's Transvestite Show	550-1000
Show Fantasy (FantaSea)	1850
Excursions to other countries and regions
Koh Samui 2 days	$230, round-trip ticket from $180
Singapore for 2 days, no visa required for Russian citizens	$300-430, round-trip ticket from $69
Malaysia for 2 days, visa for Russian citizens is not required	$300-380, round-trip ticket from $78
Cambodia for 2 days, no visa required for Russian citizens	from $400-500
Myanmar (Burma)	$400-500

This is real paradise for those who like to relax their soul. Some of them are uninhabited, while others are separate resorts with the necessary infrastructure.

Coral island

Coral Island- a stunningly beautiful island near Phuket. It takes no more than 15 minutes to get there. It is appreciated not only for the snow-white beach and the azure sea, but also for the richest undersea world around.

People come here for a paradise vacation, which can be diversified by snorkeling. In addition to the hotel of the same name, there is a dive center, a cafe, a shop, a massage parlor, and the beaches are equipped with sun loungers. visit Coral Island You can do it on your own or as part of an excursion.

Phi Phi

Among the islands near Phuket, where you can go even for a few days, it is worth highlighting the Phi Phi archipelago. This is one of the most amazing places in everything andaman sea. The archipelago consists of 6 islets, different in shape and size. To some extent, it is a separate resort with a well-developed infrastructure.

Phi Phi has dozens of hotels, shops, cafes with different cuisines of the world. Life here is in full swing around the clock. After sunset, fire shows and incendiary dances are arranged on the beaches. special attention also deserves the island of Phi Phi Ley with its famous bay Maya Bay, in which the shooting of the famous film "The Beach" took place with the participation of Leonardo DiCaprio.

Rank Yai

This is a private island 5 kilometers from Phuket. Most of it is covered with coconut palms, among which there are paths for walking. Rang Yai is great for an active pastime.

Here you can play various sports games, ride a bike, rent a boat or just soak up the white sandy beach. As part of excursions, the island is practically not visited, which makes staying on it quiet and calm.

Racha

Another beautiful island near Phuket is Racha. He beckons with his gorgeous beaches and incredibly beautiful scenery. The transparency of the water and the rich underwater world attract divers from all over the world. The whole area is strewn with tropical vegetation.

During the walk, you can see how rare exotic fruits grow, such as mangosteen, mango, paradise apple, papaya and so on. The infrastructure of the island is represented by hotels, restaurants, shops. Here is the pricing policy tourist services here 2 times higher than in neighboring Phuket.

A few decades ago it was an unknown and uninteresting island. He gained his popularity after the film with the agent 007 "The Man with the Golden Gun" was released. Since then, Tapu has been given the unofficial name of James Bond Island.

Tapu has the appearance of a small rock rising above the sea surface. It is forbidden to swim up to it, as there is a threat that sooner or later this rock may fall, but everyone will be able to admire it from the side and take amazing pictures against its background.

Similan Islands

The granite rocks of the Similan Islands, combined with the finest sand on the beaches and the azure sea, form picturesque landscapes. This is one of the most beautiful places worldwide. Since 1982, the archipelago has been declared the territory of the National Park.

Initially, Similan had 9 islands, but in 1998 they were added to Tachai and Bon. You can visit the archipelago from to. The rest of the time it is closed due to weather conditions and turtles that lay their eggs there.

Tachai Island is often referred to as Virgin Island. And this is true. Removed from the group of the Similan Islands, to which it has been ranked since 1998, it really still retains nature that has not been spoiled or changed by man. And fragrant, lush tropical thickets, and an unthinkable blue transparent ocean, and a beach with real white sand - all this reveals the primordial beauty of nature. There is also a beautiful coral reef, which, according to divers, is one of the most beautiful in the world. In addition to the variety of tropical fish and corals, turtles, rays, and even sharks can often be found here.

Tachai is part of the Mu Ko Similan National Park, and this imposes some restrictions on its accessibility. You can visit the island freely from November to April. The rest of the time is used to restore the nature of Tachay, still suffering from human visits.

Phuket Island

Phuket is the most large island Thailand. Located in the Andaman Sea. Filled with rich nature the best beaches, delightful landscapes as in all of Asia.

ghost islands in thailand

It seems that there are more than a hundred islands, although in fact there are only about 40 of them - in the Indian Ocean near Phuket. This effect is created by the shadows from the islands. The islands are rocks, on the beaches of which mountain monkeys live, and inside the rocks there are even closed beaches.

Koh Khao Island

Ko Kao - exotic island, a visit to which is recommended to all travelers who want to plunge into the national flavor of Thailand. This small island is located near Phuket.

There are not many cafes on the island, but they all carry the original Thai traditions and convey the atmosphere of this Asian country as accurately as possible.

Between November and February, sea turtles can be seen laying their eggs in the sand. Watching these animals in their natural habitat will attract the attention of avid travelers.

Lava Yai Island

Lava Yai Island is located northeast of Phuket and is located in Phang Nga Bay, one of the most beautiful places in Thailand. The bay is included in the Ao Phang Nga National Park. The total area of ​​this national park more than 400 square km, the park includes more than 40 islands of various sizes.

Lava Yai is the southernmost of the islands in the national park. Lava Yai Island means "beautiful" in the local dialect. The island is really beautiful. Unlike its neighbors, the rest of the islands located in Phang Nga Bay, Lava Yai is not a rock rising from the bottom of the bay, but a gently sloping island with tropical vegetation and a sandy beach.

Phi Phi Islands

Phi Phi are islands located near Thailand, between the small island of Phuket and the mainland. They consist of two main parts - Phi Phi Ley and Phi Phi Don, and are part of the province of Krabi. In December 2004, the islands were hit hard by a tsunami that rocked the entire Indian Ocean. Then about 2000 people died here.

Phi Phi Don is the only island in the archipelago that is inhabited by people. It consists of two limestone monoliths connected by a sandy spit, which is about 1 km long and about 160 m wide. The main settlements are located on the spit, and from the side of Ton-Sai Bay there is a pier that accepts small ships.

Phi Phi Ley consists of a limestone monolith that rises vertically from the water. In the local caves, locals climb to dizzying heights behind swallow nests with the help of bamboo poles. Subsequently, they are used to make delicious local soups.

James Bond Island (Ko Tapu)

James Bond Island, whose real name is Ko Tapu, is one of the most unusual islands. It is a kind of prototype of a skyscraper, which is 20 meters above sea level. It was here that in 1974 the filming of The Man with the Golden Gun took place.

After the release of the film, this corner of Thailand gained worldwide popularity and became one of the most famous attractions in Thailand. Here you can enjoy stunning landscapes and magnificent beaches near the island.

While sailing on a boat, you will have the opportunity to watch the exotic fish of this area, which are not difficult to see in clear water and, of course, take amazing photos against the backdrop of this amazing island.

Koh Khe Island in Phuket

Koh Khe Island in Phuket is a small coral island nine kilometers from Phuket.

Ko-hye is a part marine park, here you can go diving and explore the underwater world.

There is also an opportunity to rent boats and catamarans, or you can spend the night - there is housing for rent on the island.

But Ko-Khe has many interesting excursion programs to get acquainted with the island and its surrounding coral reefs.

Koh He Island's main attraction is its extremely rich and diverse marine life.

For a relaxing holiday There are two main large beaches on the island - Long Beach and Banana Beach.

Koh Racha Yai island

Ko Racha Yai is a small island located nineteen kilometers from the southern tip of Phuket. It belongs to the Koh Racha group of islands. The island is surrounded by clean sandy beaches. There is a small village on the island, the population of which is engaged in farming and fishing. It also has several bars with restaurants and a diving center.

The island of Koh Racha Yai is especially popular with divers and amateur astronomers. The former are attracted by clear water and an interesting seabed, while the latter are attracted by the very location of the island, which is conducive to stargazing.

Naka Yai Island

A little east of Ao Por Bay, a 10-minute boat ride, is Koh Nakha Yai Island. For a very long time, on the western side of this small island, there was only one small fishing village. But now the tourism industry has taken notice of this paradise and began its active development. Three projects are already underway, according to which the run-down village will turn into a large resort designed for many tourists.

Most of the coast of Naka Yai is sandy, and has a fairly decent width. These landscapes are like gift cards: white sandy beaches, sprawling coconut trees, incredible views of Phang Nga Bay (Phang Nga). The longest beach is located on the east coast, where you will find a snack stand, sun loungers and umbrellas.

This island is appropriate place for hiking and sunbathing. Avid scuba divers will also be interested here, since the waters near the island are filled with a variety of marine life. On the neighboring island Naka Noi (Koh Naka Noi) is a "pearl" farm. Be sure to visit it as it is an amazing chance to see how pearl beads are grown.

Koh Racha Yai island

The island of Koh Racha Yai, located south of Phuket, is one of the best places for diving divers in Thailand.

At the northern tip of the island, there are two beautiful bays that are famous for their clear water and colorful coral formations. Both bays are similar to a pool due to the fact that the sandy bottom goes down gradually and provides great opportunities for snorkeling and diving.

The east coast is gently sloping and covered with amazingly beautiful coral massifs, where you can see schools of the most exotic fish.

Phuket island airport

Phuket Island's airport is international. He is considered the second major airport all over Thailand total transportation. The airport is located thirty-two kilometers from the center.

The airport has two terminals. One of them is intended for domestic flights, the second - for international flights. The airport has a runway 3,000 meters long and 45 meters wide. It is known that it can serve an average of about 20 flights per hour.

More than five million people use Phuket Airport every year.

Phuket Airport has a modern security system. The order in the building is monitored by people in uniform, special frames are installed in the room. By the way, as in any other, taxi drivers are on duty near the airport of the island. So, the cost of a trip from here to the city center will be approximately four hundred baht. But you can also get there by bus. Such a trip will cost tourists many times cheaper.

Coral island

Coral island- This is a small deserted island in the Andaman Sea, located four kilometers from the southeast coast of Phuket. It has an irregular elongated shape and is covered with dense tropical vegetation. On the coast of Coral Island there are beautiful sandy beaches.

The island can be reached in fifteen minutes by motorboat or half an hour by ferry. The main attractions on the island are beach holiday with swimming in the sea, fishing and diving. It houses the Coral Island club, where you can spend the night in exotic bamboo pavilions installed right on the beach.

The Phuket Islands are a panacea for those who are tired of civilization and who want to relax among the pristine tropics. They are divided into uninhabited and inhabited, near and far (5-15 km and 40 km, respectively).

There are several dozen islands around Phuket. Some can be reached on your own. But in the vast majority of cases without buying excursion tour not enough. You can buy it at any travel agency in Phuket.

Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi

Uninhabited rocky Koh Racha Noi with coral reefs. It is located at a distance of 10 km from its twin. Diving is more difficult here because of the large granite boulders at the bottom. But the emerald waters in the coastal zone are a gift to anglers.

Koh Naka Yai

Naka Yai Island is located a 15-minute drive from Phuket. It is a riddle for tourists with beautiful scenery, sandy beaches with coconut palms. In the western part there is a small fishing village (only 200 inhabitants).

The Thai authorities will turn this place into an exclusive resort in the coming years. It is better to get to Naka Yai with east coast Phuket. To do this, you should hire a boat at the Ao Po Pier pier or purchase a tour. On the island, scuba diving, enjoying nature, basking in the soft sand. On the shore there are sun loungers, umbrellas and bars.

Mu Ko Yao

An archipelago of 44 islands, located in the south of Phang Nga Bay, between Krabi and Phuket. The Thais settled the Yao Islands several hundred years ago. Now about 13 thousand people live here. Most of local residents- Muslims. They fish, grow rubber, fruits and nuts.

For tourists, Koh Yao Yai is also of interest. These are resorts with a developed tourist business, suitable for long-term stays.

Koh Yao Noi - 50 sq. km, with mountains, beaches and jungles. Hornbills live here.

There is an asphalt road on the island, which is used by songthaews. You can rent a scooter. Rental price - 200-300 baht per day.

Ko Yao Noi offers cycling tours, kayaking, diving training, snorkeling, trips to Phang Nga Bay, as well as a variety of tours to the Andaman Sea islands. There are several fish restaurants and shops along the promenade.

On Ko Yao Yai, the pristine exotic nature has been preserved. The rocks of the island are decorated with drawings of ancient inhabitants.

Briefly about how to get to the islands of Koh Yao:

• Boats depart from Phuket to the Koh Yao Islands daily.
• The road will take 1-1.5 hours.
• The fare is 50 baht per hour.
• Between the piers of Ko Yao Yai and Ko Yao Noi, Thai boats sail every day.
• The cost is 20 baht, the journey takes 10 minutes.

Ko Panyi

It takes 20 minutes by boat from Surakul Pier to Koh Pani. The island can be seen from the windows of planes landing in Phuket. Most of the land is occupied by vertical limestone cliffs, and hundreds of houses stand on stilts above the bay.

About 2,000 Muslim Thais already live here and are engaged in fishing. The island has its own school, mosque, souvenir kiosks, cafes. For 300 baht you can rent a hut for the night. A visit to Koh Pani is included in many excursion programs.

Ko-he

Just 9 km southeast of Phuket is the small island of Koh He, which is part of the marine park. The main large beaches of the island - Long Beach and Banana Beach - are interconnected by a road that runs through the rainforest. Coral reefs have grown at a distance of 100 meters from the shore.

Extreme water activities are popular on Koh Hae: parasailing, diving, snorkeling, kayaking, catamarans and banana boats.

The highlight of He Island is the rich underwater world. The menu of the restaurants has excellent BBQ dishes.

The road from the piers of Rawai and Chalong takes 30 minutes. For an overnight stay, it is better to stay at a campsite or at the Coral Island Resort. The island is open to visitors all year round because the monsoons do not affect its climate.

Phi Phi Islands

Only Phi Phi Don is inhabited. It consists of two limestone monoliths connected by a strip of sand. On the spit there is a village and a pier. And between the rocks covered with dense vegetation, there is a narrow strip with houses for tourists, nightclubs and beach restaurants.

No traffic is allowed on Koh Phi Phi Don, except for police and ambulances. People move on foot or on bicycles.

Phi Phi Lay is uninhabited, so one-day excursions are organized there. The island is made up of limestone rocks. In the caves, Thais use bamboo sticks to collect swallow nests from which delicious soups are cooked.

Briefly about the road to the islands:

• The journey to the islands from Phuket by ferry takes 1.5 hours.
• You can book a tour at any travel agency in the province.
• Price one day tour fluctuates within 700 baht.
• If you decide to go on your own, it is better to buy ferry tickets at the same travel agencies, and not at the pier.
• The road will cost 550 baht in two directions (with open date return).

Koh Lanta

It is good to come here to soak up the beaches, since there are no special entertainments here. After sunset, the beaches become deserted.

James Bond Islands

These are two islands located in Phang Nga Bay, 6 km from the province of the same name. These are Khao Ping Kan and Tapu.

Khao Ping Kan resembles the shape of a butterfly: two parts connected by a strip of sand. There are two beaches on the island.

Tapu Island is a 20-meter, sheer cliff overgrown with shrubs. The limestone monolith tapers to the bottom, the diameter of the top is 8 m, and the base is 4 m. It has become a symbol of the James Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.

Phuket travel agencies offer package tours that include a visit. Price from 1500 to 3000 baht (the price depends on the program and the season).

Koh Rang Yai

Rang Yai is famous among the islands of Phuket, thanks to the pearl farm. Located 5 km from the province, it can be reached by boat in 15 minutes. The local shop sells pearls in different sizes and colors.

Sports activities are popular on Koh Rang Yai: cycling, kayaking, volleyball, sports and recreational shooting from pneumatics, golf, snorkeling, diving, hiking in the jungle. There is only one hotel and several guest houses on the island.
It is better to get to the island of Rang Yai with a guided tour. The cost is from 1000 baht.

Mu Ko Similan

The Similan Archipelago is made up of 11 islands. with total area 142 sq. north of Phuket. Scientists believe that the islands arose as a result of a volcanic eruption over 60 million years. Since 1982, it had the status of the Mu Ko Similan National Marine Reserve and was under the patronage of King Rama 9.

Most of the islands are occupied by the jungle. The beaches are made up of fine white sand.

1. coral reefs and stone caves form labyrinths and sea gardens in coastal waters.
2. About 500 species of marine life live here.
3. The transparency of the water is unique! The sea is viewed more than 35 deep.

A paradise for divers, and the most famous island of the archipelago among extreme people is Koh Bon. You can spend the night on Koh Similian and Koh Miang. There are no entertainment and souvenir shops on the archipelago.

Mu Ko Surin

The Surin archipelago consists of 5 islands located north of Phuket. Research stations were located here in the 1950s.

In 1971, the authorities began to consider the issue of assigning the islands the status of a Marine National Park, since the local flora and fauna were recognized as unique. The official decision was made in 1981.

The fauna of Mu Ko Surin is represented by 30 species of animals and about 100 species of exotic birds, and you can catch fish with your hands. Rare people live on the island sea ​​turtles that are protected by the state.

On Surin Nua, you can spend the night in bungalows, tents or specially converted boats. There are no dwellings on the other islands. Phuket agencies offer multi-day tours to the archipelago.