Racha Islands
Island Escapes from PhuketPhuketBoat access only — day-trip tickets or charters from Chalong/Rawai; island stays are booked separately with each resort.
The Racha (Raya) islands south of Phuket — Racha Yai's powder-white bays and clear shallows, diver-famous Racha Noi — the nearest proper blue-water escape from Chalong Pier.
Ways to get there
Real routes and departures — what is included depends on the option you pick
Island Hopping by Speedboat
Yacht & Catamaran Cruises
Private Boat Charter
More places to explore
Common questions
How far are the Rachas from Phuket?
Racha Yai is roughly 25–45 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Pier depending on sea state; Racha Noi is a further 15–20 minutes south.
Can you stay overnight?
Yes — Racha Yai has resorts and small stays behind the beach; booking directly with the property is separate from boat tickets.
Do trips run year-round?
The Rachas sail most of the year, but monsoon swell (roughly May–October) can cancel or reroute small boats — check the day's conditions with your operator.
Good to know
The Racha (Raya) islands south of Phuket — Racha Yai's powder-white bays and clear shallows, diver-famous Racha Noi — the nearest proper blue-water escape from Chalong Pier.
Racha Yai is the classic first island trip from Phuket: barely half an hour by speedboat from Chalong, yet its bays — Patok, the busy arrival bay, and the calmer neighbours — hold water that reads impossible-blue in good light, over sand that squeaks. Snorkeling starts right off the rocks and beaches; resorts and small restaurants sit behind the trees for longer stays.
South of its big sister, uninhabited Racha Noi is the divers' island: deeper water, stronger currents and a real chance of larger pelagics. Between the two, the Rachas cover everything from a family sandcastle afternoon to serious dive courses — while staying close enough to Phuket for a same-day return.
Highlights
- Powder-white sand and improbably blue water half an hour from Chalong
- Snorkeling straight off the beach; dive sites ranging from gentle to deep
- Racha Noi — the quiet, current-fed island for experienced divers
- Workable as a day trip or an overnight — resorts sit behind the beach trees
Good for
First-time island hoppers who want maximum water for minimum travelSnorkelers and divers of every levelCouples and families tacking one beach night onto a Phuket stay
Getting there
Speedboats and day-trip charters leave Chalong Pier (some tours stage from Rawai) — typically 25–45 minutes each way in calm seas. Tour tickets usually include hotel transfer; independent travelers can charter longtails in season.
- Go early — the first boats get Patok Bay at its stillest and emptiest.
- Day-trip chairs and umbrellas on the beach are vendor-paid, not included in your boat ticket.
- Use reef-safe sunscreen and mind the shallows — the clear water makes touching coral tempting and harmful.
- May–October monsoon swell occasionally cancels small-boat departures even to the near Rachas; November–April is the calm default.
Planning several days?
The trip planner builds a day-by-day Phuket plan: trip details → day plan → review & pay. You pick every activity yourself — nothing is added automatically.
- 1Trip details
- 2Day plan
- 3Review & pay