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Where the boats go

Racha islands

The clearest water within an hour of Phuket. Racha Yai's turquoise bays for snorkelling and a beach lunch, Racha Noi's deeper reef for the fish, and the drop-offs between them for the fishing boats.

Plan the daySee the fleet
Getting there
20 km south of Chalong: 30 to 40 minutes by speedboat, about two hours under sail
Season
Best from November to April; in the monsoon the west swell can close Racha Noi, Racha Yai's east bays stay calm
Water
The clearest close to Phuket: 15 to 20 metres on a good day, hard coral and reef fish
Fees
No national park; a small beach fee on some bays

What is there

  • Patok Bay: the white beach and the resort's restaurant for lunch
  • Siam Bay and Kon Kae: the snorkelling reefs on the east side
  • Racha Noi: no beach facilities, deeper reef, far fewer boats
  • The drop-offs between the islands: trolling and bottom fishing
  • Coral Island on the way home for a last swim

A day there

  1. 09:00Cast off from Chalong
  2. 09:40Kon Kae or Siam Bay: the first snorkel while the water is glassy
  3. 11:00Patok Bay: beach, swim, a table for lunch
  4. 13:30Racha Noi's reef, or a second bay on Racha Yai
  5. 15:00Coral Island for the last swim
  6. 16:00Back at Chalong

Boats that sail there

Whole fleet →

Private or shared

Your own boat, or a seat on one

The same islands are sold two ways. Here is what each costs and what each buys, with the prices as published.

A seat on a shared speedboat

฿2,500 per adult, ฿1,900 per child

Published 2025 brochure price with Phuket pick-up, lunch and park fees included.

Your own boat

฿16,000 for the whole boat, up to 20 guests

Private speedboat day: Racha & Coral Island

GuestsOwn boat, per personShared seat, per person
2฿8,000฿2,500
4฿4,000฿2,500
6฿2,667฿2,500
8฿2,000฿2,500
10฿1,600฿2,500
12฿1,333฿2,500
15฿1,067฿2,500
20฿800฿2,500

From 7 guests your own boat costs less per person than 7 seats.

Included

  • Private speedboat with captain and crew
  • Coffee and tea at the pier
  • Soft drinks and seasonal fruit on board
  • Life jackets
  • Passenger insurance

Added per guest

  • Lunch at Coral Island
  • Villa transfer
  • Snorkelling equipment, on request
Departure
Minibus rounds from 06:30; the boat leaves when the last hotel is collected, around 09:00
You set the time. The boat waits for you, not the other way round
The route
One fixed itinerary, the same order every day
The captain sets the order for the tide, the light and the crowds, and changes it on the water if you ask
Time at each stop
30 to 45 minutes, then the whistle
As long as you like; skip what you do not
Who is aboard
20 to 35 other passengers
Your party and the crew
Pick-up
A shared van calling at five to eight hotels
One car from your door to the pier
Lunch
A set buffet at a fixed time
Where and when you choose; on board on request
Children
One pace for everyone
The day runs at their pace, with shade and a nap when needed
How it is priced
Per seat, adult and child
Per boat, whoever comes
See the boatPlan the day

Experiences there

All experiences →

Good to know

  • Racha is where a sailing catamaran earns its price: the crossing is a pleasure under sail and lunch happens at anchor in the bay.
  • Racha Noi has no shade, no shop and no pier; it is the better reef, so bring the boat's shade and go there in the morning.
  • Fishing boats leave earlier and troll the way out; ask for the fishing day if the children want to catch their lunch.

Questions

Racha Yai or Racha Noi?

Racha Yai has the beaches, the lunch and the easy snorkelling; Racha Noi has the better reef and no facilities. A private boat does both in a day; the shared boats stay at Racha Yai.

Is Racha the best snorkelling near Phuket?

Within an hour of the island, yes. Similan is better but three hours away and seasonal.

Can we combine Racha with Coral Island?

Yes, almost every boat stops at Coral Island on the way home, and the sailing catamarans time it for the sunset behind Promthep Cape.

Tell us the place and the date. One concierge plans the boat, the car and the table.

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