Island Hopping In Phuket, Thailand

A shared speedboat day trip starts at about 1,500 THB (roughly Rs 3,900) per adult and runs up to 2,500 THB for premium or early-bird departures. Small-group and private tours start around 5,000 THB. On top of the tour you pay a national park fee in cash at the pier, usually 300 THB to 500 THB per adult depending on the island. Children are generally charged less.

November to April, when the Andaman Sea is calm and clear. December to February is peak season with the best weather and the highest prices. Avoid May to October, the monsoon, when seas are rough and boats are often cancelled. Note that the Similan and Surin islands close entirely from 15 May to 15 October.

Phi Phi and Maya Bay for the classic snorkel day, James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay for limestone scenery and sea caves, Coral Island for an easy family half-day, Racha for the clearest water and diving, and the Similan Islands for world-class reefs in the dry season. Bamboo, Hong, Khai, Koh Yao and Naka round out the smaller stops.

Yes, for the near islands. You can hire a longtail boat from Rawai or Chalong for a self-planned trip to Coral Island or a nearby beach, and public ferries from Rassada reach Phi Phi. But for Racha, the Similans and Phang Nga Bay a booked speedboat tour is safer, faster and usually cheaper once you factor in fuel and park fees.

Coral Island and the Khai Islands. Both are close in, the boat rides are short, the water is shallow and calm, and there is easy snorkelling and fish feeding right off the beach. They work well as half-days, which suits younger children better than a full eight-hour Phi Phi trip.

It is, with a licensed operator in the dry season. Reputable tours provide life jackets, brief you before snorkelling, and follow the national-park and weather rules. The real risk is the monsoon from May to October, when seas are rough; if a tour is cancelled for weather, take the cancellation seriously rather than pushing a cheaper boat to run.