Being the largest island in Thailand and one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations, boredom is something you will never experience in Phuket.
While there are endless things to do in Phuket and you can have tons of fun on the beautiful beaches, many of Phuket’s hidden gems are farther afield.
Phuket has 32 smaller islands in the Andaman sea surrounding it so island hopping from Phuket is super easy and one of the highlights of a trip to Thailand.
As I’ve lived in Phuket for over 3 years, I’ve been lucky enough to try out most of these island hopping tours and day trips from Phuket. So here is my pick of the 10 best including famous sights, popular islands and lesser-known local treasures.
There are tons of affordable tour packages that make amazing half day or full day trips from Phuket. Plus, the surrounding provinces of Phang Nga and Krabi offer even more wonderful and unique day trips.
Whether you’re after cultural gems or the best diving and snorkeling spots, a nature lover seeking some tranquility, or a beach bum looking for the ultimate Phuket island hopping experience, read on to discover the best Phuket day trips.
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The most convenient way to book the most popular Phuket day tours and trips is on Viator or Get Your Guide. These trusted platforms offer the chance to read real reviews and book your day trips before you get to Thailand. Most tours also include hotel pick-up for a stress-free experience.
P.S. If you’re traveling in peak season definitely book in advance as spots do fill up. If you haven’t booked your hotel yet check out my guide on where to stay in Phuket and if you’d prefer to visit the islands independently, you can book your ferry tickets online at 12Go Asia.
Top 10 Island Hopping Tours and Day Trips from Phuket
1. Old Phuket Town & Big Buddha
Before you start exploring the nearby islands and taking day trips from Phuket, I recommend exploring the island’s culture and history with a Phuket city tour.
Phuket Town is the island’s cultural hub. If possible, go on a Sunday to experience the bustling Sunday walking market in the Old Town. However, whatever day you visit, you’ll find a vibrant atmosphere.
The best way to explore Phuket Town is on foot – strolling around admiring the 19th-century colorful houses and checking out the unique boutique hotels, shops and cafes.
Then, head to Wat Chalong, one of the most beautiful Buddhist temples in Phuket and then head to the famous Big Buddha temple.
This iconic sculpture is built high up on a mountain and is an impressive 148 feet tall and 83.5 feet wide. Along with its peaceful mountain atmosphere, you’ll find epic views over Phuket Island!
Getting there:
Phuket Town and Chalong are in the southeast of Phuket Island. If you’re staying in the beach towns on the west coast, like Patong Beach, it will be a 30-40 minute drive to the Old Town. The best time to go to the Big Buddha is at sunset.
While it’s easy to explore this area on your own via taxis, there is also a great half-day group Phuket City Tour that can pick you up from your hotel. This is a great tour for anyone interested in history, culture and spirituality as it visits all three of Phuket’s cultural highlights – Phuket Old Town, Wat Chalong and the Big Buddha.
Private, customisable tours and fun ATV trips up to the Big Buddhas are also possible. Check out all the options on Get Your Guide.
2. Phi Phi Islands
The Phi Phi Islands are undoubtedly the most popular day trip destination from Phuket. Six islands make up the Phi Phi Islands, making it an ideal island-hopping Phuket day trip!
The largest and busiest island is Phi Phi Don – the archipelago’s only inhabited island. It is full of resorts and beautiful beaches, such as Monkey Beach.
Koh Phi Phi Leh is one of the uninhabited islands and home to Maya Bay, made famous after being used as the filming destination for the 2000 film “The Beach.” Bamboo Island is another popular spot on Phi Phi island hopping tours.
Getting there:
The Phi Phi Islands are located off the east coast of Phuket, in the province of Krabi. Being a popular day trip from Phuket, you’ll have no trouble finding group tours to the Phi Phi islands.
For example, this Phi Phi tour includes stops at Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Ko Phi Phi Don, Viking Cave and Bamboo Island. It’s one of the absolute best day trips from Phuket and they will also pick you up and drop you back from any hotel in Phuket.
However, if you’ve got more time you also have the option to stay overnight at one of the hotels on Phi Phi Don and visit Krabi the next day, where you can take a long tail boat to the incredible limestone cliffs of Railay Beach.
3. James Bond Island
James Bond Island is another of the most popular tours from Phuket due to being the filming location of the 1974 James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun.”
James Bond is just one of the 100 beautiful islands in Phang Nga Bay, northeast of Phuket. This area is full of fascinating limestone formations and sea caves, as well as many fantastic swimming and snorkeling spots.
Getting there:
Boat tours are best for exploring Phang Nga Bay, and there are many options. I took this Luxury Sunset Cruise, which included a decent lunch and dinner onboard while cruising around Phang Nga Bay. Along with James Bond Island, this unique tour included sea canoeing through the limestone caves of Hong Island.
4. Racha Islands
The Racha Islands consist of Racha Noi and Racha Yai, located in the southern part of Phuket, just below Coral Island. Racha Island is among the best scuba diving and snorkeling spots in the Andaman Sea, so you will find many diving trips going here.
The islands are a true paradise – white sand, crystal-clear waters, and no cars. Plus, it takes just 45 minutes to get there, making it one of the best day trips from Phuket for all water and beach lovers.
Getting there:
To explore the Racha Islands, you can join a group scuba diving or snorkeling tour, or you can easily arrange a long tail boat or speedboat transfer from Rawai or Chalong pier.
Another popular choice is the beach-club style Hype Luxury Catamaran. On this trip, you have plenty of time to sunbathe on various Racha Island beaches and visit Banana Beach on the nearby Coral Island. On the way back, you’ll enjoy a “floating party” with tapas, drinks, and an on-board live DJ.
5. Naka Island
Naka is another of the shortest day trips in Phuket. Naka Island is one of Phuket’s hidden gems and is ideal for anyone who seeks a relaxing day of sunbathing and swimming rather than adventure.
Naka is also home to the luxury hotel “Naka Island Resort.” While it is expensive to stay here, day trippers can get a day pass to use the resort’s facilities, including the pool, use of snorkeling gear, and water sports equipment like kayaks.
Getting there:
Naka Island is just a 10-minute boat ride from Ao Por Grand Marina in the North East of Phuket. As it is such a short distance and there is not much to do on the island, consider including Naka in a self-guided island hopping trip with Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi (see below).
6. Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi
Koh Yao Yai & Koh Yao Noi are two islands slightly east of Naka. Koh Yao Yai is the biggest, home to stunning resorts, beautiful beaches, and mesmerizing nature.
One resort I recommend checking out is Santhiya, a vast hillside resort built from natural teakwood. Santhiya offers a day pass to use the resort’s two pools (including an infinity hilltop one).
Koh Yao Noi is a much smaller island, which is just as beautiful, but the beaches offer different views from Koh Yao Yai. This is because the north of Koh Yao Noi faces the stunning limestone cliffs and caves of Phang Nga Bay. Meanwhile, the island’s south is full of lush nature, including rice fields and coconut groves.
Getting there:
You can access these two islands via a 20 to 30-minute ferry from the Royal Phuket marina in northeast Phuket. You can book your ferry easily online at 12Go Asia. There is also a ferry between both islands that takes just 10 minutes, making for effortless island hopping in Phuket.
7. Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are one of the most famous diving spots in the world. Thus, these pristine islands make for one of the most popular Phuket day trips. Here, you can spot turtles, leopard sharks, Shovelnose rays, and many more rare species.
However, while the turquoise waters and marine life are the top attractions here, the scenery is spectacular, too, with many unique rock formations. For example, the Sail Rock hike is one of the most popular on-land activities here.
Getting there:
The Similan archipelago consists of 11 islands, 70 km off the coast of Phang Nga. However, it is one of the longer day tours from Phuket, so prepare for a 10-12 hour day! There are also multi-day trip options, where you sleep at a campsite or in a cabin on one of the islands.
Check out the different options for Similan island trips on Get Your Guide to find the best one for you. Note that the Similan Islands are closed during the monsoon season (June to September).
8. Surin Islands
While staying in Khao Lak I wanted to visit the Similan islands. But it was a busy period and the trips were all fully booked – so make sure you book in advance if you’re visiting Phuket in the peak season! Anyway, instead, I decided to visit the lesser-known Surin Islands.
What’s unique about these islands is that they are home to an indigenous tribe known as The Moken. The Moken were previously sea nomads/gypsies but settled in the Surin Islands in the 1990s.
Living in such an isolated region (a 4-hour boat ride to the mainland), the Moken live a semi-nomadic hunter-gatherer lifestyle. They sleep in very basic, humble wooden huts on the beach, and you can visit their village to see how they live.
Aside from the Moken, you’ll find some lovely beaches and snorkeling spots in the Surin Islands, including Mai Ngam Beach.
Getting there:
The Surin Islands are located far off the west coast of Phang Nga. The only way to visit the Surin Islands from Phuket is via a tour. I did a snorkeling trip similar to this one, which included snorkeling, beach time, and a visit to the village.
While the Surin Islands are totally worth visiting, it is a VERY long boat ride (from Phuket or Khao Lak). Therefore, you spend much of the day on a small speed boat, which may not be ideal for some.
9. Khao Sok National Park
Khao Sok is an incredible national park in the northern part of Phang Nga, the province directly above Phuket. Khao Sok National Park is home to the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world – 160 million years old. Therefore, you can expect to find endless lush jungles and diverse wildlife, including 48 mammal species and 311 species of birds!
Another iconic part of Khao Sok is Cheow Lan Lake. Majestic limestone mountains and cliffs surround this serene lake, and there are many floating raft houses and bungalows – part of the resorts you can stay at.
Getting there:
You can visit Khao Sok on a day trip from Phuket. However, it is a long drive from Phuket Island (about 3.5 hours one way), so note that you will have to leave in the early morning and spend much of the day in a minivan.
Considering this, I highly recommend taking a 2 day 1 night Khao Sok tour where you’ll stay the night in one of the floating raft houses in Khao Sok National Park – which is a whole experience in itself. That way, you’ll get to experience the tranquility of the lake after dark and witness a breathtaking sunrise (if you’re up early enough).
You can also travel independently by bus and arrange your own accommodation, then you’ll also have the chance to explore the nearby Khao Lak, which, as you’re about to discover, is one of my favorite parts of Thailand!
10. Khao Lak
If you want to escape the crowds of Phuket and Patong beach during high season, Khao Lak is undoubtedly the place to go. Khao Lak is located on the west coast of Phang Nga and is incredibly quiet and largely untouched compared to Phuket.
The long stretch of coast offers numerous serene beaches, including Pakarang and Pak Weep Beach. Both of these beaches have quiet parts as well as mini “beach villages” with a few local restaurants and “on-the-beach” massage shops. There are also several waterfalls nearby and a place where you can go bamboo rafting along the river!
Getting there:
Depending on where you’re staying in Phuket, Khao Lak is a 1.5 to 2.5 drive, making it one of the most accessible day tours from Phuket. You can rent a car and drive yourself, take the public bus (from Phuket bus terminal 2, just north of Phuket town), or book a private transfer.
Final Thoughts
The vast amount of islands surrounding Phuket are one reason why I adore this part of Thailand so much so make sure you get out and explore!
Whether you’re here for one week or one month, be sure to check out all the attractions and things to do on Phuket island itself as well as leaving enough time to do a few of these Phuket day trips and island hopping tours to explore this Thai paradise fully.
And if you haven’t booked your hotel yet check out my insider’s guide on where to stay in Phuket. And, if you need help figuring out how to fit all the highlights into your holiday, check out my 7 day ultimate Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Krabi itinerary for the ultimate Thailand beach experience.
And if you plan to see more of Thailand check out my other blogs and guides for more tips. My comprehensive Thailand Travel Guide and list of the best places to visit in Thailand will give you plenty of inspiration.
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