The first time I did an island hopping day out of Phuket, I did it badly. I booked the cheapest seat I could find without reading what it included, turned up at a pier in Chalong in the wrong shoes, and discovered at nine in the morning that the "four islands" on the leaflet meant about twenty-five minutes at each one, with a buffet lunch shoehorned in between. I came home sunburnt, a little seasick and slightly annoyed. The islands were gorgeous. My planning was not.
Since then I have done the Andaman Sea circuit more times than I can count, by speedboat, by catamaran, by longtail and once on a rather overexcited banana boat that I do not recommend. This guide is what I wish somebody had handed me before that first trip. It is written for people flying in from Singapore, so the practical bits (flight length, visa, what to pack, how much to budget in Singapore dollars) are pitched at you.
One correction before we start. A lot of online lists, including an earlier version of this page, throw Koh Samui into a Phuket island hopping plan. Please do not. Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand on the opposite coast, a separate flight or a long overland and ferry journey away. Everything worth doing from Phuket in a day happens in the Andaman Sea: Phang Nga Bay to the north-east, the Phi Phi group to the south-east, and the Racha and Coral islands almost straight south of Chalong. That is the map we will work with.
How island hopping from Phuket actually works
"Island hopping" is a loose phrase, so it helps to know what the product really is. Almost every tour sold out of Phuket falls into one of four shapes, and once you can tell them apart, a lot of confusing listings suddenly make sense.
- Join tours. You share a boat with other travellers, usually thirty to a hundred people depending on the vessel. A set itinerary, a set lunch, a guide who counts heads. These are the backbone of the market and they are good value when you pick the right one.
- Transfer-included versus no-transfer tickets. The same tour often appears twice, once with a hotel pick-up and once without. The no-transfer version is cheaper and suits you if you are staying near the departure pier or you have hired your own driver or scooter.
- Speedboat and speed catamaran runs. Fast boats cover more islands in a day. The catch is noise, spray and a full seat. A catamaran is steadier and more spacious, and tends to cost more.
- Private charters and small-group yacht days. Far more flexible, far more expensive. If you are four or more people who all want the same thing, the maths sometimes works out.
Whatever you pick, a good island day has the same skeleton. A pick-up between about seven and eight in the morning, a drive of thirty to ninety minutes to a pier (Chalong, Ao Po or Rassada, depending on the tour), a briefing and life jackets, two or three snorkel stops, a beach landing, lunch on board or on a beach, and a return around four or five in the afternoon. The sunset variants simply shift the whole thing to the afternoon.
The islands themselves, in plain language
I am going to describe each group the way I would to a friend over coffee, with what is genuinely good and what is not.
Phi Phi: the famous one, and it deserves some of the hype
The Phi Phi islands are what most people picture when they think of the Andaman. Two main islands, Phi Phi Don (where people stay) and Phi Phi Leh (uninhabited, where the steep cliffs and lagoons are), with a scatter of smaller spots around them. The sheer limestone walls rising straight out of green water are what make it feel like a postcard.
Maya Bay, on Phi Phi Leh, was closed for several years to let the coral recover and it reopened with rules: a limited number of visitors, no swimming in the bay itself, boats kept out of the beach and passengers walking in from a landing point on the other side. Do not expect the empty-beach film image. Do expect a beautiful hour if you go early. The tours that reach it before the big boats do are the ones worth paying a little extra for.
Other Phi Phi stops you will meet again and again are Pileh Lagoon, a calm turquoise pool surrounded by rock where swimming is allowed, Monkey Beach, where the macaques will absolutely steal your snacks, and Loh Samah Bay for snorkelling. Bamboo Island and Khai (Koh Khai) are the white-sand beaches that round the day off.
For a first visit I would choose a speedboat day that includes Phi Phi plus Bamboo, because it balances ambition with comfort. You will find a Phi Phi Island day trip by speedboat with transfer from S$65.86, and a Phi Phi and Bamboo day trip with shared transfer from S$70.50. If you are staying near Chalong, the no-transfer version from S$63.66 is the thrifty route.
Phang Nga Bay: the quiet, dramatic one
If Phi Phi is the party, Phang Nga Bay is the gallery. The bay is a cluster of limestone karsts and mangrove-fringed islets north-east of Phuket, and it feels calmer and more geological than anything else on this list. The boats are slower, the channels are narrower, and the main activity is gliding quietly through sea caves, known as hongs, in a canoe.
Khao Phing Kan, better known as James Bond Island after a 1970s film, is the stop everybody has heard of. Be honest with yourself about it: it is a small rock with a crowd in front of it. It is worth the photo, and the surrounding bay is worth much more. Hong Island and Naka Island are quieter, and the canoe time is where you actually feel the place.
Because the bay is sheltered, it is also the better rainy-season choice. I have had Phang Nga days in the shoulder months that were gentle and moody while the open sea to the south was far too rough to enjoy.
For first-timers, a James Bond Island day trip with transfer from S$59.79 covers the highlights without fuss. If you want fewer people and more paddling, the Phang Nga Bay and Hong Island day trip with shared transfer starts at S$85.84. Prefer to paddle yourself all day? There is a full-day sea kayak tour of Phang Nga Bay from S$122.73, which I would only suggest if you are happy to be tired by mid-afternoon. For a splurge, the luxury catamaran in Phang Nga Bay begins at S$161.34.
Racha, Coral and Maiton: the easy clear-water trio
South of Chalong Bay sit Racha Yai, Racha Noi and the smaller Coral Island (Koh Hey) and Maiton. They are closer than Phi Phi, which means shorter boat rides, more time in the water, and a lower price. The water here is often a very clear green-blue, and the snorkelling over shallow reef is gentle enough for children and nervous swimmers.
This is the group I send friends to when they say "we just want a beach and a swim". There is less drama than Phi Phi and far less sensory overload. Racha Yai has a lovely curved bay called Ao Siam, and Coral Island has a long soft beach that is busy at midday but pleasant in the morning.
A Racha, Coral and Maiton speedboat tour starts at S$46.56, and the Koh Hey Banana Beach speedboat or catamaran day at S$58.16 is a good lazy option. The Racha and Coral Island OMBRE yacht catamaran from S$110.76 adds space and shade.
The Khai islands: the short, cheap, close one
The three Khai islands (Khai Nok, Khai Nui and Khai Nai) are a short run east of Phuket. They are tiny, sandy, and really about one thing: a glorious hour or two on a beach with cold water and a snorkel. Because the ride is short, the tours are cheaper and the day can be half rather than full.
I like these for travellers with a late flight out or a half-day to spare. A three Khai islands speedboat tour from S$31.71, or the Koh Khai islands speedboat tour with transfer from S$37.72, is as casual as it gets.
Which tour for which traveller
Here is the cheat sheet I give people who message me for advice. The prices are not on this table because they change with season and date; click through to see the current figure for your own date.
| Traveller | What suits you | Where to start |
|---|---|---|
| Couple, first trip | Phi Phi and Bamboo by speedboat or catamaran | Phi Phi and Bamboo day trip |
| Family with young children | Racha, Coral and Maiton, short rides, shallow water | Racha, Coral and Maiton |
| Photographers | Phang Nga Bay and a sunset finish | Phi Phi and Maiton sunset |
| Active and adventurous | Sea kayaking, canoeing sea caves | Full-day sea kayak |
| Tight budget, strong swimmer | Khai islands or a no-transfer Phi Phi ticket | Three Khai islands |
| Group of friends who want a party | Social yacht day with music and drinks | Once Yachting five-island join tour |
Speedboat, catamaran or longtail: what really changes
Boat type shapes your day more than the island list does, and listings rarely explain it. This is my own summary from many days on the water.
| Boat | Good for | The honest downside |
|---|---|---|
| Speedboat | Covering more islands, beating the midday crowd | Loud, bouncy, spray in your face. Not ideal for anyone prone to motion sickness. |
| Speed catamaran | Space, a calmer ride, more deck room | Costs more, and larger passenger counts can mean queues at snorkel stops. |
| Big ferry-style boat | Cheap crossings, steady in swell | Slow, and you arrive after the speedboats do. |
| Longtail | Small coves, sea caves, mellow sunsets | Slow, open to the sun, and the engine is right behind you. |
If you have never been on a speedboat in open water, take a seasickness tablet an hour before departure and sit toward the middle and back of the boat, where the ride is smoother than the front. I have watched people turn grey in the first fifteen minutes because they skipped the tablet to "see if they needed it".
Sunset tours are worth a look
A sunset island hop swaps the busy morning for a quieter afternoon. You travel out when many day boats are heading home, you often get beaches nearly to yourself, and the light is a different thing entirely. The compromise is that you return after dark and the sea can be choppier by evening.
There are two to compare. The Phi Phi and Maiton sunset with longtail and shared transfer starts from S$110.24, and the same day without transfer from S$103.39.
When to go, honestly
The Andaman Sea has two moods. From roughly November to April the northeast monsoon gives dry, bright weather and a calm sea. This is high season, so beaches and piers are at their busiest, and the best months for visibility are usually December to March. From about May to October the southwest monsoon rolls in, bringing swells, rain and red flag days when boats may simply not go out.
You can still do island hopping in the wet months, and I have had lovely days then. But treat it as a gamble: book a date with a spare day behind it, choose Phang Nga Bay over the open-sea trips, and read the cancellation wording before you pay.
| Months | Sea and weather | What I would pick |
|---|---|---|
| November to February | Dry, bright, calm seas, busiest crowds | Phi Phi, Maya Bay, anything open-sea |
| March to April | Hot, very clear water, fewer rain days | Racha, Coral, Khai, sunset trips |
| May to June | Early rains, some rough days | Phang Nga Bay, shorter trips |
| July to October | Rough seas, frequent red flags, quieter | Phang Nga Bay, land activities, spare days |
Dates matter for another reason. Weekends, school holidays and Chinese New Year bring more boats to the same handful of spots. If you can, go on a weekday, and pick the earliest departure you can face.
What a day actually looks like
Let me walk you through a typical Phi Phi speedboat day, the way it unfolded on my most recent trip, so you can judge whether it suits you.
My pick-up was at 7:30 from a hotel in Kata. The minivan did two more stops and arrived at the pier around 8:45. The briefing was short: life jackets, a warning about the sun, a sheet to tick off lunch preferences. By 9:15 we were out of the harbour and the boat picked up speed.
The first stop was a snorkel spot with a surprising number of reef fish, perhaps forty minutes in the water. Then Maya Bay, where we walked in from the landing point and had around thirty-five minutes. Then Pileh Lagoon, where the water is a sheltered green and the guide let everyone swim for a bit. Lunch was a buffet at a beach on Phi Phi Don, with rice, curry, fruit and a lot of watermelon. After lunch, Monkey Beach and Bamboo Island. The boat docked at 4:20 and we were back at the hotel by 5:45.
It was a long, tiring, good day. The one thing I would change is that I did not bring enough water. Take a litre more than you think you need.
Choosing between close-looking listings
Phuket has a pile of near-identical Phi Phi listings, and the price differences are not random. Before you pay, check these five things, which are what actually explain the gaps.
- Is the national park fee included? Phi Phi and Phang Nga both charge a park entrance fee, which is usually paid in cash on the day. Some tours include it, some do not. The Phi Phi join tour that excludes the national park fee from S$56.90 says so plainly in its title. The fee is paid per person to the park and is generally in the region of a few hundred baht for foreign visitors, but confirm the amount in the tour details before you travel.
- Is the hotel transfer included? A no-transfer ticket is cheaper only if you can reach the pier yourself without paying more than the saving.
- What is the maximum group size? Smaller boats cost more and feel better.
- Which islands are really visited? Count the stops. A "five-island" tour can have an hour or less at each.
- What is on the lunch menu? If you are vegetarian or have allergies, ask before the day, not at the buffet.
| Check this | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| National park fee | Can add a few hundred baht per person in cash | Tour description, inclusions |
| Transfer | Hotel pick-up saves an hour of fuss | Title and inclusions |
| Boat type | Changes comfort, speed and price | Description, photos |
| Group size | Affects stop times and queues | Description or ask the operator |
| Departure pier | Decides how early your pick-up is | Meeting point information |
The pricier end: yachts, catamarans and small-group days
There is a point at which paying more genuinely changes the day. A yacht or luxury catamaran with a fixed passenger limit means a seat on deck, a proper lunch, snorkel gear that fits, and a crew with time for you. If the group is celebrating something, that can be worth it.
The Once Yachting join tour to five islands starts at S$91.65, and sits in the middle of the range, with food, drinks and a social atmosphere. The VIP full-day trip to Phi Phi, Maya and Khai by speed catamaran is from S$87.18. For the top of the range, there is the Hype Yacht join day trip from S$285.47 and the Phi Phi, Bamboo and Maiton sunset catamaran from S$143.80.
I would only take the top-tier options if the group is small and the weather forecast is good. Paying a premium for a rough sea is a poor use of money.
If you want a different kind of night-time experience, there is also a Phang Nga Bay bioluminescence and sea canoe tour from S$167.29, which is the one I recommend to people who say they have done the islands already.
Getting to Phi Phi by yourself
You may prefer to stay overnight on Phi Phi Don and skip the day-trip crush. This is a perfectly good plan. The island has no cars, a handful of beaches, plenty of places to eat, and the crowds thin out in the late afternoon and early morning, which is when it is at its best.
Two inter-island options are on HolidaySG: a one-way big boat transfer between Phuket and Phi Phi from S$22.72, and a one-way speedboat transfer from S$30.42. The big boat is slower and cheaper, the speedboat quicker and rougher.
If you go this way, remember that the last boats off the island leave in the afternoon, so book the return leg for the right day. Do not leave it for the morning of your flight out of Phuket.
Getting from Singapore to Phuket
Direct flights connect Singapore and Phuket in around two hours, with several departures a day on low-cost and full-service airlines. The flight is a straightforward hop, so a long weekend works if you are efficient: land on Friday morning, hit the water on Saturday, rest Sunday, fly home Monday.
When you land, you have to decide how to get to your hotel. The airport is on the northern end of the island, and most beaches are an hour or more away by road. A pre-arranged Phuket airport transfer starts from S$8.32, and a private Mai Khao airport transfer to the south-west beaches from S$54.07. Taxis and ride apps exist, but a fixed price saves the argument at the kerb.
For those landing late with a long wait before a hotel check-in, the Coral Lounge at Phuket International Airport starts at S$36.40, a decent place to wait out a long layover.
Visa, entry paperwork and proof of onward travel
For most Singapore passport holders, Thailand allows short tourist stays without a prior visa, and entry now needs an online arrival card (the TDAC) completed ahead of landing. Stay lengths and rules have shifted more than once in the last couple of years, so look at the current rules for your passport before you book. Our visa requirements pages list what we have verified by destination and passport, and show the official source for each.
One thing I always carry: a printed or saved copy of my onward or return flight. Immigration officers can ask for proof that you plan to leave, and airlines can ask before they let you board. If you have not bought a refundable return, our flight reservation service can provide a reservation for visa applications. A reservation is a booking record, not an issued ticket, and it cannot promise that an embassy or officer will accept it, so always check the rule for your own situation.
What to pack, and what to leave behind
I have learned this list the hard way.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a rash vest. The sun on open water is fierce, and it burns the back of your legs while you snorkel.
- A dry bag for your phone, wallet and a change of shirt. Most boats give one, many do not.
- Cash in baht, in small notes, for the park fee, drinks and tips. Boats often do not take cards.
- Water shoes if you have them. The landing at some beaches is rocky or covered with coral rubble.
- A towel and a light shirt. Boats are cold after you have swum and the wind picks up.
- Seasickness tablets, even if you think you do not need them.
- A waterproof phone pouch. A GoPro is nice, but a phone pouch is cheaper and works.
Leave behind your jewellery, a heavy camera bag, and any expectation that your phone will stay dry.
Do not touch, stand on or take coral, and please do not feed the fish or the monkeys. The reefs around Phuket are fragile and have suffered a lot already.
Money: what to budget
Prices are listed in Singapore dollars on our site, but the day-to-day costs are in baht. Below is a rough picture of what a two-person, three-day island-focused trip costs when you do not go extravagant. These are shapes, not quotes. The tour prices are the figures on the listings, and the rest are my own estimates.
| Item | Rough guide | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Return flight from Singapore | Varies widely by date | Check live fares |
| Airport transfer | See listing | Per vehicle, not per person |
| Two island day tours | See listings | Choose one speedboat and one calmer trip |
| Meals | Around 400 to 800 baht a day per person | Street food is cheaper, beach restaurants cost more |
| Park fees | A few hundred baht per person | Often not included in the ticket |
| Tips and extras | A few hundred baht | Guides and crews appreciate it |
If you want to stretch your money, pick the no-transfer tickets when you are staying near the pier, eat at local restaurants rather than beachfront ones, and go midweek.
Beyond the sea: rain-day and evening ideas
Weather can scuttle a boat day, and a good plan has a backup. Phuket has plenty of land-based things to do, and several are good value.
- City and old town. A Phuket city tour with Big Buddha and Chalong Temple from S$53.12 is a half-day that covers the main sights. Prefer a more relaxed pace? The Big Buddha, Promthep Cape and Old Town tour from S$22.85 is one of the lowest-priced options.
- Food. The Phuket local treats tour from S$78.63 is a decent evening if you want to eat your way through the old town.
- Elephants, ethically. The Elephant Jungle Sanctuary from S$24.28 is a no-riding sanctuary, which is what I would recommend if you want to see them at all.
- Adventure. The Erawan Patong Seaview Zipline from S$14.00 gives a view of the coast from above, and the white-water rafting day in Phang Nga from S$42.91 is a good splash when the sea is rough.
- Show and spectacle. Phuket Fantasea from S$52.33 and Siam Niramit Phuket from S$37.79 are the two big evening shows, if you have children who need entertaining after a long day.
- Family indoor options. Aquaria Phuket from S$33.86 is useful on a wet afternoon.
Three sample plans
Here are three combinations I have actually tested or would book.
Plan A: the long weekend (three nights)
Friday: land, transfer, early dinner. Saturday: a Phi Phi and Bamboo speedboat day. Sunday: a slow morning, an old-town food crawl in the evening. Monday: a late-morning flight home. This gives you one big island day and plenty of rest.
Plan B: the family trip (four nights)
Day one: arrive and rest. Day two: Racha, Coral and Maiton, a gentle snorkel day. Day three: a half-day city tour and an evening show. Day four: a short Khai islands run or a lazy beach day. Fly home on day five. The rhythm of one boat day to every land day keeps small children happy.
Plan C: the keen traveller (six nights)
Two Phang Nga Bay days (one by canoe, one by kayak), a Phi Phi day, a Racha day and a sunset tour, plus rest days between. Reserve a spare day for weather. This is as many islands as you can do without ending up exhausted.
| Plan | Boat days | Land days | Spare day for weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| A: long weekend | 1 | 1 | No |
| B: family trip | 2 | 2 | Yes |
| C: keen traveller | 4 | 2 | Yes |
Booking tips from someone who has made the mistakes
- Read what is included. National park fees, snorkel gear, lunch and drinks are the usual variables.
- Book ahead in the dry season. Popular departures sell out, especially on weekends.
- Pick an early departure. The first boat at each stop gets the clearest water.
- Check pick-up details. Hotel pick-ups from far-flung beaches can mean a very early start.
- Keep your plan flexible. If you can, avoid booking your most important island day on your very last day.
- Look at the cancellation wording. Rules differ by tour and by operator, and bad weather can change things, so understand them before paying.
- Tell your guide about any health issue. Heart, asthma, pregnancy or fear of water: say it at the briefing.
On HolidaySG, e-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking, so do not leave a day-before purchase to chance. Book earlier and leave a margin.
Featured experiences in this guide
Planning your Phuket island days?
Browse island tours, transfers and more on HolidaySG. E-tickets are emailed after our team confirms your booking.
Frequently asked questions
Can I include Koh Samui in an island hopping trip from Phuket?
Not sensibly. Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand on the other side of the country. The islands you can reach in a day from Phuket are in the Andaman Sea: the Phi Phi group, Phang Nga Bay, Racha, Coral and the Khai islands.
How long does an island hopping tour from Phuket take?
Most full-day tours run about eight to ten hours door to door, including the drive to the pier. Half-day tours to the Khai islands or Coral Island take about four to five hours.
What is the best time of year for island hopping?
The dry season, roughly November to April, is the most dependable, with calm seas and clear water. May to October is the monsoon, when rain and rough seas can cancel boats, though Phang Nga Bay is still an option on many days.
Is island hopping suitable for children?
Yes, with the right choice. Racha, Coral and the Khai islands have short rides and shallow, sheltered water. Check the age rules for each tour, because some speedboats have minimum ages, and bring child-sized life jackets if you want a perfect fit.
Do I need to swim?
You do not need to be a strong swimmer. Life jackets are provided and snorkelling can be done in them. If you are not confident, tell the crew and stay in shallow water.
Is the national park fee included in the ticket?
It depends on the tour. Some include it, some do not, and a few list it in the title. Always check the inclusions, and carry cash in baht for the fee in case it is collected on the day.
What should I do if the weather cancels my trip?
Operators decide on safety, usually on the morning itself. Ask the operator what they offer in that situation and keep a spare day in your plan. Our team can help if you get stuck with a booking question.
Does Singapore need a visa for Thailand?
For short tourist stays, Singapore passport holders generally do not need a visa, but an arrival card is required and rules can change. Check our visa requirements pages before you go, and carry proof of onward travel; a flight reservation can help with that for visa applications, though it is not an issued ticket.
A last word
If I had to boil down fifteen trips to one piece of advice, it would be this: choose the island day that fits the person who will enjoy it least. A picky eater, a nervous swimmer, a child who tires quickly. If they are comfortable, everyone else will be happy too.
The Andaman Sea is a very good place to spend a day. Go early, take water, respect the reef, and keep one afternoon free for nothing at all.