All trips in one table
| Trip | What you see | How long | Season | Who should skip it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coral Island | clear water and a beach 6 km off Rawai | about 15 min by boat, half a day | all year, boats cancelled in rough seas | anyone after peace and quiet |
| Khai Islands | three small islands, beach and snorkelling | 4-5 hours with transfers | all year, calmest December-April | reef lovers |
| Racha Islands | beach and snorkelling on Racha Yai | about 15 km by sea to the south | best December-April | anyone who gets seasick in open water |
| Phi Phi | Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don, Bamboo Island | a full day | Maya Bay closed 1 August-30 September | pregnant travellers, toddlers in rough seas |
| James Bond Island | the karsts of Phang Nga Bay, Ko Tapu | a full day | open as of 17 October 2026 | anyone wanting a beach day |
| Similan Islands | open sea and snorkelling | a full day, about 1.5 h by boat from Thap Lamu | open 15 October-15 May | pregnant travellers, children under 4-5 |
| Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake | a lake among cliffs, floating bungalows, jungle | about 15 hours, or 2 days | best late December-April | anyone who cannot face 6 hours in a vehicle |
| Krabi | Emerald Pool, Tiger Cave Temple or Railay | a full day, pickup at 06:00 | all year by road | anyone with one day and small kids |
| Khao Lak | beaches, tsunami memorials, Lampi Waterfall | about 11 hours | best December-March | anyone who dislikes long drives |
| Elephants without riding | elephants at a sanctuary, seen from a distance | half a day, about 3.5 hours | all year | anyone who wants to ride an elephant |
Durations come from tour operators’ programs (Phuket Tour, Tisland, Thai Holiday Guide, Phuket Elephant Sanctuary); boat times only where an official source gives them (DNP for the Similans, Rawai municipality for Coral Island). Each trip page has the step-by-step program and photos. Checked 17 October 2026.
Nearby islands: half a day
Start here if you have kids, get seasick or only have a morning for the sea.
- Khai Islands. Three small islands east of Phuket, about 20 minutes by speedboat. Morning or afternoon, 4-5 hours with transfers, no national park fee
- Coral Island. Ko He, 6 km off Rawai Beach, about 15 minutes by boat according to the municipality. Clear water, but busy
- Racha Islands. Racha Yai, 15 km to the south, with a beach and snorkelling in its bays. It sits in open sea, so windy days bring waves
Far islands: a full day
The Andaman Sea’s best-known views. Go in the dry season and on calm water.
- Phi Phi. Maya Bay, Phi Phi Don and Bamboo Island, a national park in Krabi province. THB 400 fee, no swimming in Maya Bay
- James Bond Island. The Ko Tapu karst in Phang Nga Bay. The bay is sheltered by islands, so the water is calmer than in the open sea. THB 300 fee
- Similan Islands. A marine national park off Khao Lak, open 15 October to 15 May. THB 500 fee, about an hour and a half by boat from Thap Lamu Pier
Mainland and nature
Overland trips depend less on the weather and work in the rainy season too. Expect long drives and early starts.
- Khao Sok and Cheow Lan Lake. A longtail ride between limestone cliffs and lunch at a floating restaurant. A day trip takes about 15 hours; an overnight in a floating bungalow is better
- Krabi. By road, the Emerald Pool, a hot waterfall and Tiger Cave Temple; by sea, Railay and Phra Nang cave. Pickup at 06:00, leaving Krabi at 17:00
- Khao Lak. A group tour of the nature along the way, or your own route to the beaches and the 2004 tsunami memorials. About 11 hours
- Elephants without riding. Half a day at a sanctuary where elephants are watched from a distance: no riding, shows or feeding. The guide explains how to tell such a park from a camp
On the island itself: Big Buddha and Phuket Old Town, both easy to see in half a day without a tour.
National park fees
Some trips enter national parks, where foreigners pay a DNP fee. If it is not in the tour price, rangers collect it on site.
| National park | Covers | Foreign adult | Child |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mu Ko Similan | Similan Islands | THB 500 | THB 250 |
| Mu Ko Surin | Surin Islands | THB 500 | THB 250 |
| Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi | Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo | THB 400 | THB 200 |
| Same park, other zones | Railay, Phra Nang cave, Ko Poda, Ao Nang | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Mu Ko Lanta | Ko Rok, Hin Daeng, Hin Muang | THB 400 | THB 200 |
| Ao Phang Nga | Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island | THB 300 | THB 150 |
| Khao Sok | Khao Sok, Cheow Lan Lake | THB 200 | THB 100 |
| Khao Lak-Lam Ru | Khao Lak Beach, forest off Highway 4 | THB 100 | THB 50 |
Source: DNP table of entrance fees for individuals, revision of 2 June 2023, checked 17 October 2026. Coral Island, Racha and Khai are not in national parks, so there is no DNP fee.
Which trips when
Under TMD normals (Phuket station, 1991-2020), December to March brings 24-82 mm of rain a month and May to October 237-350 mm, while the southwest monsoon pushes swell in from the Andaman Sea. The simple rule: far sea trips in the dry season, overland trips and nearby islands in the rainy season. See Phuket climate by month.
| Months | What to choose | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| December-March | anything | high demand, book the Similans early |
| April | anything, the sea is still calm | hot, occasional thunderstorms |
| May-July | overland, nearby islands, Phi Phi on calm days | the Similans and Surin close from 16 May |
| August-September | overland, nearby islands | Maya Bay closed, the wettest months |
| October-November | Similans from 15 October, Phi Phi, overland | the sea settles gradually; Ko Rok opens from 16 November |
How to choose a tour
- Boat. A speedboat is faster but slams into waves. Catamarans and ferries are slower and smoother, the usual choice for pregnant travellers, parents of small children and anyone who gets seasick
- Departure time. An early start gets you to popular bays before the main wave of boats
- What is included. Hotel transfers, lunch, snorkelling gear, park fee, insurance
- Elephants on the program. Tours to Krabi, Khao Lak and Khao Sok sometimes stop at camps with riding; you can skip them
- Closures on the day. DNP closes individual sites in the Similans and Phi Phi; see the list on the DNP portal
- Cancellation terms. What happens if the trip is cancelled because of a storm
How to avoid scams when buying a tour on the street: common Phuket scams. All islands with fees and closures are on islands around Phuket, beaches and seasons in the Phuket travel guide.
FAQ
Which Phuket tours should I do first?
With a week in the dry season, most people pick one far sea trip (Phi Phi or the Similans), one to Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island, and one overland. With kids, swap the far sea trip for Coral Island or Khai. From May to October, start with overland trips and nearby islands.
Which day trip suits small children?
A short, calm one. The Khai Islands take 4-5 hours with a speedboat ride of about 20 minutes; Coral Island is about 15 minutes by boat according to Rawai municipality. Overland, a half day at an elephant sanctuary works well. Khao Sok and Krabi as day trips are hard on toddlers: about 6 hours in a vehicle.
Should I book a tour on the street, online or with a guide?
In Phuket expat chats, street and online prices are said to be close; the difference is what is included. Compare the boat, departure time, transfers, lunch, park fee and insurance. Never send a deposit to a stranger in direct messages: chats warn about this scheme regularly.
Is the national park fee included in the tour price?
It depends on the seller, so ask before paying. The DNP fee for foreigners: Similans and Surin THB 500, Phi Phi and Bamboo THB 400, Phang Nga Bay THB 300, Khao Sok THB 200, children half. Keep the ticket: rangers check it on the islands.
Which trips work in the rainy season?
Overland trips (Khao Sok, Krabi, Khao Lak, elephants) do not depend on the waves. Coral Island, Khai and Racha are possible on calm days. The Similans and Surin close from 16 May to 14 October, and Maya Bay on Phi Phi from 1 August to 30 September.
Will my tour be cancelled in a storm?
Boat trips are cancelled in storms; that is how operators work. Watch the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) warnings, and before paying ask what the seller does on cancellation: move the date or refund.
Which trip is best if I get seasick?
Short crossings: Coral Island (about 15 minutes by boat) and Khai (about 20 minutes). The inner part of Phang Nga Bay is sheltered by islands from the open sea, though the day is long. If you get badly seasick, skip the Similans, Surin and Phi Phi by speedboat.
Sources
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals (dataset, CSV)
- DNP. National park opening and closure status (in Thai)
- DNP. Mu Ko Similan National Park
- DNP. Mu Ko Lanta National Park (Ko Rok)
- TAT Newsroom. Opening/closed status of Thailand's national parks (7 July 2023)
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Phuket station
- Rawai Municipality. Ko He (Coral Island)
- Thai Holiday Guide. Phuket: Half Day Khai Islands by Speedboat (program)
- Tisland. Tours from Phuket: Cheow Lan and Khao Lak programs
- Phuket Tour. Mysteries of Krabi tour program (in Russian)
- Phuket Elephant Sanctuary. Half Day Program
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket Airport → Ao Nang
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket Airport → Thap Lamu Pier
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.