How to get to Coral Island (Koh Hey) from Phuket for half a day

What you will see on Coral Island

Coral Island is the small island of Ko He south-east of Promthep Cape, in the bay facing Rawai and Chalong. It belongs to Rawai subdistrict in Phuket province. Rawai Municipality describes it like this: about 15 minutes by boat, very clear water, a place to relax, lots of tourists, with foreigners swimming and sunbathing.

The island has several beaches. Tour operators head to Banana Beach: Phuket Tour sells a dedicated trip there with lunch at a restaurant, beach chairs, canoeing and snorkelling. Simba Sea Trips says that depending on the wind and swell you can pick a beach on either side of the island and snorkel straight from the shore.

The snorkelling is simple: Phuket Tour stops at Hin Dam bay on the far side of the island. Do not expect rich reefs like at Racha or the Similans. For water sports, Phuket Tour’s Banana Beach packages include canoeing, parasailing and a banana boat.

The tour step by step

This is how the half day runs in Phuket Tour’s programme from Rawai pier as of October 2026:

1. 7:30 hotel pickup
2. 8:30 Rawai pier: tea or coffee, briefing
3. 9:00 boat to the island, about 15 minutes
4. 9:30 beach and swimming
5. 12:00 lunch
6. 13:00 snorkelling in Hin Dam bay on the far side of the island
7. 13:30 back to Phuket, at the pier around 14:00, transfer to your hotel

The same operator’s Banana Beach trip runs in two slots: 8:30 to 14:00 or 10:00 to 17:00, transfers included. If you do not want an early start, take the afternoon one.

How long it takes and when to go

Half a day: 5-7 hours including the hotel transfers, with about 15 minutes on the water each way.

Ko He is not in a national park, so it has no DNP seasonal closures. It is close to shore, but from May to October, during the southwest monsoon, there can be swell here too.

More in Phuket climate by month.

What to bring

• Swimwear, towel and a change of clothes
• Sunscreen and a cap
• Cash for sun loungers and water sports if they are not included
• Water shoes if you plan to walk on rocks

Who it suits and who should skip it

Good for:

• Families with small children. The shortest sea trip of all the islands around Phuket
• People who get seasick. 15 minutes on the water is far easier than an hour and a half to the Similans
• Anyone with half a day. The trip fits into a morning or an afternoon

Not for:

• Anyone looking for quiet. The municipality says plainly that there are lots of tourists
• Anyone going for the reefs. For snorkelling over coral, the Racha Islands are better
• Pregnant women in swell. Even a short speedboat ride slams on the water in the rainy season

National park fee

There is no national park fee: the island is not in the DNP fee table, checked 17.10.2026. If you are offered water sports on the beach, check the life jackets and agree the price before you start.

How to choose a tour

• Coral only, or Coral with Racha. Half a day on Coral is easier with kids. The combined Racha tour takes 8-9 hours and adds a second beach with better snorkelling
• Morning or afternoon. The morning trip ends by 14:00; the afternoon one starts at 10:00 and lets you sleep in
• The beach package. Check what is in it: lunch, chairs, canoe, snorkelling. Parasailing and banana boats usually come only in the top package or at extra cost
• Where the boat leaves from. Phuket Tour’s trip leaves from Rawai pier, the closer of the two main piers

To compare with other destinations, see the guide to excursions from Phuket.

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