Things to Do in Phuket by Boat: Day Trips, Snorkeling and Adventure

Phuket is an island, and the best of it is on the water around it. Within an hour or so by speedboat you can swim in a lagoon ringed by cliffs, paddle through a cave into a hidden room open to the sky, snorkel with reef fish, eat lunch in a village built on stilts or drive your own jet ski between small islands. This guide lists the best things to do in Phuket by boat, what each experience is really like and which day trip gets you there.

Quick Guide: Experiences and Where to Find Them

1. Swim in Pileh Lagoon and Walk onto Maya Bay

Pileh Lagoon is an almost enclosed inlet on Phi Phi Leh with limestone walls on every side and calm, vivid green water. The boat drifts in and you swim straight from it. For many people it is the best swim of their whole holiday.

Maya Bay is the beach from the film The Beach. Boats are no longer allowed into the bay, so you land at Loh Samah Bay on the other side of the island and walk a short trail to the sand. Swimming at Maya Bay is not allowed, but you can walk on the beach and look for the blacktip reef sharks that are often seen in the shallows.

How to do it: the Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai Island speedboat tour (3,100 THB per adult, 2,200 THB per child) includes both, plus snorkeling near Viking Cave, a stand-up paddle board, Monkey Beach and a first swim at Khai Nai. The national park fee is included. Read the Phi Phi Islands guide and the latest on swimming at Maya Bay.

2. Sea Canoe into a Hidden Lagoon

In Phang Nga Bay some limestone islands are hollow. The hongs (Thai for rooms) are collapsed caves open to the sky, with their own mangroves and tidal lagoons. A local guide paddles you in an inflatable sea canoe through low caves and narrow gaps into these rooms. You do not need any experience: you sit, lie back under low ceilings and look up at the cliffs.

The tide decides everything here. Canoes can only pass the cave entrances at the right water level, so the guide may choose Hong Island or Talu Island on the day.

How to do it: the James Bond Island and Phang Nga Bay speedboat tour (3,500 THB per adult, 2,200 THB per child) includes the sea canoe. The national park fee is paid in cash on the day. More in our Phang Nga Bay guide and kayaking in Phang Nga Bay.

3. See James Bond Island

Ko Tapu, the needle of rock that appeared in the 1974 film The Man with the Golden Gun, stands just off Khao Phing Kan. You land on the small beach, walk through the split in the rock and take the photo everyone takes. It is busy at midday, but it is one of the most striking sights in Thailand. See our James Bond Island guide for the best angles.

4. Eat Lunch in a Village on Stilts

Koh Panyee is a Muslim fishing village built on stilts at the foot of a huge limestone rock in Phang Nga Bay. It has a mosque, a school, homes and restaurants on wooden walkways, plus a famous floating football pitch. On the James Bond Island tour lunch is a halal Thai buffet here, with time to walk the lanes afterward. Dress modestly and ask before you photograph people. It is a home, not a museum.

5. Snorkel with Reef Fish at Racha

Racha Yai (Raya) is a granite island south of Phuket, well away from river mouths, so the water is often very clear. Its bays slope gently from white sand to reef, with colorful fish close to the surface. It is a great place for a first snorkel, especially with a life jacket.

How to do it: the Raya and Coral Island snorkeling tour (2,400 THB per adult, 1,700 THB per child) snorkels at Patok, Lah or Siam Bay depending on conditions. Mask, snorkel and life jacket are included, and fins can be rented on board for 100 THB. For other spots, see best snorkeling spots near Phuket and our Racha Island guide.

6. Beach Time and Sea Sports at Coral Island

Coral Island (Koh Hae) is about 15 minutes from Chalong Pier and has two easy beaches with shallow, gentle water. It is also one of the main places near Phuket for parasailing, banana boats and sea walking. These are optional, sold by operators on the island and not included in the tour price, so agree the price first and bring cash. The Coral Island guide has more.

7. Drive Your Own Jet Ski Between Islands

Forget the 30 minute beach rental. On the Jet Ski 7 Islands tour you drive a 1200 cc jet ski for a full day in a guided group across the sheltered water off Phuket's east coast, stopping at Naka Yai, Naka Noi, Monkey Island, Phai, Hum and Phae islands and riding through a mangrove channel. Lunch, drinks, insurance and hotel transfer are included. It costs 7,500 THB per jet ski for 1 or 2 riders (up to 150 kg). Drivers must be at least 15, sober and in good health, and you need your passport. Read the Naka Islands guide and our jet ski safety tips.

8. Watch Wild Macaques from the Water

Monkey Beach on Phi Phi Don and Monkey Island near the Naka Islands both have wild long-tailed macaques that come down to the shore. They are fun to watch, but they are wild animals. Do not feed or touch them, and keep food and plastic bags out of sight. Our Monkey Beach guide explains why.

9. Charter Your Own Boat

A private speedboat turns any of these experiences into your own day: leave earlier than the tour groups, linger where you like and skip what you do not care about. Our private charters include the boat, captain and crew, soft drinks, life jackets, fuel, insurance and hotel pickup, with up to 6 hours on the water. Per boat prices: Phi Phi 29,000 THB, Phang Nga Bay 35,000 THB, Hong Islands (Krabi) 25,000 THB and 4 Islands (Krabi) 20,000 THB. Park fees and lunch are extra.

More Ways to Get on the Water

We do not sell the following trips, but they are popular and we have written honest guides to them:

• Sunset cruises on the west coast or in Phang Nga Bay.
• Scuba diving for beginners, often at Racha Yai.
• Fishing trips, from local fishing to deep sea.
• Stand up paddleboarding in calm bays.
• Bioluminescent plankton on night trips.
• The Similan Islands, a full day from Phuket via Khao Lak, open from around mid-October to mid-May.

An Adventure Day Off the Water

If the sea is rough or you want a change from boats, the white water rafting, flying fox and waterfall tour (2,500 THB per adult, 2,200 THB per child) heads into the Phang Nga jungle for 5 km of river rafting, a zipline, a waterfall walk and the Suwankuha cave temple.

Choosing Your Boat

All the day trips on this page use speedboats, which cover distance quickly so you get more time at each stop. The trade-off is a bumpier ride when the wind picks up. Big boats are slower but steadier, and longtails are traditional and atmospheric but best for short hops. Our comparison of speedboat vs longtail vs big boat explains the differences.

Comfort and Safety Tips

• Seasickness: the sheltered water of Phang Nga Bay and the short hops to Coral Island are the gentlest. On any trip, sit near the back of the boat and look at the horizon. See our seasickness tips.
• Pregnancy and back problems: speedboat trips are not recommended for pregnant guests or anyone with back problems, and pregnant guests cannot join the Raya and Coral Island tour. See speedboat tours and pregnancy.
• Non-swimmers: life jackets are provided on every trip and you can still enjoy the lagoons and shallow beaches. See can non-swimmers do island tours.
• Reef care: do not stand on coral, do not feed fish and use reef-safe sunscreen or a rash guard.

FAQ

What is the best boat trip in Phuket?

For famous scenery, the Phi Phi speedboat day. For calm water and caves, Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island. For snorkeling and an easy pace, Raya and Coral Island. Our guide to choosing an island tour compares them side by side.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. Life jackets are provided and the sea canoe is paddled by a guide. Swimming makes snorkeling easier, but many people float with a life jacket.

Are boat trips from Phuket suitable for children?

Yes. Raya and Coral Island and the James Bond Island tour are the easiest for families. See Phuket island tours with kids.

Can I do boat trips in the rainy season?

Many trips run between May and October, especially in sheltered Phang Nga Bay, but some days are cancelled for safety. If that happens you get a refund or a new date.

Browse all tours or read our island hopping guide to plan several days on the water.