What to Bring on an Island Tour from Phuket: Checklist and Food Tips

For a day on an island tour from Phuket, bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses with a strap, swimwear under your clothes, a rash guard, a small dry bag, water shoes or sandals, a towel, a dry change of clothes, a refillable water bottle, some Thai baht in cash and any medicine you need. Lunch is included on all our day tours, most include drinks on board, and the snorkeling tours include a mask, snorkel and life jacket, so your bag can stay small. You can also bring your own snacks.

Our day tours last about 8 to 10 hours, mostly on the water and on beaches, and you cannot go back to the hotel halfway through. This guide covers what each tour already includes, what to pack, the rules on bringing food and what to leave behind, with a checklist at the end.

What Our Tours Already Include

Check the inclusions before you pack, because they vary from trip to trip:

Each tour page also has its own "what to bring" list. For a walk through a typical day on the water, see what to expect on a speedboat tour.

Sun Protection

• Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 or higher: the single most important item. The sun is intense and you are exposed all day. Apply it before you board and reapply every 2 hours, and after every swim. Choose a mineral sunscreen (zinc oxide or titanium dioxide) without oxybenzone or octinoxate, which damage coral. Many national parks are cracking down on sunscreen that is not reef-safe.
• Sunglasses with a strap: polarized lenses cut the glare off the water, and a strap stops them flying into the sea on the boat.
• Hat or cap: a wide brim gives the best cover but can blow off on a speedboat. A cap that fits snugly works for the ride; switch to a wider hat on the beach.

Swimwear and Clothing

• Swimsuit, worn under your clothes, so you are ready to swim at the first stop.
• Rash guard or UV shirt: highly recommended. A long-sleeved one protects you from the sun, means less sunscreen and gives some protection from jellyfish stings (see our jellyfish safety guide).
• Light cover-up or quick-dry shorts for the boat between stops.
• Dry clothes in a sealed bag for the ride home, to change into after the last swim.
• Rafting: you will get wet on the river, so wear swimwear or quick-dry clothes and leave anything that must stay dry at the hotel or sealed in a dry bag.

Keeping Things Dry

• Dry bag: essential. A 10 to 20 liter roll-top bag keeps your phone, wallet and camera safe from spray and rain. They are sold all over Phuket for roughly 100 to 300 THB.
• Waterproof phone pouch: lets you take photos while swimming and snorkeling. Tourist shops sell them for roughly 100 to 200 THB.
• A screenshot of your booking, in case there is no signal at the pier.

Footwear

You will wade from the boat to the beach at some stops, so wear shoes that can get wet. Flip-flops tend to float away or break in the surf. Sport sandals with a secure strap or light water shoes are the best choice, and they also protect your feet on rocky or shelly patches.

Snorkeling Gear

A mask and snorkel are included on the Phi Phi and the Raya and Coral Island tours, together with a life jacket. On the Raya tour, fins are rented on board if you want them. If you snorkel often, consider bringing your own mask: a good fit stops leaks and fogging and makes a real difference. A decent mask costs about 300 to 800 THB in Phuket. An action camera such as a GoPro takes much better underwater photos than a phone in a pouch. For where to use it, see our guide to the best snorkeling spots near Phuket.

Cash and Documents

• Thai baht in cash: about 500 to 1,000 THB for drinks, souvenirs and optional activities. Some island stops have small shops that do not take cards.
• National park fee: on the James Bond Island tour it is paid on the day, so bring enough cash. On the Phi Phi tour it is already included. Our national park fees guide has the details.
• Passport: bring it on the Jet Ski 7 Islands tour. For the other tours, see do you need a passport for island tours.

Health and Comfort Extras

• Seasickness tablets: if you are at all prone to it, take them before you board, as the packet directs, not once you already feel ill. A bouncy speedboat ride can set off even mild sensitivity. Have a light breakfast rather than skipping it, avoid greasy or very spicy food in the morning, and sip water through the day. Our seasickness tips cover where to sit, too.
• Insect repellent: useful in Phang Nga Bay, where the mangroves have mosquitoes, and for late afternoon stops on any island.
• Microfiber towel: do not count on a towel being provided. A compact microfiber one takes little space and dries fast.
• Refillable water bottle: heat and sun dehydrate you faster than you expect.
• Your own medicine, including anything for allergies, in your day bag rather than your main luggage.

Can You Bring Your Own Food on a Boat Tour?

Yes. On our shared tours you can bring your own snacks and soft drinks, and many guests do. Since lunch is included on every day tour and most include drinks, you rarely need a packed meal. Your own food is for the gaps: the early start, the drive to the pier, the afternoon on the boat, children, seasickness and diets a buffet may not meet. A few points of etiquette:

• Keep it compact. Space on a speedboat is limited and bags often go in a shared storage area. A small soft bag is fine, a large cool box is not.
• Eat your own food on the boat or the beach, not at the lunch restaurant's tables, unless the staff say it is fine.
• Take every wrapper back. Bins on small islands are limited, and anything left on a beach can end up in the sea.

Good snacks to pack

• Plain crackers, pretzels or rice crackers. Dry, salty snacks help settle the stomach on a bumpy ride.
• Fruit that travels well, such as bananas, apples or small mandarins.
• Cereal bars or nuts, if nobody in your group has an allergy.
• A sandwich in a sealed box, eaten in the morning before the heat gets to it.
• Ginger sweets, a traditional help for mild nausea.

Food and drink to leave behind

• Glass bottles and jars. They break easily on a moving boat and are dangerous on beaches.
• Food that melts or spoils in the heat, such as chocolate, dairy, mayonnaise or cooked meat that has been out for hours.
• Strong smelling food. You share a small space, and some guests may be fighting seasickness.
• Foam boxes and single-use plastic bags. Thailand's national parks have been cutting down on both, so use reusable containers.
• Alcohol. It is not included on our tours and it adds to dehydration and seasickness. On the jet ski tour, nobody who has been drinking may drive. For a private charter, ask when you book.

Special diets

Tour buffets usually include rice, a few curries or stir fries, vegetables, fruit and often fish or chicken. That suits most people, but some diets need a little planning:

• Halal: the Phi Phi tour lunch is a halal buffet, and the James Bond Island tour lunch at Koh Panyee, a Muslim village, is a halal Thai buffet.
• Vegetarian and vegan: there are usually vegetable dishes and rice, but fish sauce and shrimp paste are common in Thai cooking, even in dishes that look vegetarian. Mention your needs when you book and bring backup snacks if you are strict.
• Gluten free: rice is naturally gluten free, but soy sauce and oyster sauce often contain wheat. Plain rice, fruit and simple grilled dishes are the safest choices.
• Severe allergies: peanuts, shellfish and fish sauce are widely used, and buffets carry a risk of cross contact. Bring your own food, carry your medication and tell the guide about your allergy at the start of the day.

A shared buffet cannot always be adapted. If you are unsure whether a tour suits your needs, contact us before you book.

Food for children

Buffet lunches usually include plain rice, fried rice, fruit and a few mild dishes, but some food is spicy, and unfamiliar food can be a hard sell to a tired child. Pack favorite snacks, a small sandwich, a drink they like and any baby food or formula. Skip a big sugary breakfast before the boat ride, and offer snacks in small amounts through the day rather than one big meal just before a crossing. More ideas in our guide to island tours with kids.

Keep food away from monkeys and fish

At Monkey Beach on the Phi Phi tour, the macaques know that bags can hold food and will grab anything that looks promising. Keep food inside a closed bag, do not eat in front of them and never feed them. Our Monkey Beach guide explains why. In the water, feeding fish is not allowed in Thailand's marine national parks: it changes their behavior and harms the reef, so leave the bread on the boat.

What to Leave at the Hotel

• Jewelry: rings, necklaces and watches belong in the hotel safe. Salt water is harsh on metal, and things slip off wet hands.
• Bulky valuables: laptops, tablets and expensive cameras that are not waterproof risk water damage, and you cannot watch them all day.
• Thick towels: they take up space and never dry. Bring a microfiber towel instead.
• Too much cash: bring only what you need for the day.
• Sunscreen that is not reef-safe: help protect the reefs that make these islands worth visiting.

Packing Checklist

• Reef-safe sunscreen, SPF 50 or higher
• Sunglasses with a strap, and a hat or cap
• Swimsuit worn under your clothes, plus a rash guard
• Quick-dry shorts or a cover-up
• Dry change of clothes in a sealed bag
• Dry bag (10 to 20 liters) and a waterproof phone pouch
• Water shoes or sport sandals
• Microfiber towel
• Refillable water bottle and one or two dry snacks per person
• Thai baht in cash, enough for the park fee on the James Bond Island tour
• Seasickness tablets, insect repellent and your own medicine
• Passport, if you are on the jet ski tour
• Your own snorkel mask (optional)
• A small bag to carry your rubbish back

Browse all tours to compare what each trip includes. Planning a whole holiday? Our Phuket packing checklist covers the suitcase, not just the day bag.

Frequently asked questions

What should I wear on a Phuket island tour?

Wear your swimsuit under light, quick-dry clothes, add a rash guard, a hat and sunglasses with a strap, and wear sport sandals or water shoes that can get wet. Pack a dry change of clothes for the ride home.

Can I bring my own food and snacks on a Phuket boat tour?

Yes. Small snacks and soft drinks are fine on our shared tours. Keep them in a small bag, avoid glass and food that spoils in the heat, and take your rubbish with you.

Is lunch included on island tours?

Lunch is included on all five of our day tours. On private speedboat charters it is not, so ask about options when you book or bring your own food.

Can I bring alcohol?

Alcohol is not included on our tours, and we do not recommend it on a speedboat day in the sun. On the jet ski tour, anyone who has been drinking cannot drive. For a private charter, ask when you book.

Is the food halal?

The Phi Phi tour lunch is a halal buffet, and the James Bond Island tour lunch at Koh Panyee is a halal Thai buffet. For other tours, ask before you book.

Do I need to bring snorkel gear?

No. A mask, snorkel and life jacket are included on the Phi Phi and the Raya and Coral Island tours, and fins can be rented on board on the Raya tour. Bring your own mask only if you want a better fit.

How much cash should I bring?

About 500 to 1,000 THB for drinks, souvenirs and optional activities, as some island shops do not take cards. On the James Bond Island tour, add enough for the national park fee, which is paid on the day.