Phuket Boat Day Trips by Season

October 18, 2026

The islands around Phuket sit at very different distances, and the sea decides which of them are open. This page runs from the nearest to the farthest. Every fare below is a rough figure from secondary sources, so settle the price and the return time with the boat owner before leaving the pier.

Koh Bon, a short hop from Rawai

The islet of Koh Bon is roughly 2 km from Rawai. A longtail covers the crossing in 10 to 15 minutes, and the boat costs roughly 1,000 to 1,200 THB for the round trip. It suits a quiet half day when the big-boat destinations feel too crowded.

Coral Island and Racha Yai

Coral Island (Koh Hae) can be reached by private longtail from Rawai, at about 1,200 to 1,800 THB for the whole boat. Speedboat packages from Chalong to Racha Yai or Coral Island run from about 900 to 1,500 THB. These are the calmer, less photographed options compared with Phi Phi.

Phang Nga Bay

The usual departure is Ao Po pier, about 45 minutes by road from Patong. Day boats land on Khao Phing Kan, the island most visitors call James Bond Island. The needle-shaped rock beside it, Ko Tapu, stays offshore, and boats have been kept away from it since 1998. The crowds arrive between about 10:00 and 14:00, so an early or late slot is more relaxed. Many programmes add Koh Panyee, a stilt village whose floating football pitch was built by local teenagers in 1986.

The park fee is about 300 THB for adults and 150 THB for children, and tour prices often include it. The bay is sheltered enough for tours to run through the monsoon, though rough days bring cancellations. One listing site says the national park shuts from 16 May to 14 October and other sources disagree, so ask your operator directly if you travel in those months. More landing detail is in the Phang Nga Bay guide .

Phi Phi and Maya Bay

Boats leave from Rassada, Chalong and Royal Phuket Marina, taking about an hour by speedboat or two by large ferry. On Phi Phi Leh, Maya Bay has its own rules. Nobody swims in the bay, and wading is the limit. Boats stay out and tie up at the Loh Samah pontoon on the far side, from where a wooden boardwalk of about 5 to 10 minutes reaches the sand. Operators and the press mention hours of about 07:00 to 18:00, a cap near 375 visitors an hour and roughly an hour ashore, but those come from operators and the press, so treat them as a guide. Sunscreen containing oxybenzone or octinoxate is banned.

Landings at Maya Bay stop every year from about 1 August to 30 September, and the bay reopened on 1 October 2026. While the bay is closed, boats can go to Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave, and swimming in the lagoon is limited to marked areas. Expect to pay about 400 THB for adults in park fees, usually inside the tour price. Time Out reported the latest reopening in a Maya Bay article .

The Similan Islands

The national park is open from 15 October to 15 May, and the 2026-27 season began on 15 October 2026. Bad weather can close it earlier. From Phuket the trip is a very long day, so most people sleep near Khao Lak and board at Thap Lamu pier on departures around 05:30. The fee is about 500 THB for adults, paid by e-ticket, and a daily quota applies. Landings are allowed on Island 4 and Island 8 (Sail Rock), while Island 7 is for snorkellers and divers only. Nobody may camp or stay overnight on the islands. Fees and dates are on the Similan park page .

The Surin Islands are not a Phuket day trip, as the pier is 3 to 4 hours away by road.

Month by month

November to April: the calm season, with every destination above possible.
May to September: Phang Nga Bay tours still run, with cancellations on rough days, and crossings to other islands are called off in bad weather. The Similans are shut, and Maya Bay is closed to landings in August and September.
October: Maya Bay and the Similans both reopen.

Boat safety

Overloaded boats and monsoon seas have killed visitors in Thai waters. Walk away from any boat that looks crowded and ask whether life jackets are on board. Speedboats slam hard in rough water, which is tough on backs and during pregnancy, so raise it with the operator before booking.

To compare departures, search boat tours on GetYourGuide .