Khai Island or Racha Yai: Where to Snorkel from Phuket?

How the two stops differ

Think of Khai as the warm-up and Racha Yai as the main event. At Khai you wade in from the sand and the fish are already around your ankles, which is exactly why first-timers like it; the catch is the clock, because the boat leaves for Phi Phi Don at 10:15. Racha Yai is a bigger bay with clearer water, and on the Racha trips it is the reason for the day rather than a stop on the way to somewhere else.

Then there's what comes after. Pick Khai and the rest of your day is Phi Phi: Monkey Beach, Pileh Lagoon, Maya Bay. Pick Racha Yai and the second half is Coral island's beach, or Phi Phi by catamaran, or (on the sunrise fishing boat) a rod in your hand. If it's the whole day you're choosing rather than one snorkel, Racha Yai or Phi Phi weighs clear water against the famous bays.

Khai island on the Phi Phi day

Khai comes half an hour after the speedboat leaves Chalong at 09:15, on our Phi Phi, Maya Bay and Khai day. It's shallow, it's clear, and the fish come right up to the sand — this is the stop where people who've never snorkelled try a mask for the first time. Masks and snorkels are on the boat. Wear reef shoes if you have them: the islands have stones.

Don't expect a long swim. At 10:15 you're off to Phi Phi Don and Monkey Beach, then lunch, the Viking Cave, Pileh Lagoon and finally Maya Bay at 15:15, where swimming happens from the water beside the bay. It's a good day out, but the snorkelling comes in short pieces.

Racha Yai, three ways

Racha Yai is about forty minutes from Chalong by speedboat, and three of our boats go there. The Racha and Coral speedboat day gives you Patok Bay from 09:40 until noon, then lunch on Coral island. The sunrise trip gets you into the water at 06:40, before anyone else, and adds a reef stop at 10:40 plus some deep-water fishing. The Phi Phi and Racha Yai catamaran spends 09:00 to 11:00 there before heading for Phi Phi.

A fourth way, if someone in your group wants to fish: the sunrise fishing boat anchors at Racha Yai from 11:00 for a swim and a snorkel, with fins on board. The three Racha boats are compared properly on Racha and Coral islands: speedboat or catamaran. A fuller picture of the island is on Racha Yai, Phuket.

Which one I would choose

With a child, or with someone nervous about putting their face in the water, I'd go for Khai. Short, shallow, done in half an hour, and the rest of the day still feels like a big trip. A confident swimmer who wants to see more should go to Racha Yai, on the sunrise boat if you can face a 04:30 pickup, since the water is clearest early. Our Racha card says it without fuss: you'll get much more from the snorkelling stops if you can swim.

And Hin Dam bay on Coral island?

There's a third option, closer than both. Our Coral island half day leaves Rawai pier at 09:00, takes about thirty minutes to cross, gives you the morning on Coral Beach and saves the snorkelling for Hin Dam bay, on the far side of the island, after lunch. You're back at 14:00. Coral is easier to get into from the beach; Racha Yai has the better visibility. More on that pair in Racha Yai or Coral island for snorkelling. The rest of a Coral Island day is on Coral Island, Phuket.

What to bring and how to book

Masks are included on the Khai day and on both Racha speedboats. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a towel, a waterproof phone case and, for the Phi Phi day, cash in small notes, because its national park fee is paid on the day. Send the tour, the date and your hotel in the chat. Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. All our snorkelling days are on snorkelling tours from Phuket. The catamaran's booking steps are on how to book the Phi Phi and Racha Yai catamaran. If half a day is enough, the Coral Island half-day trip from Rawai has a thirty-minute crossing and snorkelling gear in the price. Choosing between a full Phi Phi day and that short one is on Phi Phi or Coral Island. Khai is also the first stop of a full Phi Phi day; Phi Phi with Khai or Bamboo island sets it against the Bamboo day. Where Khai sits on the Phi Phi route and what the half hour there looks like: Khai islands from Phuket. If you're wondering whether to dive instead, beginner dive day or snorkelling tour sets the two days side by side. Snorkelling with young children on Phi Phi? Sunrise speedboat or catamaran with kids helps choose the boat by age.

Questions people ask