# Is the Racha Yai and Coral Island Sunrise Tour from Phuket Worth It? Yes, provided you can face a 04:30 pickup. The speedboat gets to Racha Yai at 06:40, well before the island fills up, and you still have a long afternoon on Coral island. Breakfast boxes, a beach lunch, snorkelling gear, park fees and deep-water fishing are all in the price of the Racha Yai and Coral island sunrise tour, and you're back at the pier at 15:30. ## Tours and prices in Thai baht - [Racha Yai and Coral island at sunrise](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/racha-coral-sunrise) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/racha-coral-sunrise.md) — One day, 04:30–15:30 · Adult 1,600 THB · Child 4–9 1,300 THB - [Racha and Coral islands by speedboat](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/racha-coral-islands-speedboat) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/racha-coral-islands-speedboat.md) — Eight to nine hours · Adult 1,400 THB · Child 4–9 1,300 THB - [Coral island from Rawai pier](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/coral-islands-rawai) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/coral-islands-rawai.md) — Half a day, 08:30–14:00 · Adult 1,400 THB · Child 4–9 1,300 THB - [Phi Phi at sunrise: Maya Bay before the crowds](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phi-phi-sunrise) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/tours/phi-phi-sunrise.md) — One day, 04:00–15:30 · Adult 2,300 THB · Child 4–9 2,000 THB Prices come straight from our booking system. Children under four join free on most trips — each tour page says so. ## The day, hour by hour Pickup is between 04:30 and 05:00 — breakfast comes as a box, which you'll appreciate later. The boat goes at 06:00 with tea and coffee on board, and at 06:30 the sun comes up while you're still in open water. Racha Yai is yours from 06:40 to 10:30: the beach, snorkelling, kayaks and paddleboards, the viewpoints, and deep-water fishing from about half past nine. After that, 50 minutes of snorkelling over the coral reefs (10:40–11:30). Coral island takes the rest of the day, 11:40 to 14:50, with lunch on the beach and free time. Around 14:50 the boat turns for Phuket; at 15:30 you step off at the pier and the transfer runs you back to the hotel. More on Coral island itself is on [what to expect on Coral Island](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/coral-island). ## Why the early start pays off Racha Yai gets busy by late morning, and that's the whole argument. Land at 06:40 and the water is clear for snorkelling, the beach still empty — it's the same island the day boats reach later, just a different place at that hour. The card sums it up in one line: the same islands, a different day. You also get more day out of the day. Nearly four hours on Racha Yai, three on Coral, and you're at the pier by mid-afternoon with the evening free. If jet lag has you awake at four anyway, I'd book this over a later departure without thinking twice. How the early Racha snorkel compares with Khai island on a Phi Phi day is on [Khai island or Racha Yai for snorkelling](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/khai-or-racha-yai-for-snorkelling). How that quiet early beach compares with Phi Phi's quiet hours is on [Racha Yai or Phi Phi](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-yai-or-phi-phi). ## Why it might not be The alarm. A 04:30 pickup is hard on a holiday, and harder with small children. The card also warns that it's cold at sea before sunrise, so bring a warm layer. It isn't recommended during pregnancy. Two practical points. Kayaks and paddleboards on Racha Yai are paid on the spot, so bring some cash. And weather can change the programme on the day. October crossings to Racha are covered on [Phuket tours in October](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/phuket-tours-in-october). ## What's included A lot for one day: transfer from the hotel and back, a speedboat with comfortable seating, the guide, breakfast boxes, coffee, tea and soft drinks, fruit on board, lunch on Coral island, national park entrance fees, snorkelling gear, life jackets and insurance. You don't need your own fishing gear either — the tackle is on the boat, and the crew shows you how it works. If the fishing is the main event for you, [is the sunrise fishing trip worth it](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/fishing-sunrise-worth-it) covers the full fishing day. The trip runs in the Comfort+ format, which adds Wi-Fi and music on the boat, beer at the pier, wine and ice cream on the way back, towels and disposable mouthpieces, and rain ponchos if the weather turns. What [Comfort+ means on our tours](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/what-is-comfort-plus) is explained on its own page. The price is in the table here, in baht. What the island offers beyond the beach is on [Racha Yai: what to expect](https://phukeo.com/en/guide/racha-yai). ## Who it suits Early risers, snorkellers who want calm water before the crowds, and anyone who'd like to try sea fishing without a separate fishing trip. Less so families with very young children or anyone who needs a full night's sleep before a day out. - Racha Yai before the crowds, fishing and a beach lunch — Racha Yai and Coral island at sunrise - The same two islands with a later start and water sports on Coral island — Racha and Coral islands by speedboat - A short half-day on Coral island from the south of Phuket — Coral island from Rawai pier - Sunrise at sea on the famous islands — Phi Phi at sunrise ## Sunrise trip or the standard speedboat day? The standard Racha and Coral day picks up between 08:00 and 08:30, crosses from Chalong pier to Racha Yai in around 40 minutes and gives you Patok Bay until noon, then lunch and water sports on Coral island. Those water sports are run by beach operators and paid on the spot. The sunrise trip swaps the later start for the empty morning on Racha Yai, the fishing and the Comfort+ extras. For snorkelling alone, [Racha Yai or Coral island for snorkelling](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/racha-or-coral-for-snorkeling) compares the stops trip by trip. The catamaran that also stops at Racha Yai is set against both speedboats on [Racha and Coral islands: speedboat or catamaran](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-coral-speedboat-or-catamaran). ## Guide, children and booking Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. Children aged 4 to 9 pay the child price, and from ten the adult price applies. Payment is agreed in the chat after the booking is confirmed. Send the tour, the date and your hotel, and we confirm the pickup time. Every trip to these two islands is on [Racha and Coral island tours](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-coral-island-tours). ## Worth knowing The card warns that it is cold at sea before sunrise, and the first half hour after the 06:00 departure is spent in open water waiting for the sun. A light jacket over your swimwear makes that part far more pleasant. ## FAQ ### Why go this early to islands so close to Phuket? Because Racha Yai gets busy by late morning. Arriving at 06:40 means clear water for snorkelling and a beach that is still empty. ### Do I need my own fishing gear? No. The tackle is on the boat, and the crew shows you how it works. Fishing starts around half past nine at Racha Yai. ### Are national park fees included? Yes. Park fees, breakfast boxes, lunch on Coral island, snorkelling gear and life jackets are all in the price. Kayaks and paddleboards on Racha Yai are paid on the spot. ### What time do I get back? The boat reaches the pier at 15:30, and the transfer then takes you to your hotel. ### Can I join while pregnant? No, the card does not recommend this trip during pregnancy. Our page on boat tours during pregnancy goes through the other trips. ### Is an English-speaking guide available? Yes. Every tour in our catalogue runs with an English-speaking guide. ### How do I book the Racha Yai and Coral sunrise tour? Send the tour, the date, your hotel and everyone's ages in WhatsApp. Pickup is between 04:30 and 05:00 with a breakfast box, and we confirm the time; payment by card online is agreed in the chat once the booking is confirmed. ## Compare with - [Racha and Coral Island Tours from Phuket](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-coral-island-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-coral-island-tours.md) - [Racha Yai or Coral Island: Where to Snorkel on a Day from Phuket](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/racha-or-coral-for-snorkeling) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/racha-or-coral-for-snorkeling.md) - [Sunrise Tours from Phuket: Why the Early Boat Is Worth It](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/sunrise-tours) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/sunrise-tours.md) - [What Is Comfort+ on Your Phuket Tours?](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/what-is-comfort-plus) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/what-is-comfort-plus.md) - [Is the Coral Island Half-Day Trip from Phuket Worth It?](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/coral-island-half-day-trip-worth-it) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/coral-island-half-day-trip-worth-it.md) - [How Much Is a Coral Island Tour from Phuket for a Family?](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/coral-island-tour-price-for-a-family) · [md](https://phukeo.com/en/faq/coral-island-tour-price-for-a-family.md) - [All tours](https://phukeo.com/en/tours) ## How to book [Ask about dates on WhatsApp](https://wa.me/66619490349?text=Hello!%20I%20found%20you%20on%20phukeo.com%20and%20I'd%20like%20to%20book%20%22Racha%20and%20Coral%20at%20sunrise%3A%20worth%20it%3F%22.%20My%20dates%3A%20) --- Canonical: https://phukeo.com/en/excursions/racha-coral-sunrise-worth-it