Can I Take a Toddler on a Phuket Island Tour?

Which island days suit a child under five?

Coral island from Rawai is the gentlest: meet at 08:30, half an hour on the water, back at the pier by 14:00, lunch and life jackets included. The Racha and Coral speedboat is a full day but with a forty-minute crossing, and under fours ride free. Where the snorkelling is on each of those trips is on Racha or Coral island for snorkelling.

James Bond island stays inside a sheltered bay — longtail, a guide paddling the kayak, lunch over the water — and under fours are free. For a first sea day with a toddler, these three are where I would start. Booking it with a toddler is covered on how to book a James Bond island tour.

Which trips should I skip with a toddler?

Anything that starts in the dark. The early Similan boat wakes you around half past three and is not recommended for children under four; the Phi Phi sunrise trip picks up between four and half past four; the skywalk trip at 03:45. The eleven-islands day runs about fourteen hours door to door. The classic Similan day is the gentler choice; is the early bird Similan tour worth the extra cost compares the two. For Racha Yai before the day boats arrive, see Racha Yai and Coral island at sunrise: is it worth it.

Rafting has a minimum age of six. That leaves plenty — just not those.

What does a toddler need on the boat?

A life jacket that fits — tell us the age when booking so the right size is on board. Sun protection above all: a hat, a swim shirt, sunscreen reapplied after every swim. A spare set of clothes, water and snacks they like, because lunch on the island may not suit a picky two-year-old.

A towel doubles as shade and as a blanket for the ride home. Speedboats have no lockable cabin, so keep the bag light.

Is snorkelling possible with a toddler?

In the right spot, yes. Khai island, the first stop on the classic Phi Phi day, has shallow, clear water where the fish come right up to the sand — a small child can paddle and look down without going deep. Hin Dam bay on the Coral island half day is another calm place.

Keep the life jacket on the whole time in the water, and one adult per child within arm's reach. The crews hand out jackets; tell us the age so a small size is on board.

What about land days with a small child?

They work well, as long as the pickup is civilised. The Phuket sightseeing tour picks up at 08:45 and is back around 15:00, with viewpoints, the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, the old town and a baby elephant to feed. The Khao Lak safari changes scene every hour: a cave temple, a small zoo, elephants, a bamboo raft, turtles. The sightseeing stops and their times are laid out in our half-day Phuket sightseeing guide. The Khao Lak safari and the Avatar world day are compared stop by stop on Khao Lak safari or Avatar world from Phuket.

Rafting is out below six. The Avatar world day runs until 19:00 — long for a toddler, though under fours travel free. The whole day, stop by stop, is on is the Avatar world tour suitable for children. If Khao Sok's lake is on your list, read is the Cheow Lan lake day trip worth it before you book.

How do I keep a small child comfortable on a boat day?

Shade and water above everything. A hat that ties on, a long-sleeved swim shirt, sunscreen reapplied every time they come out of the water. A small towel over the head on the boat. Snacks they already know, because lunch on an island is Thai food and may not appeal.

Nap time will happen on the boat or in the minivan home. A light blanket or a sarong helps them sleep through the air conditioning. If Maya Bay is on the list, Maya Bay at sunrise or after 4 pm compares a four o'clock start with a 19:00 finish. Every trip of ours that never goes out on the open sea is listed on land tours from Phuket.

Is a two-day trip realistic with a toddler?

It can be, if the child copes with long boat days. The Phi Phi two-day trip includes a hotel room on Phi Phi Don, dinner, breakfast and two lunches; the evening programme — the fire show, the bars — is optional, and with a small child you can simply watch the show from the sand and turn in. Remember the return crossing happens on day two, weather permitting.

For a first trip with a very small child, a single short day is usually the better test.

How do I book with a small child?

Send the tour, the date, the hotel and the child's age in the chat. We confirm the price (free or child rate, depending on the trip), the life jacket size and the pickup time.

Our family tours page and child prices have the rest.

Children under four ride free on the Racha and Coral speedboat, which makes it the cheapest full sea day for a family with a toddler.

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