Coral Island (Koh Hey in Thai) is 9 km south of Chalong Pier — a 20-minute speedboat ride in almost any sea conditions. This proximity is its biggest asset. There's no significant open-water crossing, the swells that affect Racha and Phi Phi barely reach this close to Phuket, and if a child gets sick or upset you're back at the pier in 20 minutes. It's the only island near Phuket where you can legitimately consider a half-day trip without losing most of the day to transit.
The island has two main beaches with sunbeds, beach restaurants, showers, and toilets. For families with toddlers or anyone who needs actual facilities, this matters. Racha is wilder and more scenic, but Coral Island is the place where a 3-year-old can spend a comfortable day.
Long Beach is the main beach on the western side — about 400m of sand with gentle shelving entry, watersports rental (banana boats, jet skis, parasailing), sunbeds, and several restaurants. The water is calm in high season and entry is easy for children and non-swimmers. Most tour groups land at Long Beach, which means it gets congested by 10am. On a private charter, your captain can anchor off the quieter southern end of the beach away from the longtail drop zones.
Banana Beach is on the opposite (eastern) side of the island — smaller, quieter, and less developed. The water is slightly shallower and the beach is rockier at the ends, but the central stretch is good sand. There are no jet skis or banana boats here, which makes it more pleasant for anyone wanting a quieter swim. The snorkeling off the rocks at the northern end of Banana Beach is actually better than Long Beach's main area.
The best snorkeling on the island isn't on the main beach — it's off the rocky headland between Long Beach and Banana Beach. The reef here has reasonable coral cover (not pristine by regional standards, but good for this distance from Phuket), and you'll see parrotfish, wrasse, and occasional reef sharks in the deeper sections. A private charter can anchor close to the headland and let you swim directly to it rather than trekking across the beach. Depth is 3–8m — suitable for snorkelers who can't free dive but want to see more than the shallows.
A half-day charter to Coral Island is one of the most practical options in Phuket. Depart Chalong at 8am, arrive at 8:20am, snorkel the headland for 90 minutes, swim and relax until 11:30am, have a late breakfast or early lunch on the beach, and be back at Chalong by 1pm. Afternoon departures are possible too, though the western beach gets afternoon wind from around 2pm in high season. Mornings are almost always calmer.
Because transit time is so short, Coral Island combines well with other activities on a Phuket trip without burning a full day. Some groups do a morning at Coral Island and an afternoon sunset cruise from Chalong. Others combine it with a Khai Islands stop (the Khai group is about 15 km north-northeast of Coral Island, easily done in one trip). If you want to add Racha to the itinerary, some private charters run Coral Island–Racha as a single full-day trip, stopping at Coral on the way out and Racha for the main snorkeling session.
| Option | Half day | Full day | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat (6–8 pax) | From ฿4,000–6,000 | From ฿6,000–8,500 | Up to 8 |
| Speedboat (12 pax) | From ฿6,000–8,000 | From ฿8,000–11,000 | Up to 12 |
| Power catamaran | From ฿12,000 | From ฿16,000–22,000 | Up to 20 |
No national park fee. Beach chair and umbrella rental is extra (฿200–300) if you use them on the beach.
Private charter to Coral Island makes sense for a few reasons: you control arrival time (arriving at 8am before the longtail rush is a very different experience to arriving at 10am), you can position off the headland for better snorkeling, and you can do a half-day on your schedule rather than a group tour's fixed times. For 4+ people, the per-person cost difference vs a longtail tour is often small, and the flexibility is significant.
It's good, not exceptional. Reef quality around the headland between Long Beach and Banana Beach is reasonable with decent coral coverage and reef fish. Visibility is typically 8–12m. If snorkeling is your primary objective and you're experienced, Racha Island has noticeably better reef and visibility. But for children or first-time snorkelers, Coral Island is perfect — shallow enough to stand up in if needed, calm, and you'll still see plenty of fish.
Yes — Coral Island has beach restaurants on Long Beach serving Thai food, seafood, and Western options. Prices are elevated (this is a tourist beach) but the food is genuinely cooked fresh. Budget ฿200–400 per person for a meal. Banana Beach has more limited options. If you're doing a morning half-day, you might have a snack on the island and eat properly back in Phuket.
No national park fee — Coral Island is not inside a national park. This is one minor advantage over Phi Phi and the Khai Islands where you pay ฿300–600 per person on arrival. Your only costs on the island are food, drinks, and sunbed rental if you use one.
Depends what you want. Long Beach has facilities, shade, restaurants, watersports, and is generally busier. Banana Beach is quieter, less developed, and better for snorkeling off the northern rocks — but you'll need to bring your own food and there's no watersports rental. For families with small children, Long Beach is more practical. For couples or snorkelers who want space, Banana Beach is better. A private charter can stop at both.
Better reef, cleaner water, less crowded. The upgrade from Coral Island for serious snorkelers.
View GuideThree small islands, 30–45 min from Chalong. Shallow reef, excellent for beginners and families.
View GuideThe iconic full-day destination. Better for older children and adults — longer crossing, more dramatic.
View GuideGet available boats and prices for your dates.