Visit 2–4 islands in a single day on your own private boat. Choose the route, set the pace, and leave the crowds at the pier. Private island hopping from Phuket — no strangers, no fixed schedule.
Island hopping on a group tour means boarding a boat with 30–50 other people, following a route set months ago, and spending roughly 20–30 minutes at each island before the tour guide blows the whistle. You share the beach with every other tour operator running the same package that day. At peak season, the "secluded beach" on your itinerary has 300 people on it by 10am.
A private speedboat or catamaran changes the equation completely. You leave when you want — early enough to beat the tour boats to the best locations. You decide how long to spend at each island. If the first stop is exceptional, you stay longer. If a beach is overcrowded, you move to an alternative your captain knows. The difference is not marginal — it is the difference between a genuinely good day and a queuing experience on the water.
For island hopping specifically — where the goal is covering multiple locations in a day — a speedboat is almost always the right tool. The speed advantage means a private speedboat can realistically visit 3–4 islands in a full-day charter, something that takes a catamaran a full day to visit 2. If comfort and stability matter more than range, a catamaran is a valid choice for a 2-island day.
The closest island hopping route from Chalong Pier. Koh Hey (Coral Island) is 20 minutes from Chalong by speedboat and has two beaches — Long Beach and Banana Beach — with decent snorkelling on the southern reef. The Khai Islands (Noi, Nai, Nok) are even closer and offer crystal-clear, shallow water ideal for swimming. A half-day private speedboat can cover both comfortably. Best for families with young children or groups wanting a short, easy outing.
The classic Andaman route. Koh Phi Phi Don is roughly 45 minutes from Chalong by speedboat. Phi Phi Leh — the uninhabited island — contains Maya Bay, the famous filming location from The Beach, plus Pileh Lagoon and Viking Cave. A private boat can spend the morning at Phi Phi Leh before the tour boats arrive, then explore Phi Phi Don's quieter bays in the afternoon. Allow a full day. This route requires payment of the Phi Phi Marine National Park entry fee (around 400 THB/person for foreigners).
The Racha Islands sit about 45 minutes south of Chalong. Koh Racha Yai has five or six distinct beaches and some of the clearest water near Phuket — popular with divers for the visibility. Koh Racha Noi, further south, is significantly wilder with no permanent settlement and good pelagic marine life. This is a better route for snorkelling and diving enthusiasts than pure beach tourism. Combine both islands in a full-day private speedboat charter.
An ambitious full-day itinerary covering two very different destinations. Depart Chalong at 7:30am, reach Racha Yai by 8:15am for morning snorkelling (before the dive boats arrive), then transit to Phi Phi for the afternoon. Return by late afternoon. This route requires a speedboat — a catamaran cannot cover the distance comfortably in a single day.
Phang Nga Bay to the northeast of Phuket contains dozens of limestone karst islands accessible by longtail or speedboat. The route typically includes James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan), the sea caves at Koh Panyee (the floating Muslim fishing village), and the mangrove channels. This is more scenery and culture than beach and snorkelling — a different kind of island hopping that rewards anyone with an eye for dramatic landscapes.
The Similan Islands are about 80km northwest of Phuket — achievable by speedboat in roughly 2 hours from Thap Lamu Pier (near Khao Lak). The Similans are among the best dive and snorkel sites in the region, with visibility often exceeding 20 metres and significant marine life including manta rays and whale sharks in season. The national park is only open November to May. This route is best done as an overnight liveaboard trip or a very early-morning speedboat run from Khao Lak.
If covering multiple islands in a day is the goal, a speedboat is the right choice. It can reach Phi Phi from Chalong in 45 minutes versus a catamaran's 2.5 hours — that time difference determines whether you can visit one island or three. A catamaran works well for a relaxed 2-island day where travel comfort matters as much as the destinations. See our full catamaran vs speedboat comparison guide for a detailed breakdown.
By private speedboat, 3–4 islands is achievable in a full day if they are relatively close together. The Phi Phi group (Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Leh, Bamboo Island, Mosquito Island) works well as a cluster — 4 stops in a full day is comfortable. Mixing geographically distant destinations like Phi Phi and Phang Nga in one day is very rushed and not recommended. A half day is better suited to 2 islands. Quality of time at each location matters more than the number of stamps on an itinerary.
Yes. National park entry fees are charged per person at collection points managed by the Department of National Parks. As of 2024, the standard rate is 400–700 THB for foreign adults and 200 THB for children at most Andaman parks (Phi Phi Marine National Park, Phang Nga Bay, Mu Ko Similan). These fees are not included in the boat charter price and are paid on arrival at the park. Your captain will advise when and where these are collected.
November to April is peak season — settled weather, calm seas, excellent visibility underwater. December to March is consistently the best. May to October is monsoon season on the Andaman coast. Conditions are more variable but not impossible; many days are fine, particularly early in the season (May–June). Operators monitor forecasts daily and will not depart if conditions are unsafe. Similan Islands National Park closes from May to October.
Yes, with the right route and boat. For families with children under 8, stick to calmer routes (Coral Island, Khai Islands, Racha Yai) in a catamaran rather than a speedboat. The Khai Islands particularly are ideal — very shallow, clear water and calm conditions make them perfect for children. Avoid ambitious long-distance routes or rough-season days. Child-size life jackets are provided on all licensed boats. Brief your captain on the children's ages so they can adjust speed and routing accordingly.
Most of the popular islands near Phuket have snorkelling available, but quality varies. The best snorkelling is at Racha Yai and Racha Noi (visibility 10–20m, good coral), the outer reefs at Phi Phi, and Bamboo Island. Coral Island (Koh Hey) has a reef on the southern end that is decent but has suffered some bleaching. Khai Nai has shallow sandy patches good for beginner snorkellers. Snorkelling equipment (mask, fins, snorkel) is provided on all private charters — confirm when booking.
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