Day Trips From Bang Tao: Phi Phi, Phang Nga Bay, Similan, Khao Sok and Which One Is for You

From a villa in Bang Tao you can reach every famous day trip in the Andaman in under 90 minutes, and the right choice depends on what you want from the day: Phang Nga Bay for scenery and calm water, Phi Phi for the postcard beaches, the Similan Islands for the clearest snorkelling in Thailand (mid-October to mid-May only), Khao Sok for rainforest and a lake, and Coral or Racha for an easy half-day in the water. Here is how they compare, with the prices you will be quoted in 2026 and the honest word on each.

The six trips at a glance

Trip	Best for	Season	Pier and drive from Bang Tao	Typical price per adult
Phang Nga Bay	Scenery, sea caves, families, rough-sea days	All year	Ao Po Grand Marina, 30–40 min	2,000–3,500 THB
Phi Phi and Maya Bay	The beaches, first-timers	All year; Maya Bay closed Aug–Sep	Royal Phuket Marina or Rassada, 50–60 min	1,700–3,500 THB speedboat
Similan Islands	Snorkelling, clear water	15 Oct – 15 May only	Tap Lamu pier, Khao Lak, 75–90 min	3,000–4,500 THB
Khao Sok	Rainforest, the lake, one night away	All year	Road, 2.5–3 h	2,500–4,000 THB day tour; more overnight
Coral Island (Koh Hae)	Half-day, small children, water sports	All year	Chalong pier, 60 min	1,200–2,000 THB
Racha Yai	Snorkelling close to Phuket, diving	Best Nov–Apr	Chalong pier, 60 min	1,800–3,000 THB

Prices are for shared speedboat tours including lunch, snorkel gear and national-park fees, from the operators our guests use; private boats cost several times more and are worth it for groups of six or more. Most tours include a pickup from the villa at 6:30 to 7:30 a.m.

Phang Nga Bay

The limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay rise straight out of green, sheltered water: James Bond Island, the sea caves at Hong and Panak that you paddle into by canoe at low tide, and Koh Panyee, the Muslim village built on stilts, where the tour lunches happen. Because the bay is protected, it is the trip that still runs when the west coast is rough, and the one we recommend for families with young children and for anyone prone to seasickness. The early-bird tours leaving Ao Po at 6:30 a.m. reach James Bond Island before the crowds, and the marina is only half an hour from Bang Tao, so it is also the shortest day.

Phi Phi and Maya Bay

The beaches everyone has seen: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon, Bamboo Island, the Viking Cave, monkeys on Monkey Beach. It is a long day, eight to twelve hours with a 45-minute speedboat crossing each way that can be bumpy in the green season, and it is busy year-round. Maya Bay closes every year from August to September to let the reef recover, and swimming inside the bay is no longer allowed; you land, walk and photograph. Choose a small-group or premium boat over the cheapest ticket, both for comfort and because the cheap boats run late and skip stops. For a quieter Phi Phi, stay a night on the island instead of day-tripping; see how many days in Phuket.

The Similan Islands

Nine granite islands 70 kilometres offshore with the clearest water in Thailand, open only from mid-October to mid-May and reached by speedboat from Tap Lamu pier near Khao Lak, an hour and a half north of Bang Tao by road. It is an early start, a 5 a.m. pickup, and a full day, but the snorkelling at Koh Bon and Donald Duck Bay is in a different class from anywhere off Phuket. Numbers are capped by the national park, so book a week ahead in high season. Not for small children or anyone who does not like boats.

Khao Sok

Two and a half to three hours north on the mainland: a rainforest older than the Amazon and Cheow Lan Lake, an emerald reservoir with limestone towers and floating raft houses. A day tour gets you a longtail across the lake, a jungle walk and a swim; the version we recommend is one night in a raft house, leaving Bang Tao in the morning and returning the next afternoon. Runs all year and is at its greenest in the wet months.

Coral Island and Racha

For a short day in the water without the long crossings, the islands south of Phuket: Coral Island (Koh Hae) is 15 minutes from Chalong pier, with a beach, banana boats and shallow snorkelling that suits children; Racha Yai, 40 minutes out, has clearer water, better snorkelling and diving, and a quieter beach. Both are half-day options from the villa, with the hour's drive to Chalong the main cost.

Choosing

• First visit, one boat day: Phang Nga Bay if scenery and calm water matter, Phi Phi if the beaches do.
• Snorkelling is the point, and you are here between October and May: the Similans, no contest.
• Small children: Phang Nga Bay or Coral Island.
• Green season, rough seas: Phang Nga Bay or Khao Sok.
• Two boat days in one week: Phang Nga Bay and the Similans, not Phi Phi and Phang Nga, which overlap in feel.

The concierge books these with operators we use ourselves and confirms pickup times to the villa gate. The markets and activities guide covers the rest of the island's tours.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best day trip from Phuket?

Phang Nga Bay for scenery and calm water, Phi Phi for the famous beaches, and the Similan Islands for snorkelling between mid-October and mid-May. From Bang Tao, Phang Nga Bay is also the shortest day.

When are the Similan Islands open?

From 15 October to 15 May each year. The national park closes for the monsoon from mid-May to mid-October.

Is Maya Bay open?

Yes, except during its annual closure from 1 August to 30 September. Visitors land and walk on the beach; swimming in the bay is not permitted.

How far is Phi Phi from Bang Tao?

About an hour by road to the marina, then a 45-minute speedboat crossing each way. Ferries from Rassada pier take about two hours.

Which day trip is best for children?

Phang Nga Bay, for calm water, sea canoes and a short crossing, or Coral Island for a half-day beach with shallow snorkelling.