Ko Racha Yai and Ko Racha Noi Islands

Day Trips to the Racha Islands and Where to Stay

Ko Racha Yai is known for its crystal clear waters and some of the best dive sites and snorkeling areas close to Phuket.

Ko Racha Noi is located to the south of its sister island and is one of the best locations in the area for game fishing and experienced scuba divers.

These picturesque islands have been somewhat of a private paradise for scuba divers for years.

Just to confuse you, these Islands are also known as the Racha Islands, Raya Yai and Raya Noi and the Raja Islands.

However you choose to spell them, they are definitely worth a visit.

Stay a couple of nights and enjoy the tranquility the island has to offer, or go for a day trip from Phuket for a fun day of snorkeling or scuba diving.

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Ko Racha Yai

Ko Racha Yai is a relatively small island that lies around 20 kilometres south of Phuket. The island boasts two of the most stunning beaches and a small number of other secluded bays.

A hilltop viewpoint on the bay’s south offers a magnificent view of the whole Island.

Take a walk around some of the island's pathways, and you will be treated to views of wonderful coconut groves and the occasional water buffalo grazing nearby.

With the white sandy beaches on Racha Yai and luxury accommodation, the island has grown in popularity.

Day trips boats arrive daily from Phuket, bringing with them plenty of day trippers that spend the day swimming, snorkeling, diving or just relaxing on the beautiful beaches.

The main beach is called Ao Tawan Tok, which is also known as Batock beach, a stunning horse shoe shaped bay with powdery white sand that has a floating pontoon in the middle.

This spectacular beach is perfect for snorkeling; a large portion of this beach belongs to the luxury Racha Resort.

The only downside is that the bay gets quite busy with speed boats, dive boats and fishing boats that come and go throughout the day.

If you are looking for a beach that is not so busy with boats, take a short walk to Siam Bay.

This stunning beach is about a 10 minute walk from Batok Bay, here you will find the longest stretch of beach on the island.

The shallow clear waters of Siam Bay is a great place for swimming, beginner divers and snorkelers.

On the northern edge of Siam Bay is an artificial reef that the Thai government created in 2006, this underwater park consists of giant elephant statues, a Thai temple that is guarded by a yak and other attractions.

The best diving at Ko Racha Yai is off its east coast which makes it especially attractive during Phuket's southwest monsoon season.

On this protected side of the island there are some small bays, they are not great for swimming, however they offer some of the best spots for snorkeling and scuba diving.

Lha Bay and Ter Bay, are both rocky little coves.

Kon Kare Bay is located south of Ter Bay and is one of the best spots for diving on the island, it is also the location of the Ban Raya Resort and Spa.

The main activities at Racha Yai are swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling and game fishing at Ko Racha Noi.

Day Trips to Ko Racha Yai & Ko Racha Noi from Phuket

There are loads of different types of day trips to Racha Island, from snorkeling, scuba diving, catamaran tours, fishing tours, and much more.

Racha Yai Island Hotels

If you are planning to spend a few nights at Ko Racha Yai, there is a good selection of accommodation to suit all budgets.

The Racha is a luxurious 5-star boutique resort featuring elegantly designed villas.

The villas are spacious with views overlooking one of the island's most spectacular bays, an ideal destination for honeymooners or a relaxing, romantic island getaway.

Activities include a gym, tennis courts and non-motorised water sports.
Check Rates & Availability at the Racha Resort

Ban Raya Resort and Spa is set amongst coconut palms and tropical gardens, conveniently located beside Kon Kare Bay, one of the best spots around Racha Yai for diving and snorkeling.

Ban Raya Resort is a wonderful place to unwind and relax in a warm, friendly and tranquil atmosphere.

Activities at the Ban Raya Resort also include horse riding, mountain bike riding, nature walks and non-motorised water sports.
Check Rates & Availability at the Bay Raya.

The Racha Island Resort overlooks the picturesque Siam Bay, one of the longest and widest beaches on Raya Yai Island.

The resort features 28 spacious en-suite rooms with a unique mixture of authentic Thai-style beach resort facilities.

Activities include non-motorised water sports.
Check Rates & Availability at the Racha Island Resort.

There are also some basic bungalows on the hill between Batok Bay and Siam Bay for around 1000 Baht per night.

Ko Racha Noi

Racha Noi is located about 10 kilometres south of Racha Yai and is a very popular dive site for experienced divers.

This island is uninhabited, and there is no accommodation on Racha Noi.

The waters around Raya Noi are best for scuba diving and are a favourite spot for game fishing.

If you are looking to take a day trip to the Racha Islands from Phuket for scuba diving, we recommend going with a reputable diving company.

Seafarer Divers have been operating in Phuket since 1980. They offer a wonderful scuba diving and snorkeling tour to Ko Racha.

They have a choice of programs to choose from, including Discover Scuba diving for first-time divers, fun dives for certified divers, and a scuba refresher course. For non-divers, they offer snorkeling tours to Ko Racha.

Scuba Diving day trip tours with Seafarer Divers include:

Hotel transfers
Dive Boat to Racha Island
PADI certified instructors
Buffet Lunch and refreshments
All diving equipment, including cylinders, weights and belts
Snorkeling equipment and life jackets for non-divers
Small group tour limited to 10 people

How to get to Racha Island

Day trips to Koh Racha can be organised by tour operators and travel agents in Phuket, or you can book your tours online to save you searching for the best deals and wasting precious holiday time.

If you're looking for something special, you might prefer to hire your very own privately chartered speedboat and driver for the day.

If you plan to stay overnight, speedboat transfers can be organised from Rawai or Chalong Pier; the trip will take around 45 minutes, depending on the conditions.

It is advisable to check to see if the hotel you choose to stay at provides boat transfers to and from Ko Racha Yai.

If you are planning to stay at the Racha, they do provide guests with speedboat transfers departing from Chalong Pier. You will need to book your boat transfer 24 hours before arrival or when you book your stay.