Exploring Koh Khai Nok: A gorgeous, tiny island near Phuket

Did you even come to Thailand if you didn’t visit at least one of the tiny islands of the South? Boat trips to the Thai islands are one of the best activities you’ll try during your visit and Phuket is a great starting point for some of the best. Koh Khai Nok is one of the three Khai Islands located in Phang Nga Bay and is well worth a visit for anyone wanting a quick snorkel and laze on the beach.

So here is everything you need to know about visiting the tiny island of Koh Khai Nok.

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What to do on Ko Khai Nok island

Basically, not very much! Koh Kai Nok is a tiny island with no organised activities or entertainment. But don’t let that put you of, that is entirely its charm.

Snorkelling is the main activity here and the water is calm, shallow and crystal clear. Making for near perfect conditions.

This is a popular spot for boat tours from Phuket so the island is always incredibly busy. This is not the undiscovered Thai islands of old. To reach the main spot for snorkelling you’ll pass through the main entrance to Koh Khai Nok then head to the right. Walk along until you reach the end of the sand and you’ve arrived. You won’t miss it due to the many, many other tourists splashing about looking for fish. This area tends to be really busy as soon as boat trips pull up so you could find a seat overlooking the water and just wait for it to calm down. The little fish really are very cute and worth the wait.

Remember: It is illegal to feed the fish on the Khai islands.

If you really can’t handle the crowds, you can still go in the water elsewhere but you just may not see any fish.

If you fancy being a bit more adventurous you can hire jet skis, rubber rings and kayaks, just keep an eye out for swimmers and make sure you don’t damage any of the coral.

You can also hire a sunbed for your stay. In fact you have to, if you don’t pay you’ll be shooed off pretty quickly. It’s not expensive and worth it to have somewhere to eat and dump your gear but you can always bring a towel and rest up on the powdery sand for free.

Koh Khai Nok is only open between 9am and 5pm. No one stays or lives on the island overnight and you can expect things to start winding down at around 4pm.

Is Koh Khai Nok good for kids

Our kids loved visiting Koh Nok. They’re big into snorkelling and love swimming in the sea so were easily entertained for the few hours we were on the Island.

The three islands tour is one of the most popular tours from Phuket so Koh Khai Nok is pretty much always busy. This may feel a bit exhausting for little ones and you might need a quick wander to find a quiet spot for swimming.

Popular parts of the water can feel very crowded. Everyone has their snorkelling heads down looking for fish, not where they are swimming. This means you and your kids are at risk of being kicked or swum into. I recommend waiting on the sand or loungers until the sea is a bit quieter before heading in. Mornings tend to be super busy, as does late afternoon. The island gets a lot calmer between 12pm and 2pm.

Remember rock shoes, this is not a good place for kids to get cut feet.

Boat trip safety for kids.

You’ll need to take a boat to reach Koh Khai Nok so all the usual safety measures for kids need to be followed. Make sure everyone is wearing the life jackets that are provided and sit in the main part of the boat with something to hold on to. Speedboats can get pretty noisy when they’re travelling fast so you might want to bring some ear defenders for little ones. If it’s a stormy day or the sea is incredibly choppy do not risk it and take the trip another day.

How to get to Koh Khai Nok from Phuket

Koh Khai Nok is located between Phuket and Ko Yao Yai. It’s just a 15 minute boat trip from the East Coast of Phuket. Boats leave from Laem Hin, Rasata and Ao Chalong and Bang Rong piers. I highly recommend pre-booking a tour to Koh Khai Nok which will include stops at Khai Nai and Khai Nui.

You can also visit Koh Khai Nok on the way back from the Phi Phi islands which is a lovely way to break up the longer boat ride. Book this day trip on Get Your Guide.

A private longtail boat trip to the Khai islands will cost you a bit more but it’s a great way to travel. Plus you’ll have the freedom to explore at your own pace and be able to avoid the crowds during the busier boat tour times.

Facilities on Koh Kai Nok

There’s a cute restaurant right on the beach at Ko Khai Nok. They serve a range of hot food (western and Thai) and also refreshing cold drinks. The fruit smoothies are well worth a try. This isn’t really a fancy sit down affair but it is nice to have some options if you’re hungry. Prices are pretty steep for Thailand as they have a fairly captive audience.

You’ll find toilets on the island, they’re up near the main restaurant area. These cost 20 Thai Baht to use. They’re not the nicest or cleanest but not too bad.

Where to stay near Koh Khai Nok

There are no hotels on Koh Khai Nok, or in fact any of the Khai islands. A good option on Phuket would be the Westin Siray Resort and Spa. It’s a gorgeous 5 star resort located right next to where the boats leave for the Khai islands. Or if you wanted to stay on Ko Yao Yai, the Royal Yao Yai Island Beach Resort is a lovely, peaceful 5 star resort.

The other Khai islands

Ko Khai Nok is part of the three Khai Islands. The others are Koh Khai Nui and Koh Khai Nai. It’s only around 5 minutes on a speedboat between each.

Koh Khai Nui is completely deserted and without the gorgeous sandy beaches and facilities of the other two islands is often overlooked. It is a popular place for snorkelling as it’s so much quieter than the other two Khai islands.

Koh Khai Nai is the biggest of all the Khai islands and home to the most facilities plus 80 resident cats! Here you’ll find several places to eat and drink plus all the watersports you can imagine. Also that fine white sand and crystal clear water you’ve come to expect in Southern Thailand.