Khai Islands tour, a fabulous day trip from Phuket

The seas around Phuket are packed with stunning tropical islands from the well known and frequently visited to the unheard of, deserted stretches of sand. We have tried many island tours during our visits and love each and everyone. If you’re staying in the South of Thailand, make sure to add at least one boat trip to your itinerary. If you like soft white sand, laid back beach bars and snorkelling, a Khai Islands tour is a good option.

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If you’re just looking to book a Khai Islands tour, these are the most popular on Get Your Guide:

1. Half Day 3 Khai Islands Tour with snorkelling
2. Khai Islands tour including Koh Phi Phi and Maya Bay
3. James Bond Island with Khai Islands Tour

What are the Khai islands?

The Khai islands are three deserted islands located in Phang Nga to the East of Phuket. All three are tiny with no permanent residents or places to stay. They can only be reached by boat which takes around 20 minutes.

What you’ll see on your 3 Khai Island tour

Most boat trips will take you to all three islands with stops of an hour or two on each. There will be plenty of opportunities for snorkelling and swimming in the warm, clear Andaman Sea and some tours will also include scuba diving.

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Khai Nok

Koh Khai Nok is a tiny island home to a super laid back beach bar, plenty of sun loungers and a couple of lovely spots for snorkelling. The sand here is super soft and the shallow water is crystal clear. The island gets very busy when the tour boats make their stops and the best snorkelling spots can feel incredibly crowded. But it is practically deserted between landings which means it’s great on a private tour.

Khai Nai

Koh Khai Nai is the largest of the Khai islands and feels like the busiests. It’s home to several bars, restaurants and plenty of water sport opportunities such as jet skis, kayaks and snorkelling all for an additional fee.

Again the sand is super soft with loungers and parasols available to rent. Or you can just bring a towel and find a peaceful spot on the sand.

Khai Nai is also known as cat island as it’s home to almost 100 cute cats who have made the island their home. They roam freely, mainly staying close to the restaurants hoping for spare scraps of food and are very tame.

Khai Nui

Koh Khai Nui is completely deserted with only a few abandoned wooden buildings. Tours often stop here for snorkelling as the water is quieter meaning more colourful fish to spot. However if the sea is choppy, boats will not moor close to Khai Nui for safety reasons. This will mean more time spent on the other two islands. This happened on my recent 3 Khai island tour so I can’t comment on how good the snorkelling is.

Have a look at available Khai island tours on Get Your Guide.

Khai Island snorkelling

The Khai islands are completely surrounded by a coral reef making them a popular place for snorkelling in Thailand. Many tropical fish call this reef their home and you may spot Morey Eel, Angel fish, butterfly fish and lion fish.

If you are on an organised tour on the Khai island, snorkelling equipment will be provided for you.

Khai Islands tour for half day

If you’re only looking to visit the Khai islands then it is possible to take in all three in half a day. Although your time spent on the actual islands can feel fairly rushed, not leaving you much time to enjoy a meal. This one is probably best if you’re staying on the East of Phuket, reducing time spent getting to the pier.

Khai Islands full day tour

If you want to spend longer on the Khai islands then a full day trip is a good options. You’ll find it a much more relaxed pace and are likely to enjoy some quieter time on the islands when the other tour boats head off.

Khai Islands Tour Price

Group tours to the Khai islands are excellent value. It’s around £25 per person for a half day trip with includes hotel pick up and snacks on the islands and under £35 for a full day.

Private tours of the islands will cost more (around £400) but if you can get together a small group of friends or family, it’s a far more enjoyable experience, allowing you to organise you trip at your own pace.

If you want to include a trip to Phi Phi or James Bond island on your Khai islands tour you’re looking at between £45 and £65 per person.

Combine a trip to Phi Phi with the Khai Islands

Another popular island tour from Phuket is to Maya bay at Koh Phi Phi Ley. Made famous by the 2000 film, The Beach, Maya Bay has become so popular with tourists, it closes to recover for part of the year.

Whilst it is a beautiful place to visit, with islets towering out of the water and secluded fish filled bays, the main Maya Bay does feel incredibly packed. Tours will often visit for an hour but stop at other secluded coves and caves so you get that “tropical island” experience.

Tours that include both Phi Phi and the Khai Islands last for a full day so some kind of lunch will be included. Depending on how long you spend around Phi Phi, you may not get to visit all three islands. It’s a great way to tick off two amazing Phuket day trips in one go.

Try a trip to James Bond Island with your Khai Islands Tour

James Bond island is yet another well known Phuket day trip made famous by the world of movies. Whilst you wont actually land on the island, you instantly recognise the huge rock face towering out of the water.

A trip to James Bond island will usually include time to kayak around the stunning islets and explore the beach caves and rock formations. As it’s a full day tour when you include the Khai islands, most trips will also provide a buffet lunch.

Is a Khai Islands tour suitable for kids?

We took the 3 Khai islands tour with two 12 year olds and a ten year old and they loved it. Although they are all strong swimmers, they enjoyed being able to snorkel right from the beach and giggled as the colourful fish swam through their legs. The smoothies on Khai Nok and grilled corn on Khai Nai went down a treat. And of course the cats were a massive hit.

Read Next: Best family resorts in Phuket

Make sure you take plenty of water, sunscreen and hats to keep the kids protected. Water shoes are also a good idea as the sea bed and rocks can be pretty sharp. Speed boats are also very noisy, so ear defenders are a must if your kids have sensitive ears.

What is the actual boat trip like?

Speedboats are great at getting to the islands quick but they can be very bouncy and noisy. If you’re on a group tour, you’ll likely be pretty crammed in. I prefer getting a spot at the front of the boat which is uncovered as it does feel less crowded.

Long tail boats take more time and are also pretty bouncy but as they only take small groups, they feel less cramped. Slower boats and larger boats ten to be better for those who suffer from sea sickness. And it’s best to face forward if you can.

Boats will drop you of as close to the shore as they can get but there will be a little bit of wading through the water required. Water shoes will be good for this or something you can easily slip off your feet. Thailand boat trips are not the place for your expensive clothes and shoes. Although everything will dry off quickly in the sun.

Staying safe on the boat

ALWAYS wear the life vests provided and do not get on the boat if they do not have any, or enough for every passenger. It’s unlikely you will need them but it’s just not worth the risk.

Do not lean over the side of the boat or try to touch the water. You’ll be travelling fairly fast and this is how accidents happen.

During rainy season, rough seas are likely to disrupt boat tours. Listen to the tour operators, if they tell you the weather is too bad to travel, it is.

Make sure your travel insurance covers you for boat tours (most will).

In conclusion, I highly recommend adding a visit to the Khai islands to your Phuket itinerary. The soft sand and beautiful scenery makes the journey well worth it. The best way to explore these beautiful islands is on a private tour although this can be a bit pricey. If you have the time, make sure you add a trip to either Phi Phi or James Bond island to your tour to get the most out of your day.

Pin this review of Khai Island Phuket for later.

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