Khai Islands – also known as Khai Nai, Khai Nui and Khai Nok – are three small, pristine islands in the Andaman Sea, just a 15–20 minute speedboat ride from Phuket’s west coast. What makes this tour special is the perfect balance: excellent snorkeling at Khai Nok, a stunning white sand beach at Khai Nui, and calm swimming waters at Khai Nai – all in one half-day trip. Far fewer crowds than Coral Island or Phi Phi, the Khai Islands offer a quieter, more intimate Andaman Sea experience that families, couples and solo travellers love.
The Khai Islands Tour from Phuket departs daily with free hotel pickup from Patong, Kata, Karon and Phuket Town. A licensed English-speaking guide accompanies every group, snorkeling equipment is included, and you’re back at your hotel by mid-afternoon – leaving the rest of the day free for sightseeing, dinner or a massage. If you want the beauty of a Phuket island trip without the crowds and long boat rides, Khai Islands is the answer.
The Khai Islands (Thai: หมู่เกาะไข่) are a group of three small, uninhabited islands located in the Andaman Sea off the west coast of Phuket, between Chalong Bay and Cape Panwa. They are sometimes called the “Egg Islands” due to their oval shape when viewed from above. Despite being close to Phuket – only 10–15 minutes by speedboat – they remain remarkably undeveloped, with no resorts, no vendors, and very few day-trippers compared to Coral Island or Racha Island.
All three islands are connected by a short boat ride of 5–10 minutes between stops, making the full island experience efficient and relaxed. The total time spent on the islands is approximately 4–5 hours – plenty for swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and lunch without feeling rushed.
All Khai Islands tours from Phuket depart from Chalong Pier on the southern tip of Phuket. Free hotel pickup is included from Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao and Phuket Town – the minibus collects you from your hotel between 08:00 and 08:30 and reaches the pier in 15–40 minutes depending on location. At the pier: check-in, safety briefing, snorkeling gear distribution, and board the speedboat. The crossing to the first island (Khai Nai) takes just 15–20 minutes.
Khai Nai (also written Khai Nay) is the largest of the three islands and the first stop on every tour. It’s the perfect warm-up: the water here is shallow, calm and crystal clear – waist-deep for most of the shoreline – making it ideal for swimming, wading, and your first snorkeling experience of the day. The sandy bottom means you can walk comfortably even without fins, and the reef starts just a few metres from the beach.
Colorful reef fish – parrotfish, clownfish, angelfish, and occasionally small reef sharks – are abundant here. On lucky days, sea turtles glide past just offshore. The island itself is small and tree-covered, with a short trail to a viewpoint overlooking both Khai Nui and Khai Nok. Most tour groups spend 45–60 minutes here before moving on.
Best for: Families with young children, first-time snorkelers, non-swimmers who want to try the water safely.
Khai Nui is the smallest of the three islands – and arguably the most beautiful. A narrow strip of powdery white sand curves along the eastern shore, framed by tropical vegetation and turquoise water so clear you can see the sandy bottom 15 metres out. There are no sun loungers for hire, no vendors, no music – just nature, the sound of waves, and maybe a few other tour groups.
This is the island most visitors remember. Many people simply sit on the sand, swim a little, take photos, and enjoy the peace. The water is shallow and calm – perfect for floating. If you want to do nothing at all on your Phuket island trip, Khai Nui is the place. Kayaks and stand-up paddleboards are sometimes available for a small fee directly on the beach.
Best for: Couples, photographers, anyone who wants to escape the crowds and just relax on a beautiful beach.
Khai Nok is the final and most popular stop – and the reason many people book the Khai Islands Tour in the first place. The reef here is vibrant, healthy, and teeming with marine life. Coral formations start just 2–3 metres from the shore and extend out to 8–10 metres depth, creating a natural underwater garden of brain coral, staghorn coral, soft corals, and anemones.
The fish life is exceptional: schools of yellowtail snapper, barracuda, parrotfish, butterflyfish, lionfish, and if you’re lucky, a bamboo shark or sea turtle resting on the sand. The snorkeling at Khai Nok is consistently rated as good to excellent – comparable to Racha Island’s secondary bays but with far fewer people. After snorkeling, you can relax on the beach, grab a drink from the boat, or enjoy the Thai set lunch (available for ~200 THB extra).
Best for: Snorkelers, underwater photographers, families with older kids, anyone who wants the best marine experience of the three islands.
The Khai Islands Tour focuses on snorkeling and beach relaxation – but there are additional activities available for a fee, usually payable directly on the island or through the boat crew:
Note: The Khai Islands do not offer parasailing, jet skiing or sea walking – those are available on the Coral Island tour instead. The Khai Islands experience is intentionally low-key and nature-focused.
Prices are approximate and may vary by season. Confirm with your guide before booking any activity on the day.
Your guide picks you up from your hotel in an air-conditioned minibus. Pickup times vary by location – typically between 08:00 and 08:30. Patong and Kata are picked up first (08:00), Karon and Kamala around 08:10, Phuket Town around 08:20. The drive to Chalong Pier takes 15–40 minutes. At the pier: check-in, life jacket fitting, snorkeling gear distribution, and a short safety briefing from your licensed English-speaking guide.
Board the speedboat and depart Chalong Pier. The ride to the first island (Khai Nai) takes 15–20 minutes through the turquoise Andaman Sea. The boat is fast, stable, and shaded – most guests enjoy the crossing as much as the islands themselves. You’ll see the silhouette of Khai Nai growing larger on the horizon, and on clear days, the underwater reef is visible even from the boat.
First stop: Khai Nai. The guide briefs you on snorkeling technique, fits your mask and fins, and leads you into the water. The reef starts just metres from shore – you don’t even need to swim far to see colorful fish, sea urchins, and coral. Non-swimmers can wade in the shallow water and still see plenty. Children love the calm, waist-deep conditions here. Approximately 45–60 minutes on the island.
Short boat ride (5 min) to Khai Nui. This is your free time: swim, sunbathe on the white sand, take photos, walk the short island trail, or just sit and do nothing. The guide will point out the best snorkeling spots if you want to try, but most people just relax here. Kayaks and SUP boards may be available. Approximately 45–60 minutes.
Final island: Khai Nok – the highlight. The guide takes you to the best snorkeling spots along the reef. The coral here is denser and more colorful than at Khai Nai – expect parrotfish, angelfish, clownfish, and possibly a turtle. After snorkeling, enjoy a Thai set lunch (rice, curry, grilled chicken or fish, salad, fruit, water) served on the beach for an additional ~200 THB per person. Soft drinks and water are included free. Approximately 60–75 minutes.
Board the speedboat for the return crossing (15–20 minutes). Back at Chalong Pier, the minibus is waiting. Hotel drop-off begins immediately – Patong and Kata guests are back by approximately 15:00–15:30, Phuket Town by 16:00. You’ll have the rest of the afternoon and evening free.
Three islands, three very different experiences. Here’s an honest comparison to help you choose:
Our honest take: If you want peace and a stunning beach, book Khai Islands. If you want action and water sports, book Coral Island. If snorkeling quality is your #1 priority, book Racha Island. Many of our guests do two tours – Khai Islands for the beach day, Racha for the snorkeling day. They complement each other perfectly.
This is when the Andaman Sea is at its best: calm waves, crystal-clear water (10–15m visibility), warm sun (28–33°C), and almost no rain. The coral is most colorful, the fish most active, and the beaches at their most photogenic. January to March is peak season – book early, especially around Christmas and Chinese New Year. April is still excellent but slightly quieter.
Because the Khai Islands are only 15 minutes from Phuket, tours operate year-round – even when Racha Island and Similan trips are cancelled due to rough seas. Water visibility drops to 5–8 metres, and there may be short rain showers (usually 30 min, then sunshine again). The islands themselves are sheltered enough that the experience is still enjoyable – just don’t expect Racha-level clarity. We recommend the dry season for the best experience, but if you’re visiting in monsoon season, Khai Islands is one of the few tours that will still run.
The tour visits three islands in the Andaman Sea: Khai Nai (swimming & first snorkeling), Khai Nui</strong (white sand beach & relaxation), and Khai Nok</strong (best snorkeling with coral gardens). All three are small, uninhabited islands about 10–15 minutes by speedboat from Chalong Pier, Phuket.
The full tour takes approximately 6–7 hours including hotel pickup and drop-off. The speedboat ride to the islands is 15–20 minutes. You spend roughly 4–5 hours across the three islands – swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and lunch. Back at your hotel by 15:00–15:30 (Patong/Kata) or 16:00 (Phuket Town).
Yes – one of the best family-friendly island tours from Phuket. Khai Nai has calm, shallow water safe for kids aged 4+. All snorkeling equipment is provided, no experience needed. Guides give a full safety briefing and stay with beginners in the water. Children under 3 typically travel free. Life jackets provided for all guests.
Included: hotel transfer (Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Surin, Bang Tao, Phuket Town), round-trip speedboat, licensed English-speaking guide, snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins), life jackets, soft drinks, water, snacks, and national park fees (200 THB value). Not included: lunch (~200 THB extra), water sports (kayak 300 THB, banana boat 450 THB), tips, personal expenses.
November to April (dry season): calm sea, best visibility (10–15m), warm weather, ideal snorkeling. January to March offers the clearest water. May to October (monsoon): tours still run thanks to the short 15-min crossing, but visibility drops and there may be rain. Khai Islands is one of the few tours that operates year-round.
Khai Islands = quiet, beautiful beach, short trip, good snorkeling, budget-friendly. Coral Island = lively, many water sports (parasailing, sea walking), full-day tour. Racha Island = best snorkeling clarity, manta rays, multiple bays. Choose Khai for peace and beaches, Coral for action, Racha for underwater quality. All three complement each other well.
Parasailing, sea walking, banana boat, jet ski – the most action-packed island tour from Phuket. Full-day trip from 1,500 THB. Best for groups and adventure seekers.
Crystal-clear water, manta ray sightings (Jan–Mar), multiple beaches. Full-day trip from 1,800 THB. Best for snorkelers and divers.
Both Coral Island and Racha Island in one day on a luxury sailing catamaran. More comfort, more stability, sunset views. From 2,500 THB.
Koh Rok’s world-class reefs and Koh Haa’s famous underwater cathedral cave. Seasonal (Nov–Apr only). From 3,500 THB.
The most famous island trip in Thailand: Maya Bay, Monkey Beach, Pileh Lagoon. More dramatic scenery, longer crossing. From 1,600 THB.
Three islands. Crystal-clear water. A white sand beach almost to yourself. The Khai Islands Tour is Phuket’s best-kept secret – a half-day of snorkeling, swimming, sunbathing and lunch with an ocean view, back at your hotel by mid-afternoon.
Morning slots fill up fast – especially December to March! Book now to secure your pickup time.
✅ Hotel transfer included (Patong, Kata, Karon, Kamala, Phuket Town) · ✅ Snorkeling equipment included · ✅ Soft drinks & snacks included · ✅ National park fees included · 📅 Available year-round (best Nov–Apr)