Island Paradise: 7 Best Phuket Islands to Hop Around

The Phuket islands are full of wonders, and one of the best things to do there is to see its magnificent beaches! However, planning an itinerary can be overwhelming to travellers who need help with where to start. Naturally, you can start by looking for the best Phuket island-hopping tours to experience the best beaches and islands in Phuket. Where to begin?

Lucky for you, Klook has got you covered!

Here's a list of 7 of Phuket's most famous islands and tours that help you experience Phuket island hopping in the best way possible:

This island consistently stays in the top spots of Phuket island hopping favourites because of its name.

The island became famous after the 1974 James Bond movie "The Man With the Golden Gun" was filmed there. Since then, tourists have visited the island to witness the movie scene locations in person and enjoy the breathtaking beach and views! Locals warn tourists that it gets especially packed during the high season.

The islands have two main segments: Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lee. Vibrant and filled with energy, Koh Phi Phi is known as some of the most popular islands in Phuket, with shores known to welcome many partygoer tourists looking for a good time. 

At Phi Phi Don, tourists flock to taste Phuket's spirited nightlife paired with pristine waters that could cure any hangover. Popular tourist destinations in Phi Phi Don include Phi Phi Viewpoint, Monkey Beach, nearby Bamboo Island, and Pum's Thai Cooking School!

Phi Phi Lee, on the other hand, is known for Maya Bay, a setting for "The Beach," a movie that starred Leonardo Dicaprio. Phi Phi Lee is also known for other spots: Viking Cave, Hat Nopharat Thara-Mu Koh Phi Phi National Park, and its sole white sand beach in Maya Bay!

Just a couple dozen kilometres south of Phuket are the Racha Islands named "Racha Yai" and "Racha Noi." The islands' proximity to Phuket makes the way to the islands easy.

Racha Noi, the smaller and more rocky island of the two, has fishing and diving as the main attractions. On the other hand, Racha Yai features stunning beaches, calm and secluded bays, and a few bars and accommodations.

A serene paradise with calm waters near Phuket, Racha Noi and Racha Yai are an all-around family-friendly destination.

On top of a cluster of enormous vertical limestone cliffs, Panyee Island is a fantastic feat of centuries of informal engineering. Thai longtail boats surround the village, with fisherfolk greeting you with their warmest smiles. The strongest tourist attractions here are its restaurants, souvenir shops, and shacks, where you can purchase pieces and foods of Koh Panyi's culture while enjoying views of the Andaman Sea.

The James Bond Island Tour features a stop at this amazing island, allowing guests to feast on local Panyee Village food right after seeing Ko Pa Nak Island and James Bond Island.

Klook Tip: The village is a Muslim community. Therefore, tourists are asked to dress appropriately, so be sure to pack some shirts with sleeves and long jeans in your luggage.

The Koh Yao Islands are two islands named Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, found right below Pha Nga Bay on Thailand's east coast.

Among the islands on this list, Koh Yao Yai is known to be the largest island, spanning an area of 92 square kilometres. Koh Yao Nai is the second largest island, having an area of 42 square kilometres.

Koh Yao Noi is one of the only tropical islands in this list blessed with few tourists, therefore being perfect for a peaceful island getaway. On the northern part of Koh Yao Noi is Long Beach, a breathtaking beach with a small restaurant surrounded by mangrove forests. The seclusion given by the mangrove trees will make you feel like you have the whole place to yourself, a real gem when you're island hopping in Phuket!

The larger island offers incredible peaches donned with tall palm trees, secluded bays, bars, and high-quality accommodations.

Known for being a safe place and disconnected from tourist crowds, the Koh Yao islands sound like an exciting place, especially for tourists who want a peaceful vacation.

Only a few islands worldwide can boast that they're known for their coral reef, and Coral Island is one of them. Coral Island is locally referred to as Koh Hae, which is located in Southern Thailand. The island is 3 kilometres southeast of Phuket, another testament to how beautiful Phuket's east coast is.

Long Beach, Banana Beach, and Coral Island Resort are some of the island's best beaches. With its stunning beauty, Long Beach sees the most day trip visitors. However, if you want a more secluded beach, you can opt for Banana Beach.

To fully experience Koh Hae and everything such a big island has to offer, tag along and book a day trip to ensure you make the most of your experience!

Off the coast of Southern Thailand is an island archipelago of eleven islands, collectively referred to as the Similan Islands. The archipelago's marine life is thriving, dubbing the islands as some of Thailand's best places to snorkel and dive.

Divers and snorkellers travel to swim with the archipelago's manta rays and sea turtles. And when you plan everything right, there's even a chance that you might meet some whale sharks!

Couldn't get enough of Phuket island hopping and want to see Thailand's other wondrous islands? Itching to venture to a national park? Maybe an escape to Phuket Town? Check out this guide of 12 Island Hopping Adventures to Explore when in Thailand or 18 Best Things to Do in Phuket for the Ultimate Island Escape in Thailand!