Phuket yacht routes: Phi Phi, Phang Nga, Racha, Similans

Published: 17 September 2026Updated: 17 September 202611 min read

Phuket yacht charter routes split into two groups: short southern runs from Chalong Pier to Coral Island, Racha and Koh Maithon, and northern runs from Ao Po Grand Marina into Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao and Krabi. Phi Phi sits about 47 km east of Chalong and is a full day even by speedboat, while the Similan Islands are a separate expedition with a park season limited to mid-October to mid-May. Below: distances, times by boat type, 2026 park fees and best months.

How the numbers work

Distances are great-circle estimates between the departure pier and the main anchorage, rounded; real tracks add 5 to 15 percent. Times are one way at 25 to 30 knots for a speedboat, 15 to 18 for a power catamaran, 10 to 12 for a motor yacht and 6 to 8 for a sailing catamaran, before boarding, snorkel stops and park queues. Park fees are Department of National Parks (DNP) rates for foreign visitors; Thai citizens pay about one fifth.

Chalong or Ao Po

Chalong Pier on the south-east coast is the busiest pier on the island and the start for Coral Island, Racha, Koh Maithon and Phi Phi. Ao Po Grand Marina on the north-east coast sits at the mouth of Phang Nga Bay with 230 berths and no tidal restriction, and serves James Bond Island, Koh Hong, Koh Panyee, Koh Yao and Krabi. All piers are compared in the Phuket marinas and piers guide.

Route by route

Coral Island (Koh Hey)

About 8 km (4.5 nm) from Chalong: 9 to 11 minutes by speedboat, under half an hour by motor yacht. The shortest route and the standard half day. No park fee. Flattest from November to April.

Racha Yai and Racha Noi

Racha Yai is 24 km (13 nm) south of Chalong, about 30 minutes by speedboat and 1 h 05 to 1 h 20 by motor yacht. Racha Noi lies at 35 km (19 nm): 40 to 46 minutes by speedboat, up to two hours by motor yacht. Racha Yai alone is a half day by fast boat; both together are a full day. No park fee. Both are open to south-west swell; November to April is the reliable window.

Koh Maithon

A private island 14 km (7.5 nm) east of Chalong: 15 to 18 minutes by speedboat, about 40 minutes by motor yacht. Half day, often paired with Coral Island. No park fee; landing depends on the island’s rules.

Phi Phi: Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island

Tonsai Bay and Maya Bay are about 47 km (25.5 nm) east of Chalong, Bamboo Island 48 km (26 nm). Speedboat 50 to 60 minutes, power catamaran about 1.5 hours, motor yacht 2 h 10 to 2 h 35, sailing catamaran 3 to 4 hours: a full day for motor boats, an overnight under sail.

The Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park fee is 400 baht per foreign adult and 200 per child; the date-stamped ticket covers Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and Bamboo Island.

Maya Bay closes every year from 1 August to 30 September, together with Loh Samah Bay and Lo Kor Bay, so boats cannot use the back entrance either. In the open months boats moor at Loh Samah on the south side of Phi Phi Leh, visitors walk in by boardwalk, groups get about one hour, the beach is capped at 375 people at a time, and swimming is banned; wading is allowed to knee depth. Best months: November to April; the crossing is open sea.

Phang Nga Bay: James Bond Island, Koh Hong, Panak and Panyee

From Ao Po Grand Marina: Koh Panak 14 km (7.6 nm), Koh Hong 17 km (9 nm), James Bond Island (Khao Phing Kan) 24 km (13 nm), Koh Panyee 30 km (16.5 nm). James Bond Island is about 30 minutes by speedboat and 1 h 05 to 1 h 20 by motor yacht.

The Ao Phang Nga National Park fee is 300 baht per foreign adult and 150 per child; rangers ask visitors to keep the receipt. The full loop with lunch at Panyee is a full day; Panak plus Hong by speedboat is a half day.

Sheltered by the mainland and the Koh Yao islands, it runs every month; the park itself reports the calmest water and best visibility under the north-east monsoon, so November to April is still best for photographs and kayaks.

Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai

Koh Yao Noi is about 17 km (9 nm) from Ao Po and Koh Yao Yai’s west coast about 15 km (8 nm): roughly 20 minutes by speedboat, 45 to 55 minutes by motor yacht. No park fee at the beaches; islets inside Ao Phang Nga National Park trigger the 300-baht fee. Half day from Ao Po.

The Khai islands

Khai Nok, Khai Nai and Khai Nui are 16 km (8.7 nm) from Ao Po and 24 km (13 nm) from Chalong: 17 to 21 minutes by speedboat from Ao Po, 44 to 52 minutes by motor yacht. Half day or a snorkel stop en route to Phi Phi. No park fee.

Similan Islands

The usual departure point is Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak. Koh Miang, the headquarters island, is 65 km (35 nm) away. Speedboat 1 h 10 to 1 h 25, motor yacht 3 to 3.5 hours. From Chalong the sea route around Phuket’s south tip is roughly 125 km (67 nm), so Phuket-based yachts go overnight, and Phuket speedboat day trips start with a road transfer to Thap Lamu.

Mu Ko Similan National Park opens only from 15 October to 15 May. The 2026 DNP order closed Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Surin from 15 May to 15 October; the previous season opened on 15 October 2025. The fee is 500 baht per foreign adult and 250 per child, entries are capped at 3,325 a day, landing hours 08:00 to 16:00.

Krabi: Hong Island and Railay

Hong Island Krabi, inside Than Bok Khorani National Park, is 31 km (16.6 nm) from Ao Po: 33 to 40 minutes by speedboat, 1 h 25 to 1 h 40 by motor yacht. Railay and Ao Nang are 44 km (23.5 nm) from Ao Po. The fee is 300 baht per foreign adult and 150 per child, cash on the beach, valid for Hong, Lading and Pakbia the same day. Full day, best November to April.

Route comparison table

Route	From	Distance	Speedboat 25–30 kn	Power cat 15–18 kn	Motor yacht 10–12 kn	Sailing cat 6–8 kn	Fee, baht (adult/child)	Day	Best months
Coral Island	Chalong	8 km/4.5 nm	9–11 min	15–18 min	23–27 min	35–45 min	none	half	Nov–Apr (all year)
Koh Maithon	Chalong	14 km/7.5 nm	15–18 min	25–30 min	38–45 min	55–75 min	none	half	Nov–Apr
Racha Yai	Chalong	24 km/13 nm	26–31 min	43–52 min	1h05–1h20	1h40–2h10	none	half/full	Nov–Apr
Racha Noi	Chalong	35 km/19 nm	38–46 min	1h05–1h15	1h35–1h55	2h25–3h10	none	full	Nov–Apr
Phi Phi	Chalong	47 km/25.5 nm	50–60 min	1h25–1h40	2h10–2h35	3h10–4h15	400/200	full	Nov–Apr
Khai islands	Ao Po	16 km/8.7 nm	17–21 min	29–35 min	44–52 min	1h05–1h27	none	half	Nov–Apr
Koh Yao Noi/Yai	Ao Po	15–17 km/8–9 nm	18–22 min	30–36 min	45–54 min	1h10–1h30	none	half	all year
James Bond Island	Ao Po	24 km/13 nm	26–31 min	43–52 min	1h05–1h20	1h40–2h10	300/150	full	all year
Koh Panyee	Ao Po	30 km/16.5 nm	33–40 min	55–66 min	1h25–1h40	2h05–2h45	300/150	full	all year
Hong Island Krabi	Ao Po	31 km/16.6 nm	33–40 min	55–66 min	1h25–1h40	2h05–2h45	300/150	full	Nov–Apr
Similan Islands	Thap Lamu	65 km/35 nm	1h10–1h25	2h00–2h20	2h55–3h30	4h20–5h50	500/250	full	15 Oct–15 May

Figure 1. Straight-line distance from the usual departure point, km (chart coordinates). Times by boat type are in the table above.

Season

Thailand’s south-west monsoon runs from mid-May to mid-October and the north-east monsoon from mid-October to mid-February; the far south often keeps heavy showers into December. For yachts that means a prime window from November to April and a green season from May to October when Phang Nga Bay, Koh Yao and Phuket’s east side still work while Racha, Phi Phi and the west coast depend on the forecast. Month-by-month detail: Phuket yacht season by month.

What a park ticket buys

One park, one date, one person: a Phi Phi day and a Phang Nga day mean two fees. Charter quotes normally exclude park fees and collect them in cash on board or at the ranger pier; children aged 3 to 14 pay half, under-threes go free. See what is included in a yacht charter.

Frequently asked questions

How far is Phi Phi from Phuket by yacht?

About 47 km (25.5 nautical miles) from Chalong Pier: 50 to 60 minutes by speedboat, about 1.5 hours by power catamaran, 2 to 2.5 hours by motor yacht, 3 to 4 hours by sailing catamaran.

Is Maya Bay open in 2026?

It closes every year from 1 August to 30 September and reopens on 1 October. In the open months boats moor at Loh Samah Bay, visitors walk in by boardwalk, stay about one hour and may only wade knee-deep.

When are the Similan Islands open?

From 15 October to 15 May. For 2026 the DNP closed Mu Ko Similan and Mu Ko Surin from 15 May to 15 October. Fee 500 baht per foreign adult, daily cap 3,325 visitors, landing hours 08:00 to 16:00.

How much are national park fees on Phuket yacht routes?

Per person, per park, per day, in cash: Ao Phang Nga 300 baht (child 150), Phi Phi 400 (child 200), Similan 500 (child 250), Hong Island Krabi 300 (child 150). Coral Island, Racha, Koh Maithon, the Khai islands and the Koh Yao beaches have no park fee.

Which Phuket yacht route works as a half day?

From Chalong: Coral Island, Koh Maithon and Racha Yai by fast boat. From Ao Po: Koh Yao Noi, Koh Yao Yai, Koh Panak and Koh Hong.