Excursion to the island of Racha (Paradise). Ko Racha Noi and Ko Racha Yai: two twin islands Raha Hai Island how to get from Phuket
) divers found it very close to the largest island of Thailand. In the south, just 20 km from it are the amazing islands of Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. These islands are famous for their beautiful coral reefs, unusual underwater inhabitants and excellent visibility.
Racha Yai is more popular among inexperienced divers, as it is calmer, the places are proven, there are no currents, and the sandy bays with shallow depths provide an excellent opportunity for learning the art of diving.
You will be able to see a variety of corals, underwater fish, sometimes even sharks and moray eels. Racha Yai is also suitable for snorkeling and families with children. A speedboat reaches the Racha Islands in 30 minutes, while a standard boat takes 1.5 hours. Divers will be able to spot octopuses, reef sharks, moray eels, and barracudas in the waters of the Andaman Sea, which are shy residents and not so easy to find. Water visibility is 20-30 meters - this is on the eastern side of Racha Yai island, but on the western side it is not so good.
Racha Yai means "Big King" in Thai, while the neighboring island of Racha Noi means "Little King". Racha Noi is an hour's drive from Racha Yai and about 2-3 hours from Phuket by dive boat. Racha Noi is secluded. The nature here is almost untouched, the water is crystal, but there are strong currents. Therefore, only experienced divers swim on Racha Noi. A huge number of dive sites, an amazing underwater world, again - very rare - octopuses and a variety of marine life around the coral reef.
How to get to the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi?
In Phuket, ferries regularly run from Chalong Pier to Racha Yai Island, which takes 1.5 hours. In Chalong you can also buy a speedboat ticket for 800 baht one way. But they also sell excursions to the Racha Islands. Their price varies depending on the season from 1300 to 2000 baht for the whole day with lunch, transfer and speedboat (in 30 minutes).
A trip to the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi will not leave anyone indifferent. No one will be bored here: divers will plunge into the underwater world, snorkelers will see corals and sea inhabitants, sunbathers will bask on the snow-white, delicate sand.
Features of the “paradise” island
Racha Yai Island, also called Paradise Island, is located 20 km off the southeast coast of Phuket. Travel time on board a speedboat is only 30 minutes. There is no bustle or crowds of tourists here - only turquoise-colored water, palm groves, white sand that creaks pleasantly under your feet, coral reefs and a rich underwater world. A pleasant and relaxing beach holiday awaits you!
The island boasts a fairly developed, but unobtrusive infrastructure - several cafes, shops, bungalows for rent, equipment and transport for water sports. Local attractions include monitor lizards, which periodically leave their shelters and go straight to the seashore, and buffaloes grazing peacefully among coconut palms.
Many people come to Racha not only for the solitude and opportunity to plunge into the world of wildlife, but also for snorkeling and diving. The underwater world off the coast of Phuket, not rich in marine flora and fauna, cannot be compared with Racha Yai! And, according to Thai residents, this is one of the best places for sea fishing, to which we will also be happy to invite everyone as part of an individual or group excursion program.
Excursion “Racha Island-Phuket”
A trip to Racha Yai is the perfect opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of tourist-infested Phuket. The sea here is almost always calm, making an excursion to the paradise island relevant in any month of the year. We strongly recommend visiting it to all fans of snorkeling, beach holidays, and simply the exotic nature of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The price of the excursion includes transfer from the hotel and back, snorkeling equipment, lunch at a small Thai restaurant serving delicious national cuisine.
What awaits you is not just a pleasant, but an informative and exciting journey that will appeal to both families with small children and adult groups!
Racha Island, quite famous among snorkeling and diving enthusiasts, is located 18 km south of Phuket. To get to this island, you can rent a long-tail boat from Rawai or purchase a tour. There are inexpensive excursions for around 1,000 baht per person that include a visit to Racha Island.
The trip to Racha Island by longtail boat will take about two hours, but by speedboat you can reach the island in just 30 minutes.
Where is Racha Island
Racha Island is the main of two islands: Racha Yai and Racha Noi. It is also called Ko Raya Yai. This island is located 18 km from Phuket, while Koh Racha Noi is 28 km from Phuket. Unlike the main island, Koh Racha Noi is uninhabited and has only a small white sand beach. Its shape is very elongated, it is 7 kilometers long and only 500 meters wide. In fact, it consists of 2 separate islands, only 200 meters apart.
Racha Island on the map
Diving and snorkeling on Racha Island
Conditions for diving and snorkeling around the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi are generally very good. Racha Yai Island (which is 3.5 km long and 1.5 km wide) has two beach hotels, as well as bungalows and restaurants. This is the main island that is closer to Phuket. That is why it is more popular than Racha Noi. Racha Yai offers beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters, as well as several good beach restaurants.
Since the island has avoided rapid development due to its distance from Phuket, the atmosphere here is very calm, even though tourists often come here on excursions. It is famous for its two stunning white sand beaches and clear waters. But the main magnet for tourists is the coral gardens around this island, as they are home to a wide variety of colorful marine organisms.
Beaches of Racha Island
The main beach of Racha Island near Phuket is located on the northwest coast. This is Ao Tawan Tok Beach. It is located in a small U-shaped bay and is covered with white sand. The island, with green hills up to 208 meters high, also offers pleasant walking conditions. Along the paths you can reach all the beaches of the island. Almost all boats arrive at Patok Bay and stay here almost all day. This bay has a beautiful beach with turquoise water. To the right of Racha Resort you will find a path leading into the interior of the island. Walk along it and turn left and you can reach the beach at Siam Bay. This is a great sandy beach that is more secluded than Patok. Rayaburi Resort has recently opened on this beach, so you will get the opportunity to stay here for a few nights.
Siam Bay is the ideal place to enjoy the beach, sun and sea. On a clear day you can see the island of Phuket. If you follow the path inland, you can see coconut plantations and buffaloes. In the western part of the island you will find several small bays with beautiful beaches, including Lha Bay, Ter Bay and Kon Kare Bay.
Hotels on Racha Island
Personally, I think it is definitely worth visiting Racha Island during your visit to Phuket. Ideally, you can spend 1-2 nights on this island if you want to enjoy the quiet and peaceful life of this paradise island, which is somewhat reminiscent of Phi Phi Don twenty years ago. Don't worry if you see information somewhere that there is electricity on Racha Island for only a few hours a day. Such information is either outdated or simply not true, since electricity is available 24 hours a day on the island of Racha Yai. There are also no problems with Internet access here.
On Racha Island you will find several hotels, restaurants, small shops and many other amenities for a good holiday.
The best hotel on Racha island is The Racha Resort Phuket- A 5-star hotel that can easily be included among the best in the Phuket area. The second level is the hotel Rayaburi Resort, this is a 4 star hotel, built relatively recently. If you need a budget hotel, then you can pay attention to Baan Raya Resort & Spa or Bungalow Raya Resort. The last hotel is a complex of bungalows in a picturesque garden.
A quiet piece of paradise called Racha Yai (from Thai “Big King”) is located near the southeastern coast of Phuket. Racha is famous for its clean beaches, the sand on which resembles flour in consistency and color. Gorgeous beaches, so popular among tourists, are located mainly in the northern and northeastern parts of the island. There are hotels and bungalows on Racha to suit every taste, where you can stay for a couple of days and spend a luxurious tropical week-end. Since there is not much entertainment on the island, this number of days will be enough for you. And in addition to swimming and sunbathing, you will also find impressive diving and snorkeling - many tourists come here just for this, and beach holidays here have become popular only recently.
The smallest beaches on the island are Ter and Lha. Both beaches have coral reefs and are suitable for snorkeling. If you want to swim here in low season, keep in mind that there are quite a few boats moored here.
Now we will describe the three main beaches that are on the island of Racha Yai. Siam Beach rightfully occupies one of the places of honor on the island. In addition to the fact that it is the largest on Racha, swimming on it is comfortable in any season. Between May and October, few beaches can boast a lack of waves, but Siam is a privileged exception. If you are vacationing on the island with a child, or do not know how to swim, then this beach is just for you, since the water here is quite shallow.
Batok is the busiest beach in Racha, as speedboats with tourists come here. Swimming here is comfortable and safe only in high season, from November to May.
Konkare is a beach for lovers of romance. It is located on the eastern side and is ideal for those who like to watch sunrises while sitting on the seashore. The beach is famous for its large coral reef with a variety of fish and shellfish.
It should be noted that on each beach there are hotels from which it is very close to the sea. You can and even need to book them in advance if you are going to the island during high season. If you are sailing during the rainy season, then you are guaranteed free space on the island.
In addition to water sports and entertainment, the island has a small list of leisure activities. For example, riding elephants and horses, or cycling. The infrastructure is most developed, which is logical, in the same part of the island where the main beaches are located. Here you will find restaurants, cafes and massage parlors. There is practically no nightlife on the island.
If you wish, you can swim to the “younger brother” of Racha Yai named Racha Noi. It is a huge coral reef with many stones. There are no beaches for swimming, but there is a real paradise for diving and snorkeling. Any hotel will be happy to help you organize a boat trip.
You can decide how to get to the island yourself - either it will be a full-fledged excursion with a transfer from your hotel, or you can get there yourself by various types of water transport departing from Chalong Pier. It only takes half an hour to get to the island by speedboat.
The Racha Islands are two small islands in Thailand (Racha Yai and Racha Noi), located in the Andaman Sea, south of Phuket. Hotels and tourism infrastructure are present only on Racha Yai. Racha Noi attracts visitors with its magnificent wildlife and beautiful underwater world. These islands are not as famous among tourists as Phuket, Koh Samui and Phi Phi. There are much fewer people here than in the tourist centers of Thailand. Thais, as well as tourists from Japan and China, prefer to relax on the Racha Islands.
The island is located 18 km south of Phuket. Length - 1.5 km, width - 3 km. The island attracts its visitors with its gorgeous white beaches, coral reefs with beautiful marine fauna and colorful fish. The water here is very clean and clear, making the Racha Islands an ideal place for diving and snorkeling.
The terrain here is mostly mountainous, dotted with palm trees and dense tropical vegetation. The climate is warm, even during the rainy season.
Racha Yai Island has several restaurants, cafes and 4 hotels. Prices for housing and food here are higher than in Phuket. Holidays in secluded places of Thai wildlife are 1.5 - 2 times more expensive than in Phuket or the mainland. Most tourists come here on a day excursion, or overnight, from Phuket or neighboring islands.
On the coast there are a few stalls with tourist products, fresh fruits, coconuts and beach accessories. In the central part of the island there is a small village with a grocery store and a diving center.
Everywhere on Racha Yai you can find lizards, monitor lizards, all kinds of birds and strange fauna. There are many crabs running along the shore. Here you can also find buffaloes, which are bred by local residents.
There is absolutely no transport on the island. All movements are carried out on foot or on a moped, which can be rented. The island is small and can be completely explored on foot during the day.
The second of the Racha islands, the small rocky island of Racha Noi, is uninhabited. There is no infrastructure on the island. There is also no full-fledged beach here. Racha Noi is a secluded place for snorkeling, diving, spearfishing or fishing. Exotic marine species and beautiful forms of coral reefs are found here.
The coastal waters are home to octopuses, turtles, barracudas, moray eels, reef sharks and many other marine life.
How to get there from Phuket?
You can get to Racha Yai Island by taking one of the excursions that depart from Cape Chalong. Excursions can be purchased at. The cost of a one-day excursion is 1200 baht. The price of an overnight excursion is from 1400 baht. The price of the excursion includes transfer, food and drinks, snorkeling equipment and.
You can also take one of the high-speed boats and speedboats that operate from Chalong and Rawai Cape to the Racha Islands. From the beaches of Phuket to the island of Racha Yai can be reached in 30-35 minutes. The boat arrives at the pier, which is located on Patok Bay beach on Racha Yai island.
When traveling with a large group, you can rent your own pleasure boat or yacht and organize an individual excursion to the islands. The cost of renting a yacht varies from 10 to 15 thousand baht per day. The advantage of a private walk is that you can visit nearby islands such as Khai and others (in total, Phuket is surrounded by 32 islands).
Hotels
There are several hotels and guesthouses on the island. The hotels are integrated into the wild nature, with lush greenery and palm trees. The area is clean and well-groomed (unlike the area outside the hotels).
The best hotels on the island are:
- The Racha 5*. Five-star hotel with 85 rooms with its own beach. The best hotel on the island. Accommodation costs from $300 per night.
- Rayaburi Resort 4*. Hotel with 68 rooms near the beach. Accommodation costs from $130 per night.
- Ban Raya Resort and Spa 3*. Nice hotel with 48 rooms, with a restaurant, swimming pool, beach bar and free Wi-Fi. Hotel room prices start at $100 per night.
- Raya Bungalows. Inexpensive bungalows located on the coast. Price segment below $100.
You can find all the hotels on the map of Racha Yai Island and choose the one that suits you.
Beaches of Racha Yai
The beaches on Racha Yai are the hallmark of the island. Many tourists visiting the Racha Islands come here precisely for the picturesque beaches with clean white sand and numerous palm trees along the coastline. Here you can even stay in a bungalow right on the beach. However, the number of tourists on the Racha Islands is much less than in Phuket and other popular tourist destinations in Thailand.
The most picturesque and popular beaches on Racha Yai: 
Kon Kare Bay. A beach with a not very comfortable rocky bottom. Great place for diving. Numerous fish can be hand-fed here. When going to the rocky beaches of the island, it is better to wear swimming shoes. Also, don’t forget sunscreen, a beach towel and a sun hat.
Lah Bay. Sandy and rocky beach with beautiful reefs just off the coast.
A beautiful sandy beach with white sand and a gorgeous view, located in the northern part of the island. Great place for a beach photo shoot. There is a restaurant right next to the beach.
Boats and boats that bring tourists to the island moor at this beach. You can also swim here. Patok Bay is considered the main beach of the island.
Beach with magnificent sand and clear sea.
What to see and do?
The Racha Islands are great for hiking and scenic photo sessions. The terrain here is mountainous and densely covered with palm trees and tropical vegetation. There is a small lake in the center of the island. There are several observation platforms on Racha Yai, which offer magical views of the beauty of the island, the local bays and bays.
Also on the island of Racha Yai there are magnificent snow-white beaches and a clear azure sea; swimming in it is a pleasure.
Fans of diving and snorkeling will be able to enjoy all the beauty of the underwater kingdom. There is a diving center on the island, so if you have dreamed of making your first dive, then experienced instructors will help you with this.
Racha Yai has stables and an equestrian club, offering horseback riding around the island to everyone. You can also ride bicycles and quad bikes.
There are no attractions or usual tourist infrastructure on the Racha Islands. The main attraction of the islands is their magnificent and rich nature. And they come here precisely to enjoy it away from noisy and crowded tourist places.
Video review of Racha Yai Island
You can get an impression of the beauty of Racha Yai Island from a video shot with a quadcopter drone. The combination of snow-white sand and blue water with a turquoise tint makes the Racha Islands one of the most beautiful and picturesque places in Thailand.
The Racha Islands are one of Thailand's most picturesque destinations with wildlife immersions, incredible scenery, crystal clear waters and a rich underwater world. Beach lovers should definitely visit the Racha Islands when visiting Thailand. It is best to come here for at least 2-3 days. This is one of the best places in Thailand for a beach holiday, snorkeling and diving.