Joanna James
Set in southern Thailand, surrounded by the waters of the Andaman Sea, the stunning island of Phuket has a whole host of other islands in its vicinity, making for some exciting island hopping. Hop on a boat and set sail on an adventure to explore some of Thailand's spectacular islands.
Nestled between Phuket and the Straits of Malacca coast of Thailand, Phi Phi Islands are arguably the most visited and popular islands in the vicinity of Phuket. It is a gorgeous 6-island archipelago, out of which, Koh Phi Phi Don, is the largest and the only inhabited island in the cluster. The entire archipelago features three main areas — the main village between Tonsai and Dalum, which is home to a slew of hotels, bars, and restaurants; Laem Thong Beach, which is dotted with only a clutch of resorts; and the southern coast, which is mainly jungle and sea with the exception of a few accommodation establishments in between.
Set within the sanctuary of the eponymous Marine National Park, Similan Islands belong to an archipelago of 9 islands, about 84 kilometres northwest of the island of Phuket. What sets the Similan Islands apart from the rest of the islands in the vicinity is its easily noticeable untouched, pristine nature and well-preserved natural charm. Unlike most other islands in southern Thailand, the natural beauty of this 9-island archipelago is still intact, not blotted out by commercial developments.
20 kilometres south of the island of Phuket lies Racha Yai and Racha Noi, the two stunning islands forming the Racha Islands. If there's one thing Raya — or Racha Islands — are known for, it would be for their top-notch diving and snorkelling. The two islands are blessed with some of the best diving and snorkelling sites in all of southern Thailand, affording fantastic underwater experiences. Racha Islands are undoubtedly more laid-back and tranquil than the rest of the islands in the vicinity and offer oodles of mellow moments to relax and unwind in serenity.
Unlike the aforementioned islands, Coral Island is just one single island and doesn't form part of any archipelago. Nestled 5 kilometres off Phuket's southeastern coast, the coral island may be small in size, but it is definitely blessed with breathtaking beauty. The minuscule island is ringed by two beaches — Long and Banana beaches — both of which afford excellent scuba diving and snorkelling for all travellers.
Koh Yao Yai and Koh Yao Noi islands that form Koh Yao Islands are, without a doubt, two of the most developed islands with great amenities in the vicinity of Phuket, with Koh Tao Noi being the most developed out of the two. After a day of revelling in the charm of the blissful tropical islands, vacationing tourists could find a fine luxury hotel in Phuket the likes of SAii Laguna Phuket to unwind for the day.
A true believer that the pen is a mighty weapon, ventures into reaching the minds of every reader with the earnest hope of leaving an indelible stream of thought.
A travel writer who has a passion for fashion and a deep interest in admiring new and exotic attractions around the world.
