18 km south of Phuket is the island of Racha, quite famous among snorkeling and diving enthusiasts. To get to this island, you can rent a longtail boat on Rawai or purchase a guided tour. There are inexpensive excursions priced around 1,000 baht per person that include a visit to the island of Racha.
The trip to Racha Island on a longtail boat will take about two hours, but when traveling by speedboat, you can reach the island in just 30 minutes.
Where is the island of Racha
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 and Koh Racha Noi is 28 km from Phuket. Unlike the main island, Ko Racha Noi is uninhabited and has only a small white sand beach. Its shape is very elongated, it has a length of 7 kilometers and a width of only 500 meters. In fact, it consists of 2 separate islands, between which there are only 200 meters.
Racha Island on the map
Diving and snorkeling on the island of Racha
Conditions for diving and snorkeling around the islands of Racha Yai and Racha Noi are generally very good. On the island of Racha Yai (it has a length of 3.5 km and a width of 1.5 km) there are two beach hotels, as well as bungalows and restaurants. This is the main island which 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 some good beachfront restaurants.
Since the island has avoided rapid development due to its remoteness from Phuket, the atmosphere here is very calm, even though tourists often come here for excursions. It is known for its two magnificent white sand beaches and clear waters. But still, the main magnet for tourists are the coral gardens around this island, as they are home to a wide variety of colorful marine organisms.
The beaches of the island of Racha
The main beach of Racha Island near Phuket is located on the northwest coast. This is Ao Tavan Tok beach. It is located in a small "U" shaped bay and covered with white sand. The island with green hills up to 208 meters high also offers pleasant conditions for walking. Along the paths you can reach all the beaches of the island. Almost all boats and boats arrive in Patok Bay and stay here almost all day. This bay has a beautiful beach with turquoise water. To the right of the Racha Resort you will find a path leading to the interior of the island. Follow 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. The 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 perfect place to enjoy the beach, sun and sea. On a clear day, you can see Phuket Island. If you go along 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 Con Kare Bay.
Hotels on the island of Racha
Personally, I think it's definitely worth visiting Racha Island while visiting Phuket. Ideally, you can even spend 1-2 nights on this island if you want to enjoy the quiet and peaceful life of this paradise island, which somewhat resembles Phi Phi Don twenty years ago. Do not worry if you see information somewhere that there is only a few hours a day of electricity on the island of Racha. Such information is either outdated or simply not true, since electricity on the island of Racha Yai is available 24 hours a day. There are also no problems with Internet access.
On the island of Racha you will find several hotels, restaurants, small shops and many other amenities for a good holiday.
The best hotel on the island of Racha is The Racha Resort Phuket- 5-star hotel, which can be safely included among the best in the area of Phuket. The second level is the hotel Rayaburi Resort, this is a relatively recent 4-star hotel. If you need a budget hotel, you can pay attention to Baan Raya Resort & Spa or Bungalow Raya Resort. The last hotel is a bungalow complex in a picturesque garden.
