A few kilometers off the southern tip of Phuket is the small island of Koh Hae, better known as Coral Island. It is a beautiful getaway destination and a popular snorkeling day trip from Phuket. The island stretches 3 km from east to west but is only 800 meters from north to south. Featuring watersports on busy Banana Beach, and shallow coral reefs surrounding Long Beach, Coral Island is perfect for snorkeling as the name suggests. A short trek over the hill and rocks leads to a small, quiet cove with sumptuous white sand – an excellent hideaway during the day.
You can reach Coral Island in about 20-30 minutes by speedboat from Phuket’s eastern and southern beaches. Unfortunately, due to its proximity to Phuket, you won’t escape the tourist crowds in the peak season of December-February. But outside the peak season, the island is beautiful and so relaxing. Coral Island offers a few small bungalows for a lovely weekend or 1-2 relaxing days. Compared to the beaches of Phuket, it is still quieter here, especially in the morning and late afternoon, the island is almost empty.
If snorkeling is your thing, but you don’t want to go far from Phuket, then Phuket snorkeling tours to Coral Island is your best pick. Moreover, your Coral Island snorkeling tour can include water sports such as banana boating, parasailing, and jet-skiing. Not bad for a day trip!
