Phuket tours with snorkeling
Choose one of these island tours that start from Phuket and include snorkeling:
Phi Phi Islands
- Recommended day trip excursion from Phuket at any time of year.
- Tours that visit 5 different islands, and tours that start early to beat the crowds.
- Phi Phi tours >>
Surin Islands
- Available daily from Nov to Apr.
- Less busy than the Similan Islands and better snorkeling.
- Also visit the Moken village.
- Surin Islands tours >>
Similan Islands
- Available daily from Nov to Apr.
- Gin clear water with big schools of fish and white sand beaches.
- Turtles are a common sight.
- Similan Islands tours >>
Racha Islands
- A year round destination just 25 minutes by speedboat from Phuket.
- Racha Yai offers nice snorkeling in clear water.
- Day trips are cheap and very popular.
- Racha Yai tours >>
Phuket tours
If you are staying in Phuket you have a lot of tours to choose from. All of the available join in tours that you’ll find on this website are sightseeing, island excursion tours, mostly by speedboat, that include one or two snorkeling sessions as part of the itinerary.
The Similan Islands are north west of Phuket. The Phi Phi islands to the east. The Racha and Coral Islands are to the south. There are so many beautiful places to enjoy the underwater world, all a boat ride from Phuket. Phuket is also the starting point for overnight tours Surin Islands.
The boat tours from Phuket to the Phi Phi Islands, the Racha Islands, Coral Island and Koh Rok all start from piers in Phuket. Most tours include in the price a minibus pick up from your Phuket hotel. There are several piers and the best departure point for your tour will depend on your hotel location, to minimize transfer time on Phuket’s congested roads. The boats do not pick up guests from the beach, you will be picked up by minibus at your hotel lobby and transferred to a pier.
Because of the distances to get to the islands and the time it takes to drive to and from a pier, we do not offer half day tours, there just isn’t time. We also do not pick up from cruise ships. All tours are a full day.
The day tour speedboats to the Similan Islands and Surin Islands depart from piers in Khao Lak or Kuraburi. You can join these tours from Phuket, just allow 1-2 hours each way minibus transfer time to get to the pier from your Phuket hotel. Plus the speedboat journey time which is about 1 hour per way. If you plan to do a tour to the Similan or Surin Islands from Phuket it’s better to stay in the north of Phuket, as you’ll be transferring north and off the island, it’ll save you significant transfer time.
What about snorkeling from the shore in Phuket? We don’t offer that but if you have your own mask and snorkel there are a couple of spots where you can take yourself off the beach, at the right time of year (Nov-April). The north end of Kata beach is nice. There is no beach snorkeling off Phuket’s east coast. Snorkeling from the shore is not possible in the rainy season, better to go surfing.
Where you choose to go snorkeling while in Phuket will depend on many factors including how much time you have available, where your accommodation is and what time of year you are here in Phuket. Your budget and whether you are traveling with children may also be considerations.
Other tours in and around Phuket
- Phang Nga Bay
The water is not clear enough for snorkeling in Phang Nga bay but a tour of Phang Nga should be on every tourists to do list, it’s a truly beautiful place. We have several options to enjoy Phang Nga by land and sea. Phang Nga bay tours >> - Phuket Zipline Hanuman World. Fly through the air with the greatest of ease, see some of Phuket’s remaining unspoiled jungle. 4 rides per day. Zipline Phuket >>
Private Phuket boat charter
Escape the crowds and set your own itinerary with a private boat charter.
Private boat charter Phuket >>