Day trip to Koh Racha Noi from Phuket
The island of Racha Noi is located about 20 kilometers south of Phuket. Compared to its big brother Racha Yai, Racha Noi is much smaller, more remote and less visited than Racha Yai. It is an uninhabited island, so there is no housing, no hotel or other accommodation and is covered with a dense tropical jungle.
Koh Racha Yai
Many people who stay in Phuket stick to Racha Yai, an island just 12 kilometers south of Phuket. It is also a popular place for tourists, bigger, better maintained, with shops, luxury resorts and many boat moorings in the sheltered Bungalow Bay. This bay is also an ideal diving spot for novice divers, who are coming into open water for the first time.
Many dive tour operators organize daily trips to Racha Yai for students and inexperienced divers. With a speedboat the trip from Phuket often takes less than 20 minutes, the larger boats need about 45 minutes. The disadvantage is that the island is very busy.
Koh Racha Noi
For visitors who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of Racha Yai, sail about ten kilometers further south to visit Racha Noi. This island is ideal for visitors looking for a special tropical island experience. It begins as you approach the island as the natural beauty of Racha Noi comes into view. The seawater becomes increasingly clear, revealing more and more of a thriving coral reef below the surface of the water.
Racha Noi is known for its breathtaking reefs. It is home to several popular dive sites that surround the island, including some shipwrecks that have been turned into thriving, artificial reefs. However, unlike Racha Yai, Racha Noi's dive sites are much deeper and not suitable for beginners. In addition, since the island is located in the open sea with no shelter from monsoon winds, the current can be quite strong and unpredictable.
On the other hand, experienced divers make. coming to Racha Noi, a good chance to discover special species such as whale sharks, sea turtles and manta rays. Non-divers can enjoy the beauty of the coral reefs by snorkeling close to the island's shores. If that is also not an option for the visitor, then one can choose to relax on the white sandbank or go for a swim in the crystal clear sea.
Finally,
If you are looking for a secluded paradise to get away from the hustle and bustle of Phuket for a day, Racha Noi could be the perfect place. The best time to plan a trip to Racha Noi is from November to April or mid-May, as in the monsoon months the sea can be rough and no boat trips to Racha Noi will be operated. Pick a sunny day and you won't be disappointed.
Source: Phuket Gazette