Coral Island
A Tropical Island Escape Just Minutes from Phuket
Located just a few kilometers off the southeast coast of Phuket, Coral Island—known locally as Koh Hae—is one of the easiest tropical island escapes from Phuket. Despite being so close to the mainland, the island offers a surprising change of scenery: clear turquoise water, white sand beaches, and lush tropical hills rising behind the shoreline.
Thanks to its proximity to Phuket, Coral Island has become a popular destination for half-day and full-day excursions, particularly for visitors staying in the southern part of the island.
The island sits roughly nine kilometers southeast of Chalong Bay and can be reached in less than 15 minutes by speedboat. Its shallow waters and fringing coral reefs gave the island its English name, although today the coral is found mostly farther from the beach in deeper areas. Coral Island is part of a protected marine environment within Mu Ko Phuket Marine National Park, which also includes several nearby islands scattered across the Andaman Sea.
While the island is small—only about three kilometers long—it offers a pleasant mix of beach relaxation, water activities, and tropical scenery. Unlike more remote island groups such as the famous Similan Islands, Coral Island is easily accessible and requires very little travel time, making it an excellent option for visitors who want to experience island life without spending an entire day at sea.
Long Beach
The most developed and frequently visited beach on Coral Island is Long Beach, located on the island’s northern coast facing Phuket. This long stretch of soft sand is where most tour boats arrive and where visitors will find the majority of the island’s facilities. The beach is lined with a few restaurants, small bars, and activity centers offering water sports such as parasailing, kayaking, and banana boat rides.
The shallow, calm water makes Long Beach particularly suitable for swimming, especially during the dry season when the sea is clear and gentle. Colorful tropical fish can often be seen close to shore, and snorkelers will find more marine life slightly farther out near the rocky edges of the bay.
Although it can become busy around midday when excursion boats arrive, Long Beach remains an enjoyable place to spend several hours relaxing under the shade of trees or rented umbrellas. Visitors who stay later in the afternoon may even find the beach becoming quieter once most tour groups begin heading back to Phuket.
Banana Beach
On the opposite side of the island lies Banana Beach, widely considered the most beautiful beach on Coral Island. Hidden on the northeastern side of Koh Hae, this smaller bay is surrounded by lush jungle-covered hills and feels more secluded than Long Beach.
The sand here is particularly fine and pale, and the water often displays beautiful shades of turquoise and emerald depending on the sunlight. The bay is protected from strong waves, creating excellent conditions for swimming and snorkeling. In good visibility, snorkelers may encounter colorful reef fish, sea urchins, and patches of coral.
Banana Beach has developed into a well-organized private beach club area offering sun loungers, a restaurant, and various water activities. Despite these facilities, the setting remains quite picturesque thanks to the surrounding vegetation and the clear waters of the Andaman Sea. For many visitors, this beach is the highlight of a trip to Coral Island.
How to Get There and Best Time to Visit
Reaching Coral Island is straightforward thanks to its proximity to southern Phuket. Most excursions depart from Chalong Pier or Rawai Beach, both located on the island’s southeastern coast. From these departure points, the journey by speedboat typically takes between 10 and 20 minutes depending on sea conditions.
A variety of tour options are available, ranging from half-day trips to full-day excursions that combine Coral Island with snorkeling stops or visits to nearby islands. Some visitors also arrange private long-tail boats for a more flexible schedule.
The best time to visit Coral Island is during Phuket’s dry season from November to April, when the sea is generally calm and visibility in the water is at its best. During this period, the sky is often clear and the colors of the Andaman Sea are particularly vibrant.
The rainy season from May to October can still offer pleasant days, but sea conditions may become rougher and some tours may be canceled during periods of strong wind. If possible, visiting early in the morning is recommended to enjoy the beaches before the arrival of larger tour groups.
Summary
For travelers staying in Phuket who want a quick taste of tropical island scenery, Coral Island offers one of the most convenient options. Its short travel time makes it perfect for a relaxing half-day or day trip without the long boat journeys required to reach more distant destinations.
While it may not have the untouched wilderness of remote island groups such as the Similan Islands or the dramatic limestone scenery of Phang Nga Bay, Coral Island still delivers the essential ingredients of a tropical escape: white sand beaches, warm turquoise water, and lush vegetation.
Whether you prefer the lively atmosphere and water sports of Long Beach or the more scenic setting of Banana Beach, Koh Hae offers a pleasant break from Phuket’s busy coastline. For many visitors, a short trip here provides the perfect opportunity to experience the beauty of the Andaman Sea while staying close to the main island.
Last visit & photos: Coral Island — 18 March 2017
Coral Island Photo Gallery
Passionate about photography since the mid-2000s, I’ve spent years capturing the beauty of Phuket and southern Thailand — from beaches and islands to festivals and daily life. My work reflects a lasting love for the region and its ever-changing light.
