Sailing Grounds South of Phuket
Koh Racha Yai
Being only 12 miles south of Phuket, Koh Racha Yai is one of the closest destinations to Phuket. It offers an easy anchorage and access to its beautiful white, sandy beach, crystal clear water as well as a newly build resort with excellent restaurants. The area around Koh Racha Yai is also very popular for snorkelling, kayaking and diving.
Koh Rok Nok
Koh Rok Nok consist of two small islands, separated by a narrow channel. It is located 48 miles south of Phuket and the anchorage is in the channel. Crystal clear waters offer good snorkelling and diving and several, sandy beaches want to be explored by kayak. Since it is a National Park there are only minimal facilities for occasional day tourist boats. Aside from that, hardly anybody stays there over night.
The Butang Island Group
Being the most southern group of Thai islands, the Butang Island Group is part of the Tarutao National Park. The islands are located on the boarder between Thailand and Malaysia. They offer a few basic furnished bungalows and a plain restaurant. Koh Lipe is part of the eighteen Islands, inhabiting a small fishing community. On the shores of the other islands one can find beautiful waterfalls and streams, best explored by kayak.
Koh Tarutao
Koh Tarutao is part of the Tarutao National Park, declared National Park in 1972 and about 30 miles in the north east of the Butang Islands. It is the largest of 51 islands. In the north of the Island the mangrove forest can be explored in a dinghy or kayak by going upstream in the small river. The waters around the island provide several outstanding anchorages. It also offers hiking trails which lead to deserted beaches, a waterfall, caves and lookouts and a small restaurant.
