Koh Khai

Koh Khai is one of three small islands — Khai Nai, Khai Nok and Khai Nui — sitting in the southernmost part of Phang Nga Bay, between Phuket’s east coast and Koh Yao Yai, collectively nicknamed the Khai Islands (“Egg Islands”) for their rounded shape from the air. Most listings identify this island specifically as Khai Nai. Despite its Phang Nga address, almost everyone visits from Phuket: speedboats leave from Ao Chalong, Rassada or Ao Po piers, with the crossing taking around 20-30 minutes.

The water here is calm and shallow, with coral close enough to the beach to reach by wading in rather than swimming out — the reason tour operators pitch this island at beginner snorkellers and families rather than experienced divers. Smaller coral clusters sit just off the white-sand beach, with reef fish moving through water clear enough to see the bottom from the shore. A beach restaurant, deck chairs and shade umbrellas line the main stretch of sand, making this one of the more developed of the trio — its neighbour Khai Nui, a short boat hop away, has no facilities at all and considerably more battered coral from years of anchor damage.

The three islands aren’t uniformly busy. Koh Khai and Koh Khai Nok both see a steady run of half-day tours (roughly 800-2,500 THB depending on operator), and by early afternoon the shallow bay gets choppy with boat traffic and the beach fills up. Since the islands sit administratively in Phang Nga’s Ko Yao district but are visited almost exclusively from Phuket, don’t be thrown by listings that place them in either province — the boat ride, not the address, determines how you get there.

Insider Tip: Book the earliest departure your operator offers. Tour boats from Phuket stack up through the morning, and the calm, shallow water that makes Khai Nai good for beginners also means it gets crowded and choppy fast once multiple groups arrive.

Watch out: There’s no shade beyond the beach umbrellas and no source of fresh water on the island — bring your own water, reef-safe sunscreen, and a hat, especially if your tour includes several hours on the sand.

The island has no accommodation, so this is a day-trip stop within a wider Koh Yao Yai itinerary rather than a base to stay on — most visitors pair it with Khai Nok or a Phang Nga Bay tour rather than visiting alone.