Koh Lon

Koh Lon sits about 2km off Phuket’s southeast coast, a 15-20 minute longtail ride from Rawai pier. It’s one of the quieter islands within reach of Phuket’s mainland — no resort strip, no beach clubs, just a small fishing community, a few simple guesthouses, and beaches with far fewer people on them than anything on the Phuket mainland.

The main beach has calm, shallow water that suits swimming better than serious snorkeling — this isn’t a reef destination on the level of nearby Racha Yai. Small local restaurants along the shore serve simple seafood dishes, and casuarina trees give shade along the sand. Longtail boats from the mainland pull up on the beach itself rather than at a formal pier, and the pace of the island follows the boat schedule and the tides rather than a tourist timetable.

Development on Koh Lon is minimal by Phuket standards — a handful of small guesthouses for travelers who want to stay overnight, but most people visit as a half-day or full-day trip rather than a base. That makes it a reasonable alternative to the more built-up Coral Island for anyone who wants a quiet beach without a long boat ride from Phuket’s south coast.

Insider Tip: Charter a longtail directly from Rawai beach rather than booking a group tour — a private round trip (1,800-2,200 THB) lets you set your own return time instead of being tied to a scheduled pickup.

Watch out: Facilities are limited. There’s no ATM and few shops on the island, so bring cash for boat fares and meals, and don’t count on finding much beyond basic supplies once you’re there.

Rawai Beach itself, where most Koh Lon boats depart, is worth combining with the island trip — it’s the same working fishing-village stretch that gives longtail boats their character on both sides of the crossing.