Koh Mai Thon

Koh Mai Thon is a small private island roughly 9km southeast of Phuket, reached only by booked speedboat tour — there’s no independent or free way to get there, and no walk-up ferry. Tour operators run from Chalong Pier or the quieter Ao Po/Panwa Pier on Phuket’s east coast, a 15-20 minute crossing.

The island has three small beaches and a fringing coral reef that’s the main draw for day-trippers — snorkelling tours here cover shallow reef with parrotfish, sergeant majors, and the occasional sea turtle, plus a short walking trail through the interior. A resort has operated on the island in the past, at times with as few as 7-10 rooms running, but its current status is inconsistent: some tour and booking sites list it as closed or under renovation, while others still advertise stays. Watch out: don’t book an overnight stay here on the strength of an old listing — confirm with the resort or operator directly that rooms are actually available before you commit, since several sources report the accommodation side has been shut for extended periods.

Day-trip access is the more reliable route. Most packages bundle the boat transfer with snorkelling gear and lunch on the beach, running a full 5-6 hours door to door from your Phuket hotel. There’s no set park fee because Koh Mai Thon isn’t a national park — the island is privately managed, so the entire cost is whatever the tour operator charges.

Insider Tip: book through an operator departing from Ao Po or Panwa Pier rather than the busier Chalong Pier — it’s a quieter departure point and cuts down on the queue for boat boarding that Chalong’s bigger island-hopping crowds create.

Visit November through April for the calmest seas and clearest water; outside that window, Andaman Sea swells can make the crossing rough and some operators pause departures altogether. For other islands off this stretch of coast, Koh Rang Yai and Koh Si-Re are both reachable from Phuket Town and offer an easier, less exclusive alternative if Koh Mai Thon’s tours aren’t running.