Snorkeling Khai Islands from Phuket: Private speedboat, dolphins

Snorkel three islands without fighting the crowds on a shared boat

A full-day private speedboat snorkeling tour from Phuket to Khai Nai, Khai Nok and Khai Nau islands in Ao Phang Nga National Park, plus Mai Ton Island and Koh Rang Yai, with snorkeling equipment, life jackets and refreshments included. The boat holds only your group, so you set the pace at each stop and the guide adjusts the route to water conditions and what the marine life is doing that day. Pickup from your hotel is included. The trip runs 5 to 8 hours depending on how long you spend in the water.

Step-by-step itinerary

Private cruise to Khai and Mai Ton Islands

• Arrive and check in with briefing
• Snorkel at Khai Nai Island
• Relax and have lunch at Khai Nok Island
• Snorkel at Khai Nau Island
• Visit Mai Ton Island and spot dolphins
• Relax on Koh Rang Yai beach
• Return cruise to pier

The experience

The boat leaves the pier for a short ride to Khai Nai, where the water is shallow and clear. The first stop is built for families and anyone new to snorkeling, with tropical fish right off the beach. From there the speedboat moves to Khai Nok, a white sand beach where you'll have lunch, drinks and fresh coconut, with time to rest between water sessions. Khai Nau comes next, an island where the snorkeling happens off the boat itself and the coral and marine life variety is what draws people back.

Mai Ton Island, also called Honeymoon Island for its clarity, is where the day's wild card lives. A pod of dolphins that may or may not show up, but when they do the moment stays with you. After that, the boat heads to Koh Rang Yai for fresh fruit and cool drinks on the sandy beach, and you can watch the sunset before the short cruise back to the pier. Because the boat is private to your group, the guide can linger where the fish are active, skip a stop if conditions shift, or spend an extra hour at whichever island holds your attention.

Snorkeling equipment, life jackets and all drinks are included. You bring only a towel and sunscreen. An air-conditioned vehicle picks you up from your hotel and brings you back, so the day starts and ends without logistics.

What’s included

• Snorkeling equipment and life jackets.
• bottled water and soft drinks throughout the day.
• fresh coconut at Khai Nok.
• fresh fruit at Koh Rang Yai.
• snacks.
• private air-conditioned hotel pickup and return.
• live guide in English, Arabic or Thai.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish, Arabic and Thai

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcome

Operated by 5 Star Marine

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to snorkel at your own pace without a large group dictating the schedule. The private boat means the guide can linger where the fish are active, skip a crowded stop, or spend an extra hour at the island that holds your attention.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Arabic and Thai.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the water like at the Khai Islands for snorkeling?

Khai Nai has shallow, clear water ideal for families and beginners, with tropical fish visible from the beach. Khai Nau offers deeper snorkeling off the boat with coral and a wider range of marine life. All three islands have options to enter from the beach or from the boat, so you choose based on your comfort.

Will we actually see dolphins at Mai Ton Island?

Mai Ton has a resident pod of dolphins, but sightings depend on the day and the season. They are not guaranteed. The island is worth the stop for its clear water alone, and the guide knows the patterns and timing that make an encounter more likely.

How much time do we spend snorkeling versus traveling?

The trip runs 5 to 8 hours total, with the pier-to-islands journey quite short. Most of the day is split between snorkeling time at each island and beach time at Khai Nok and Koh Rang Yai, so you're in the water or resting on sand for the bulk of it, not sitting on the boat.

Is lunch included, and what if I have dietary restrictions?

Lunch is not included in the tour price, but the stop at Khai Nok is built around a meal break where you can order food and drinks. Let the operator know about restrictions when you book so they can advise on options available at that island.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join?

No. The tour is suitable for all fitness levels, and Khai Nai is specifically designed as a family-friendly entry point with shallow water and abundant fish. The guide will brief you on equipment use and can stay close if you're new to snorkeling.

What's included in the price?

Life jackets, snorkeling equipment, all drinks (soda, water, fresh coconut), snacks, and private transportation from your hotel are included. You'll also have an air-conditioned vehicle for pickup and return.