Racha Island Snorkeling & Yacht

Three snorkel stops around Racha Noi & Racha Yai aboard a large motor yacht — breakfast and lunch buffet included.

⏱ Full Day 👥 Join-in group tour 🌐 English, Thai, French, German, Mandarin

Overview

Begin your day with hotel pickup, followed by a hot buffet breakfast served on board the motor yacht. Once aboard, your professional guide will brief you on snorkeling techniques, equipment, and safety before the adventure begins.

Racha Noi offers some of Phuket's clearest water and healthiest coral, since very few tour operators travel this far offshore — that distance keeps the sites largely free of crowds. All activities take place directly from the yacht; there's no land excursion. This is a dedicated marine experience for those who are here for the water, not the beach.

If you want the water quality without committing to scuba certification or gear, this sits between our Khai Islands trip (shallower, closer, more casual) and our Racha Diving trip (same islands, but underwater the whole time) — three proper snorkel stops from a large, stable yacht, with real meals rather than snacks in between.

Where You'll Go

~7:30 AM

Meet at Chalong Pier

After hotel pickup, all guests gather at Chalong Pier for a 7:30 AM departure. Breakfast buffet is served onboard during the roughly 1.5-hour cruise out to Racha Noi.

~9:00 AM

Manta Bay, Racha Noi

One of Phuket's most celebrated snorkeling sites, known for resident sea turtles, manta rays, and dramatic coral formations. Your guide enters the water with you at all times. About an hour in the water here.

~10:20 AM

Banana Bay, Racha Noi

A short cruise from Manta Bay. A sheltered bay with a completely different underwater landscape — dense schools of colorful tropical fish and resident moray eels gather around living coral. It's the only site in Phuket where whale sharks are occasionally spotted (a rare sighting, not something to expect on any given trip), and an ideal stop for families and photography enthusiasts. Around 80 minutes here, with the lunch buffet served onboard as you head to the next stop.

Midday

Bay One, Racha Yai

Multiple artificial reefs here have been carefully cultivated to help rehabilitate natural corals and marine life. Leopard sharks, rays, and thriving coral gardens sit in crystal-clear, shallow water — the perfect finale to the day, with about an hour to snorkel before the return cruise.

~5:30 PM

Return to Phuket

Around an hour's cruise back to Chalong Pier, then transfer to your hotel. Drop-off points include Patong and along the way back through the pickup zones. All times are approximate and can shift with sea conditions.

Highlights

  • Snorkel Manta Bay from a large motor yacht — sea turtles and rays await
  • Visit Bay One on Racha Yai for vibrant coral gardens and tropical fish schools
  • Enjoy a hot breakfast buffet and a full lunch buffet onboard
  • Fewer boats than at Phi Phi, cleaner water, and more marine life — Racha sits further offshore
  • Hotel pickup, equipment, life vests, and snacks all included

What's Included

  • 3 snorkeling sessions from a large motor yacht
  • Round-trip hotel transfers (Rawai, Naiharn, Kata, Karon, Patong, Kalim, Kamala)
  • Round-trip transfers to the meet-up location
  • Professional group snorkeling guide (English, Thai, French, German, Mandarin)
  • Hot breakfast buffet onboard
  • Full hot lunch buffet onboard
  • Snacks and soft drinks throughout the day
  • Seasonal fruit and dessert
  • Snorkeling mask and life vest
  • Fins (adults only)
  • Operator-provided insurance

What's Not Included

  • Transport surcharge for hotels outside the listed pickup zones (optional, paid in cash)
  • Snorkeling mask replacement fee: 1,500 THB if lost or damaged
  • Tips (optional)
  • Personal snorkeling instructor
  • Fins for children
  • Other personal expenses

Who This Isn't For

All participants must be capable of swimming with a life vest. This trip isn't suitable for:

  • Children under 6 years
  • Pregnant women
  • People with back problems
  • People with heart problems
  • Wheelchair users
  • Non-swimmers
  • People with respiratory issues
  • People with epilepsy
  • Visually impaired guests
  • People with high blood pressure
  • People over 70 years

Good to Know Before You Book

Life vests and snorkeling masks are provided for all guests. Children aged 6 to 11 are welcome with basic swimming ability, making this a good fit for families — though it isn't suitable for infants or toddlers. You'll follow a dedicated snorkeling guide at all three sites who points out marine life and keeps the group safe; if you'd like one-on-one attention in the water, book a personal instructor in advance. You'll arrive back at your hotel by approximately 17:30.

Best Time to Visit

The dry season (roughly November to April) gives the clearest visibility for spotting reef life at all three stops, and calmer seas for the longer crossing out to Racha Noi. The tour still runs in the wet season (May to October); conditions vary day to day rather than being uniformly worse for the whole period.

Why Book Direct With VGA

We're a locally-run Phuket operator, not a reseller — the yacht, guides and three stops are the same whether you book here or through one of our OTA listings. VGA has been running tours out of Phuket for more than 10 years, with over 1,000 tours a month across our full program lineup. Booking directly means your questions about swimming ability, children's ages, or a personal instructor go straight to our team on WhatsApp or Line before you commit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to be a strong swimmer?

All participants must be capable of swimming with a life vest on. Non-swimmers aren't able to join this particular tour — our Khai Islands trip, with its shallow wading depth at all three islands, is the better option if swimming ability is a concern.

Can my kids come?

Children age 6 and up are welcome with basic swimming ability. It isn't suitable for infants or toddlers.

Is there a chance of seeing bigger marine life like manta rays or whale sharks?

Manta rays are a realistic sighting at Manta Bay, our first stop, though never guaranteed on any given day — it's wildlife, not a show. Whale sharks are occasionally spotted at Banana Bay but that's a rare event, not something to expect.

What happens if I lose or damage my snorkeling mask?

There's a 1,500 THB replacement fee if a mask is lost or damaged during the trip.

Can I book a personal snorkeling instructor?

Yes, but it needs to be arranged in advance — it isn't included in the standard tour price. Mention it when you inquire.

What's the cancellation policy?

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the activity.

What Guests Are Saying

★★★★★

“I had an incredible day snorkeling, lucky enough to spot both a manta ray and a sea turtle! The food was great, and Ekk and the crew were fantastic.”

Byul · South Korea

★★★★★

“The activity was well organised. We went to 3 different sites to snorkel and saw some interesting fish and the coral was good to see too! Helpful friendly guide called Jasmine who took some lovely pics for us.”

Anonymous · United Kingdom

★★★★★

“Kind and Ekk were great. The tour was amazing, 100% recommended.”

GetYourGuide traveler · Spain

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