Racha Yai Island

Located to the south of Phuket (pronounced “Poo-ket”), Ko Racha Yai, or Racha Yai Island, is one-half of the Raya Islands. Despite the island's relative youth in the tourism industry, interest among visitors has increased quickly. Their azure waters, lush tropical settings, and secluded environment are key attractions for tourists. Even though Raya Yai Island is relatively smaller compared to other islands, it still offers one of the best snorkelling spots in Asia.

Why must one visit Racha Yai Island

 Raya Island by itself can be a center of tourist attraction in Thailand. This is because of their secluded nature from the mainland and the diving spots they offer. In recent times they also have luxurious resorts which offer a world-class experience on this island which makes this island perfect for holiday trips, honeymoon trips and romance trips.

Best time to visit Racha Yai Island

 Located in the tropics, the Racha Yai island comes under the influence of monsoon. The temperature remains relatively hot throughout the year. One can witness maximum rainfall during June and July. To enjoy the best experience in Racha Yai Island one can visit from December to May. However if one wants to visit a place with less budget, it’s better to go during the low season of June and July when you could get tickets at a cheaper price. It is advised to take note of weather conditions and plan during the low phase as most aquatic activities get cancelled in case of bad weather.

Things to do at Raya Islands

Snorkelling and Diving

Racha islands are home to one of the best snorkelling spots in the world. The Kon Kae Bay’s clear water, shallow waters and abundance of small fishes and turtles make us feel like fish. Siam Beach is considerably less populated than Patong beach and is well-suited for diving. You might encounter colourful corals, fishes, and turtles in this once-in-a-lifetime experience. There are various shops and diving agencies like Sunrise Divers which offers beginner-friendly scuba diver courses and spots on Racha Yai Island.

Boating at Racha islands

There are numerous ways you could explore boating in the Racha islands, you could cover the entire Racha islands in a one-day boating package or hire a personal boat, yacht or catamaran and tour around the islands at your wish. Additionally, you could go fishing and eat your catch for lunch.

Enjoy the Luxury of Racha

Racha Islands' most luxurious hotel Racha is the best high-end hotel on Racha Island. Known for its premium service and amazing beach view setting the resort is an eco-friendly resort. The fact that the Racha islands contributed a major part to the revival of corals on this island should be appreciated. Visitors would get access to Racha’s private villas, spa, gym and water sports services. Couples could also plan their wedding in this resort as they provide services for that too. They also provide some offers at particular seasons it is advised to visit their official website for further details.

Explore the island life

As we mentioned earlier the island is smaller and you could cover this island with a walk. You could enjoy the island life by taking a stroll along the beach coast, relaxing under the shade, exploring the small shops along Patong Bay and taking a walk into the island’s interior, if you are lucky enough you might even come across some water buffaloes and monitor lizards. You might also take a small trek or hike in the island’s interior where you could witness the sunset near Batok Bay from the top.

How to reach Racha Islands

Reaching Racha island from Phuket is a feasible method. Once you reach Phuket International Airport you can take a cab or tuk-tuk to reach Ao Chalong Pier or Rawai Beach, from there you could use speedboats, longtail boats and motor boats to reach Patong Beach of Racha Island. You could also make use of several packages provided by the travel agencies if you’re a daytripper to cover most of the activities in Raya islands.

Facilities of Racha Island

• To stay: Though Racha Islands are usually preferred for day-tripping it could also be preferred as a staying option. If one could afford to stay in a luxurious resort the Racha Resort is a go-to place in Racha Yai island where they provide premium services. There are also budget-friendly resorts like Bungalow Raya.
• To eat: The first thing you see entering Racha islands is the line of shops that is present along the coast of Patong Beach. One could make use of these restaurants to enjoy Thai cuisine at a cheap price.
• To relax: Recently Racha Islands are a bit overcrowded and it might be difficult to find private spaces. You could explore Siam Beaches, Lha Bay and Ter Bay to find private spaces as there is fewer tourist attraction in these spaces.
• Connectivity: The islands have good network connections and some resorts provide free wifi services.
• Hospitals: The island is too small therefore it has no hospitals in its vicinity.