Hong Island: Day Trips and Tours from Phuket

With turquoise waters, flawless white sand beaches and a secluded feel, Koh Hong — popularly referred to as Hong Island — is a tiny portion of paradise.

While Hong Island is relatively small in size, it has plenty to explore, including lush jungle hiking trails and hidden coves. You can also take a dip in its warm lagoon or spread out on the island's soft sands.

Whether you're looking for a romantic getaway or an exciting adventure, a Hong Island day trip from Phuket is sure to deliver.

Find below everything you need to know about Hong Island, one of the most idyllic destinations for day trips from Phuket.

How to get to Hong Island from Phuket?

Hong Island is located within the Krabi province of southern Thailand. It is approximately 40 kilometers away from Phuket, within the Than Bok Khorani National Park.

Boat tour to Hong Island from Phuket

The easiest and most enjoyable way to see Hong Island is through a guided tour. You'll benefit from a hotel pickup and drop-off service that makes your excursion simple, and most tours last between 7 and 9 hours. Many tours begin around 12 PM, returning to Phuket after dark.

If you wish to make the jaunt to Hong Island privately, you'll need to hire a boat from one of Phuket's marinas. It takes less than an hour to reach the island by speedboat or longtail boat, and you can barter for a fair price with your captain.

How much does the entrance ticket to Hong Island cost?

• Adults: THB300 (US$8)
• Children: THB100 (US$3)

What is the typical itinerary of a day tour to Hong Island from Phuket?

Day trips to Hong Island rarely visit this small isle alone. Usually, your boat tour will take you to a plethora of other locations within the area. Boarding your vessel after an easy hotel pickup, you'll find the journey to Hong Island to be tranquil and delightful.

As you travel through Phang Nga Bay, you'll stop at a variety of islands, which vary depending on the Hong Island day trip you take. Some of the most popular destinations along the route include James Bond Island, the floating village of Koh Panyee and Panak Island.

You'll have the opportunity to enjoy a snorkeling, canoeing or kayaking adventure around Phang Nga Bay. You don't need any training to participate in these water activities. Instead, you can simply don a mask or hop in a vessel and explore the jaw-dropping area of southern Thailand.

After expending your energy discovering the bountiful Thai waters, you'll be served a freshly-prepared traditional lunch. Continuing on, you'll head to Hong Island, where you'll visit its sea caves that were formed millions of years ago, as well as its lagoon.

Some Hong Island day tours remain on the island until after dark to see the bioluminescent plankton come to life. These excursions also organize a Loy Krathong ceremony, before returning to Phuket.

What kinds of tours are available to go to Hong Island?

Hong Island day tours are an excellent opportunity to see many other sights within Phang Nga Bay.

Guided tour to Hong Island plus James Bond Island from Phuket

This day tour cruises through two of Thailand's most scenic national parks to reach the paradisiacal Hong Island.

Once you arrive, you can take advantage of the almost transparent seas and snorkel alongside an array of tropical fish. You'll also participate in a canoeing tour around the island's thrilling sea caves.

Moving on, you'll stop at the two islands that were featured in "The Man With the Golden Gun," as well as the floating village of Panyee.

Starlight tour to Hong Island from Phuket

On this Hong Island day tour, you'll jump in a kayak and paddle through the still waters and towering limestone formations of Panak Island. After spending the day exploring Phang Nga Bay, you'll find that the real magic happens after sunset.

As the skies grow dark, you'll participate in a Loy Krathong ceremony, which is a significant spiritual practice in Thai culture. You'll be surrounded by fireflies and bioluminescent plankton, to provide a remarkable natural light show.

Private tour to Hong Island from Phuket

If you wish to have more control over your itinerary, take a private excursion to Hong Island. You'll travel to three picturesque islands — Pakbia, Lading and Hong — where you'll experience swimming and snorkeling.

As just your group participates in the tour, you can choose to cut short or extend your time at any particular destination. You'll be served a traditional lunch as you gaze over Hong Island's lagoon.

How much does a tour to Hong Island from Phuket cost?

Starlight tours of Hong Island cost between US$80 and US$140, and include meals, as well as activities, such as canoeing.

You can expect to pay approximately US$820 for a private Hong Island day trip. This cost is for a group of up to six participants, which breaks down to just under US$140 per person.

Hong Island day tours that incorporate James Bond Island into their itinerary cost around US$240 and travel by speedboat to the destinations.

Most excursions cover the cost of the national park fees, however, you should check whether this is included on your preferred tour before booking.

What will you see and do on a Hong Island day trip from Phuket?

Hong Island is part of a group of four idyllic islets in the Than Bok Khorani National Park. It is the largest island in the archipelago and remains uninhabited.

Its name translates to "Room Island," referencing the island's lagoon, which is surrounded by limestone formations and resembles a room.

The Hong Lagoon is one of the features of the island that draws thousands of tourists in. It is a large natural pool leading out to the ocean, with a number of rock formations that create a 10-meter "entrance" to the lagoon.

If you are looking for marine life, this is an ideal place to spot tropical fish as the waters are clear and shallow. The lagoon can be entered by boat, however, many visitors find it enjoyable to kayak into the pool and feel its magnificence from close proximity.

Outside of the lagoon, the seas surrounding Hong Island are also brimming with an abundance of sea creatures. These include damselfish, which have become dominant in the waters, because of excessive feeding from visitors.

Those wanting to explore the island further can go on a hiking tour of the nature trail. This walking path is well signposted and travels alongside ancient cliffs, through a mass of endemic plants, and flowers.

Several species of birds call the island home and can often be seen circling its outskirts, as well as a throng of humming cicadas, and a group of white-faced gibbons.

It's inadvisable to feed this species of monkey as they can become overly bold and threaten or steal from other tourists.

When is the best time to visit Hong Island?

In order to enjoy the best snorkeling conditions, you should plan your Hong Island day trip between November and March. During this time, the humidity is low, the conditions are tropical and the waters are serene.

Are there any tours to Hong Island from other cities in Thailand?

Yes, there are tours departing from other cities in Thailand:

• Day trips to Hong Island from Krabi

Travel tips

• If you have time in your itinerary, choose a starlight day trip to Hong Island, which includes a traditional Loy Krathong ceremony.
• Regardless of the time of year that you visit Hong Island, you'll experience tropical conditions. Be prepared with sunscreen, a sun hat and plenty of water.
• If you want to explore more of what Thailand has to offer, take a combined tour that travels to other surrounding islands.