Ko Racha
From Wikitravel
Contents
Ko Racha Yai (เกาะราชาใหญ่) and Ko Raya Noi (เกาะราชาน้อย), also known as Ko Raya Yai and Ko Raya Noi, are twin islands off the southeastern coast of Phuket. Known for their crystal clear blue waters these islands have been an almost exclusive paradise for divers for years. With Racha Yai's white sand beaches and expanding accommodations, Racha Yai is growing in popularity.
[edit] Get in
Ko Racha Yai with its gleaming beaches can be reached by chartered boat from Ao Chalong and Rawai. Travelling time varies by type of boat:
- Speedboats make the journey in about 45 minutes.
- Dive boats, fishing boats, and large boats travel time is about 1 1/2 - 3 hours depending on the season (longer in the Summer Season).
- Longtail boats can be chartered when the winds and waves are mild. Travel time in a longtail is over 2 hours in calm seas. Caution should be taken when chartering a longtail - if the weather turns you may become stranded overnight on the island or the boat may capsize.
Sightseeing and snorkeling services are available from tour operators in town. Accommodation is available. A hilltop viewpoint on the bay’s south offers a magnificent view of the whole island.
Ko Racha Noi, 10 kilometres from Raya Yai, is the result of coral reef build up, and there are more rocks than beaches. In a small bay on the west is a boat anchorage. The waters at Raya Noi are emerald green, and the fishing there is famous, but swimming is not recommended.
Racha Yai is an available travel and tour option year round. When the seas and winds are too strong, boats will cancel their trips for safety reasons. During the summer season this only occurs a few times.
[edit] Get around
Once at Racha Yai your feet become your carriage. The island has a small network of dirt paths that link all of the beaches and resorts. You can easily walk from Bungalow Bay to Siam Beach and back again. Longtail boats are somethimes available for rent to visit other beaches if you are not inclined to walk.
[edit][add listing] See
Looking back towards Phuket from Siam Beach is one of the best things to do. Most visitors to Racha Yai come to escape the noise and distractions of Phuket and Coral Island.
Walking around some of the island's pathways you will be treated to views of wonderful coconut groves and the occasional water buffalo grazing nearby.
[edit][add listing] Do
- Rustling Palms on Raya Coral Island (Thailand Travel Plan), [1]. Ko Raya is the perfect destination if you're looking to escape the more popular (and busier) Phuket. On this 4 day trip to the peaceful island of Ko Raya, you'll find picture-perfect bays, white beaches, waving coconut palms and a turquoise sea with some fantastic coral reefs. It's also a great place to learn to dive, so you can book an introductory dive during your stay. edit
[edit] Snorkeling
One of Phuket's best kept secrets is the wonderful snorkeling at Koh Racha Yai. Perhaps due to the extra distance from Phuket or the Island's lees familiar or attractive name means that there are significantly less visitors to this island than almost every other island around Phuket. The physical layout of Racha Yai offers places to snorkel no matter what time of year it is. even on days when there are large waves, there will be a protected cove to snorkel in.
Water clarity and visibility is some of the best in Phuket. The water has a turquoise color and has a lot of marine life. The depths range from a few meters and deeper. Most snorkeling is done from speedboats or from the shore in Batok Bay and Raya Bay.
Snorkeling Trips & Day Excursions
- ALOHA SNUBA Thailand's Phuket Snorkeling Tours- Tel. 081-91-SNUBA (76822) offers a variety of snorkeling tour options.
[edit] Scuba Diving
Racha Yai is Phuket's best-known scuba diving site, with its sloping rocky reefs and its plentitude of solid coral forests. There is also Ter Bay where there is an exciting wreck in the depths of 25-35 meters. The area south Racha Yai, Racha Noi, is a haven for experienced divers as the depths are greater and the currents stronger. The overall topography is strikingly different from Racha Yai with huge granite boulders. The diving in Racha Noi compared to Racha Yai is definitely more challenging but the rewards are far greater.
[edit] SNUBA
Racha Yai's coral reefs and shallow depths make it a great location for SNUBA. SNUBA combines the ease of snorkeling with the excitement of diving. SNUBA is popular with families, couples, and small groups looking to combine a day of snorkeling with something a little more adventurous and exciting. Ages 8+ can try SNUBA and there is no certification required to participate. Professional dive guides accompany the tours, provide instruction before and guide guests underwater. SNUBA is offered only through licensed SNUBA Recreational Centers.
- ALOHA SNUBA Thailand offers SNUBA Underwater Tours to Racha Yai. Reservations are recommended.
[edit] Swimming
The waters around Racha Yai and Noi are crystal clear and turquoise in color. Swimming near the beaches and in the bays is a great way to spend the day. The water is warm and inviting. Bungalow Bay has an area sectioned off for swimming. Use caution when swimming outside of designated swimming areas off shore as there are a number of dive boats and speedboats that come in and out of the bays. Currents inside the sheltered bays are usually not and issue, but use caution when swimming out further from shore. Ask a dive operator or instructor for advice on the current conditions.
[edit] Relaxing
Racha Yai is one of the nicest islands to simply get away from everything and relax. Less boats and tourists visit this island and Jet Skis & Para sailing are officially banned.
The beaches are white powdery sand with plenty of space to spread out. The sun lounge chairs for rent are spaced a good distance apart from each other and there is only one row unlike the crowded beaches of Phuket and Coral Island where the chairs are sometimes 5-6 deep.
[edit][add listing] Buy
There isn't much to purchase on Racha Yai. There is a little shop on the side of Bungalow Bay that has miscellaneous sundries. If your child has forgotten their swimsuit they even have swimsuits for sale.
Ban Raya and The Racha Resort have small mini-marts for juices, water and snacks.
[edit][add listing] Eat
- For a 5 star dining experience The Racha Resort offers breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Ban Raya has a very nice upscale restaurant set on a small hill surrounded by coconut pals and a view of the Andaman Sea.
- Siam Beach has several small bungalow style restaurants that offer Thai food and drinks right on the beach.
[edit][add listing] Drink
- Several small bungalows on Siam Beach offer cold beverages and beach chairs.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
Only Ko Racha Yai offers acommodation.
- Ban Raya (บ้านรายา) Office: 7/26 Ratsadanuson Road, 38 rooms: 1,500-7,000 baht
- Jungle Bungalow (จังเกิ้ล บังกะโล) 12/5 Mu 4, Tambon Rawai (Tel: 0 7628 8550), 10 rooms: 500-700 baht
- Bungalow Raya, budget room rate: 1500-1800 baht
- Raya Father Resort (รายา ฟาเธอร์ รีสอร์ท) 27/1 Mu 1, Chao Fa Road (Tel: 08 1893 4430), 10 rooms: 700 baht
- Raya Resort (รายารีสอร์ท) 30/4 Mu 5, Tambon Rawai (Tel: 0 7628 8271), 18 rooms: 900-1,200 baht
- The Racha (เดอะ ราชา) PO.Box 213 Amphoe Mueang (Tel: 0 7635 5455, 0 7635 5414), 71 rooms: 18,000-23,000 baht
[edit] Contact
Mobile phones work on Racha Yai. Internet is available at Ban Raya and the Racha Resort.
[edit] Get out
| This article is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow! |
