Thailand is a favorite holiday destination for travelers from different countries, including Russia. The resorts of Phuket and the islands of Phi Phi, Similan and James Bond have already been “mastered”. And now the eyes of lovers of rest in the bosom of pristine nature are directed to two small islands located near Phuket, at a distance of twelve kilometers from its eastern coast.
Why visit the islands?
The islands of Racha, which are famous for their azure sea, magnificent palm groves, snow-white beaches, corals of extraordinary beauty, are a real paradise for connoisseurs of pristine nature and secluded relaxation. The name of the islands comes from the word "raja" - "royal". As we have already said, there are two islands with this name: Racha Noi and Racha Yai (small and large).
Racha Noi
The island of Racha Noi is located ten kilometers south of the island of Racha Yai. There are no beaches here, as well as flat areas. Racha Noi is practically uninhabited, but it also has rarebeaches, rocky shores and amazingly beautiful nature. It was chosen by lovers of fishing and diving. In a completely different light, Ko Racha Yai appears before travelers. It is cozy and comfortable here for everyone who is tired of the hustle and bustle of large cities.
Racha Yai Island
This is a full-fledged, rapidly growing resort with a well-developed infrastructure: bungalows, hotels, shops, walking area, restaurants and entertainment. Racha Island (Phuket) is quite small - its width is about three kilometers, and its length is one and a half. This tiny piece of land attracts tourists with white sand beaches, amazing underwater world with coral reefs and colorful fish.
Racha Island (Thailand) has a mountainous landscape. Its territory is covered with dense tropical vegetation and palm trees. Even during the rainy season, the climate here is mild and warm. Racha is an island that is not distinguished by a huge crowd of tourists. Prices for accommodation and meals here are much higher than in Phuket. Thais believe that it is worth paying one and a half to two times more for a vacation in secluded places of pristine nature than for living on the mainland or in Phuket.
Most tourists come here for a day trip from Phuket or other neighboring islands. Nevertheless, for tourists there are several hotels, cafes and restaurants. On the coast there are stalls with tourist products, however, not numerous. Here you can buy fresh fruits, coconuts and beach accessories.
In the center of the islandthere is a small village with a diving center and a food shop.
Hotels
There are three main beaches on the island (we will talk about them a little later). In the neighborhood with them are the main hotels and bungalow complexes. On Patok beach is the best hotel - The Racha hotel 5. It is famous for its magnificent views of the sea, a swimming pool for small tourists, and an entertainment area. Accommodation in this hotel - from $ 200 per day (you can check the dollar rate at the time of the trip with the tour operator). Moreover, in the high season (February to April), the cost increases significantly.
Racha Island (Phuket) hotels offer not only luxurious, but also rather modest hotels. Standing on the shore facing the sea, to the right of Patok beach you will see the inexpensive Bungalow Raya Resort hotel. It offers rooms for extreme sportsmen. They include insect protection - a mesh cape located above the bed, a fan and a shower in the room. The cost of living in this hotel is from $30.
To the north of Patok beach there is a narrow path that will lead you in a few minutes to the second most important beach of the island - Siam beach. Resort Phuket 3 is located here. Despite the fact that the hotel has only three stars, it is famous for its luxurious garden. Rooms at this hotel are non-smoking only. The cost of living - from $ 60 per night.
Racha Island (Phuket) on the east coast has a comfortable Resort & Spa 3hotel. Forty-eight of its rooms have a magnificent view of the sea. Residents here can visitinfinity pool with a lovely children's area. The price of rooms is from $80 per night.
For tourism purposes, the northern parts of the island are mainly used. The entire perimeter is crossed by paths. It is not difficult to walk at a calm pace from west to east in ten minutes the entire island. Racha has several more small bungalow complexes in the center, designed for budget accommodation.
You can sail to this island without any specific plans, but act on the spot according to mood and weather. You can extend your stay if you wish.
Beaches
Racha is an island with several beaches, which are appreciated by tourists. In its western part is the picturesque Patok Bay. Its width is about three hundred meters. The length of the bay is almost a thousand meters. Most tourists who have visited this wonderful island believe that Patok Bay is no less picturesque than Maya Bay, which is located on the Phi Phi Islands. Perhaps someone will consider this opinion controversial, but it has the right to exist.
In the north of the island there is another noteworthy beach - Siam Bay. If we compare it with Patok Bay, then it is less visited by tourists, and not at all because it is not so picturesque, but because all boats with sightseers arrive in Patok Bay. But even if you came to the island of Racha Ai only for a few hours, you can easily visit these two bays, as they are connected by a good road about three hundred meters long.
Three moresmall bays are located in the east of the island: Ter Bay, Kon Kare Bay, Lha Bay. They are famous not so much for their quality and well-groomed beaches, but for their magnificent views that allow you to take unique photos here, great snorkeling and the absence of tourists.
Entertainment
As follows from the above, Racha is an island for a quiet, secluded holiday in the bosom of amazingly beautiful nature. There is not too much entertainment here, especially when compared with Phuket. And at the same time, here you can ride horses, bicycles, as well as ATVs. In addition to snorkeling, if you wish, you can also go diving on the nearby island of Racha Noi. Longtail rides are organized from any hotel.
It is noteworthy that Racha is an island where motorized types of recreation are prohibited: parachuting behind a boat, jet skis. That is why the island is considered by many to be the best place for relaxation. Interesting flora and fauna of the island. Here you can see numerous monitor lizards that feel at ease on the island, and huge buffaloes grazing against the backdrop of coconut palms. All this beauty can be observed from the viewing platform located in the center of the island.
But there is no vibrant nightlife with discos until the morning. But this does not mean that in the evening you will have to sit in your room - in every hotel you can have a great time in the evening in a bar or restaurant and listen to pleasant, often "live" music.
Everything you need on vacation, youyou can buy in several small shops, have a snack in the afternoon in snack bars and cafes. There are several massage parlors, bars, restaurants. But once again we want to draw your attention to the fact that prices here are much higher than in Phuket.
How to get there?
Are you interested in the island of Racha? Reviews of experienced tourists say that the rest here will be remembered for a long time. However, not everyone knows how to get to the island: trains do not go there, planes do not fly. Therefore, first of all, you need to fly to Phuket. From here, you will be taken to Racha Island from Rawai or Chalong piers.
We recommend traveling by speedboat or boat, as they are not so vulnerable to sudden changes in weather and waves. A boat ticket costs from $ 19 one way, the journey will take no more than forty minutes. Traveling by longtail can be a little cheaper (subject to active bargaining), but in this case, you will spend at least an hour on the road. You can book a trip to Racha Island as a tour at a tour desk or at a hotel in Phuket. For the day, the cost of the trip, including snorkeling, lunch, round-trip transfer will cost you $33-38 per person.
For those who do not have enough one day to be alone in silence with pristine nature, there are mini-tours for several days with accommodation in the hotels of the island of Racha. Such trips are quite justified, since a one-day excursion is too fleeting, and it is difficult to appreciate all the beauty of the island during this time. From Phuket, boats arrive on the island of Racha to the beach - Patokbeach. There is a pontoon pier here. It can be said that tourists get “to the ball” right from the ship - a wide snow-white beach strip amazes and delights at first sight.
The magnificent island of Racha Yai welcomes its guests throughout the year. Only a few times (during the rainy season) boats stop traveling to the island due to storms.
The cost of a trip to Thailand
Airline prices can vary significantly depending on the time of year and airline promotions, which are held quite regularly. The average price of flights to Phuket is 25 thousand rubles.
The cost of a trip to Thailand also depends on the season for which you are planning a trip and the chosen hotel. So, from February to April, a ticket costs from 27,500 to 27,700 rubles. From May to January - about 26 thousand rubles (for one person for seven days).
Reviews of tourists
Most tourists note that the trip left an unforgettable impression: cozy bungalows and hotels, magnificent nature, there are cafes and shops on the coast. The disadvantages of vacationers include the evening low tide, when stones are exposed on the beach, and the rather high cost of the trip.
