Koh Bon Island

Koh Bon is a tree covered Island located just three-kilometers east of Phuket’s well-known Promthep Cape, on the far south end of the island. This small island is 1.3 kilometers long and about 500 meters wide at its widest point. Because of its jagged coast, the total perimeter of Koh Bon Island is nearly four-kilometers long, but most of it is so rugged, it is not walkable.

The coast is rocky on the south end of the island and yet there are some white sand beaches from about mid-island and north. The nicest stretch of sandy beach is located on the northeast side of Koh Bon Island and is around twenty-meters wide at some points. At the very northern tip is a very nice sandy beach which is perfect for photos and snorkeling. There are many crabs on the beach and small fish in the water. Snorkeling equipment can be rented from dive shops before you go on the long tail boat to Koh Bon, or bring your own. Buy your own snorkel gear if you’re going to snorkel often in Thailand – it just makes good sense, you’ll get quality gear for the same price of all the rental costs.

There are no accommodation on Koh Bon. The only restaurant on the island, called Bon Island Restaurant, is at the nice beach on the northern tip of this island. It has good reviews, and is a lovely place to eat lunch or dinner while visiting. Highly recommended is ordering a Pina colada in a coconut.

Getting there? You can take a longtail boat from Rawai Beach, which is what most people do. It’s only about a two-kilometers boat trip. Or you can plan a stop with a charter tour service; but because the island is so close to the main island of Phuket, most tours with speedboat are not very keen on stopping.

If you’re going to spend the day at a Koh Bon beach and you’re not planning on meals at the restaurant, make sure you pack your picnic and bring trash bags for what’s left.