About this tour
When Jake from our team boarded Flash No.7, a two-deck catamaran moored in Phuket, we realised this wasn't your standard island hop. The boat is genuinely well-kitted — water slides, paddleboards, floating pools, the lot — and the itinerary hits Racha Noi and Racha Yai, two quieter islands in the Andaman that draw a mixed crowd of families, couples, and solo travellers wanting to escape the Patong beach scene. You're looking at eight hours start to finish, with breakfast onboard, lunch on deck, and a sunset finish. The catamaran itself is the real drawcard: spacious, two levels, and designed so you're not crammed with 200 other tourists.
Highlights
- Breakfast and afternoon tea served onboard, not rushed or cheap-feeling.
- Racha Noi's bay genuinely quiet — snorkelling without a queue of boats.
- Water slide and paddleboards mean kids (or big kids) stay entertained between swims.
- Floating mats and sofas let you drift and recover between snorkel sessions.
- Sunset timing at Promthep Cape worked well, no forced schedule clash.
- Crew professional and attentive; guide spoke clear English throughout.
- Hotel transfers included island-wide — no separate transport headache.
- Two islands in one day beats the single-island monotony of cheaper tours.
What to expect
Jake's day started early with a hotel pickup and a short boat ride to Flash No.7. Breakfast — sandwiches and coffee — was waiting on deck as we motored toward Racha Noi. First snorkel stop took about two hours; the water clarity was genuine, the bay relatively uncrowded, and the crew stayed nearby but not hovering. A second crew member helped anyone nervous with gear, which made a difference.
After Racha Noi we moved to Racha Yai for round two. Lunch arrived mid-afternoon on the upper deck: Thai seafood salad, grilled fish, rice, seasonal fruit. Quality was solid, portions generous. Between swims, the water toys (slides, paddleboards, the floating lounges) stopped it feeling like a rinse-and-repeat snorkel marathon. The pace felt genuinely yours — no "get back on the boat at 2pm sharp" nonsense. Sunset at Promthep Cape was the finale, with fresh fruit and soft drinks as we watched the light drop. No hard sell, no rush.
What travellers say
- Catamaran comfort and space — not a crowded speedboat experience.
- All meals and snorkel gear included; no hidden costs on the day.
- Two islands and genuine snorkel time, not a flag-plant-and-go visit.
- Island-wide hotel transfers included; no transport logistics stress.
- Crew knowledgeable and responsive; guide spoke clear, natural English.
- Water toys and floating mats prevent monotony between snorkel sessions.
- Strict medical exclusions; check health conditions before booking.
- Early pickup and full-day commitment; not a lazy-start option.
- Racha Noi access weather-dependent; rough seas trigger itinerary change.
- Tips not included; budget extra for crew gratuity on the day.
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
This works well if you want a step above the 50-person speedboat tours without paying resort-level money. The catamaran is genuinely comfortable, the crew attentive, and inclusions (breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, snorkel gear, paddleboards, transfers) mean you're not nickel-and-dimed on the day. Good for families with older kids, couples, or solo travellers who want a bit of ease with their island time. Two islands and a sunset means decent variety.
This tour has strict health exclusions — no pregnant travellers, no infants, no back or heart conditions. It's not a hardship tour, but the boat does rock in swell, and snorkelling requires basic comfort in the water. Early pickup means an early alarm. Racha Noi is a weather call; rough seas mean you'll switch to Racha Yai, Coral Island, and Phang Nga Bay instead. Tips aren't included, so budget for crew. Peak season (Nov–Feb) will be busier. Bring sunscreen and a rash vest if you're fair-skinned — eight hours on water is a long burn.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.