About this tour
When Jake from our team took this private speedboat trip to Banana Beach on Koh Hey near Phuket, we found it a solid half-day escape from the mainland hustle. The island's known for its long stretch of white sand and calm, clear water — the sort of place where you can actually see fish without squinting. Five hours gives you time to swim, snorkel, kayak, or just sprawl on a beach chair with lunch included. It's the kind of trip that works whether you want activity or pure downtime, and the private boat setup means no fighting for deck space with tour groups.
Highlights
- Clear kayak lets you watch fish without getting fully wet
- Snorkelling gear on hand — coral and smaller reef life visible
- Set lunch included, beats packing your own
- Beach chair reserved for you all day
- Speedboat ride there and back is quick and smooth
- Water and fresh fruit refilled throughout the day
- Wheelchair accessible — ramps and smooth surfaces throughout
What to expect
You'll be picked up from a pier (not your hotel) and zipped over on a speedboat — takes about 20 minutes depending on swell. Banana Beach is properly wide and sandy, with shallow water that slopes gently, so it's easy to wade in or jump off a kayak. The snorkelling's honest: small fish and coral, not a thriving house reef, but genuinely clear water and no crowds because you're private. Lunch arrives mid-day (set menu, so no choosing), and it's filling — we'd recommend eating before the afternoon heat peaks.
Pacing-wise, it's relaxed. You can kayak for 45 minutes or laze for four hours; no fixed schedule pushes you around. The five-hour window feels generous — enough to swim, dry off, eat, and still have buffer time. First aid kit and life jackets are standard; all equipment is provided and checked.
What travellers say
- No hotel-to-pier shuffle included, but pier access is straightforward
- Private boat setup — guides focus on your group only
- Snorkelling and clear kayak both available, pick your vibe
- Lunch and refreshments included — no food hunting mid-day
- Fully wheelchair accessible, smooth surfaces throughout
- Flexible pacing — swim two hours or one, totally your call
- Set menu lunch — dietary preferences need pre-arranged
- Midday sun exposure can be intense; bring serious sunscreen
- Not suitable for pregnant travellers or spinal injury concerns
- Speedboat ride may be rough in choppy seasons
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
Private boat means no jostling with 40-person tour groups, guides can adjust to your pace, and snorkelling gear saves you buying or renting separately. It's genuinely wheelchair accessible — smooth surfaces, ramps, and accessible toilet facilities. The clear-kayak option is a neat middle ground if you want to see underwater life but aren't keen on full snorkelling. Lunch included is a genuine time-saver.
You'll need to get yourself to the pier — no hotel pickup included, so factor in that journey and cost. Set menu means dietary requests need flagging ahead. Banana Beach can get sun-exposed midday; bring strong sunscreen and a hat. Not suitable if you're pregnant or have spinal/heart concerns. Water can be choppy during certain seasons, affecting the speedboat ride comfort. Group sizes aren't specified; clarify if "private" means solo or up to 8 people.
sunscreen (reapply after water), hat, dry bag for phone, any medications. Included: snorkel gear, kayak, lunch, drinks, fruit, first aid, life jacket, chair.
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.