S
ummer is quickly approaching
and with it comes thoughts
of holidays. Last month our
“Let’s Go” getaway took us to
the island of Phuket. This month we
go a little bit further to several nearby
smaller islands offering turquoise water,
soft, fine sand and thousands of colorful
tropical fish, that being Coral Island and
Racha Island.
Located just nine kilometres to the
southeast of Phuket, Coral Island is
one of the most attractive destinations
within the province. Getting to Coral
Island is easy, as it is accessible through
longtail boat from Rawai Beach or
Chalong Pier. If however you prefer
taking a speedboat, it will cut your trip
to just fifteen minutes, something more
convenient for those who are not too
fond of traveling in the water for too
long.
Known locally as Koh Hae, Coral
Island’s beach is the typical stunning,
crystalline marvel that is showcased
in travel brochures and television
advertisements. The beach is divided
into two main sections: Long Beach and
Banana Beach. Banana Beach is the ideal
place to go snorkeling and once you
immerse yourself in the blue transparent
waters, you understand that the scenery
gives legitimacy to the island’s name.
Filled with precious and colourful coral
extensions across the seabed, it is sure
to provide an unforgettable experience
for the avid or amateur snorkeler. The
water level is shallow and the fish come
in multitudes of colours and species
such as the parrot fish, the damsel fish,
the needle fish and the surgeon fish are
common and easy to spot. You will not
have to go far from the beach, as the reef
begins just a few metres away from the
shore. Long Beach is equally beautiful
and it is a place more suited for water
activities other than snorkeling. The
most popular ones are banana boating,
canoeing and speed boat sight-seeing.
For a more peaceful discovery, a
canoe is an ideal mode of transport for
May 15 - June 15 , 2015
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