Coconut Island holidays

Holidays to Coconut Island are the antidote to Phuket's madness. This place pairs footprint-free beaches with tropical jungle.

Phuket’s opposite

Coconut Island – also known as Koh Maphrao – is a five-minute boat ride from Phuket. Despite the short distance, it’s a world away from the pulsating clubs and chaotic markets of Thailand’s southern capital. Head here on an obligatory longtail boat, and you’ll discover a peaceful isle rich in coconut palms, mangrove forests and golden beaches.

The island make-up

Coconut Island is tiny – just two and a half kilometres long by one and a half kilometres wide. A single road extends from the west coast to the east, snaking from the pier to a viewpoint deep in the jungle. And only around 500 people live here. You’ll find a village centre in the north of the isle. It neighbours one of the few luxury resorts, The Village Coconut Island, and is home to just one restaurant with an all-Thai menu.

Exploring Coconut Island

Hills and jungle define the landscape here, so it can be hard to navigate on foot. That said, it’s worth hiring a bike from one of the hotel resorts. Pedal up onto higher ground and, on a clear day, you’ll be able to see across the Andaman Sea to the Phi Phi Islands. En route, you’ll spot wooden huts on stilts and long-tailed macaques huddling in the trees.