Ko Raya
| Ko Raya | ||
|---|---|---|
| Waters | Andaman Sea | |
| Geographical location | 7 ° 33 ' N , 98 ° 21' E | |
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| Number of islands | 2 | |
| Main island | Ko Raya Yai | |
Ko Raya ( Thai : หมู่ เกาะ รา ยา - pronunciation : [ mùː.kò.raː.jaː ] - literally "Raya Archipelago") is a group of islands in the Andaman Sea south of Phuket , southern Thailand . The two main islands are called Ko Raya Yai ( เกาะ รา ยา ใหญ่ ) and Ko Raya Noi ( เกาะ รา ยา น้อย ), they are also often called Ko Racha Yai ( เกาะ ราชา ให ญ ) or Ko Racha Noi ( เกาะ ราชา น้อย ). Yai means "big" in the local language, noi means "small".
Administratively, the Ko-Raya Archipelago belongs to the province of Phuket, it is located in the Amphoe Mueang Phuket ( อำเภอ เมือง ภูเก็ต ).
Transport links
The inhabited Ko Raya Yai can be reached twice a day in about 45 minutes by speedboat. All trips depart from Ao Chalong Bay, which is located at the southern end of Phuket. Alternatively, you can charter a longtail boat with a boat guide. A longtail boat is a traditional, Thai, small fishing boat with an outboard motor. With the longtail boat, the 23 km long crossing takes about 1½ hours.
Attractions
Ko Raya Yai and Ko Raya Noi are among the diving paradises in southern Thailand.
Ko Raya Yai , the Big Raya Island , is about 2 × 3 km in size and offers accommodation options for tourists, for example the luxury resort "The Racha" with its white villas spread over the hill on the main beach. There are two gently sloping "postcard beaches" and a few small rocky bays. The island is hilly and mostly still overgrown by jungle. There are many coconut trees in the center of the island. Only a few dozen locals stay on the small island all year round. In the Thai rainy season (May to October each year) the ferry traffic is almost stopped. Only supply boats then operate. In the Thai high season (November to April) there is a little tourism.
Ko Raya Noi has an elongated shape, is located about 8 km southwest of Raya Yai and is uninhabited. Raya Noi has no sandy beaches. The island is overgrown by the jungle. Diving enthusiasts will find rich fishing grounds off the rocky coast.