On a snorkeling safari with Andaman Snorkel Discovery you will cruise the fairly undiscovered Surin Islands and two famous islands within the Similan Islands National Park: the stunning Koh Tachai and the Manta hot spot that is Koh Bon. You will get the chance to snorkel away from crowds and visit pristine white sandy beaches with only a few people in sight. On our boat, the eye catching Reggae Queen, you can sit back and enjoy fantastic fresh Thai food and adventure out on our dinghy to unexplored places.
You will get the chance to learn about what sea life the Andaman holds within and meet like-minded people who are also there to relax and enjoy. The absolute highlight of our snorkeling tour is a visit to the Surin Islands. Here we see the Moken (Sea Gypsy) community and how they live and we also visit some unique snorkel spots here too.
3 night stay in a twin bunk air-conditioned cabin
All meals on board
Fruit, drinking water, tea and coffee
English and German speaking guide
Professional Snorkel equipment
Insurance
National Park entry fee (this is 2,100 THB per adult, 1,500 THB per child)
Alcoholic drinks
Transfers to/from our departure pier in Tap Lamu
Soft drinks
Good sun protection; at least 30SPF and up. This should be waterproof
T-shirt to wear in the water, bathing suit, towel and extra clothes
Money for alcoholic & soft drinks and any souvenirs you might want to buy on the Surin Islands.
Waterproof camera if you have one with extra batteries and plenty of storage on your SD card (you will be snapping all over the place!)
A long sleeved jumper/cardigan/jacket for the evenings – even in the tropics it can get a bit chilly at night sometimes!
Any personal items you might require. If needed, we advise bringing sea sickness prevention pills, but these are available on board
Don’t worry about all your holiday luggage, you can leave this in the safety of the Andaman Snorkel Discovery office in Tap Lamu while you are on the boat. You will only need a few things, so it is better to leave your big bags behind and just pack the essentials in a small backpack. We will store it for free and even have a safety box if you have valuables you would like storing safely.
Surin and Similan Snorkeling Itinerary will Include
The Reggae Queen sets out to sea every Friday afternoon at 2:00pm. Our meeting point is at our office close to the departure pier in Tap Lamu, near Khao Lak. We recommend joining us from Khao Lak, it’s easy for you to arrange a taxi from there to our meeting point. Transfers from Khao Lak, Phuket, Krabi, Khao Sok or any other destination can be arranged for you but are not included in the trip price.
Once on board we make our way out to the Surin National Park where we will moor for the night. On our journey out, dinner will be served and you will get the chance to meet your fellow snorkeling companions.
Surin Islands
The highlight of the Andaman Snorkel Discovery Liveaboard. The archipelago of the Surin Islands is a mecca for snorkeling fans and offers a variety of snorkel spots – colourful corals in shallow water, countless fish and pristine beaches.
At ‘Chong Kad Bay you will find a perfect underwater world with intact hard and soft corals and a variety of marine life that leaves no room for boredom.
Visiting the Moken
This trip is what makes our Andaman snorkel tour the most outstanding, as we are the only one to visit here and include this cultural aspect into our itinerary. We take a look around the village and see what island life is like for these sea faring folk. Of course we are always respectful and do not intrude on their culture or beliefs – with this in mind please dress appropriately when visiting.
Take the chance to purchase some unique souvenirs here, as the Moken make beautiful little trinkets and are grateful for the income.
Socially and Environmentally Responsible
Andaman Snorkel Discovery try to be as socially and environmentally responsible as we can. Afterwards our traditional Moken taxi will take us to ‘Kra Thing Bay’. From here we will follow a short trail across the island to ‘Mai Ngam Bay’ for some relaxing time on the beach and swimming off the shore. And if it is the right time of the year we might be lucky and can play with baby sharks in the mangroves.
At ‘Mae Yai Bay’ you can enjoy your adventures in the crystal clear waters and marvel at the beautiful corals and interesting tropical fish.
Koh Bon
Koh Bon is a 65 million year old island formed by sedimented limestone. Koh Bon belongs to the Similan National Park (as does Koh Tachai) and is very popular among divers. The fish diversity is likely to be unique in Thailand. The first snorkel spot we explore at Koh Bon is called ‘Koh Bon Ridge’ or ‘Manta Point’.
Snorkeling stops are usually for an hour at a time, we find that this is enough to explore a site and gives us plenty of time to travel between the snorkel sites. Koh Bon is famous for being a hot spot for Mantas, so if it’s the right time of the year you might just get to encounter one!
Even without Mantas, Koh Bon has its own unique and special charm and we are proud that we are the only snorkel tour operator which offers Koh Bon as an integral part of the tour program.
After a short break we will jump for the second time into the water and snorkel inside the bay at Koh Bon and on the backside of the island. While you are in the water exploring, our crew will do their magic on board and prepare a well needed lunch for when you get back on the boat.
Koh Tachai
Koh Tachai is one of the most beautiful islands in the Similan Marine National Park. Andaman Snorkel Discovery is the only snorkel tour operator that stops at Koh Tachai. The southern tip of Koh Tachai is called “Koh Tachai Pinnacle” and with a bit of luck we might be able to snorkel with a Manta Ray, Whale Shark or hundreds of Barracuda.
You will be amazed at your first encounter with Koh Tachai, in all its stunning glory. We make the most of this beautiful destination while it is empty, snorkeling at sites abundant in underwater life with high chances of encountering whale sharks and manta rays.
Safety factor: Itinerary is guide and may change due to conditions, this for your safety.