Surin to Similan Islands and Krabi Ecotour 10 Night / 11 Days

Activities: Sightseeing, hiking, snorkeling, swimming and sea kayaking in the mangrove forests and karsts islands.

Best Season: The best time for this tour is from November to March:
Trip Grade: Easy

Introduction :

Welcome to Discover Asia Travel's snorkeling and sea kayaking ecotour programs featuring Surin lslands, Similan Islands Marine NationaI Parks in the Andaman Sea, the world's top dive and snorkel sites, and Krabi's Railay beach and sea kayaking in the mangroves of Phang Nga Bay.

Surin Islands National Park :

Surin Islands National Park close to the Burmese archipelagoes is one of Thailand's best snorkeling sites, with a stop at a submerged rock frequented by huge but harmless whale sharks. The best season is November to May.

Facilities on Surin Island :

Accommodation will be Govt. operated bungalows (longhouse) or sleep in Camp Tents. Common shared bathrooms and showers are available. Meals will have to be purchased from the canteen type restaurant. Surin Marine National Park is strictly conserved area. Thus, too many people travel at a time is not allowed, and all visitors must abide by the strict conservation rules wherever they travel here. The purpose of travel here is to get away from the over crowded areas to enjoy nature, and live side by side with nature with basic comfort.

Similan Islands National Park:

The nine uninhabited tropical islands of the Similans are located about 60 kilometers due west of Khao Lak. The variety of marine life and underwater scenery coupled with top visibility makes this a diver's and snorkeler's paradise. Various reef fish of all shapes and sizes can be seen, including rays, reef sharks, turtles, and sometimes dolphins, manta rays and whale sharks. Between snorkels, you can relax on one of the white sandy beaches, snorkel on a shallow reef, or climb strange rock formations.

Facilities on Similan Islands in the Andaman Sea :

Highlights of Krabi :

Krabi has one of the most spectacular beaches and small islands made up of craggy limestone cliffs. Railey Beach is one of the most exclusive destinations that is surrounded by a sheer wall of limestone cliffs. These cliffs cut off from the mainland, prohibits vehicle access. Hence, the sandy beach is undisturbed by rocks or coral and slopes gently into the sea, which is studded with small craggy islands and coral-sea gardens. Railey Beach is also a popular destination for rock climbers these days, experienced and beginners, from around the world.
Accommodations of various standards are available at Railey Beach and Ao Nang Beach. Railey Beach has individual cottages of several standards, middle class and tourist class, all shaded by the original coconut palms. Ao Nang Beach, located nearby, has many choices of accommodations, luxury to tourist class hotel resorts. Meals are available at several restaurants on the beach, all serving local Thai and Western cuisine at reasonable prices.

The many craggy karst islands visible from the beaches are ideal for boating and snorkeling. There is considerable exploring to do nearby. Outside and inside the many limestone cliffs, the possibilities for rock climbing and caving are infinite.

Itinerary: Surin-Similan Island and Krabi Ecotour 11 Days :
Day 1 Bangkok to Kuraburi
Breakfast at hotel, flight to Suratthani and then transfer to Kuraburi.
En-route, visit Khao Soke National Park head quarter and other scenic site, time permitting. Overnight in Kuraburi.
Meals: (BLD).

Day 2 Kuraburi to Surin Marine National Park
Breakfast at the resort and depart by boat to Surin Marine National Park
Upon arrival, store luggage, Relax on the island, snorkel behind the north island "Khao Chong Kard", swim, and hike around the island at leisure will be the main activities today.
Meals: (L&D).

Day 3 Surin Marine National Park
Breakfast at the canteen.
Then, depart for snorkeling around North & South Islands.
The trips around the island, snorkeling, hiking and swimming, your tour guide will take you to designated popular sites by means of boat transfer. Then,
Tour activities are carried out at leisurely style until lunch and continue the same. Accommodation in bungalows (longhouse) or sleep in tents.
Meals: (B,L&D).

Day 4 Surin Marine National Park-Khao Lak Coast
Breakfast at the canteen,
Around 10 am, return to pier, and proceed to Khao Lak Coast.
Arrive Khao Lak, check into resort and remaining time at leisure.
Overnight at resort.
Meals: (B,L&D).

Day 5 Khao Lak - Similan Marine National Park
Around 9 in the morning, proceed to Tablamu pier for transfer to Similan Marine National Park islands. Similana Island activities are hiking, snorkeling, swimming and relaxing on the beaches at a leisurely style.
Accommodation in bungalows or tents.
Meals: (B,L&D).

Day 6 Similan Marine National Park
Breakfast at the camp, then depart for snorkeling at designated popular sites where we can see variety marine lives, swimming on the clean beaches, and trekking through the designated trails and to view points will be the main activities of our trip to the Similan Islands. Accommodation in bungalows or tents as described above.
Meals: (B,L&D).

Day 7 Similan Marine National Park- Krabi
After breakfast, return to pier, proceed to Thaplamu Pier. Then, transfer to hotel in Krabi. On arrival at Ao Nang Beach, transfer by long-tail boat (about 15 minutes) to Rai Lay Beach. Check into resort upon arrival and remaining time at leisure. Overnight at the beach resort.
Meals: (BL)

Day 8 Krabi Sea Kayak Tour
(Mangroves, Sea Caves, and Karsts islands)
On the Cave Route, you will enjoy canoeing along the river with the beautiful mangrove scenery on both sides. The highlight of the trip is to paddle through the marvelous caves. You will see the stalagmite and stalactite of Lod Cave and visit the Pee Hua Tho Cave (the Skull Cave) with interesting pre-historic paintings.

Once you paddle through the Light Cave, you will find yourself in the fascinating Paradise Room where you can enjoy the peaceful atmosphere and beautiful scenery (We could access only during high tide). The next visit is the Dark Passage Cave through which you paddle to reach the huge, stunning room awaiting for you to explore.

At Taan Bok Khor Ranee National Park, it is good idea to refresh yourself after a long day canoeing by swimming in the waterfall which comes out of a mysterious cave.

Tour Schedule:
Depart from hotel at 9:00 a.m.
Arrive at a pier at Bor Tor
Enjoy canoeing and exploring the fascinating stalactite and stalagmite at the Light Cave
More exciting canoeing to the Dark Cave
Relax yourself by having picnic lunch
Continue your adventure through the Lod Cave which is famous for the stalactite and stalagmite in beautiful shapes
Visit Pee Hua Tho Cave with hundred of prehistoric painting
Get back to the pier
Enjoy swimming at Taan Bok Khor Ranee, a natural pool
Arrive back to hotel around 4:00 p.m.
Time schedule: 9:00 a.m.- 4:00 p.m.
Day Trip Include: lunch, fruits, drinking water, coke, beach towels, life jacket, Canoeing equipment, first aid kit, insurance, and English speaking guide.
Accessories to Bring: swimwear, sunglasses, sun-lotion, camera, clothes and beach slippers.

Note: This program is under the limitation of the weather conditions.
Basic training for how to maneuver kayak is provided.
Meals: BL.

Day 9 Mangrove Forest Sea Kayak
Canyon is a terrific place to have an adventure by canoeing through the mangrove forest along the mountain edges, where you can experience the ecology of the whole area and see lots of animals. If lucky, you will see monkeys and gibbons that always give us a chance to have eye contact with them. In this mangrove forest, there are the secret rooms where you can feel the silence of the nature.

After exiting the mangrove forest, you will reach the highlight of the trip which is the magnificent canyon, the limestone karsts cliffs covered with wild floras. Besides, you will visit the Sa Kaew Cave.

Tour Itinerary:
Depart from hotel at 9:00 a.m. for Ta Len Village pier
Start adventurous Canoeing along the mangrove forest
Picnic lunch on a small Beach
Canoe back to the pier
Enjoy swimming in crystal, clear Sra Kaew
Arrive back to hotel around 4:00 p.m.
Time schedule: 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Meals: BL.

Day 10 Day at Leisure and evening flight to Bangkok
Breakfast at the resort and day at leisure.
1700 pm, depart for Krabi Airport to catch flight to Bangkok.
Meals: (B).

Day 11 Departure from Bangkok
Breakfast at the hotel and transfer to Bangkok Airport for departure for homeward bound flight.
Meals: (B).

Note On Meals: B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner:
Meals such as lunch and dinner are not included in some locations. This is done in purpose in order to let you have more choices of choosing your own favorite meals where the variety of restaurant is abundant.

TOUR COST PER PERSON IN US DOLLARS:

Tour Cost Includes:
1-Ten nights of accommodation in resort in Kuraburi, and bungalows or tents on Surin and Similan Islands on twin sharing (accommodations are with basic comfort),
2-full-board meal plan (breakfast, lunch and dinner),
3-transfers by air-conditioned tour coach or van for transfers,
4-speed boat transfer to and from the islands,
5-all tour activities as mentioned in the itinerary,
6-camping equipment (tent, mattress and blanket where applicable),
7-guides and other supporting staff (English speaking local tour guide service throughout the tour),
8-entrance fees to parks and monuments,
9-all ground and waterways transfers including to and from hotel,
10-boat support to ferry guests to scenic spots and snorkeling sites while on Surin and Similan Island.
Note: Speed boat transfers from Kuraburi to Surin and return, and Thap Lamu to Similan Island and return will joint transfer, NOTE: All adventure packages into the jungle and remote areas will include full-board meal, necessary equipment and crew as stated in the itinerary.

Tour Cost Does Not Include:
Visa fees, international and domestic airfares, Bangkok airport departure tax (about US$12), lunch & dinner not stated in the itinerary, personal clothing, sleeping bag, snorkeling equipment, mosquito repellent, personal insurance, alcoholic beverages, telephone, laundry, charges for delays caused by situations beyond our control such as bad weather, natural disasters, political unrest, emergency costs, and optional activities on leisure days.

Domestic Airfares:
Bangkok-Surathani Airfare : US$62 Per Person (subject to change)
Krabi-Bangkok Airfare : US$68 Per Person (subject to change)

Package Prices & Alternation of Itineraries:
All package prices are net per person in US Dollars. The package prices are subject to change should there be changes in government tax policies, Thai currency exchange rates and/or major changes in US Dollar exchange rates.
We reserve the right to alternate an itinerary in the event of natural disasters, bad weather, civil unrest or other unforeseen factors that pose threat to us. In such events, alteration of an itinerary is done for the safety of our clients.