Thailand: Andaman Sea Kayak, Snorkel & Dive

If arriving into Phuket airport today, our group hotel can arrange a paid airport shuttle transfer. Please advise your flight arrival details and we will book this for you. If you are already in Phuket, please make your way to the group hotel. Check in is from 2pm. Later this afternoon, you’ll meet your kayak guide for a trip briefing, followed by an early dinner. Phuket is one of the southern provinces of Thailand and consists of the island of Phuket, (the countries largest island), and 32 smaller islands off the coast. Phuket Island is connected by the Sarasin Bridge to Phang Nga province to the north. The next nearest province is Krabi, to the east across Phang Nga Bay. Overnight at Palm Garden Resort, Chalong, Phuket (subject to availability)

Meals:  D

The morning and lunch is at your own leisure today. The group hotel is a quiet oasis in bustling Chalong, with a pool, restaurant and garden. For those that would like to explore, the Big Buddha Statue sits atop Nakkerd Hill near Chalong and is worth a morning visit for the statue itself and the superb views from the top of the hill. Please note that lunch is not included today. Your kayak guide will meet you at the group hotel at 1.30pm for the transfer to Chalong Pier for the 2pm embarkation of our liveaboard, the Thailand Master. On boarding, you’ll meet the captain and crew who will conduct boat and safety briefings, including a life jacket drill. Then it’s time to settle into your comfortable cabins. The boat departs Chalong and heads north into Phang Nga Bay to anchor at Koh* Roi, a picturesque, tiny island fringed with mangroves and a sandy beach. If time allows we can enjoy an introductory paddle along the island. At sunset, we gather on the deck to watch the bats emerging from the cave on the island and flying overhead into the night sky. We enjoy our first dinner on board under a multitude of stars.*Koh is island in Thai.

Meals:  B,D

Today we’ll explore the Phang Nga Bay area. There are many beautiful islands to pull our kayaks onto, including Koh Phanak, part of the Koh Hong National Park. The island is uninhabited, steep, densely forested and punctuated with both dry and sea caves with many passages. Depending on the tide, we can paddle inside the caves and appreciate the amazing marine geology of this area. Later in the day, we may even visit “James Bond Island” (Ko Phing Kan), now famous as the islands’ limestone karst towers were featured in “The Man with the Gold Gun”.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we head east to Ao Thalane in Krabi province. A beautiful and serene area, Ao Thalane is known for its mangrove forests, hidden lagoons and dramatic cliffs. Our paddling outings take place along mangrove waterways where, from our kayaks, we’ll keep an eye out for monkeys and tropical birds in the dense forest of the mainland. There are four species of monkeys in Krabi- Dusky Langurs, Crab-eating Macaques, Gibbons and Stump-tailed Macaques. Bird species include mangrove pitta birds, colourful kingfishers, ospreys and kites. In the afternoon we visit Than Bok National Park for a rainforest walk and a swim in the pools beneath small waterfalls.

Meals:  B,L,D

This morning we have the opportunity to hike to Dragon Crest Viewpoint. Also known as Khao Ngon-Nak Nature Trail, the 2-3 hour walk offers unparalleled panoramic views over tropical rainforest, monolithic rocks, the Andaman Sea and islands. The hike is steep at some points and the humidity high, but worth the effort for the views! If you prefer to stay on the liveaboard, there will be swimming and snorkelling opportunities. Returning to the boat, we head west to Koh Hong. Here, we enjoy the experience of paddling through a narrow rock opening to the island’s picture-perfect lagoon. Koh Hong has a number of stunning beaches framed by limestone cliffs which we can access by a circumnavigation of the island. The Hong 360 viewpoint is reached by 419 metal stairs and rewards visitors with views of the Phang Nga Islands, surrounding Krabi Islands and Koh Hong Beach. During the months of November and December, the seas east of Koh Hong have previously been visited by whale sharks. If we have reports that whale sharks have been seen, we can scout the area and both snorkellers and scuba divers could have the chance to swim near these magnificent creatures.

Meals:  B,L,D

Today we head south to Koh Muk, a peaceful island that’s perfect for kayaking. The highlight here is Emerald Cave (Tham Morakot), a cave with an emerald-green lagoon hidden inside. Depending on the water level, we can either paddle or swim through the cave and along a dark tunnel which opens up to reveal a lagoon at the bottom of an enormous sinkhole with a picturesque sandy beach. Alternatively, (or in addition), we’ll paddle along the coastline and enjoy the clear waters and picturesque scenery. Dugongs have been known to frequent the waters around Koh Muk and for divers and snorkellers, this is a chance for a potential underwater highlight of the trip! On land, we can wander around Baan Koh Muk, a traditional fishing village on the island and meet the locals going about their daily lives.

Meals:  B,L,D

Heading further south, we spend the day exploring the twin islands of Koh Rok Nok and Koh Rok Nai, known for their pristine white beaches and colourful coral reefs. For the enjoyment of snorkellers and scuba divers, there’s usually little current and visibility is good. There are many species living in Koh Roks’ waters, such as anemone fish, eels, sea stars and giant clams. in addition, turtles can often be spotted, usually either Green or Hawsbill species. For those wanting to stretch their legs, there’s a viewpoint to walk to, at around 150 metres high, to enjoy the vista across the Andaman Sea and the mainland. Later today we sail north-west and anchor at Koh Phi Phi.

Meals:  B,L,D

The Phi Phi Islands are part of Hat Nopharat Thara – Mu Kp Phi Phi National Park and are made up of two big islands – Koh Phi Phi Don and Koh Phi Phi Le, and four smaller islands nearby – Koh Yung, Koh Mai Phai, Koh Pida Nok and Koh Pida Nai. We’ll steer clear of busy anchorages and find coastlines to kayak and reefs for snorkelling. Today, scuba divers may like to forgo the kayak outings for a full day of adventures under the water. Koh Phi Phi offers numerous diving possibilities and the locations we visit may vary from one trip to the next. Many of the dive sites are 10-25+ metres deep walls featuring gorgonian fans, soft corals, black coral bushes, interesting rock formations and swim-throughs. Along the base of many walls, you will find hard coral gardens to explore where you may spot leopard and nurse sharks sleeping on the sandy bottom, or black tip reef sharks cruising the reefs. Look carefully for mantis shrimp and seahorses while triggerfish dart around you. Barracuda, octopus, blue spotted stingrays and banded sea snakes are also regularly sighted, making for a fun day of diving! Tonight we enjoy our last dinner on board and celebrate our tropical Thailand adventures.

Meals:  B,L,D

We disembark Thailand Master back at Chalong Pier, on Phuket Island, at around 10am. A transfer to Phuket Airport can be facilitated by the boat staff and your kayak guide. A taxi to the airport can take up to an hour and a half if traffic is heavy. Please take this into account if flying out today.

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