Thailand tours and snorkeling
Selected tours with snorkeling. From Phuket, Khao Lak and Koh Lanta
Tourism Authority of Thailand registered (#31/01064)
Similan Islands tours
- Crystal clear water
- White sand beaches, sail rock view point
- Early Bird or late start Lazy tour
- Friendly sea turtles
- Available Nov to April
Surin Islands tours
- Colourful reefs
- Moken village
- Suthep bay
- Available Nov to April
- Transfer from Phuket
- One day tour, or overnight camp
Racha & Coral Islands
- Island hopping Racha Yai and Coral Islands
- Island hopping Racha Noi, Racha Yai & Maiton Islands
- Private charter
- Best choice to try scuba diving
- Snorkeling island close to south Phuket
Snorkeling Thailand FAQ’s:
Q. Where is the best place for snorkeling Thailand?
The Surin Islands is our favourite snorkeling location with shallow reefs in clear water full of fish. They are less visited than the Similan Islands which have become too popular for their own good in recent years. The Similan and Surin Islands have the clearest water, the biggest fish and the largest schools of fish. This is the closest you can get to being inside an aquarium.
Phi Phi Islands has a huge diversity of marine life. Leopard sharks and black tip reef sharks can be seen, we have even snorkeled with whale sharks here. Turtles are also common. There is a nice variety of hard and soft corals, anemones and sea fans. There are many islands in the Phi Phi Islands chain and most snorkeling tours visit a few of them including Phi Phi Don, Phi Phi Ley and the beautiful Bamboo Island.
Snorkeling trips to Phi Phi are often combined with other side activities and sightseeing such as seeing monkeys at Monkey beach or swimming at the famous Maya bay on Phi Phi Ley. A speedboat from Phuket to Phi Phi takes about 45 minutes and often stops along the way to swim at Koh Yao of Koh Khai Islands.
The Racha Islands (Koh Raya) and Coral Island have mainly hard corals in the small sheltered bays that are ideal for snorkelers to get close to schools of fish. Eagle eyed snorkelers may see moray eels, garden eels, sting rays, puffer fish, parrot fish and trigger fish, among others. Corals include staghorn, brain, mushroom, cabbage and leaf coral. Racha Island is 30 minutes from Chalong bay by speedboat. Racha Noi is another 30 minutes further south. Fewer boats go to Racha Noi, it’s an uninhabited island and has the clearest water. Coral Island is the closest snorkeling island to Phuket, just 10 minutes by speedboat from Chalong pier. Banana beach is the best beach at Coral Island, it’s less busy than Kahung beach.
Q. When is the best time of year to snorkel in Thailand?
On the Andaman Sea side of Thailand’s west coast the best season for snorkeling is November to late April. From May to October you can still do excellent snorkeling at Racha Yai, Phi Phi Islands and Koh Kai but the Similan and Surin National Marine Parks are closed to tour boats.
Q. Which type of snorkeling boat?
We mainly offer snorkeling tours by speedboat because the speedboats get snorkelers out to the best snorkeling places quickly and in small groups. The boats have covered shaded areas and toilets. They have life jackets on board. They also carry all the snorkeling equipment that you need, mask (goggles), snorkel and fins (flippers). The boat crew act as guides for your safety and enjoyment. Drinking water is also on the boats.