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FAQ

Boats (11)

The speedboats are licensed for between 8 and 45 passengers, depending on the size of boat, and these maximum capacity limits are always respected. How many people are on the same speedboat as you will depend on the time of year & the day of the week. Christmas/New Year, Chinese New Year, Songkran & other Thai holidays are busier times. Weekends are also typically busier than weekdays, as Surin Islands is a popular National Park for Thai people to visit.
For the snorkeling sessions, numbers are normally limited to 12 maximum from longtail boats (with canopy for protection from the sun) - (though up to 18 on one of the very large longtail boats). If you are visiting at a quiet time, there may only be 2 - 4 people on the longtail boat.
The journey direct from Kuraburi pier to Koh Surin takes approximately 1 hour by speedboat.
Yes, lifejackets are provided on all boats. If you are travelling with children, please ask your trip leader to find you an XS or S lifejacket before leaving Kuraburi pier. Most lifejackets on board are M and fit most adults. There are also some L sizes for the fuller figure.
All trip leaders speak some English and will be able to assist if you have specific requests or questions. Some boat crew only speak Thai but will anticipate your general needs regarding assistance putting on equipment and getting in/out of the water.
Yes, there are towels on the speedboat. These will be allocated when you get out of the water after the first snorkeling session.
Yes, there is an ice box containing cold water & fizzy drinks on the speedboat.
If you are prone to seasickness, we recommend you sit in the stable centre of the boat. Avoid sitting at the very front on the boat where the ride will be bumpier.
Yes, most of the speedboat is in shade. If you want to be in the sun, you can sit at the very front of the boat but be sure to put on sunscreen as the sun is very strong and you may not feel it whilst travelling at speed. Be aware that if you sit at the very back of the boat, you may get the sun on your back, so either cover up or be sure to wear sunscreen.
Generally, you can stay dry whilst travelling in the centre of the speedboat. If you sit at the very front or very back on the boat, you may get wet spray from waves. If there is heavy rain, you may also get wet in the centre of the boat. So if rain is forecast, you may want to take a raincoat.

During the day, the boat will get wet inside as people come back on board after snorkeling sessions. Be aware that bags left on the floor, may get wet. Therefore if you have valuables that you want to keep dry, e.g. money or electronic equipment, we strongly recommend that you put them in a dry bag. We have 15l litre dry bags for sale but these must be pre-ordered when booking your trip to ensure availability.
All speedboats are equipped with lifejackets and a marine radio. Each speedboat has a different maximum capacity and these capacities are never exceeded.

The Thai boat captains monitor sea conditions during the day and if necessary, they will leave Surin early afternoon to enable a safe return to shore. If high winds & big waves make it unsafe to go out in the morning, the trip will be cancelled and we can either arrange your trip for another day or offer a full refund.

We arrange boat insurance for every guest.

Snorkeling(15)

The snorkeling sites visited by speedboat on the Surin day trip or day 1 of the Surin Islands 2d1n & Surin Islands 3d2n Tours will always be protected easy sites on Surin North and Surin South Islands. All sites will be suitable for novice snorkelers. Typically, these include Ao Bon, Ao Sapharot (Pineapple Bay) and Chong Khad (Nemo's Paradise). However, the sites visited may vary depending on weather conditions.
On day 1 of the Surin Islands 2d1n or Surin 3d2n tour you will visit the same sites as those on a day trip by speedboat. These will be protected easy sites on Surin North and Surin South Islands. All sites will be suitable for novice snorkelers. Typically, these include Ao Bon, Ao Sapharot (Pineapple Bay) and Chong Khad (Nemo's Paradise).

During days 2 of the Surin Islands 2d1n and days 2 & 3 of Surin 3d2n trip you will visit a wide variety of snorkeling sites across the Surin Islands by longtail boat. These could include:

- Koh Stork (most northerly island 5 miles from Burmese marine border);
- Koh Mu Kong (most westerly island with chance of seeing turtles);
- Koh Torinla (most southerly island with chance of seeing blue spotted stingrays);
- Hin Pae (a rocky outcrop with chance of seeing juvenile black tip reef sharks);
- Pad Kaad (a beautiful reef with chance of seeing whiptail rays in the sand);
- Ao Tao (fringing reef close to the beach where turtles go to nest)

Which sites are visited may vary depending on weather conditions.
Yes, snorkeling kit is provided. After check in at Kuraburi pier, you can choose a pair of fins that fits you. Masks & snorkels will already be on the boat. If you are on a 3d2n tour, keep your snorkel equipment with you for the duration of the trip. At the end of your day trip or 3d2n tour, masks & snorkels should be left on the speedboat and fins returned at Kuraburi pier.

Important Note: Euro size 46/47 is the largest size of fins made in Thailand. Most of the fins provided for this snorkel trip have adjustable fin straps, so the straps can be lengthened/shortened to get a better fit than standard closed foot fins. By choosing the very largest pair of adjustable fins available, it should be possible to fit a slightly larger foot. I would recommend that as soon as you check in at Kuraburi pier, you go straight to the fins counter to select & try on your fins, so you get the widest choice available before others select their fins. After that you can relax & enjoy the breakfast buffet provided at Kuraburi pier. When you board the speedboat to Surin, you take your selected fins with you & keep them with you for the duration of the trip.

There are no discounts for bringing your own snorkeling equipment.
We do not stock masks with corrective lens, as there is such a wide variety of potential requirements for people with long or short sighted eye problems. Before you travel we recommend that you purchase some corrective lens that can be inserted into normal masks. There are such lens which can be re-used, so you can insert & remove them into any standard mask you are allocated on all future snorkeling trips. If you are a frequent snorkeler or diver, we would recommend you invest in a mask with corrective lens and bring this with you.
Yes, you can snorkel in lifejackets. Wearing a lifejacket helps to make snorkeling effortless and relaxing. If you are not a strong swimmer, we would strongly advise that you do snorkel in a lifejacket for your own safety & comfort. We also strongly advise that all children snorkel in a lifejacket, even if they are good swimmers. Sometimes there can be surface current and you may drift further from the boat than realized. In such a situation, wearing a lifejacket makes it easier to swim back to the boat against the current when you are tired.
Whale sharks & oceanic manta rays are both rare migratory species. They travel throughout the Andaman Sea and further afield – there are not resident in any one location. They may occasionally visit the open sea sites at Surin such as Hin Pae, Koh Torinla & Koh Stork, primarily during February & March. However, sightings can never be guaranteed at any time of year. If you are lucky enough to see one, this will be a very special experience. You have better chances of seeing black tip reef sharks & blue spotted stingrays which frequent the reefs around the Surin Islands, particularly Koh Torinla & Pak Kaad which are usually visited during a Surin 3d2n trip (not on day trips).

You may see green or hawksbill turtles whilst snorkeling in Surin Islands. Your chances of seeing turtles are increased by joining a 3d2n Surin tour rather than just a day trip. Turtles lay eggs on South Surin Islands' beaches – these beaches are closed to protect the turtle nests. Turtles may be seen at many snorkeling sites including: Ao Tao, Pak Kaad, Hin Pae, Koh Torinla, Koh Mu Kong & Koh Stork.
Thanks to Surin Islands' shallow reefs and clear water with typical vizability of 20m-30m, you will see a wide diversity of marine life whilst snorkeling. Of course, as with all nature, no specific sightings can be guaranteed. However on all Surin snorkeling trips you are likely to see a wide range of the following:

-Reef fish, e.g. parrot fish, rabbit fish, butterfly fish & anemone fish (clown fish aka Nemo)
-Invertebrates, e.g. common pipefish, sea stars & Christmas tree worms
-Crustaceans, e.g. lobster, shrimps & crabs

On a Surin 3d2n tour where you visit a wider variety of sites, you may also have the chance of seeing:

- Sharks, e.g. juvenile or adult black tip reef sharks
- Rays, e.g. blue spotted stingrays or Jenkins whiprays
- Turtles, e.g. green or hawksbill
Yes, there are laminated sheets to help identify marine life. If you need additional assistance, you can ask your trip leader. It is always easier to identify a species from a photograph, rather than a verbal description, so if you have an underwater camera it is worth taking this with you.
Richelieu Rock is in Surin National Park. However, it is 14km offshore from the Surin Islands. Richelieu Rock is an open sea pinnacle which can be subject to strong currents. As such, it is typically considered an advanced dive site, not a snorkeling site. Richelieu Rock is not included in Surin Islands snorkeling trip itineraries.
Yes, all the snorkeling sites visited on the Surin Islands day trip and day 1 of the Surin 3d2n trip are shallow reefs in protected waters and suitable for new or inexperienced snorkelers. On days 2 & 3 of the Surin 3d2n tour you visit sites which may be more remote or less protected. However, your trip leader will always judge the sea conditions and ensure the snorkeling spot is safe bearing in mind snorkelers' level of experience.

There are a wide variety of snorkeling spots in Surin, so your trip leader can always choose sites protected from prevailing currents or waves. We strongly advise that all novice snorkelers wear lifejackets for their own safety & comfort.
You can still snorkel in the rain. If it is raining, you may wish to bring a rain coat with you to wear whilst on land at lunchtime.
The wind affects wave height and surface currents. There is a wide variety of snorkeling spots Surin Islands facing in different directions, so once out in Surin National Park, it is normally possible to find sites which are protected from the wind.

If there are extremely high waves, it can be dangerous for the speedboat to make the crossing from Kuraburi to Surin Islands. The wind can pick up later in the afternoon, so sometimes it may be necessary to leave Surin slightly earlier than scheduled to get back to Kuraburi before the waves get too big. The journey between Surin & Kuraburi will typically take longer if there are big waves. In the interests of safety, Surin Islands trips may be cancelled in the event of very strong wind and high waves.
There was a coral bleaching event across the whole of South East Asia in May 2010. This affected the shallow hard coral reefs at Surin Islands. The reefs worst affected were temporarily closed to aid recovery but all were re-opened by 2014. There are still some signs of dead corals caused by coral bleaching. However, in general, the reefs have recovered well with plenty of new coral growth now evident. A wide diversity of marine life remains living on Surin's reefs, so there are still great snorkeling opportunities.
Similan Islands, Phi Phi, Krabi and Phuket are all mainstream tourist destinations. They are easily accessible from either Khao Lak, Krabi or Phuket, which are all busy tourist locations. This means the number of tourists visiting each of these snorkeling spots is much higher than those visiting Surin Islands, which is 250+km away from where the majority of tourists stay in Phuket and Krabi resort areas.

Koh Phi Phi, Krabi and Phuket are all year round destinations, although there still may not be the opportunity to snorkel every day during low season due to the monsoon. Similan Islands and Surin Islands are closed from May – October for the monsoon season.

Like Surin Islands, Phi Phi and Similan Islands are in National Parks due to the natural beauty and diversity of marine life in these specific locations. Surin Islands' sites are generally considered better for snorkeling than diving, whereas sites in Phi Phi and Similan Islands are generally considered better for diving than snorkeling. To experience the best snorkeling spots in Surin National Park, we recommend joining the Surin Islands 3 day 2 night snorkel trip which visits quieter sites on the outermost islands away from the daily speedboats.

Meals(7)

Lunch on day trips is served at Surin National Park's main restaurant at Chong Khad on North Surin Island. Other meals on 3d2n trips will be served at the National Park's restaurant at your campsite – either Chong Khad or Mae Ngam.
For day trips, lunch is a buffet of Thai food with the choice of chicken, seafood & vegetable dishes with rice. Vegetarian dishes (soy protein, egg tofu or omelette) are provided for vegetarians who inform us of their dietary requirements in advance.

For 3d2n trips, breakfast is a choice between American Breakfast (fried eggs & toast) or Thai Breakfast (fried rice). Lunch is a large buffet with a broad range of choices & dinner is a set menu served family style with a choice of chicken, fish, seafood & vegetable dishes with rice. Vegetarian dishes (soy protein, egg tofu or omelette) are provided for vegetarians who inform us of their dietary requirements in advance.

Most dishes are not very spicy – just watch out for the odd small chilli! If you want to add spice, Thai condiments are available including fish sauce & chilli powder.

Please bear in mind that this is a Thai National Park restaurant 60km offshore from a small Thai town on the mainland. So there's not the same wide variety of food choices that you get at restaurants in mainstream western tourist locations in Phuket, Khao Lak or Bangkok.
Vegetarian dishes (soy protein, egg tofu, vegetables or omelette) are provided for vegetarians. Vegan dishes are typically limited to soy protein, vegetables & rice. After booking a trip, vegetarians & vegans should inform us of their dietary requirements in their online snorkeler form.
After booking your trip, please inform us of any food allergies in the dietary requirements section of your snorkeler form. Your trip leader will then be informed and will do their best to ensure suitable dishes are available. There is always plenty of rice.
Self-catering facilities are not available on Surin. However, there is a free supply of hot water in the National Park restaurant, so you can make pot noodles to supplement your meals or mix milk formula for infants.
Yes, there is a snack shop at Chong Khad's restaurant selling crisps, Thai style snacks & fizzy drinks.
It is not advisable to leave food in your tents, as it will attract monkeys & insects.

Accommodation(9)

Guests on our 3d2n trips will be allocated tents at Mae Ngam

At low tide, it is harder to access Mae Ngam and it is necessary to walk 400m through the forest from a shallow bay to the campsite.
A sleeping bag, pillow and sleeping mat is provided for each person staying in a tent.
Yes, a towel is provided. You may want to take an additional towel of your own, as it can be nice to have an extra one when snorkeling for 3 days and camping for 2 nights.
Yes. We can book Surin Islands National Park Bungalows as part of a Surin Islands 2d1n Snorkeling Trip or Surin Islands 3d2n Snorkeling Trip
We no longer arrange accommodation at Boon Piya Resort. There is normally plenty of availability for walk in customers. We recommend arrival before 5pm.
We no longer arrange accommodation on Koh Phra Thong. These options are readily available on Agoda and other online agents.
The speedboat returns to Kuraburi every day, so it is not possible to sleep on it. It is also not suitable to sleep on a longtail boat. If you want to do a snorkeling or diving trip sleeping on a boat, you could join a liveaboard trip.
Each tent sleeps 2 people. If your group has an odd number of people, 1 person will have a tent to themselves.
We do not charge a single supplement for 1 person having a tent to themselves.

Facilities(10)

There are 2 blocks of toilets/showers for men & for women at Chong Khad headquarters & campsite. The toilets are western style with Thai style hoses. No toilet paper is provided but this can be bought at the kiosk in the restaurant. The showers & sinks have cold water.

There are 2 single toilets in the Chong Khad reception area and an outside shower on the campsite beach.

Mae Ngam campsite also has a block of toilets/showers for men & women.
There is generator electricity overnight from about 6pm-6am. A torch is helpful for use in your tent at night.
There is only generator electricity overnight in the National Park. So it is possible to recharge electronic equipment between 6pm-6am. There are sockets in the reception area and restaurant. There can be high demand for these sockets, so it is recommended to either plug devices in as soon as you get back from the afternoon snorkeling session, ready for when generator switched on at 6pm and/or to take an extension lead to create additional sockets for multiple devices.
There is usually wifi available when the generator is on in the evening from 6pm. It is slow and unreliable but usually ok for emails.
AIS and DTAC phone signals are sometimes available but cannot be guaranteed. True move signal is not available.
No, there is no ATM, currency exchange or credit card facilities in Surin National Park. Only Thai baht cash is accepted in the Surin Islands.
Yes, any snacks, fizzy drinks or souvenirs you want to buy in Surin Islands must be paid for in Thai Baht cash. Alcohol is not for sale.

We recommend you take small Thai baht notes, as change may be limited, especially in the Moken Village.

Surin National Park operates a coupon system for all purchases in its restaurant, snack shop & souvenir shop. Work ouk how much to need to pay for the items you want; give that amount of cash to the National Park receptionist at the reception desk; receive required amount in National Park coupons; hand over National Park coupons at the restaurant kiosk, snack shop or souvenir shop to make your purchases.
Yes, there are lockers in the reception area at Chong Khad headquarters. These are charged at a daily rate.
There is a National Park kiosk at Chong Khad restaurant selling snacks, fizzy drinks, beer, toilet paper & toothpaste. There is also a National Park souvenir stand in Chong Khad restaurant selling t-shirts, sarongs & fisherman pants.
Yes, some of the Surin National Park staff speak English. On Surin snorkeling day trips, your trip leader will speak good English. On Surin 3d2n trips, there will be staff on the island dedicated to looking after 3d2n guests. Most of these staff will speak some English.

Activities(9)

No, the Surin day trip and 3d2n tour include snorkeling only. There are no diving facilities on Surin Islands for visitors.

If you want to dive at Surin Islands, there is a 5 night liveaboard itinerary which includes diving at Surin Islands, as well as Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai & Richelieu Rock. For more info or to book this liveaboard trip, visit the Blue Guru website.
No, there is no dive operator based in Surin National Park.

If you want to dive at Surin Islands, there is a 5 night liveaboard itinerary which includes diving at Surin Islands, as well as Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai & Richelieu Rock. For more info or to book this liveaboard trip, visit the Blue Guru website.
If you want to dive at Surin Islands, there is a 5 night liveaboard itinerary which includes diving at Surin Islands, as well as Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai & Richelieu Rock. For more info or to book this liveaboard trip, visit the Blue Guru website.
You can swim from Chong Khad campsite beach at high tide. At low tide the water is too shallow for swimming. You should not swim or snorkel from the front beach by Chong Khad reception due to boat traffic.

You can snorkel from Mae Ngam campsite beach but be aware of boat traffic.
Yes, all Surin snorkeling day trips & 3d2n trips include a visit to the Moken Village. The timing of visits are subject to tide times.
The Moken are traditionally sea gypsies without nationality who live at sea in Burmese, Thai & Malay waters. The Thai government have allowed some Moken to settle and build homes on one beach in Surin National Park. They are also allowed to fish in the National Park waters for their own subsidence. No Thais or foreign nationals have this right. The original Moken village on North Surin Island was destroyed in the 2004 Tsunami. After the Tsunami, their village was re-built on South Surin Island. As well as houses on stilts, their village has a school & community medical facility.

You can visit the Moken Village as part of your snorkeling day trip or 3d2n tour. Your trip leader will give you more information about the Mokens during your visit. There is also an information board in Thai & English in the village.

To support the Moken community, you can buy handcraft souvenirs from the women & children in the village. Please take small Thai Baht notes, e.g. 20, 50 & 100, as they do not have the money to give change from 500 or 1000 Baht notes.
There is a nature trail from Chong Khad campsite to Mae Ngam campsite.

Please be aware that this is not an easy walk in many places. You may have to climb over large rocks or fallen trees. It is therefore not suitable for young children, elderly or disabled people. You should wear good footwear such as trainers or sandals, not flip flops. You should also not carry too much, apart from water, as you need your hands free when climbing over boulders.

The nature trail is only open in daylight and you should be sure to allow sufficient time to get back to your campsite before dark. Always let someone know that you are walking along the trail and give them your expected time to return back, so that a search team can be sent if you get injured and cannot return without assistance.
There are monkeys which you may see on the roofs of National Park buildings or raiding the National Park recycling bins. Make sure you don't keep food in your tent or you may get a visit from the monkeys!

There are resident flying lemurs at Chong Khad headquarters. Look on the trees near the picnic benches & toilet blocks and you may see them. If you are very lucky, you may see one spread its wings and soar from one tree to another.

For bird watchers, look out for the Hornbill that can often be seen around buildings between Chong Khad toilet blocks. If you attempt the nature trail, you may see or at least hear monitor lizards in the undergrowth.
The National Park provides rubbish bins in the restaurant and additional recycling bins nearby. There are separate bins for glass, plastic & general waste.

In the restaurant there are large bowls for all food scraps and biodegradable waste. Please use these bowls for all food waste, rather than putting it in the general waste bins. Please help keep Surin litter-free by disposing of all rubbish in the bins. Better still, take your own rubbish back to the mainland with you and dispose of it responsibly there.

Transfers(13)

Owing to low numbers these past seasons we no longer offer transfers from/to Phuket before/after a Surin Islands trip. Please ask for further information regarding how to travel from/to Phuket.

Surin trips include complimentary shared minibus transfers between Khuraburi Town & Khuraburi pier only. Transfers between Khao Lak and Khuraburi are available for an additional fee. Pick up is between 6.50am – 7.30am, depending on where in Khao Lak you are staying. The journey takes about 90 minutes.
Yes, Surin Trips include complimentary shared minibus transfers between Kuraburi town & Kuraburi pier. Pick up is between 7.45am – 8.15am, depending on where in Kuraburi you are staying. The journey takes about 15 minutes.
We recommend arranging transfers from Khao Sok, Ranong, Surat Thani & Krabi to Kuraburi pier with your resorts or local providers in those regions.

For Khao Sok & Ranong it is possible to get an early morning taxi between 6am-7am direct to Kuraburi pier on the day of your Surin trip.

For Surat Thani & Krabi, we recommend travelling to Kuraburi the day before, as the taxi journey is longer and it would be a very early start at 5am or before.
If you are staying on Koh Phra Thong before your Surin trip, you should be prepared to charter a longtail boat leaving the island at 7am to arrive into Kuraburi pier at 8.30am in time to check in for our Surin trip.

If you are staying on Koh Phra Thong after our Surin trip, you should be prepared to charter a longtail boat leaving Kuraburi pier at 16.30 to arrive at Koh Phra Thong at 18.00.

We cannot guarantee a Surin Islands speedboat pick up or drop off service at Koh Phra Thong for many reasons, e.g.:

1. The sea conditions on the west coast of Koh Phra Thong where all the resorts are located are unreliable and prone to big waves if it is windy. This means it is not possible to guarantee that the speedboat will be able to come into the bay and pick up/drop off guests on the beach. If it is not possible, guests cannot join the Surin trip they booked and are disappointed. However, with the longtail boat it is possible to leave Koh Phra Thong from the east coast in any weather conditions, so guests can be assured of joining the Surin trip they booked.

2. Getting on & off the speedboat at Koh Phra Thong often involves wading waist high into the sea, as the speedboat cannot come right onto the beach. Over the past 9 years that we have been operating, this has proven often not to be popular with guests, especially when they have bags that get wet.

3. Diverting via Koh Phra Thong to pick up & drop off guests adds an hour to the total speedboat journey time. This means that the time in Surin gets reduced by an hour if the speedboat diverts via Koh Phra Thong to pick up and drop off guests. If customers join at Kuraburi and go direct to/from Surin, they get an extra hour in the National Park.

Owing to the reasons outlined above we can only make the collection directly from Koh Phra Thong where climactic, sea & customer conditions are aligned. We can only know this much nearer to the trip date and occasionally as late as the night before the trip. As such all customers must be prepared to use longtail transfers between Khuraburi and Koh Phra Thong if necessary. Further owing to the extra fuel consumed by diverting the speedboat via Koh Phra Thong then there is a surcharge of 1,500Bt for your group which would be collected directly on the speedboat. Of course in this instance you would not be paying for the longtail transfer to Khuraburi.
If you are staying on Koh Phra Thong before your Surin trip, you will need to charter a longtail boat leaving the island at 7am to arrive into Kuraburi pier at 8.30am in time to check in for your Surin trip.

If you are staying on Koh Phra Thong after your Surin trip, you will need to charter a longtail boat leaving Kuraburi pier at 16.30 to arrive at Koh Phra Thong at 18.00.
Yes, most overnight VIP or 1st class buses from Bangkok get into Kuraburi bus station well before the scheduled minibus pick up time of 8.15am. Most overnight buses arrive into Kuraburi between 5am-7am. However, do check the expected time of arrival when booking your bus ticket at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok.

The overnight bus to Bangkok usually leaves Kuraburi about 18.00. Your minibus transfer from Kuraburi pier should get to you to Kuraburi bus station about 17.00. Bangkok overnight bus tickets should be booked in advance to ensure availability, especially at weekends and over Thai holiday periods. This is best done in person at the Southern Bus Terminal in Bangkok. You may be able to book tickets online via this link: https://12go.asia/en
There is no public transport between Kuraburi town and Kuraburi pier, which are 6km apart. Taxis from outside the Kuraburi area often get lost when bringing customers to the area, as there are 3 different piers. If you are driving yourself, we can send you a map and GPS co-ordinates to help you find the correct pier. However, to ensure you get to the right pier on time before the speedboat leaves, we would strongly recommend either:

- joining the minibus service from Kuraburi or Khao Lak included in your Surin trip or
- booking your taxi through us if coming from other locations in Southern Thailand.
We do not offer transfer only services – only fixed tours including speedboat transfers, snorkeling, snorkeling kit, food & National Park entry fees.
No, there is no slow boat or ferry service to Surin Islands. The only way to get to/from Surin is by speedboat.
The speedboat leaves Kuraburi Pier at 9-9.30am and returns between 4pm-5pm.
The return minibus transfer upgrade between Khao Lak and Khuraburi pier can only be used on the days you go to & return from Surin Islands by speedboat. You cannot use the shared minibus transfer at an earlier or later date if staying elsewhere before or after your Surin trip.
This service is currently unavailable.

Pricing(12)

Yes, a deposit must be paid to reserve your places on the trip. If you have not paid a deposit, you do NOT have a booking.
The service fee covers the cost of taking the deposit payment including PayPal fees, currency exchange rate losses and bank charges. There is no additional amount charged on the balance payment, which is payable in Thai Baht cash.
Surin National Park sets the following age ranges:

Adult – aged 12+
Child – aged 4-11
Infant – aged 0-3
Most National Parks in Thailand charge entry fees to contribute towards maintenance costs. The entry fees for Mu Koh Surin National Park are:

Adult – 500Bt
Child – 300Bt
Infant – no charge

These entry fees are paid as part of your trip booking and you do NOT need to pay any extra on arrival in Surin Islands. There is no discount for Thai Nationals.
No, there are no discounts available to Thai nationals. All prices are fixed and the same for all nationalities.
You are welcome to bring your own snorkel equipment but there is no discount.
Your balance on arrival is best paid in Thai baht cash. Balance by credit card is available for an additional 4%.

Alternatively you can pay by bank transfer in THB to our Thai Bank account. In this case the amount received into the bank account should be the total Thai Baht amount requested after both banks’ charges have been paid by the payment sender. Bank details are available on request.

We recommend TransferWise as the best method because transactions are handled more efficiently and payments fees are much lower. Please follow this link for a promotional international fee-free international transfer with TransferWise.
No, credit cards & foreign currency are not accepted in Surin Islands. All payments for extras such as souvenirs, snacks & beer can only be paid in Thai baht cash.

There is no ATM on Surin, as there is no mains electricity. You should therefore bring sufficient Thai baht cash from the mainland for the duration of your trip. It is also recommended that you bring small notes for buying souvenirs in the Moken Village, as the Moken do not have the money to exchange large notes. There are lockers in the reception area at Chong Khad if you are worried about keeping your money safe during your trip.
You should take some Thai Baht in small notes if you wish to buy any of the following:

- souvenirs, e.g. 100-200Bt per wood carving
- snacks, e.g. 20Bt for small bag of crisps
- fizzy drinks, e.g. 40Bt for small can of coke
- beer, e.g. 80Bt for small can of Chang
We do not offer this service. We only offer all-inclusive tours with transfers, food & snorkeling services.
We do not offer this service. We only offer all-inclusive tours with transfers, tent accommodation, meals & snorkeling services.
No, all balance payments must be paid in full before the start of the trip. The standard method and cheapest way of settling your balance is by Thai baht cash upon check in at Kuraburi pier.

If you want to pay in full in advance to avoid carrying large sums of cash, it is possible to pay by bank transfer in Thai baht.

If you chose to pay in full in advance, this transaction must be completed and cleared at least 2 days before your trip.

Medical(4)

Yes, seasickness tablets are freely available from the reception desk upon check in at Kuraburi pier. They are also available on the speedboats. If you are prone to seasickness, we would recommend taking a seasickness tablet 1 hour before each speedboat crossing.
Yes, there is a first aid kit on the speedboat and at Surin National Park reception. However, if you know you will need certain pharmaceutical items, we recommend that you take them with you to ensure availability.
No, there is no doctor on Surin. If you need attention from a doctor, you would need to return to the mainland.
The speedboat journey from Surin to Kuraburi pier takes 1 hour. From Kuraburi pier to Kuraburi hospital takes 15 minutes. Kuraburi hospital has a 24 hour emergency department. If you need to go to an international hospital for more serious injuries or illnesses, the journey from Kuraburi pier to Phuket International Hospital takes 3 hours.

General(12)

Surin National Park is open from 1st November – 30th April. Sometimes, if the weather allows, it may also be open from 15th October – 15th May. However, due to the weather, it is not possible to guarantee that speedboats will be able to go from Kuraburi to Surin Islands in October or May, so we only offer snorkeling trips between 1st November – 30th April.

Surin National Park is closed from May-October for the monsoon season. Chong Khad campsite is open from November to April. Mai Ngam campsite is open from December to March.
No, Surin National Park is closed from May-October for the monsoon season.
We would recommend as far in advance as you can to ensure availability on your preferred dates. As a very minimum, you should book at least 2 days before your preferred departure date to allow sufficient time for the payment process, booking confirmation & arrangement of your transfers & boat insurance. Furthermore, trips often get fully booked within the last 48 hours before departure, so you should not leave your booking until the last minute.
We can take bookings for the day after tomorrow but not tomorrow. This is because it takes time to process the payment and make all the necessary arrangements including transfers, boat insurance and catering. Furthermore, trips often get fully booked within the last 48 hours before departure, so you should not leave your booking until the last minute.
No, we only take internet bookings. Please complete the online enquiry form and we will send you all the necessary information by email including a secure payment request link to secure your booking.
Our online snorkeler form provides us with all the information required to arrange your boat insurance, transfers & meals. This form should be completed for everyone in your group, including infants and any non-snorkelers, as we need to arrange boat insurance, transfers & meals for every person joining the trip, regardless of whether they're snorkeling.
We recommend you bring the following items on a Surin day trip:

Swimwear
T-shirt or rash vest to snorkel in as added sun protection
Camera
Waterproof bag to keep personal possessions dry on the boat
Thai Baht cash in small notes if you wish to buy souvenirs
We recommend you bring the following items on a Surin overnight trip:

Swimwear
Sunscreen
T-shirt or rash vest to snorkel in as added sun protection
Camera
Toiletries & any medication you require
Mosquito repellent
Toilet paper (not provided in National Park toilets but available to buy in the kiosk)
Towel (one is provided but it can be nice to have a second one)
Waterproof bag to keep personal possessions dry on the boat
Thai Baht cash in small notes if you wish to buy souvenirs, fizzy drinks
If you are travelling lightly and have backpacks, then it is fine to take all your luggage with you on a Surin overnight trip. However, we would recommend not taking large cases or items that you do not need in Surin, as it takes up space on the boat & in your tent and may get wet on the boat. All surplus luggage can be left in the office at Kuraburi pier for the duration of your trip.

Note: We are not responsible for nor can be held liable for damage or loss of customer equipment.
Yes, you can leave large suitcases and any other surplus luggage in the office at Kuraburi pier for the duration of your Surin trip.

Note: We are not responsible for nor can be held liable for damage or loss of customer equipment.
Theft is generally not a problem on Surin Islands and your belongings left in your tent should be safe whilst snorkeling. We would recommend only taking belongings that you need diring your trip and leaving excess belongings in safe keeping at Kuraburi pier office. We would also recommend not leaving valuables such as money or smartphones in your tent, just as a precaution. There are safety deposit in the reception area at Chong Khad where you can store your valuables.
This very much depends on the temperament of the baby and whether they will be happy spending most of the day on a boat & sleeping in a tent. There are no baby facilities available, i.e. no baby life vests, no high chairs, no baby cots etc. However, if you feel your baby is adaptable enough to join the trip, there is no minimum age limit.
This very much depends on the individual. There is the need to climb in & out of boats on several occasions. Whilst assistance will be provided, an individual needs a reasonable level of physical ability to be able to walk & climb up/down ladders. Similarly, whether camping is suitable for an elderly person, very much depends on the individual.
If for some reason you cannot make the date of the trip originally booked, it should be possible to move dates. However, we cannot guarantee this will always be possible, as it is subject to availability. We recommend you contact us as soon as possible if you decide you need to change dates.
Please refer to our terms & conditions regarding cancellations.
Trips are rarely cancelled and only in the case that sea conditions make it unsafe for speedboats to travel between Kuraburi & Surin. In such a scenario, we would offer you the choice of switching the date of your trip or receiving a full refund. Please refer to our terms & conditions regarding cancellation.
Our terms & conditions can be read on our website.