Khao Lak snorkeling recommendations
Snorkeling tours from Khao Lak to the Similan Islands and Surin Islands
Similan Islands tours
Crystal clear water surrounding nine uninhabited granite islands. Popular with scuba divers and snorkelers. Biggest schools of fish, turtles, eels, hard and soft corals.
Beautiful beaches with viewpoints to climb to get some amazing photos.
- Similan Islands tour – take a speedboat tour that tries harder than the rest. The boats are not crowded and the guides are excellent.
- Cheap Similan Islands day trip – more people on the boat = cheaper price.
- Private Similan Islands tour. Charter a speedboat for your group.
Surin Islands tours
The Surin Islands are great for beautiful beaches, healthy soft corals, baby reef sharks and turtles. Plus the chance to see the native Moken sea gypsies.
The Surin Islands are a less visited destination than the Similan Islands.
- Day trip by speedboat to the Surin Islands – snorkeling, beach and Moken village
- 3 day 3 night liveaboard to the Surin Islands, Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – fewer people and more chance to see bigger stuff like mantas and whale sharks.
- Camp on the beach at the Surin Islands – The cheapest way to stay.
Khao Lak snorkeling tours are done by day trip boat (speedboat or slower dive boat) or on a longer liveaboard trip. Tour options include the Similan Islands, Surin Islands, Koh Tachai, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock. These are the best reefs in Thailand with the most fish and the biggest fish.
The Khao Lak snorkeling season is November to April. That’s when the north east monsoon brings good weather, there are virtually no boats running from May to October, Khao Lak is very quiet during the summer.
More Khao Lak tour options:
Phang Nga Bay kayaking plus James Bond Island 7.45-17.00 hrs
Sea cave canoeing plus a short stop at James Bond Island
Private Phang Nga Tour Recommended for families or small groups. Full day with private minibus and long tail boat.
Phang Nga Bay Cruise and June Bahtra Phang Nga Bay Sunset cruise
Khao Sok day trip Jungle tour with river kayaking and elephant trek. Or lake tour of CheowLan lake (Rajjaprabha Dam).
Private Phuket Sightseeing Tour Includes Wat Phra Thong Temple, Cashew nut factory, lunch at a beach restaurant, Phuket Old Town, Wat Chalong Temple, Phromthep Cape viewpoint, sightseeing Patong beach.
Elephant treks. Combine with ATV, elephant bathing, waterfalls, river rafting
Takuapa cultural history tour Includes: Chinese Shrine, Thai temple, Takuapa old town sino-portugese architecture, Tao Sor cake factory, lunch at a local restaurant by the river, Namkhem cultural centre and tsunami museum.
Little Amazon Full day tours including Takuapa old town or half day tours (morning or afternoon). A great little tour just 30 minutes from Khao Lak. Cheap and available all year round.
Phi Phi tour from Khao Lak If you are staying in Khao Lak from November to April you are closer to the Similan and Surin Island national parks than to Phi Phi. Phi Phi is reached by driving to Phuket (1.5 hours) and then getting a boat to Phi Phi.
This is an option for you if you are in Khao Lak during the summer months of May to October when the Similan and Surin Islands are off limits.