Enjoy a couple of relaxing days in Khao Lak before setting off on a snorkeling cruise in the beautiful Andaman Sea with the boat Reggae Queen as a base. End the trip by exploring the cool city of Bangkok.
The journey begins on one of the smaller beaches at Khao Lak. Here you can get used to the heat and even out the jet lag before setting off on 4 days of sailing between the islands and snorkeling among pristine places and fantastic beaches. You live in your own cabin on the cozy boat Reggae Queen. After snorkeling, it’s time for a few days of relaxation on the quiet Bangtao Beach in Phuket before Bangkok calls with its lots of exciting experiences.
Day 1: Departure from Sweden
Your trip begins with a flight to Phuket.
Day 2: Arrival in Phuket and transfer to Khao Lak
Upon arrival in Phuket, you will be picked up at the airport and driven to your bungalow in Khao Lak. Here begins your holiday in your own little bay, where the only sounds are the waves, the cicadas and all the sounds of the jungle. ( F )
Day 3: Khao Lak
You have all day to relax on the beautiful sandy beach. You can sleep out, relax and enjoy life in beautiful and peaceful surroundings. You can spend the days with a good book and relaxing by the beach, swimming in the inviting, clear waters and enjoying the delicious Thai cuisine at local restaurants. ( F )
Day 4: Khao Lak to Koh Bon, Similan National Marine Park on a snorkeling cruise
The colorful boat “MV Reggae Queen” sets out from Khao Lak in the evening and sets course for the Similan Islands. Locate your cab and make it comfortable for you. The cozy boat will be your home for the next three days During the evening’s sailing, a wonderful dinner is served and you get the chance to get to know the other snorkeling enthusiasts a little grand. Reggae Queen is expected to anchor at Koh Bon around midnight. Make sure you get a good night’s sleep so that you are ready for tomorrow. ( F )
Day 5: Koh Bon and Koh Tachai snorkeling in Surin National Marine Park
Welcome to Similan National Marine Park! You begin your snorkeling adventure in the Andaman Sea on Koh Bon, a 65-million-year-old island formed by sedimented limestone. Koh Bon (and Koh Tachai) belong to Similan National Marine Park and are a very popular destination for divers. After a delicious breakfast on the deck, you are ready to explore the colorful life beneath the surface. You usually snorkel for an hour at a time before the boat takes you to the next location. Koh bon is known as a bit of a hotspot for devil coats (mantors). So if you are lucky enough to visit the island during the right season, you may come across one of these amazing creatures. Even without devil coats, Koh Bon has its own unique and special charm, and our supplier is proud to be the only organizer of snorkeling trips to offer Koh Bon as an integral part of the program. Explore the enormous diversity of the crystal clear waters, enjoy the beautiful corals and the exciting tropical fish. While you have fun in the underwater paradise, the crew conjures up lunch on the boat. When you are full and happy, you move on to the island of Koh Tachai – one of the most beautiful islands in Similan National Marine Park. Reggae Queen is the only snorkeling boat that stops at Koh Tachai. The southern tip of Koh Tachai is called “Pinnacle” and with a little luck (and during the right season) you can snorkel with devil coats, whale sharks and thousands of barracudas. The sailing trip to Koh Tachai takes a couple of hours, which gives you the opportunity to relax on deck with a good book or take a nap. You arrive on the island in the afternoon, around the same time as the many day tourists with motorboats leave the island. There is therefore a great chance that you are the only ones on the island, which is a really special experience. This means that you get the most out of this beautiful destination with its chalk-white beach and turquoise waters. Koh Tachai itself is closed to tourists but our boat docks at other unspoilt snorkeling spots in the area. A delicious and well-deserved Thai dinner is served on deck while Raggae Queen moves calmly and quietly towards Surin National Marine Park where tomorrow will be filled with even more adventure. (F , L , M )
Day 6: Surin Islands and the village “Moken”
When the sun rises, you will really be able to see what a fantastic area you have ended up in. After another wonderful breakfast on the deck, it’s time to enjoy the Surinam Islands – one of the absolute highlights of the trip. The archipelago is a real mecca for anyone who loves to snorkel. Here are a number of different places with colorful corals in shallow water, lots of fish and pristine beaches. Today’s snorkeling begins in “Chong Kad Bay” and its optimal conditions under the surface with beautiful colorful corals and rich wildlife. Here you can enjoy life underwater for a couple of hours before it’s time to go ashore on the island to visit a small community with locals called “Moken”. This visit helps to make the snorkeling trip completely unique, as we are the only ones who visit the village of the locals and weave the cultural aspect into the program. You can walk around the village and experience what island life looks like for these sailors. During the visit, one must of course respect the population’s culture and beliefs, which among other things means wearing appropriate clothing in the village. Feel free to take the opportunity to buy some souvenirs at home. The Moken people make beautiful and whimsical little things and are very grateful for the little extra income. After the visit, a traditional sea taxi takes you to “Kra Thing Bay” where you follow a path across the island to “Mai Ngam Bay”. Here, relaxation awaits on the beach and in the water – at the right time of year, you may be lucky enough to swim with baby sharks among the mangroves. Today’s penultimate dip will be in the “May Yai” bay. Here you can once again enjoy the crystal clear water, the beautiful corals and the exciting tropical fish. In the afternoon you arrive at the last snorkeling stop of the day at the bay “Turtle Bay”. If you want, you can also take a boat over to the main island for some beach play, swimming and relaxation. When the boat docks for the evening, you will be pampered with another delicious grilled dinner on the Reggae Queens deck. (F , L , M )
Day 7: Snorkeling at Surin – Kura Buri – Khao Lak
It’s your last day aboard the Reggae Queen and after a hearty breakfast you are ready to venture out into the beautiful waters around “Phak Kat Bay” in search of more fascinating sea creatures and colorful corals. Your last dip this time will be in “Lobster Bay” – one of the best places for snorkeling in this part of the Andaman Sea – maybe even in the world! While Reggae Queen drives inland, enjoy your last lunch on board before arriving at Kura Buri on the mainland in the afternoon. From here it is about an hour and a half drive back to Khao Lak where it is time to say goodbye after an unforgettable liveaboard with snorkeling in the Andaman Sea. You then continue to Phuket where you check in at a resort for the night. ( F , L )
Day 8: Bangtao Beach, Phuket
Here you live on the quiet Bantao Beach, where there is a real selection of small cozy restaurants and bars. You can go for a walk on the beach, test your talents on a paddleboard or go to one of the more visited beaches and do some shopping. We recommend that you have dinner at Bliss Beach Club or that you rent a scooter / take a taxi and enjoy a drink at sunset in the beautiful Sri Panwas bar Baba Nest which is located on the roof. ( F )
Day 9: Flight to Bangkok
You will be picked up at the hotel and driven to the airport. When you arrive in Bangkok, you will be met by a driver at the airport who will drive you to the hotel. Once you have checked in, you have the rest of the day to spend as you wish. Bangkok is the very heart of Thailand. Here you will find a genuine Asian atmosphere, cheap shopping, nice restaurants and a hectic nightlife. We highly recommend an exciting evening walk in China Town where you can explore both the area and the rich and surprising cuisine. Explore the area on your own or join the Flavors of nighttime Chinatown excursion. ( F )
Day 10: Train ride to the outskirts of Bangkok
A quiet train journey takes you back in time – away from the hectic Bangkok. The train sneaks through narrow passages past wooden houses in bright colors, beautiful flowers and purple-painted stations while a refreshing breeze blows through the cabin from the open doors. Suddenly the train stops at the terminus in the middle of the lively fish market. The day offers an exciting excursion from the hectic city life in Bangkok to the lively and green countryside. The tour starts at your hotel. With the skytrain, you go with your guide to Wongwian Yai Station. From there you walk through the small blocks to the train station – the starting point for today’s adventure. Already here you can feel that you are getting off the usual tourist routes. By train you get so close to the locals that it almost feels like you are going through their living room. As Bangkok disappears into the distance, the skyscrapers are replaced by rice fields and houses that stand on stilts. Here you can sit back and enjoy the calm pace and the beautiful landscape. When you arrive at the terminus, you are literally at the fish market in Mahachai. Together with the guide, you walk down the narrow streets to a famous fish restaurant where you will be pampered with fresh seafood. After lunch you take a small boat to the other side of the river. There you hop on the next train that winds its way through the landscape with salt plains and rice fields. Finally, you get a unique cultural and highly fascinating experience. The rails literally disappear into a market and the train is almost engulfed by umbrellas and awnings from the market stalls which are lifted away at the last second – and then put down again – in the same second as the train has passed. Then you get the opportunity to walk around the market on the rails before it’s time to go back to Bangkok and city life. The day ends at the Victory Monument, where you can take a taxi or skytrain back to your hotel. (F , L )
Day 11: Bangkok on your own
If you feel like having a drink at sunset in beautiful surroundings, we recommend Shangri La’s terrace located on the river or the lively and cozy Jakes Wine Bar next door. ( F )
Day 12: Departure from Bangkok
The hotel staff can help you book a taxi to the airport (paid separately)
Day 13: Arrival in Sweden
Overnight stays
Two nights at hotel in Khao Lak
Three nights on board Reggae Queen in private cabin
Two nights at hotel in Phuket
Three nights in Bangkok at hotel
