The Surin Islands

What makes Surin different

Surin sits further north and further out than the Similans, close to the Myanmar border, and gets a fraction of the traffic. The draw is in the water: shallow, extensive reef flats that make it the better snorkelling park, where the Similans are the better boulder-and-beach spectacle.

The Moken: the islands are home to a settled community of Moken, the sea-nomad people of the Andaman, in a village at Ao Bon on Ko Surin Tai, the southern island. Village visits are part of most itineraries; go with an operator that treats it as visiting a living village, not an exhibit. Ask before photographing people, and buy from the village rather than handing out sweets or money.

For divers: Richelieu Rock, within the park’s waters, is widely rated the top dive site on this coast — whale shark sightings are most often reported late in the season, roughly February to April. It is a liveaboard or long-day-trip site, not a casual stop.

Staying overnight

Unlike the Similans, Surin still allows overnight stays, but only on Ko Surin Nuea, the northern island, and only in the park's own accommodation. There are two places: the park headquarters at Ao Chong Khad, with bungalows and tents, and Ao Mai Ngam, with tents only and fewer day-trippers. Both are run by the Department of National Parks and are booked through it, not through hotels; bungalows are few, so book early. The rest of the northern island and all of the southern island are off limits away from the marked areas.

A night on the island also means time in the water before the day boats arrive and after they leave.

Before you go

Bring reef-safe sunscreen. Since August 2021 Thailand has banned sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor or butylparaben in all its marine national parks, with fines of up to ฿100,000. Mineral sunscreen labelled non-nano zinc oxide or titanium dioxide, or a rash vest, is the answer.

Check whether your tour includes the national park fee, which is often quoted separately. Expect a pre-dawn start from Khao Lak: the drive to Kuraburi comes before the crossing.

We cover hotels along this coast — the Khao Lak beaches, Phuket and Krabi — plus a handful on Koh Samui, across in the Gulf. Start with hotels in Khao Lak, or browse every hotel we cover; prices and availability show on the partner's own site.

Planning the rest of the trip? Compare places to stay, or see what is open month by month.