What you will see on the Surin Islands
The Surin Islands (Mu Ko Surin) are a marine national park near the Myanmar border, roughly 55-60 km off Thailand’s west coast (per guidebooks and maps; the DNP page gives no distance). The park was declared in 1981 and covers 88,282 rai, or 141.25 km². The archipelago has five islands: North Surin, South Surin, Ko Ri, Ko Khai and Ko Klang. In 2007 the park absorbed Richelieu Rock, an underwater pinnacle well known to divers.
Ao Chong Khad. North and South Surin lie side by side like twins, split by a shallow channel about 200 m wide. At low tide you can walk across (DNP). Chong Khad Bay on North Surin is the first snorkelling stop in Phuket Tour’s programme.
Shallow reefs. The islands shelter each other from waves in both monsoons, so fringing reefs have grown around North and South Surin. DNP calls them among the largest and best preserved shallow reefs in Thailand. They sit close to shore, so snorkellers see them well without scuba gear.
The Moken village. The Moken (sea gypsies) are indigenous people of the Andaman coast. Their village stands in Ao Bon bay next to the park office, where visitors learn how stilt houses are built and see traditional weaving (DNP, 18.10.2026). On Love Andaman’s programme the village stop lasts about 45 minutes. Love Andaman says entry may change under park rules.
Marine life. DNP lists four sea turtle species in park waters: leatherback, green, hawksbill and olive ridley. It also names whales and the whale shark among the park’s rare animals, but nobody promises them on a day trip.
How long it takes and when to go
The day takes 10-12 hours including the road: Phuket Tour runs from 6:00 to 17:00 at the pier, and Love Andaman quotes 9-10 hours. The boat ride is 1.5-2 hours each way (Love Andaman).
The 2026 season started on 15 October. DNP reported it in a news item of 18.10.2026, and the press (Naewna, MGR Online) says the islands stay open until 15 May 2027. The park’s reference page on the DNP site still gives 1 November-30 April. Its text looks out of date, but it was edited on 17.09.2026, before the opening. We found no DNP order giving the end date of the 2026/27 season, so for trips in late April and May check with your operator.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 15 October-November | the park is open but it is still the tail of the rains: at the mainland Takua Pa station October brings 529 mm and 24 rainy days, November 232 mm and 17 days (TMD, 1991-2020 normals) |
| December-March | the driest stretch: 78 mm in December, 62 mm in January, 45 mm in February, calmest sea |
| April | hot, 222 mm of rain, park open |
| 1 May-14 October | park closed: in 2026 DNP closed Surin and the Similans from 15 May to 15 October |
In the rainy season the mainland Takua Pa station gets noticeably more rain than Phuket: 431-636 mm a month from May to October against 237-350 mm (TMD). See the comparison in Phuket’s climate by month.
How to get there and how far it is
You cannot reach the islands without a boat. Tours from Phuket drive to the mainland, then take a speedboat. Love Andaman sails from Thap Lamu pier in Khao Lak, while Phuket Tour names only “the pier”. Distances are OSRM calculations on OpenStreetMap data, without traffic:
| From → to | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Phuket airport → Thap Lamu pier | 71.3 km | about 67 min |
| Patong → Thap Lamu pier | 99.6 km | about 95 min |
| Nang Thong beach (Khao Lak) → Thap Lamu pier | 13.7 km | about 13 min |
| Nang Thong beach → Khura Buri | 92.7 km | about 71 min |
| Phuket airport → Khura Buri | 167.1 km | about 138 min |
The park office stands on the mainland by Khura Buri pier (zone 3 in the DNP booking system), so an operator may offer a departure from there: see the table. Ask which pier you sail from in your booking confirmation.
Park fee and what it covers
By the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023, checked 18.10.2026) a foreign adult pays THB 500, a child THB 250, and Thai citizens THB 100 and 50. It is the same fee as at the Similans. Phuket Tour lists park tickets as part of the tour; ask Love Andaman what the price covers. Keep the ticket with you: DNP asks visitors to show it on inspection.
On 18.10.2026 the DNP status page shows no closed sites for Mu Ko Surin. That is no guarantee that everything is open: the park may update its own list later.
Options: a day trip or a night in the park
| Option | Time | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group speedboat from Thap Lamu pier | 10-12 hours with transfers | most people on a single day | early start, 1.5-2 hours on the boat each way |
| Departure from Khao Lak | about 10 hours | people staying near the pier | a shorter morning drive, but the same boat ride |
| Overnight in the park | 2 days | people who want to stay after the boats leave | bungalows and tents are listed in the DNP system, but availability in 2026/27 is not confirmed |
| Private boat | by arrangement | groups and families with their own schedule | Love Andaman takes requests, terms on request |
What to do in rain and rough sea
The park opens on the threshold of the dry season: in October and November the mainland still gets rain (TMD) and the sea can stay uneven after the monsoon. Operators adjust the order of stops to conditions. What happens if a trip is cancelled for weather depends on the seller: for the Similans Thailand Divers offers another date or a full refund, and with other sellers you should ask before paying. We found no fallback stops on land in the Surin programmes, so keep a spare day.
If Surin is cancelled, the Similan Islands are nearby, or you can choose a land trip to Khao Lak.
Safety
- Currents and tides. DNP notes that Andaman tides are semidiurnal, with up to 3 m between high and low water and strong currents along the shore. Swim where your guide points
- Seasickness. 1.5-2 hours of open sea each way: take a tablet before the boat leaves
- Pregnancy and back problems. Love Andaman does not recommend the trip for pregnant women or people with serious back problems
- Life jackets. Ask the operator whether a snorkelling vest is provided, and in a child size
- Corals and animals. Do not stand on coral and do not touch turtles or fish. DNP asks visitors not to disturb wildlife and marine resources
- Insurance. Check that your policy covers boat trips and snorkelling
Who it suits and who should skip it
- Snorkellers. Shallow reefs run right along the shore and are visible from the surface
- People interested in culture. The Moken village is on both operators’ programmes
- Skip it if you are pregnant or have serious back problems. A speedboat slaps the waves, and Love Andaman says outright that it does not recommend the trip
- Skip it with children under 4. The operators’ child fare starts at 4
- Skip it if you arrive between May and October. The park is closed
- If you want granite and a viewpoint. Sail Rock is in the Similans
What is confirmed as of 18.10.2026
| Confirmed | Not confirmed |
|---|---|
| The season is open from 15 October 2026 (DNP news of 18.10.2026) | The exact end of the season: the press says 15 May 2027, the DNP reference page says 30 April |
| Fee of THB 500 and 250 (DNP table, edition of 02.06.2023) | The number of boats and the daily visitor cap for 2026/27 |
| The Moken village in Ao Bon is a tour stop (DNP, operators) | Whether the DNP bungalows and tents are available for overnight stays |
| DNP’s closed-sites list has no entries for Surin | Whether individual bays are restricted without showing up on the portal |
FAQ
When do the Surin Islands open and until what date?
The 2026/27 season is already open: DNP reported on 18.10.2026 that the park has taken visitors since 15 October. The press (Naewna, MGR Online, 15.10.2026) gives 15 May 2027 as the end, while the park's reference page on the DNP site still says 1 November-30 April, so check with your operator for trips in late April and May.
How do I get to Surin from Phuket or Khao Lak?
Only by day boat from the mainland: Love Andaman sails a speedboat from Thap Lamu pier in Khao Lak, and Phuket Tour collects guests from Phuket hotels around 6:00. The pier is 71 km and 67 minutes from Phuket airport and 13 minutes from Nang Thong beach, then 1.5-2 hours by boat. The whole day takes 10-12 hours.
Who are the Moken and can I visit their village?
The Moken (sea gypsies) are an indigenous people of the Andaman Sea, and their village stands in Ao Bon bay next to the park office, according to DNP. Tours stop there for under an hour: Phuket Tour and Love Andaman both include the village, but Love Andaman warns that entry may change under park rules. It is a home, so ask before photographing people or houses.
How is Surin different from the Similans?
Surin is farther from shore (about 55-60 km), and its reefs are shallow and run right along the beaches: DNP calls them among the largest and best preserved shallow reefs in Thailand. The Similans are known for granite boulders and Sail Rock, while Surin adds the Moken village. The park fee is THB 500 at both parks, and the boat ride to Surin is longer.
Can I stay overnight on the Surin Islands?
The DNP booking system lists bungalows and tent zones on North Surin on the park page, bookable through nps.dnp.go.th. We could not confirm that they operate in the 2026/27 season: in May 2026 DNP closed both tourism and overnight stays for the summer. Ask the park on 0 7647 2145.
Can I go to Surin with a small child or while pregnant?
The operators' child fare starts at age 4, but the day is long, with an early start and 1.5-2 hours of open sea each way. Love Andaman does not recommend the trip for pregnant women or people with serious back problems. For toddlers, Coral Island or Racha is easier.
What is the weather like at Surin in October and November?
The park reopens at the tail end of the rains. TMD's 1991-2020 normals for the mainland Takua Pa station show 529 mm and 24 rainy days in October, 232 mm and 17 days in November and 78 mm and 9 days in December. The station is not on the islands, but it shows how the shift to the dry season goes. The calmest sea is usually December to March.
Sources
- DNP news. Mu Ko Surin National Park opens its season and welcomes visitors to Moken life (18.10.2026, in Thai)
- DNP. Mu Ko Surin National Park: description, zones, booking
- DNP. Opening and closure status of national parks (ข้อมูลท่องเที่ยวอุทยานแห่งชาติ)
- DNP. Entrance fees for individuals (dataset, CSV, edition of 02.06.2023)
- Naewna. Similan and Surin open, first day of the season (15.10.2026, in Thai)
- MGR Online. Surin and Similan islands open until 15 May (15.10.2026, in Thai)
- Nation Thailand. Similan and Surin islands shut for five-month annual closure (26.05.2026)
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Takua Pa station
- Phuket Tour (TAT licence 34/03743). Surin Islands by speedboat: programme
- Love Andaman. Surin Islands snorkeling day trip: itinerary
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Phuket airport (HKT) to Thap Lamu pier
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Nang Thong beach to Thap Lamu pier
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.
