Mu Ko Surin National Marine Park

Mu Ko Surin National Park? This is an archipelago of 5 islets covering an area of 135 square kilometres and is home to sea gypsies. Its major attractions are white sandy beaches and shallow water coral reefs which reveal their natural beauty during December to March. The nearest departure is from Ban Hin Lat, Amphoe Khura Buri where a chartered boat is available. It takes 4 - 5 hours for the trip to the islands. Tourists are recommended to contact travel agents in Phuket for cheaper boat trips to the islands.Mu Ko Surin National Marine Park is place to get away from it and to have a beach holiday in nature! The 5 Surin Islands are Ko Phra Thong Subdistrict, Khuraburi District , Phang Nga Province, Mu Ko Surin National Marine Park is located in the Andaman Sea off of the North Andaman Coast of Thailand and covers an area of about 135 square kilometers. The five islands include Ko Surin Neua, Ko Surin Tai, Ko Ri, Ko Kai and Ko Klang. The Surin Archipelago is a world class scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. Mu Ko Surin has so far been little visited because of its distance from the coast and its natural undeveloped state.. There is also a permanent habitation of Sea Gypsies on the islands. There are two main attractions within the national park: Surin Islands and Sea Gypsies. The islands close to tourists from May until November due to rough seas and breeding season for turtles. Surin Islands: The two large islands, Surin Neua and Surin Tai which mean, respectively, north and south have ten bays in which coral reef are found. They are located about 70 kilometers northwest of Khuraburi and less than 5 km from Thailand's marine border with Myanmar. The channel between the two principal islands is about two meters deep at high tide. The shallow channel has one of the most remarkable examples of coral reef life to be found anywhere. To observe some of the best reefs all you need is a snorkel and a mask The Islands are an ideal destination for non-divers and novices. Among its bays are Ao Luk or Deep Bay which is popular due to its deep dark green waters with the most attractive coral reef in the shallows. Surin is also suited to visitors who are interested in hiking, trekking and exploring rather than diving. It has several hiking trails, especially on the northern island. Sea Gypsies: On the southern Surin Island or Ko Surin Tai is a settlement of the Singh Tribe of Sea Gypsies, the last seamen. These nomadic sea people are called "chao naam" or "chao le" meaning water people. They live in a very basic accommodation on houseboats. They are quite skilled in the of the Andaman Sea way. They can build a boat using simple tools, fish by hand, and are known for their talents as unassisted deep divers. The surrounding area of the Surin Islands has seven major dive sites. The best spots are to be found at the southeastern point of Surin at HQ Bay, at Ko Chi, a tiny island just offshore from Surin Neua and at Richelieu Rock, an undersea mountain 14 km southeast of Surin Tai. It is common to see whale sharks near Richelieu during March and April. There is good snorkeling due to relatively shallow reef depths of 5-6 m. To reach the park, tourists may start from three different points, but the most convenient and quickest is from Ban Hin Lat in Khuraburi District, Phang Nga Province which involves about a 4-5 hour journey. It will take about 13 hours to travel from Phang Nga by boat, while boating from Kapur of Ranong takes approximately 7 hours.