Surin Islands: Beautiful Diving and Snorkeling Spot Near Khao Lak
The Surin Islands are located an hour and a half’s sail from Khao Lak, 100 km from the Similan Islands, 160 km from Phuket, and close to the border with Myanmar. The Surin Islands consist of five islands, which together form Mu Ko Surin National Park. These islands are incredibly beautiful and are often considered the most stunning in Thailand. Additionally, the snorkeling and diving opportunities here are among the best in Thailand
Sleep
Koh Surin Neea is the only island in the Surin Islands where overnight stays are allowed. The island offers tents, bungalows, a restaurant, toilets, showers, and a small shop. You can also rent a safe for valuables and charge your phone if there’s an available outlet. You can stay overnight on the beaches of Chong Klad Bay and Ao Mai Gnam. Camping is only allowed on Ao Mai Gnai, but bungalows are available on both beaches. After 3 PM, when day visitors leave, the island becomes very peaceful. Koh Surin Neea features white sandy beaches, untouched jungle, and great snorkeling opportunities. If you’re traveling to the Surin Islands, you can also stay overnight in Khura Buri, a small town near the pier to the islands. There are several hotels there for a convenient stopover. If you want to visit the Surin Islands on a day tour from Khao Lak, you can simply stay in a hotel in Khao Lak.
See & Do
Apart from snorkeling, diving, swimming, relaxing, and climbing to a viewpoint, there isn’t much to do on the islands. For example, Koh Surin Nuea, the largest island, has no roads at all—just a partly concrete jungle trail. But it’s precisely the stunning nature, excellent diving and snorkeling opportunities, and peaceful atmosphere that make it worth visiting! During your stay, be sure to sign up for snorkeling trips, as the snorkeling and diving spots here are among the best in Thailand, often offering underwater visibility of up to 30 meters. At the restaurant, you can see which snorkeling spots will be visited the next day; you can sign up there for about 100 baht per person. In the evenings, there’s little to do except relax and chat with other travelers, and the Wi-Fi can be unreliable at times. But that’s what makes it authentic and cozy. In short: if you’re looking for a little slice of paradise where peace and nature take center stage, this is the place for you.
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Food & Drinks
On Koh Surin Nuea, you can eat at the covered restaurant or at picnic tables right on the sand. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are all served in the same place but only at set times—so if you’re late, unfortunately, you miss out. You can order from the menu or choose a set meal. Except for a slice of bread with jam at breakfast (baked at the BBQ), all dishes are Thai—don’t expect pizza or fries here! There’s a small shop selling snacks and drinks. A can of soda costs 40 baht, and instant noodles are also 40 baht. Hot boiled water is free. Bring enough cash because there’s no ATM on the island. For details about the facilities, refer to camping on Surin Island.
- Breakfast: 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM, set meal 120 baht
- Lunch: 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM, set meal 280 baht
- Dinner: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM, set meal 300 baht
Getting to the Surin Island
The Surin Islands are open from November to April. The best time to visit is December to February for dry weather and calm seas. They close from May 15 to October 15 due to rough monsoon conditions. Dates may vary with weather.
The Surin Islands are a group of five islands located on the west coast of Thailand. They are easily accessible from Khura Buri (if you’re coming from Khao Sok) and Khao Lak. In Khao Lak, you can find tickets for tours to both the Surin and Similan Islands everywhere. After a boat ride of about 1,5 hour you’ll arrive at Koh Surin Nuea. unfortunately, lose tickets are not available in Khao lak.
Where to book a boat ticket to Surin Island yourself?
If you don’t want to join a tour and want to camp on the Surin Islands and save money, your best option is to go to Khuraburi. In Khura Buri, you can buy boat tickets at travel agencies like Tom & Am, Sabina Tours, and Greenview Tour.
From the Khura Buri District Transport Station, minibuses take you to the pier in about 15 minutes. The speedboat leaves every day at 9:00 AM
The center of Khuraburi is small, with a few restaurants, shops, and a local market. A popular spot to eat is Bai Ya Restaurant. There are a few basic hotels, but you usually can’t book them online. You’ll need to go there in person. They can help you with boat tickets and staying on the Surin Islands.
Hotels:
- Khura Buri Greenview Resort (quiet, with a pool)
- Tom’s House (modern rooms, balcony, pool)
- Country Hut Riverside (cheap, simple bungalows)
Traveling from Khao Lak and Khao Sok to Surin Islands
From Khao Lak, it’s about a 1.5-hour taxi ride to Khura Buri.
From Khao Sok: If you’re taking local buses from Khao Sok, you’ll need to change buses in Takua Pa, and the fare is around 200 baht. Doing a day trip to and from Khao Sok usually isn’t doable.
If you want to travel independently but still be sure your transportation is well arranged, you can book bus tickets through 12GoAsia. This way, you’re guaranteed a seat on the bus. You usually pay a small commission, but it saves time and hassle.