Product Description
Highlights
The ocean is your swimming pool on this adventure cruise – and what an ocean it is. The clear warm waters of the Andaman Sea are a dream to wake up to each day. Get unrivalled access to snorkelling spots around the Andaman islands from your comfortable small ship. Enjoy the laidback nightlife of Khao Lak. This area has not adopted the seedier side of Thai tourism, so it’s great chance to spend a night out without hassle. See how the minority Sea Gypsies of Moken Village live, and hear first-hand hear stories of survival in Baan Talay Nok Village which was devastated by the 2004 tsunami
Overview
The spoils of Southern Thailand are no secret, but like in so many other paradise-like pockets of South East Asia, there’s always more to discover. Escape the tourists on an adventure cruise that takes in some of the most spectacular little islands off Thailand’s west coast. The Similan Islands, Ko Miang Ko Surin Tai and Khao Lak offer all the hallmarks of Thailand’s idyllic south – the warm blue-green Andaman Sea, blinding white sands and marvellous limestone oddities – without the glitz and bustle of mainland Phuket. Dine and share stories with locals in small villages, explore jungle and boulder-studded shorelines, and swim and snorkel the afternoons away.
Breakfast Included: 7 Lunches Included: 6 Dinner Included: 6
Embarkation in Phuket
Arrive in Phuket, greeting your shipmates as you board in the late afternoon. Attend a welcome meeting and safety briefing to go over the finer details of your upcoming journey. After dinner onboard with your fellow travellers, set sail at around 9 pm, heading for Ko Miang overnight.
Ko Miang
Arrive nice and early in Ko Miang, one of the gorgeous Similan Islands. Renowned among divers for good reason, these islands combine rainforest, white sands and clear blue water to dazzling effect. Enjoy a morning of swimming and snorkelling, or make use of the stand-up paddleboards and kayaks. Then depart mid-afternoon for the short sail to the main group of the Similan Islands, where the boat will remain at anchor overnight.
Similan Islands
Enjoy a full day of exploring the Similan Islands. You're free to hike the rainforest interior, scramble over huge boulders on pristine beaches or go snorkelling in search of tropical fish and coral. These islands, constituting a national park, were made a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1982, and it's not hard to see why. Later, it's off for a late-night sail to Ko Surin Tai, and the night is spent at sea.
Ko Surin Tai
After an early-morning arrival, visit Moken Village for a tour with a local guide. This is the home of the Moken people, a Sea Gypsy ethnic group of Austronesian origin who still mostly live a seminomadic hunter-gatherer life (despite Thai and Burmese attempts to assimilate them into the wider culture). Notice their colourful poles, known as labong, which represent their ancestors.
Later, in the afternoon, enjoy some snorkelling and relaxing on the beach.
Ko Surin Tai
Enjoy another day basking in the beauty of Surin Tai. Explore its incredible ecosystem, perhaps watching for a nesting turtle if it's the season. Otherwise, enjoy the sun and sand of this beautifully offtrack location while you can. In the evening, settle into a leisurely barbecue on deck with fellow travellers. The night is spent at anchor
here.
Khao Lak
Make the journey to Khao Lak, a village among a collection of gorgeous beaches along Phang Nga's coastline. If the conditions are right, you might enjoy some old fashioned sailing, with the sails up and the engine off for a little while. After arriving in the afternoon, you're free to explore Khao Lak Town as you please. In the evening, perhaps seek out some fresh seafood in one of the restaurants and explore the local nightlife. This laidback haven is a nice escape from the glitzier side of Phuket.
Khao Lak
Travel by coach to Baan Talay Nok village. Enjoy a local-guided tour around the village, which was actually destroyed by 2004 tsunami. You'll hear some eye-opening stories of survival and how the village has recovered. For lunch, sit down with local families and dine on some tasty local dishes. Try your hand not only at soap-making but also at some cooking, preparing a local dish of grilled coconut wrapped in leaf. After returning by bus to Ko Pra Thong, join the Panorama II once again. Enjoy a farewell dinner onboard as the boat sails for Phuket.
Disembark in Phuket
Arriving in Phuket early in the morning, disembark after breakfast as the adventure comes to an end.
