Thailand
Similan Islands
Khao Lak
Koh Lanta
Trang Archipelago
Surin Islands
Cruise past Ko Tapu (James Bond Island) in Phang Nga Bay
Visit the floating village of Ko Panyi
Dive the granite reefs of the Similan Islands
Kayak through Phang Nga Bay’s hidden hongs (sea caves)
Dive Richelieu Rock near the Surin Islands
Phang Nga Bay
Krabi Town
Khao Lak
Koh Lanta
Trang
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November through April is the main season, with calm seas, low rainfall and the best visibility for diving and snorkelling throughout the region. The southwest monsoon brings rain and rougher water from around May to October, during which the Similan Islands close entirely and other anchorages can turn uncomfortable. December through February is the busiest and driest stretch, while March and April combine settled weather with noticeably fewer crowds.
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Phuket International Airport (HKT) is the principal gateway to the Andaman coast, with direct international flights from across Asia, Europe and Australia. Krabi International Airport (KBV), around 180 kilometres southeast, serves the Krabi and Ao Nang area and can be a useful alternative depending on where a charter begins or ends. Bangkok’s two international airports connect onward to both regional airports in well under two hours.
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Phang Nga Bay, sheltered between the mainland and Phuket, offers calm water and dramatic limestone scenery within easy reach of most itineraries. Further south, Krabi’s Railay and Ao Nang give access to some of the region’s best rock climbing and beaches, while the Similan Islands, open from mid-October to mid-May, provide the most remote and pristine option for those willing to cruise further offshore.
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A week to ten days allows a well-paced route combining Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, the Phi Phi Islands and a few days further south around Krabi or Koh Lanta. Guests with two weeks can push further, adding the Similan Islands during their open season or the quieter Trang archipelago near the Malaysian border. Shorter charters of three to four days typically focus on Phuket and Phang Nga Bay alone.
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Most marine national parks along the Andaman coast, including the Similan and Phi Phi Islands, charge a modest per-person entrance fee collected on arrival, typically a few hundred baht. The Similan Islands close entirely from mid-May to mid-October each year to let the monsoon-battered reefs recover, so itineraries built around them need to work within that window. A local charter operator or agent normally handles clearance and park fees as part of arranging the cruise.
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