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Mu Koh Surin National Park
Operating day: Daily
Operating time: 06.00 - 18.00
Mu Koh Surin National Park is an archipelago in the Andaman Sea located approximately 70 kilometres off the western shore. It is next to the Thailand – Myanmar border, covering a total area of approximately 84,375 rai out of which about 20,594 rai is an on land area.
The Park comprises 5 major islands; namely, Koh Surin Nuea, Koh Surin Tai, Koh Khai (Koh Torinla), Koh Klang (Koh Pachumba), and Koh Ri (Koh Satok). It was proclaimed a national park on 9 July, 1981, and includes islands with beautiful coral reefs in the shallows and various schools of fish of different colours.
It offers ideal spots for snorkelling to admire coral reefs in the shallows, especially at Koh Torinla and Koh Pachumba. An ideal spot for scuba diving is the Richeliu Rock, 10 kilometres to the southwest of Koh Surin.
This is a site of fertile undersea nature, habitat of various kinds of fish, colourful corals, and where whale shark, the kind Giant of the Sea, is frequently encountered. The most suitable period for a visit is between November and April whereas from May to October is the period of monsoons when there are heavy rainfalls and windy wavy sea. Interesting Attractions within the National Park:
Koh Surin Nuea and Koh Surin Tai are two attached islands separated by a water channel. There are both large and small bays scattered around the islands, all with distinctively beautiful beaches and sea water. Koh Surin Nuea is where the Park’s Ranger Station is located. There is a Tourist Service Centre, bungalows, camping site, and long-tailed boats for rent to visit various islands.
Ao Chong Khat is located south of Koh Surin Nuea and has a camping spot on a clean white sandy beach suitable for swimming. There are also coral reefs and various kinds of fish such as the colourful parrotfish and wrasse.
Ao Mae Yai is also south of Koh Surin Nuea and offers a bay of calm sea. It is the largest island in the Surin Archipelago with coral reefs in the shallows.
Ao Sai En is situated east of Koh Surin Nuea, with boat people known as Chao Le or Mogen People living their simple and folk way of life. They believe in Indian icons carved out of wood which are regarded as their sacred items. During the full moon day’s period of April every year, they will gather to pay respect to their revered spirits for 3 days.
Ao Luek is to the southeast of Koh Surin Nuea and offers coral reefs in the shallows, seaweeds, anemones, sea fans, schools of clown fish, and various kinds of colourful fish.
Ao Chak is to the north of Koh Surin Nuea and offers a white powdery beach and snorkelling spot to admire coral reefs in the shallows.
Ao Mai Ngam is to the west of Koh Surin Nuea next to the headquarters bay. It is a large bay with a long curving beach, beautiful coral reefs, and various kinds of colourful fish. Moreover, there is Ao Mai Ngam Nature Trail through an evergreen forest along the beach, with nature interpretation signs along the 2-kilometres route, taking approximately 1 hour. Along the route, various species of wildlife and flora such as mouse deer, flying lemur, and rare birds like Nicobar pigeon and pied imperial pigeon can be seen.
Ao Bon is located east of Koh Surin Tai and inhabited by another group of the Mogen or Chao Le people.
Ao Tao is located east of Koh Surin Tai and a habitat of a large number of sea turtles near the coral reefs. It offers a snorkelling spot to view soft corals and sea fans.
Ao Phak Kat is to the south of Koh Surin Tai and offers a snorkelling spot to view staghorn coral reefs, and also a scuba diving spot.
Ao Suthep is to the north of Koh Surin Tai and offers a snorkelling spot to view beautiful coral reefs.
Koh Pachumba or Koh Klang is situated north of Koh Surin Tai and offers clean white powdery beaches and intact coral reefs where Manta rays, various species of fish, and lobsters which are rare to be seen are so abundant that the bay is called Ao Mangkon after the Thai name of lobster, Kung Mangkon. It is also a spawning site for sea turtles.
Koh Khai or Koh Torinla is south of Koh Surin Tai. To the east of the island, there is a very long stretch of coral reefs that are still in perfect condition and ideal for scuba diving.
To Get to Mu Koh Surin National Park:
By car, from Amphoe Mueang Phang-nga, take Highway No. 4 (Phetchakasem Road) toward Amphoe Khura Buri and turn left at Km. 721, 6 kilometres before reaching Amphoe Khura Buri, for 3 kilometres. The Park’s direction sign will be seen on the right.
By bus, the Transport Company Limited operates air–conditioned buses from the Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal on Borommaratchachonnani Road once a day, leaving Bangkok at 8.00 p.m. and arriving in Amphoe Khura Buri at 8.00 a.m., taking a total of 12 hours.
For further information, please call the Bangkok Office, Tel. 0 2894 6122, Amphoe Khura Buri Office, Tel. 0 7649 1218. Lignite Tour Company Limited operates a daily bus leaving Bangkok at 7.05 p.m. and arriving in Amphoe Khura Buri at 5.00 a.m. For more details, please call the Bangkok Office at Tel. 0 2435 5016, 0 2435 7428, Phang-nga Office, Tel. 0 7641 2300, 0 7641 2014, Takua Pa Office, Tel. 0 7644 1107.
To Get to Thap Lamu Pier:
- From Bangkok, take the Bangkok – Ranong or Bangkok – Surat Thani bus and get off at the Lam Kaen T-junction, Amphoe Thai Mueang. Then, take a motorcycle to Thap Lamu Pier.
- From Phang-nga provincial town, take the Phang-nga – Thap Lamu Pier bus, leaving Phang-nga Bus Terminal, or the Bangkok – Surat Thani or Bangkok – Ranong bus, to Lam Kaen T-junction. Then, take a motorcycle to the pier.
- From Amphoe Thai Mueang, take a Song Thaeo minibus running on the Thai Mueang – Thap Lamu route, Phuket – Takua Pa bus, or Phuket - Surat Thani bus from the market on Phetchakasem Road and get off at Lam Kaen T-junction. Then, take a motorcycle to the pier.
Ferry and Charter Boat Visitors travelling in groups may contact a ferry or charter boat at:
- Khura Buri Pier, Amphoe Khura Buri, 60 kilometres from the Park, taking some 4 hours. Contact Mu Ko Surin National Park at Tel. 0 7649 1378 and Khura Buri Green View Resort, Tel. 0 7649 1477 - 8.
- Thap Lamu Pier, Amphoe Thai Mueang, taking about 4 hours. For a ferry, visitors may contact any travel agency nearby.
Accommodation: The Park provides 16 bungalow rooms, each room for 2 persons, at 2,000 Baht / bungalow.
A tent for rent is also available at 300 – 450 Baht / night. A camping site fee of 40 Baht / night will be charged for visitors bringing their own tents. Admission to the Park is 400 Baht for adults and 200 Baht for children. A boat is also provided to view around the islands 2 times daily at 60 Baht / person. Diving gear is available at 150 Baht.
For further information, contact the Mu Ko Surin National Park, Tambon Khura. Amphoe Khura Buri, Phang-nga 82150, Tel. 0 7649 1378, 0 7649 1582, or the Department of National Park, Wildlife and Flora, Bangkok, Tel. 0 2562 0760 or visit www.dnp.go.th.
How to get there
By Other Travelling to Mu Ko Surin can be initiated from several different points:
Khura Buri Pier is the nearest point to Mu Ko Surin. Khura Buri is some 125 kilometres north of Phang-nga. A boat trip takes around 3 hours. There is no regular boat service for travellers to Ko Surin. Boats leaving from Khura Buri are suitable for group tours. For more information contact:
- Diamond coral Tours at tel. 0 7649 1055
- Kuraburi Green View Travel at tel. 0 7640 1400, 0 7642 1360 or visit www.kuraburigreenview.com
- Mantapoint at tel. 0 7648 5745, 08 1273 9279
- Rung Arun Tours at tel. 0 7649 1142
- Sabina Tour at tel. 0 7649 1867,08 1737 5801
Amphoe Kapoe Pier is in Ranong Province. The trip takes 7 hours. Visitors may contact Chansom Tara Hotel (tel: 0 7783 5317-9) which has boats leaving Chan Damri Beach for trips to Mu Ko Surin.
Note The best way for individual travellers is to join a trip out of Phuket that includes Mu Ko Surin on the itinerary. This typically lasts at least 3 days and includes visits to Mu Ko Similan.
Website : www.dnp.go.th
Category: Nature and Wildlife
Group: National Parks and Marine Reserves
Last Update : 1 YearAgo
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