Snorkeling Surin Islands: 3 Reefs & Moken Village Visit

Three snorkeling stops and a cultural visit to a seafaring tribe

A full-day snorkeling activity from Phuket to Surin Islands with three separate reef stops, meals, full equipment and a visit to Moken Village. Hotel pickup starts at 6am; the boat departs at 9am and returns by late afternoon. English-speaking guide leads the group through snorkeling at Chong Khat Bay, Mae Yai Bay and Turtle Bay, with time to meet the Moken people who live on the island. Children from age 2 are welcome; the activity is not suitable for pregnant travelers or anyone with heart conditions, back problems or poor cardiovascular health.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling and cultural visit at Surin Islands

• Pick up from hotel
• Welcome breakfast and tour briefing
• Board speed boat to Koh Surin
• Snorkel at Chong Khat Bay
• Visit Moken community
• Lunch buffet
• Snorkel at second snorkeling point
• Snorkel at third snorkeling point
• Return to pier
• Arrive back at hotel

The Experience

The day starts with hotel pickup between 6 and 6:30am depending on where you're staying in Phuket, followed by a welcome breakfast with the guide at 8am. By 9am you're boarding a speedboat for the 90-minute crossing to Surin Islands. The first snorkeling stop arrives at Chong Khat Bay around 10:20am, where you'll spend time in the water with mask, snorkel and fins provided. Between the reef sessions, you visit Moken Village to meet the Austronesian-speaking tribe who have lived on the island for generations, fishing and diving in the surrounding waters.

Lunch is a buffet served on the boat at noon, with soft drinks, tea and coffee available throughout the day along with fresh fruit and snacks. The second snorkeling point comes at 1pm, followed by a third stop at Mae Yai Bay or Turtle Bay around 2:30pm — these reefs are where sea turtles and sharks appear most often, though sightings depend on the day and the season. The boat heads back to the pier at 3:30pm, and you're back at your hotel by around 4:50pm. The entire outing runs roughly nine hours from pickup to drop-off, though the boat ride itself accounts for much of that time.

All snorkeling equipment is included: mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket and towel. The national park fee is built into the price. The guide speaks English and leads the group through each stop, pointing out marine life and explaining what you're seeing. Because this is an early morning departure, the driver cannot wait — you need to be in the hotel lobby 10 minutes before your pickup time. Weather and sea conditions determine whether the tour runs; if conditions turn unsafe, the operator may reschedule or cancel with no refund.

What’s included

• Three separate snorkeling sessions at Chong Khat Bay, Mae Yai Bay and Turtle Bay.
• full snorkeling gear including mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket and towel.
• welcome breakfast, lunch buffet, soft drinks, tea, coffee, snacks and fresh fruit.
• visit to Moken Village.
• national park fee.
• English-speaking guide.
• hotel pickup and return by air-conditioned minivan.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by I Asia Thailand

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to snorkel three reef sites and meet the Moken people in one day with a group guide, and you're comfortable starting at 6am and sharing a boat with other travelers.

Traveler reviews

4.33★★★★★★★★★★

9 verified traveler reviews

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

What's the water like at Surin Islands for snorkeling?

The reefs at Chong Khat Bay, Mae Yai Bay and Turtle Bay hold colorful fish, sea turtles and occasionally sharks in shallow to moderate depths. The water is clear enough to see the seafloor and the marine life moving through it, though visibility depends on the day and tide.

Do I need snorkeling experience to join this activity?

No experience is required. The guide briefs the group before each snorkeling session, and full equipment including a life jacket is provided. The activity suits all physical fitness levels, though it is not recommended for pregnant travelers, anyone with heart conditions, back or neck problems, or poor cardiovascular health.

What is Moken Village and how much time do we spend there?

Moken Village is home to the Moken tribe, an Austronesian-speaking seafaring people who have lived on Surin Islands for generations. You visit the village between the first and second snorkeling stops to meet the community and learn about their ocean-based way of life.

What meals and drinks are included?

The day includes a welcome breakfast before departure, a lunch buffet served on the boat, and soft drinks, tea, coffee, snacks and fresh fruit available throughout. You bring your own water bottle or purchase additional drinks if needed.

How early is the pickup and what if my hotel is far from the meeting point?

Hotel pickup happens between 6 and 6:30am depending on your hotel's location in Phuket; the transfer time is not counted as part of the nine-hour tour duration. You must be waiting in your hotel lobby 10 minutes before your assigned pickup time, as the driver cannot delay for late guests.

Can children join this snorkeling activity?

Children age 2 and older can join; those 11 and younger must be accompanied by a paying adult. Infants aged 2 to 3 years are complimentary. Children under 2 years old and anyone over 75 years old are not permitted.