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shannrussell-blog1 · 5 years ago

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It was raining, the road ahead was shrouded in a mist of rain. The driver of the minibus we were in said it wouldn’t be much, and she was right. By the time we arrived at the information centre, it had stopped. Starting at the Information centre in Flinders Chase National Park, the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is a 61-kilometre 5-day walk that takes you through a mixture of forest, thick scrub, and amazing coastline.

It passes such features as Rocky River, the wild Southern Ocean, Cape du Couedic Lighthouse and Remarkable Rocks. At times the Wilderness Trail can be rough with lots of rocky surfaces to walk over as you pass through low scrubby areas of vegetation. And other times you are going through beautiful eucalyptus forests.

This trail takes you along the Southern Ocean, and beautiful eucalyptus forests.

The beginning of the walk

My wife and I had the obligatory photo taken at the gate you go through at the beginning of the walk and then we headed off. At first, the trail is well maintained and takes you past some waterholes where if you are patient it is possible to see a platypus.

We waited with several other people, but it was in vain, so we decided to keep moving. Other walkers we met, later on, said they had better luck and got some great shots.

The trail takes you along the soft sand of the beach.

The first section

The first section you pass through are forests of Eucalyptus and Mallee, and if you are there in spring then we were told many wildflowers would be in bloom.

There are lots of wildlife and birds, but you have to keep your eyes peeled as they are pretty shy. We also went past a rocky outcrop called the cascades which were supposed to be very scenic, if there was water in them.

We did see a wild pig at a rest stop which didn’t hang around. They are a pest, and there were many signs of where they were digging into the ground causing a lot of damage as they searched for food.

This is an example of the typical track surface you’ll be walking on.

Cup Gum campsite

The first day is only about four hours walk and finishes at Cup Gum Campsite. The facilities at each of the campsites are excellent. Here we had a choice of raised platforms or sand pads for the tent to be erected on. Although at the other camps there were only sand pads.

The shelter has several large tables and a stainless steel bench for cooking on, as well as a sink and taps powered by a pump and filtered water, (although it was still advised to treat the water before drinking).

The end of the first day finishes at the Cup Gum Campsite.

Shelters and facilities available

There were also solar powered lights that came on as it got dark, which were also in the toilets. There are stainless steel basins in the toilets with a tap as well, also connected to a pump. They look brand new, and since every camp is accessible by a service road, they are cleaned almost every day. These were the best shelters I have ever seen in my many years of walking and camping.

One of the best parts of walking holidays is meeting other walkers and sharing experiences. The comradery in the camps was great, with everybody friendly and easy to talk to.

The shelters had excellent facilities.

The second day of the walk

The next day we started heading to the coast along the Rocky River until it meets the sea. We then walked along the cliff tops with the wild foaming sea below. The views along this part of the coast are spectacular. We stopped many times to try and capture it on our cameras.

At one point you descend to Maupertuis Beach and walk along its soft sand. This was quite hard as the sand was really soft. We did try to walk closer to the water’s edge looking for harder sand but often had to make a run for it when a wave came rushing in.

Eventually, you’ll descend to the soft sand of Maupertuis Beach.

In the end, we found walking in other people’s footprints was the best way. So long as you found someone with the same stride you would be fine.

After about a kilometre we went back up to the cliff tops and continued there for the rest of the day. The surface of the track here is pretty rough, consisting of mainly broken limestone. This was a bit hard on the feet and legs as you have to step over never-ending rocks and small boulders.

In the distance, you can see the Cape du Couedic Lighthouse. It gets closer each time you come over a small ridge, but it is never reached as the track turns inland about 2km before it and shortly after that, you arrive at the Hakea Campground.

Linda and I at the mouth of the Rocky River.

Keeping your gear clean and dry

My only criticism of the campsites is the lack of any sort of raised platform to sit a backpack on that is close to the tent. Since the tent sites are sand it means whatever you put on the ground risks getting dirty.

It may only be a small thing, but most walkers like to keep their gear as clean as they can when sometimes washing opportunities are limited. We found by putting our packs on the ground face up therefore not getting anything dirty and still accessing our gear from the packs.

Packs at rest.

The weather conditions

The weather overall was fairly good, with cool days and on the first two days, we had some light drizzly rain that was more annoying than anything.

We did get some rain on our first night though, otherwise, we had reasonably good weather for the entire trip.

We had reasonably good weather on our hike.

The third day of our hike

Our third day went inland and curved around towards the South coast of the island coming out at Remarkable Rocks.

For me, this was the most boring section of the trail as it went through thick scrub that didn’t allow any views anywhere. All you could see was thick scrub.

It was good to finally come out at the coast and take the side trail to Remarkable Rocks where we caught up with some of the others and were able to eat lunch while looking around this impressive natural feature.

We still had about 4km to go so we loaded up again and went back in the scrub, for only a little bit, then back out to the coast where we continued along more impressive cliff tops.

Having a rest at Remarkable Rocks.

Banksia campground

Our third camp was called Banksia Campground with the usual great facilities. There was plenty of conversations around the cooking tables as we discussed the pros and cons of everybody’s different setups and walking experiences.

This was our coldest night with the temperature going down to about 4 degrees, and the next morning everybody had their flysheets hanging on trees and bushes trying to dry the condensation off before we packed them away.

A much easier section of the trail.

The next day

We continued on from Banksia firstly toward the coast then back inland. The terrain was changing now with the limestone giving way to smoother sections where walking was much easier. We were now going through more open forests rather than thick scrub.

We knew we were getting closer to Hanson Bay Beach as we started to hear waves crashing ashore, but where was it. It can be a little frustrating when you know you are close to something but just can’t seem to get there.

Hopping aboard the boat.

Crossing the river

We knew up ahead there was a small river we had to cross using a boat with a rope attached to pull ourselves over, but it seemed to take forever to reach it. This was going to be our lunch stop and we were getting hungry.

Finally, there it was. A small boat for one person and their pack at a time to cross. We watched some of the others go first as we had our final lunch break on the trail.

We then took turns to cross over and left our packs with some of the others just off the trail and walked the 300 meters down to the beach. It was almost deserted with a few small cabins on the other side of the beach that were able to be hired out.

We returned to pick up our packs and in about half an hour we were at our final camp, Tea Tree Campsite.

Crossing the South West River.

The final night – Tea Tree campsite

It was a lovely sunny afternoon, and everybody sat around soaking it up until the sun went down. Then the night chill started to come in and everybody started preparing their final dinner of the walk.

It was another chilly night and more tent fly’s had to be dried before we could head on our way. This was our last day and it was only about 7 kilometres to go.

The last section of the trail

This last section of the trail went through eucalyptus forests and past lagoons where there was some bird life, but you would have needed a good lens for your camera as the birds were all across the other side several hundred meters away.

It only took us about two hours to do this last part, and then we were at the finish at Kelly Hill Caves. I set up my camera on a timer and took our photo as we went past the sign that said we had completed the walk.

A side trip to Admirals Arch.

Services on the trail

Part of the fee you pay to do the walk covers a cave tour. It was a bit disappointing to realise we’d missed the tour that the other walkers we were with went on, as we were last to arrive. Still, we saw them when they came out of the caves and we were able to say our goodbyes.

From the caves, we contacted the campground where we left the car and they came to pick us up. Because the Wilderness Trail is not a circuit, arrangements have to be made to be picked up when you finish. National Parks can offer this service as well as several other resorts and campgrounds.

Reaching the end of the trail.

Fitness and gear you’ll need

The Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail is an enjoyable walk with varied terrain and fantastic scenery. It can also be done as a series of day walks with pickups by arrangement at each campsite, or car shuffling to some of the public car parks along the way.

You would need to have a reasonable amount of fitness as you will be walking about 13km each day except for the last day when it is only 7km.

You’ll need to be quite fit, as you’ll be walking on sand.

Good boots are essential because of the rocky surface. Some may prefer walking shoes, however, don’t bother with lighter footwear.

For fees and up to date information contact the information centre at Flinders Chase National Park, so get out there, and enjoy.

Is the KI Wilderness Trail on your list of hikes to do?

The post Walking the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail in SA appeared first on Snowys Blog.

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thehairytraveller-blog · 8 years ago

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Seeing the World | South Vietnam

After we'd seen all that we wanted to see in Cambodia, our trip took us across the border and into South Vietnam. Previously, in Sihanoukville, I arranged my Vietnam e-visa online through the Vietnamese government website, which got me 30 days of travel. Having a British passport is a luxury in this world and it was easy for us to get the e-visa for only $25; however, if your country isn't on the list, you'll have to arrange your visa through a travel agent or the local Vietnamese consulate.

This happened with Tamsin, but we got the visa sorted for $50. Once these were sorted, we booked a hotel bus through Bison Tours for $20 each. A hotel bus is a sleeping bus that has actual beds in it, rather than reclining seats (which meant I could actually sleep!) and its a great way of travelling long distances. A minibus picked us up from our hostel to take us to Phnom Penh where we would catch our hotel bus. This minibus ride was meant to be a 3 hour journey in a crammed minibus (16 people), going backwards; but it turned out to be more like 4 but felt like 6. This was probably the worst bus we've been on since we arrived in Asia, but we were so glad to see Phnom Penh and stretch our legs. Originally we were told we would be picked up in the hotel bus at 11pm and would drive through the night; however, when we arrived, we were told it wasn't until 1:30am and we had to wait in the city (cue grumpy travellers!). There wasn't anything we could do, so we found a local Burger King and watched a movie on my computer. This closed at 10 and we found a small little sports bar near the bus station to sit in until our time came.

Ho Chi Minh City

We finally boarded the bus and made our way to the Bavet/Moc Bai border. After about 6 hours of sleeping, we were (loudly) woken up by the staff on the bus as we had arrived at the border. The Bavet border is a very ominous place, it's almost like an abandoned mall in a zombie movie but we made our way through and after a couple of hours, we were back on the bus and ready to sleep. 3 hours passed pretty quickly and we arrived in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) and quickly headed into the nearest Burger King for a snack and to use the WiFi. Fortunately for us, our hostel was literally around the corner and we arrived there in no time. We booked 5 nights in the Lee Hostel on the Saigon Pub Street,and we kinda wished we'd booked somewhere else. It only cost us $3.45 each per night, but that came with various problems. I'm not going to go into details (that's what reviews are for) , however we had issues with the aircon, the breakfast and the room itself so when we left we were glad to go.

P.S. Our stay in the hostel is no reflection of Saigon itself as we had a great time.

Out of all the cities we've visited on our adventure, HCMC is probably our favourite. It's a lot more western than the others and the streets are always full of life. We would spend hours sat watching the locals dancing, skateboarding or doing their group exercises; it was amazing to see a different side to them.

Vietnam was host to a devastating war during the 60s and the country is still recovering from this to this day. In the centre of the city is the HCMC War Remnants Museum and this gives you a glimpse into the atrocities that happened in Vietnam. They had original tanks and planes that landed as well as a lot of pictures and descriptions of what happened. The media portrays the Americans as the good guys in this war and we never see it from the other side as thousands of Vietnamese innocents were brutally slaughtered and are still suffering from the effects of Agent Orange. Agent Orange was a chemical the Americans would spray over the land, damaging the land and the genes of whoever came into contact with it, giving the descendents deformities. It's horrible to see that people are still affected by this and to see that even to this day countries are using chemicals to destroy others is despicable; why can't we learn? I urge you to check out the museum if you visit the city as its a real eye opener and only 15,000₫ each.

One of our days in HCMC, me and Tamsin decided to visit the Cu Chi tunnels on the outskirts of the city. These tunnels were home to a multitude of Vietnamese soldiers during the war and they would lay traps around the forests in order to catch (and kill) American soldiers. These people were incredibly clever and knew how to be stealthy when cooking, relaxing or laying the traps. We got to get in one of the tunnels which was no more than 1 metre high and smaller in width. I was getting a bit claustrophobic (and I rarely get claustrophobic), so I couldn't imagine how it must've been to live in these places. The total cost of the tour was 190,000₫ each, but this included the bus, the tour guide and the entrance into the park, plus a small taste of the food they used to eat. There was also a shooting range on-site in which you could try out AK-47s and M60s, but the cheapest one was 500,000₫, so we missed it.

One thing we love when checking out new cities is the local markets and Ho Chi Minh has an huge indoor one; the Ben Thanh market. You can find pretty much everything you need here: clothes, speakers, food and plenty of other things. The downside is that it can get quite crowded and the vendors are pushy, but this is their culture, so we can't get angry at it. At night, the Ben Thanh market closes and the street in front is closed and becomes a night market. They sell pretty much the same things as the indoor market, but you're more likely to find a deal, because they put everything on 'sale'. Also, around the corner from the market is a new street food market. You can choose from a variety of different foods from different places around the world; although it can get hard to choose.

On the weekend we were there, the local park hosted an international food market which had some amazing foods and drinks. The aroma and sights were something to behold and the food tasted wonderful. We had a Korean hotdogs coated in fries (25,000₫ - amazing) and a cheese burger (40,000₫); it was so good, we headed back later that evening for round 2. I'm not sure if they have this market every week or whether it was a one of thing, but if it's there every weekend I recommend that you check it out. The food is awesome, there is so much to choose from and it's cheap! (Always a benefit!).

Whilst browsing the local stores, Tamsin and I found a travel store which sold us a sleeper bus to our next stop, Nha Trang for $10 each. This would be our first experience of a sleeper bus (the other was a hotel bus) and it was not a great one. The bus picked us up at 9pm and we were shown to two 70% reclining seats that were definitely made for Vietnamese people but after a cramped and sleepless 10 hours of travel we made it to Nha Trang.

Nha Trang

Now Nha Trang is not the best representation of Vietnam and tends to only really attract Russian holiday makers, but we were determined to make the most of it. We stayed in a lovely little hostel across the road from the beach called iFriends hostel. We paid $4.50 each per night for three nights and it was worth every penny; clean rooms, the best shower we've had and the most helpful staff. The only downside to staying here was that there isn't really a common room so it's a bit harder to socialise with other travellers, but we managed to meet people in our room and in the reception. Outside of the hostel is two, very popular and cheap restaurants as well as a small store just on the corner. Across the road from is the Central Park area of the beach, where you can rent a sunbed and get access to awesome swimming pools for 80,000₫ daily; we were super tempted to do this to get in the pool, but decided we'd rather swim in the sea. The beach was beautiful white sands with clear blue, warm waters and I could've spent all day in the water. It's quite a large beach, so there is always an open area where you can sunbathe without being bothered by anyone else. Along the beach are several trendy restaurants and bars where you can chill during the day and party at night, however these places are a lot more expensive than restaurants that are just off the beach area; as a budget traveller, these bars weren't quite in our price bracket.

Nha Trang isn't the most cultural of places and if you're travelling solely to look at the temples and study the history of the country, this place probably isn't the best for you, however, a short scooter ride out of the city and the scenery changes drastically. We decided to hire a scooter from our hostel (80,000₫ per day) and took a 50 minute drive to the Ba Ho waterfalls. In order to get here, you drive through beautiful farm villages with forests and hills, which is a stark contrast to the city life of Nha Trang. Arriving at the waterfalls, you have to pay a park entrance fee of 45,000₫ each, but you can park your scooter there for free. From the entrance its about a 25 minute walk to the actual waterfall, but the walk itself is an experience. The first 10 minutes is a path that takes you through the forest to an opening to where the water flows. From here, you have to have your climbing head on; for about 15 minutes you are literally climbing up rocks and through trees in order to make it to the waterfall (the whole way is marked with red arrows painted on rocks). As we arrived at the waterfall we were greeted be about 20 people who were swimming in the water and jumping off the cliffs into the lagoon; it was a paradise. Initially we'd decided to spend an hour or so here, but ended up staying for about 5 hours. The water was cold, but we could welcome this as the day was sweltering. Swimming through the water were small schools of fish that would nibble the dead skin off of our feet; at first it was weird, but we soon had gotten used to it. I figured that we probably weren't going to come back to the Ba Ho waterfalls, so I decided to jump off the cliff. You could choose to do the higher one or one just below and I went for the smaller one, but it was still about 25 feet high. I feel if you're not going to be there again, then you should make the most of wherever you are! There were so many groups of people arriving and leaving whilst we were there and we got to meet a lot of lovely people.

On the way back from the falls, we decided to hit up a local temple in Nha Trang. The Po Nagar Cham Towers is an old Hindu temple which had been recently restored and it was stunning. It's stood on top of a hill just by the river and from the top you can see the whole landscape of the city, its beautiful. It cost us 22,000₫ each for entry into the temple and about 5,000₫ for parking. You're unlikely to spend a long time at this temple, but it's definitely worth it.

Other than the Ba Ho waterfall and the Po Nagar Cham Towers we didn't find much to do in Nha Trang and we pretty much used our time here to chill out and catch up on our sun tan. There are plenty of places to eat, especially once you leave the beach area and we were eating for about 100,000₫ between us for a meal, which isn't too bad. Nha Trang is great if you're looking for a holiday destination, but if you're after a cultural destination, then I probably wouldn't recommend it. After deciding that Hoi An would be the next stop on our journey, we booked sleeper bus tickets through our hostel for 200,000₫ each and headed north.

Hoi An

After about 10 hours on another cramped bus, we landed in Hoi An and once we knew where we going we arrived at our hotel: Uptown Hotel. This place was recommended to us by a lovely couple we had spoken to in Nha Trang and although it was a bit more expensive than we'd been spending previously, we decided to treat ourselves. For $46 we got an air-conditioned, double room with a free breakfast consisting of a menu full of choices; I miss the banana pancakes from this place. If you go to Hoi An, I'd 100% recommend Uptown Hotel; the place is clean, the staff are lovely and its located pretty much halfway between the old town and the beach.

Hoi An itself if a gorgeous city situated in the centre of Vietnam in the Quang Nam Province. It looks very European in style (almost like Venice), however takes elements of design from Vietnamese, Chinese and Japanese architecture; it's stunning to see these different styles overlapping. Historically, the city is rife with old stories and the people are very proud of their history. There are multiple temples and pagodas, ancient bridges and old homes that you are able to explore. For 120,000₫ you can buy a ticket to visit 5 of the historical sites; Tamsin and myself visited a couple of old homes, the famous Japanese bridge, a temple and a pagoda, it was definitely worth the money. There are over 20 attractions that the ticket covers, so each person can pick their own 5 and do what interests them.

Every month in Hoi An, they host a lantern festival in the old town and our trip happened to fall on this date. At about 8pm on the night of the later festival, the whole towns turns off their electricity (no lights, no aircon, etc.) and everyone lights a lantern and places it into the river. It absolutely amazing to see a beautiful dark town, lit up from the light of thousands of candles. Although it's crowded, it's lovely to sit with your friends and eat in a candlelit restaurant, its kinda romantic.

One of the main selling points in Hoi An is the Marble Mountains. Strictly speaking, the mountains aren't in Hoi An (they're in Danang) but for $5, we hired a scooter and took the 40 minute drive. When you approach the mountains, you will be approached by people offering you free parking spaces in their shops, try and avoid this as once you go to pick up your scooter afterwards, they'll want to charge you. Anyway, entry to the mountains is 40,000₫ per person and if you want to take the elevator to the top, you can pay an extra 15,000₫ ; we decided to take the stairs. Once you reach the first level, you'll be greeted by a huge Buddha statue next to a cute little temple which covers the entrance to one of the caves. The further up you go, there are more temples and caves to explore including a huge cave which hosts a small temple inside. We arrived at this cave at the perfect time and the sun was right above the holes in the top of the cave, creating an array spotlights beaming down. I've never seen anything like this before and it was absolutely beautiful. Outside of the caves there are stairs that will take you to the highest point of the mountain; from here you can see the whole of Danang and probably Hoi An, although the ascent up the mountain isn't the easiest. The Marble Mountains are incredibly gorgeous and don't cost a lot to visit, so I'd definitely recommend it, just make sure you remember sunscreen as it can get sweltering when you're at the top of the mount.

About another 20 minutes along the coast, is the huge statue of the Lady Buddha. Standing at over 67 metres tall (nearly double the size of Christ the Redeemer in Rio) this statue is a sight to behold. The statue is of Bodhisattva of Mercy and is recognised as the highest one nationwide, with 17 floors inside and a temple at the bottom. Unfortunately, you cannot scale the statue, but the sheer beauty of just seeing it, is amazing. To visit the Lady Buddha, you don't have to pay anything, although if you take a vehicle, they do ask for a small donation to keep it in their parking lot.

There is a lot more to do in Hoi An such as bike tours and photography classes, but unfortunately we couldn't afford them at the time; however, I do want to visit it again one day, so maybe next time. There are plenty of places to eat starting at about 20,000₫ (70p), so you'll never go hungry. Hoi An is such a beautiful town and I wish we could've spent longer and done more there, but our Visa was only for 30 days and we needed to move on; so after deliberation, we decided to to the historical city of Hue. We booked a bus through our hotel and it was only 130,000₫ each (you may be able to find it cheaper, but it was easier for us this way).

Hue

Arriving in Hue, we were dropped at the local bus station on the outskirts of the town as apparently 'buses aren't allowed in the town', but the station put on a minibus that would take us to our hostel. It cost us an extra 40,000₫ each, but we didn't fancy walking the distance so we paid it. The bus dropped us right outside of where we were staying, the Tigon Hostel, in the centre of the city. For two nights, we paid $16 and got 2 beds in a lovely 6 bed dorm room. I much prefer having a small dorm room like this one as its much easier to get to know people (we met some guys here who we'd end up travelling with). The staff were very nice and tried to help when we needed anything, although they would always give you the most expensive option to begin with.

Hue itself is littered with Vietnamese history as it was the seat of the Nguyen Dynasty emperors and the national capital from 1802 to 1945. It is home to a huge, 19th century Citadel which contains the Forbidden Purple City (this used to be home to the emperors) and the Imperial City. Tickets to the Citadel are 150,000₫ per person and in my opinion isn't worth seeing. Ancient Vietnamese history isn't really something that I'm interested in, so the Citadel didn't interest me. The buildings are lovely, but inside was just boards with writing on to tell you about the emperors. Plus, it was throwing it down with rain, so it made the day a bit worse. Overall, we were glad to leave and head back to the hostel.

The day after, we rented scooters through our hostel for 100,000₫ and headed to a local abandoned waterpark. Honestly, for myself, this was the most fun thing to do in Hue and the best part? It's free! Back. In 2005, a brand new waterpark opened up on the outskirts of Hue and for reasons unbeknown, it shut down in 2010. It was literally just left and even now there are waterslides and rides left in the park. The waterpark is situated around a big lake and in the centre of the lake, is a giant dragon which you can scale and go up into the mouth of. Its quite an experience and frankly a little bit scary in parts, but it was amazing to see. Also, once the park was abandoned, teams of crocodiles moved in to the lake and lived there for a while before the government issued a project to remove them; however, it's still a minor worry when walking around the park that there may be the odd one left behind.

Shortly after the waterpark, we headed over to the Tomb of Emperor Tu Duc. Although this was some more of the Vietnamese history, the tombs and buildings in the site we absolutely beautiful. It was 100,000₫ entry per person (in hindsight, it probably wasn't worth it) and you had access to the tombs of Tu Duc, his wife and his son, as well as various different buildings. The best part of this place was the grounds of the attraction; it had a beautiful, calm lake in the centre as well as a band of ladies playing traditional Vietnamese music. We stayed here for about and hour or so before heading back to our hostel. Hue itself could be an awesome destination if you're into your Vietnamese history, but for us, it's a place probably could've missed and spent more time in a place which we enjoyed more.

Don't let me put you off going here as it is full of history, but it just wasn't for us (and a lot of people we spoke to). After our two days were up, we booked a bus through the Travel Desk for 130,000₫ and headed over the demilitarised zone into the North of Vietnam.

Quick Vietnamese lesson:

Hello - Xin-Chao (Sin-Chow)

How are you? - Ban co khoe khong? (Ban co kwe khome?)

Fine, Thank you - Cam on ban toi khoe (Gahm un ban thoy kwe)

Thank you - Cam on (Gahm un)

Yes - Vang (Vung)

No - Khong (Khome)

If you have any questions about my time in South Vietnam, hit me up on social media or via email and I’ll be happy to answer them as quickly as possible.

Stay blessed, stay you.

#travel #backpacker #vietnam #south #south vietnam #backpacking #travelling #travel couple #likes #repost #love #nomad #hairy traveller #nomadic #digital nomad #photographer #photography #amateur photographer

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carlsonknives · 6 years ago

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TRAVEL | My 5* Luxury Beach Holiday At The TRS Yucatan in Mexico

The huge infinity pool overlooking the Caribbean sea at the TRS Yucatan

Following a glorious week spent in the Maldives last year, I was keen to get another beach holiday in this year. With just a few criteria on my list (adults only, beachfront location and reef accessible from the beach), I started looking at Kenwood Travel who I booked with last year, but came across some great deals on the Blue Bay Travel website.

The thought of going to a bustling tourist hot spot like Cancun did little for me, but when I came across the adults-only luxury 5 star TRS Yucatan Hotel further down the Yucatan peninsula that was offering a free upgrade to a Juniour suite with a private pool and butler(!), I set to work, trying to convince myself that Mexico was for me.

After reading up on the location I was convinced and snapped up the all-inclusive special offer, which happily came in well below my budget.

It’s all about the location

Located around 95km south from Cancun, the beautiful adults-only TRS Yucatan hotel sits on the coast, close to the island of Cozumel. As well as easy access to a house reef, a 5 minute walk down the beach, the southern tip of the island of Cozumel is a designated marine nature reserve making it the perfect location in terms of both snorkeling and diving.

The main infinity pool, one of 3 pools at the TRS Yucatan

As Mexico’s largest Caribbean island, Cozumel has a world renowned reef which is part of the Mesoamerica Barrier Reef System, second in size only to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. The southern part of Cozumel is protected and has Marine Park status, meaning to dive there a special permit is needed and I after exchanging a few emails with at Aqua Excursions (operating from The Grand Palladium hotel, part of the same wdie Palladium complex), I was advised that the Cozumel dive was the one to go for and was advised that even a snorkeling trip to the local reef pretty much guaranteed the sighting to sea turtles.

The Journey

Flying direct to Cancun from Manchester airport was super convenient as I live only half an hour away from the airport. We opted to get the train to avoid both the expense of airport parking and the worry of having to drive home from the airport after no sleep on our return journey.

On board the Thomas Cook Airlines flight to Cancun

The online checkin for our Thomas Cook Airlines flight to Cancun opened the standard 24 hours before we were due to fly, but I was surprised to find that our seats had already been allocated and could not be changed. I’ve never flown longhaul with a budget carrier before, and to be honest I’ll definitely think again next time.

Whilst the plane was clean and modern and left on time, it wasn’t what I’m used to. When I fly longhaul I usually fly with the likes of BA, Emirates or Etihad, so being presented with just 5 film choices was a bit of a surprise! I consoled myself with an in-flight Prosecco and was thankful I’d loaded up my tablet with films and audio books.

The seats I thought were actually quite roomy, by exceptionally uncomfortable with almost no padding at all leaving me with a numb bum and a very achey back. With nothing on the head-rest to support your head, even with my Trtle travel pillow I found it impossible to sleep, luckily though at 9.5 hours it was relatively short (as far as longhaul flights go that is!).

Upon arrival, we had to run the gauntlet of yelling salesmen that line the area before you can exit Cancun airport, selling everything from excurions to car hire and amusingly, Tequilla shots. The blast of hot humid air as we stepped out of the airport and followed the Blue Bay Travel rep to our transfer minibus was a huge relief.

Visiting Mexico in late September can be considered risky, with it being slap bang in the rainy season. I’d prepared myself that we might get cooler weather, rain and a lot of clouds as a result so a clear blue sky and blazing sunshine greeting us was wonderful and provided my first realisation about Mexico – everything seems so much brighter and more vibrant there.

The TRS Yucatan lobby

The Accommodation

It took less than 2 hours to get to the TRS Yucatan and we were ushered into the enormous hotel foyer, greeted by a smiling member and staff, given a glass of bubbly something or other and a wet towel to freshen up. There was a mix up with the room so we had to wait a short while for that to be sorted out, no great hardship, we were shown in the direction of the lobby bar and happily sat outside sipping cocktails and in less than 10 minutes, we were told our room was ready.

The suite itself was large and airy, and as I was traveling with my daughter, we’d opted for a room with two beds, and I was pleased to find 2 nice big doubles in the room, festooned with pillows and cushions. The mini bar was fully stocked with soft drinks and beer (the fact we don’t drink beer was a bit of a shame!), and there were also 3 large bottles of complimentary spirits in the room; Tequilla, Whisky and Vodka.

The interior of our suite at the TRS Yucatan

The suite was open plan with a sitting area at the far end with big sliding doors leading out onto our private terrace with our wonderful plunge pool. We were disappointed to have no real view to speak of as we were directly behind Helios restaurant on the beach front, but there was plenty of foliage and greenery to look at.

Our private plunge pool was a bit hit and we spent a lot of time in it!

The one thing we weren’t keen on was the bathroom configuration. There was a small toilet cubicle that was weirdly, fully mirrored and contained a phone (who orders room service whilst they are on the loo?!), next to another fully mirrored yet seperate shower room, and the double sinks were actually located in the room. This isn’t a hotel to choose if you aren’t comfortable with constantly seeing yourself as there were mirrors everywhere!

The lovely secluded veranda outside our suite

The location

Whilst the hotel does have a sea front location, the beach isn’t direct accessible from the property, instead a short 5 minute takes you to the Grand Palladium resrot, a hotel in the same chain and part of the larger Palladium complex, where you’ll also find a shaded area full of large cabanas reserved especially for TRS Yucatan guests. This is also where Aqua Excursions dive school can be found.

The private beach at TRS Yucatan

The complex is so large that there are free taxis permanently trudnling around making it super easy to get around, but we preferred to walk between resorts, taking every opportunity to burn off the insane amount of calories we consumed becuase the food and cocktails were so amazing.

Wildlife

I was so blown away by the wildlife we saw during our stay that I’ve written an entire blog post packed full of pictures and telling you all about it. Take a look at the article here: Wildlife Spotted at The TRS Yucatan, Maya Riviera, Mexico.

Iguanas were everywhere!

What we did

Whilst local culture is always important when I go away, typically tourist day trips don’t interest me. Standing at the foot of Chicehn Itza surrounded by hundreds of other people all jostling to get the perfect Instagram shot holds little appeal. The issue with flying long-haul for just 7 days it is can be very difficult to fit everything in, so before leaving I made the decision that this trip would be all about much needed relaxation and exploring the marine life of the region.

One of the many pools at the Palladium hotels complex

Flying lonhaul for a holiday of only 7 days means it can be a challenge when trying to balance getting out and about exploring and the need for relaxation. With the emphasis firmly on relaxation, I was keen not to over do things, so had decided before arriving to do a local snorkeling boat trip, a Cenote dive as well as a full day diving in the Marine reserve of Cozumel.

Upon arrival despite glorious hot sunshine, we quickly found that the beach had been plagued by an enormous seaweed bloom badly affecting the visibility under the water, which when I swam out, was zero. It was like snorkeling in a thick brown soup. The beach too was covered, and despite tractors working all through the day every day, they did little to rid the beach of the blight. Unfortunate, as the weather that had caused the seaweed and churned up the sea also meant snorkeling at the local reef was simply not viable.

This forced a change in plans and at the dive school, located a short walk down the beach at the Grand Palladium hotel (one of the 4 hotels that form the huge Palladium complex) I chatted to the team there who advised that our plan to go to Cozumel was our best bet for good marine life. Having already planned to do this trip as well as booking a dive there, I also enquired about their PADI scuba diving course.

Diving in Cozumel

Despite diving yearly, due to only ever being able to go on holiday for a week, I still haven’t found the time to get properly PADI qualified, but this time around my daughter talked me into it. She doesn’t dive, but was able to book a snorkel trip on the same dive boat I’d be on, which meant whilst I did my two final PADI dives, she was able to visit 3 snorkel spots.

My first confined water dive, one of three dives I did in order to gain my PADI Scuba Diver qualification

In the Maldives last year I did my deepest dive yet at 13 metres, and I loved being able to go a little deeper on my final dives and reached 15metres, and was utterly delighted to see a beautiful nurse shark, French angel fish, lots of lobsters and several Baraccuda.

Boarding the ferry to Cozumel

My 3 dives were brilliant, and I was delighted to pass my final exam and finally walk away as a qualified scuba diver. Doing the course however took up the best part of 3 days, which meant our plans to do anything else were pretty much out of the window.

Spa Day

The spa at the TRS Yucatan was divine. There is a seperate pool there that only spa visitors can use, and it’s a lovely lazy river style meandering pool with a healthy juice bar at the far side. Inside the main building there are various plunge pools and our massages were divine, leaving us feeling truly relaxed, however, the spa prices were extortionate. I’m a regular spa visitor here in the UK and I’ve never seen prices quite that high before. A 30 minute massage for example was an eye-watering $120, that said, our complimentary massage was utterly fantastic and the spa is well worth a visit.

The Spa at the TRS Yucatan

Food & Drink

To say the food and drink was excellent would be an understatement. All-inclusive can often conjure up images of crowded buffets serving medicore food to please the masses. Not so at the TRS Yucatan.

On arrival our butler explained all about the food and drink options. Our suite was a few steps away from Helios, a gorgeous beach bar that was also our choice for breakfast most mornings, and breakfast was true feast. As well as waiter service and the ability to order off the menu, there was a huge breakfast buffet with live cooking stations with an excellent selection of juices, authentic Mexican dishes, fruit, pastries, cheese, meat, yoghurt and lots more besides.

Breakfast at Helios

We also dined at Helios for lunch and the Fajitas were so delicious I could have ehappily eaten them every day, but with so many options to choose from, including lots of fresh fish, we tried something different every day.

For evening dining the options were even better, though it is recommended to book your choice of restaurant in advance, particularly the superb El Gaucho, where I had lobster. Speaking of which, unlimited lobster was even available on room service. Our second favourite dinner was at La Bohème the tapas restaurant which was utterly beautiful and the food and service was superb.

The interior of La Bohème restaurant

The only restaurant that disappointed us was Ribs & More, the American style restaurant where the food and service was decidedly mediocre.

The food highlight has to be the 7 course tasting menu at Chic Cabaret & Restaurant. Consitently rated as ‘excellent’ on TripAdvisor. Whilst cheesey cabaret shows really aren’t my thing, the performers were very good and the food was excellent. As well as 7 courses of pure deliciousness, there were a variety of different shots with each course, including of course Tequila, of which we drank far too much!

Chic cabaret and restaurant

Whilst it was a real shame about the seaweed and being unable to snorkel on the house reef as a result, the holiday was superb throughout and it was impossible to find fault with anything. The service was superb, the food and drink incredible, the location stunning and our suite and the hotel facilities were excellent.

Me with my daughter

Holiday Highlights

Attentive and friendly butler service

Incredible food and drink

Extensive wildlife

Huge infinity pool overlooking the sea with watier service

Friednly staff

Our beautiful suite with private plunge pool

Finally getting my PADI dive qualification

Day trip to the marine reserve in Cozumel

Our trip to the Mexico

We flew to Mexico at the end of September direct from Manchester with Thomas Cook and stayed at the adults-only, beach front TRS Yucatan on the Yucatan peninsula. Our week long trip was booked through Blue Bay Travel at a cost of £1,069.96pp, all-inclusive staying in a Royal Junior Suite Private Pool and butler. I booked an intro dive in Cozumel with Aqua Excursions at a cost of $219pp and the Underwater Maya Snorkel Trip at a cost of $94pp.

The post TRAVEL | My 5* Luxury Beach Holiday At The TRS Yucatan in Mexico appeared first on Camping with Style Camping Blog | Activities • Glamping • Travel • Adventure.

Original Source http://www.campingwithstyle.co.uk/travel-my-5-luxury-beach-holiday-at-the-trs-yucatan-in-mexico/ For the best knives to use whilst camping check out Carlson Knives http://www.carlsonknives.com/

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themartinsguide · 8 years ago

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Koh Samui and Krabi - a holiday within a holiday

17 - 30 March 2017

Our ferry from Koh Tao left early at 6.30am on the morning of 17 March. In hindsight, walking across the island at that time in the morning wasn’t the best idea we’ve ever had and we apologise to our fellow passengers for the sweaty messes we had become by the time the ferry actually departed. But even our poor personal hygiene levels couldn’t get us down because it was time for our holiday within a holiday.

We had recently come to the realisation that the last place we had spent more than 3 or 4 nights was Hoi An, which was over a month ago, and being constantly on the go was starting to take its toll; it was time to settle down for a bit and catch up on some serious holiday admin. Given that we had decided that visiting the islands on the east coast of Malaysia at the end of rainy season was a bit risky, particularly given the cost of getting there, Koh Samui seemed like the perfect place to stay for a while (cementing our self-appropriated title of Thailand backpacking specialists). As it turns out, this decision would come back to bite us. Read on.

Koh Samui is quite a large island which really does have something for everyone. We decided to divide our time between two areas and spent the first four nights in the area of Lamai Beach which is a sedentary town situated along a lengthy, sandy white beach. The beach was lovely and, as we came to discover, much less populated than some of the other beaches on the island (particularly the bustling Chaweng Beach). It was easy to find a spot in which to soak up some rays and sip on a cocktail or two but the sea itself was a bit rough and not great for swimming. However, there were many great beachfront dining options (the seafood BBQ’s are a must do) and a range of accommodation options for all budgets. There are a few landmarks dotted around but to be honest we spent the majority of our time in Lamai at the beach or at the gym (“Ultra Bodies” is a very cheap, well-equipped gym, although there is a lack of air conditioning and the equipment is slightly dated). Of particular note nearby is the “Grandmother and Grandfather Rock” named because of the rock has been shaped over time to resemble male and female genitalia. Go figure.

We arrived in Lamai on a Friday which also happened to be St Patrick’s Day. Thinking it would be rude not to go for at least one beer we found a nearby Irish Pub (they really are everywhere) with live music and ordered ourselves a beverage each. At 2am we stumbled home, after aggressively re-arranging tables to create an impromptu dance floor for ourselves, and wildly fist-pumping to butchered rock covers. It was 1 - 0 to St Patrick. The next day was spent recovering which was largely unsuccessful as we both woke up on Monday with killer head colds. We really are getting old.

A couple of days later we decided to hire a car (the most bizarre experience ever as we were basically just handed the keys and sent on our merry way… No point wasting time signing contracts or checking licences) to fully explore Koh Samui and decide where we were going to stay for the second half of our “holiday”. Thankfully James had done a quick review of Thai driving laws and quickly became familiar with his horn. Oh, and by the way, if another vehicle is driving towards you in your lane you are required give way to them, irrespective of the fact that you are the one driving in the right lane and in the right direction. No shit. However, despite the bizarre road rules and the fact that we hadn’t driven a car since December, we made it through the day unscathed and enjoyed exploring the various parts of the island which are indescribably contrasted. From the largely uninhabited, third world west side to the very developed Chaweng Beach, to the touristy and expensive beaches of Bohput and Maenam, each has something different to offer. We would highly recommend Chaweng Beach and Fisherman’s Village in Bohput. Chaweng Beach is very busy and reminded us of of Waikiki Beach. It had a buzzing, lively atmosphere, great bars and restaurants and fantastic shopping. Fisherman’s Village could be in Noosa. And while that may not appeal to some people, it retains a distinct and relaxed Thai influence (outside of the very weird and largely abandoned open-air mall) with a splash of ultimate luxury throw into the mix. While food is more expensive, the establishments are first class and the beach one of the best by far. Plus, the weekly Friday night market which welcomes visitors from all over the island is excellent, particularly the double-strength mojitos (nothing by halves we say) and the HUGE homemade, chocolate brownies.

Although it was a tough decision, it may not surprise you to discover that we opted to stay in Bohput for the second half of our time in Koh Samui. As we were treating it as a holiday we decided to splash out a little on our accommodation and stayed in a small boutique hotel with a pool, situated a minutes walk to the beach. Again, we didn’t do much other than swim, sunbathe, workout (the nearby Go Kart track came complete with treadmills and a few weights) and do some planning. It was a fool proof way to get over our illnesses (which had reached “man flu” level of seriousness by this time). However, we did get pizza delivered to our room one night which we got irrationally excited about, and we also managed to attend a pub quiz. There were also some happy hour attendances thrown in for good measure.

We decided that our last morning in Koh Samui was a good a time as any to complete our monthly half marathon (as per the rules which, by the way, still play a regular part in our daily life). By 6am we were making our way up to the “Koh Samui Viewpoint” which James had opined “wouldn’t be that steep”. He was wrong. It was a slog. The heat was suffocating. Sweat was pouring of us. The dogs were particularly territorial. People were judging us. All in all, this particular half marathon effort may been one of our craziest. Hannah still isn’t convinced that the “views” were worth it. Still, we did it and next month we will be in much cooler temperatures. Hallelujah.

Later on that day we headed off to Krabi via minibus, ferry, bus, and another minibus. As luck would have it, this was the one time we didn’t pack any snacks and it was the first time neither one of the various methods of transport stopped for a drinks, food, toilet, delivery or dropoff, or smoking break. By the time we reached our hostel in Ao Nang Beach Hannah was at tipping point and we headed for the nearest restaurant. Fortunately, the duck curry was so delicious the wait was almost worth it. Almost.

Our four nights in Krabi were about as eventful as our time in Koh Samui (although the nearby gym was of a much higher standard) Opting to stay near Ao Nang Beach was a good decision and we would recommend a short stop over here or somewhere nearby. It is less popular than the nearby Railay Beach, to which large quantities of long tail boats ferry tourists every morning from Ao Nang. There is a range of accommodation and dining options and Hannah considers it to have some of the better shopping (in terms of range and price) that we have come across in Thailand. As we didn’t venture far we can’t provide any insight into Krabi Town itself but if the scenery is anything like that in Ao Nang we would suggest a visit there too. Krabi was a good place to end the South East Asia segment of our trip. We cannot believe how quickly 13 weeks have gone!

Due to an early flight to Kuala Lumpur we awoke at 4.15am on 30 March. There are not many things that are pleasant at that time in the morning but finding out that you have overstayed your Thai visa by 5 days is perhaps one of the worst possible occurrences. For the first time on this trip, divorce may have been a real possibility. To cut a long story short, we would like to thank: the shuttle driver for arriving early at the airport so that we missed the check in queue (which by 5.30am was out the main door) and were the first people in the line for immigration; the AirAsia check in lady who was unperturbed by our revelation and calmly told us to continue through immigration; the immigration lady who jokingly asked James if he would like to return to Thailand in the future; and the Thai government for excusing our indiscretion with the payment of a $200 fine.

The 30 minutes it took to process our fine (which was done with the assistance of carbon paper in plain view of every traveller leaving Krabi that morning) felt like a lifetime. There were certainly no complaints when we boarded the plane for Kuala Lumpur despite the rice which had been smeared into Hannah’s seat by the previous occupant, the minimal leg room, and the below average snacks. Still, you have to work to get our special ‘overstayers’ visa stamp.

#teamjannah #kohsamui #krabi #thailand

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livingnomads-blog1 · 8 years ago

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If you are tired with sea of people crowded in the famous tourist destinations, 6 pristine islands below certainly makes visitors fascinated.

Koh Phayam

Koh Phayam is the second largest island in the Andaman sea, Ranong Province. This island is known as the “paradise on earth” with white sand, blue sea, sunshine and palm forests, surrounded green by palm forests and pine forests. Especially, today, Koh Phayam island is still very deserted visitors..

In Koh Phayam there are not many colorful coral reefs for snorkeling to attract visitors. However, dropping yourself in the clear blue waters of the sea or renting a motorbike to wander, explore the rubber plantations and the nice little restaurants on the island is also very rewarding experiences worth to try.

Beaches on Koh Phayam

Long beach (Haad Yai) in the west is the longest and best beach for sunsets and enjoying beach life. There is a lot of space for a lonesome spot under a tree or for jogging on the wide beach during low tide. There is nothing much to do but relaxing, reading books or having a drink in a beach bar or restaurant. Wifi is available in some places. And at nighttime a few bars are open for pool billard and music.

Buffalo bay (Ao Khwai) is a flat sandy bay in the north of Phayam. During low tides the water disappears from half of the bay, but at high tide it is like a big bath tube with warm and calm bright blue water. The beach is divided into two areas, where the small beach resorts are located. It is a place to be for people who are seeking silence and a very relaxing atmosphere.

There are some short beaches like Ao Mae Mai on the eastern side of Koh Phayam near to the piers and the village. These places are ok for people without a focus on beach life but to do some other activities.

Things to do

A few resorts on Ko Phayam offer boat trips for fishing, snorkeling or diving. The best places are not around the island but a bit more south in the Andaman Sea. Daytrips to Ko Surin national park or to the smaller islands of Ko Kam can be worthwhile, if the weather and sea conditions are fine. In the future trips into the Mergui archipelago in Myanmar with its hundreds of unspoiled islands will be possible.

Surfing in Koh Phayam

Exploring the small island is an option using a rental motorbike or a bicycle. In about one hour nearly every spot reachable by roads can be visited.

Cycling around Koh Phayam

How to get to Koh Phayam

Ko Phayam is usually accessed from Ko Phayam Pier in Ranong town on the mainland; see the Ranong travel section for details on getting there and to the pier.

If you prefer to book your travel in advance, you can book ferry tickets to Ko Phayam online with Ranong Ferry who can arrange both slow boat and speed boat ticketing.

In high season, slow boats depart for Phayam from Ranong at 09:30, 10:00 and 14:00 for 200 baht and take two hours. Speedboats depart at least once every two hours from 09:30 to 16:30 for 350 baht and take 45 minutes, with hourly departures in peak season. In low season, one slow boat departs at 09:30, weather permitting.

From the main village pier on Ko Phayam, slow boats return to Ranong in high season at 08:30, 14:00 and 15:00. Speedboats return hourly in peak season from 07:00 to 17:00, with fewer departures during the shoulder months.

Two of the Ranong-bound speedboats departing from Phayam can usually stop at the New Pier on the east coast of Ko Chang Noi for 350 baht; times depend on tides so ask a travel agent. A private longtail boat costs around 2,500 baht, per boat not per person, and can drop you at any of the west-coast resorts on Chang.

If you’re heading to Ao Siad on the south coast of Ko Chang Noi, take the 14:00 slow boat from Phayam and call one of the bungalow joints to request a pick up by longtail, and be sure to tell the slow boat crew what you’re up to.

Nokair offers two flights daily (early morning and afternoon) from Bangkok Don Mueang to Ranong. Minibus shuttles drive from the airport to the town or pier for 200 Baht p.p. If taking the flight in the afternoon, an overnight stay is necessary in Ranong.

Overland buses are reaching Ranong from Bangkok (8-9 hours) or Phuket/Khao Lak (4/2 hours).

Getting around

Walking is not a great way to get around Ko Phayam due to the relatively long distances between beaches. Motorbike taxis hang out near the pier and charge 70 to 100 baht to take you any place on the island. Resorts can call them to pick you up whenever you need.

Phayam’s narrow lanes are great for bicycling along the mostly flat or rolling terrain. Quality mountain bikes can be rented at Took’s Place in the village for 100 baht per day. Several resorts rent out bicycles as well.

Motorbikes can be rented for around 200 baht per day at several places in the village and most resorts. Travellers are occasionally overcharged for minor bumps and scratches at certain shops; we had a good experience at Oak & Amy on the immediate right after leaving the pier, and some expats suggested Popeye, located a little further up from the pier on the left.

There are no cars or trucks on Phayam, just the motorbikes and a few tractors and ATVs. Be careful when riding, as deep ruts and patches of slippery sand often appear without warning on the not-so-well-maintained lanes.

Weather and climate

The climate on Ko Phayam is tropical with a long rainy period from May till end of November and lots of rain and storm coming from he indian ocean. From December till april the weather is fine and calm with sunshine and blue seas. The daytime temperature ranges between 28 and 33 degrees Celsius and the water temperature is around 28 degrees. High season is from December till March.

Where to stay in Koh Phayam

There are many small bungalow resorts along the beaches and in the middle of the island. They are all family owned with a very friendly but simple atmosphere. The prices are still quite low. If you decide to live along the small road that leads thru the island, you will be part of the daily life on Ko Phayam. While being on the beach will mean relaxing and hiding away from life a bit. An interesting location to sleep is Lamai Resort in the center of the island on a hill top with wonderful views and a panoramic restaurant. The best beach resorts is probably the Blue Sky Resort on the east side, but the beach is not the best. On Buffalo Bay we recommend The Buffalo Bay Vacation Club and the Heaven Beach Resort. On Long Beach Phayam Lodge is a good choice, if you like higher quality bungalows.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, Ko Phayam bungalows in Koh Phayam on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more Koh Phayam images

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Surfing in Koh Phayam

Cycling around Koh Phayam

Sunset over Koh Phayam

Koh Yao Noi

Although the location of Kho Yao Noi is quite close to Phuket but the island is less known to tourists. Therefore, Koh Yao Noi become an ideal vacation place for tourists who love the rustic, quiet, tranquility, love to explore and want to experience the romantic private moments.

To explore this island, you can rent a mountain bike and cycling along the trails to go around the island. You can also visit the rubber plantations, learn about the idyllic life of the locals and taste the local delicacies such as banana smoothies, coconut curry …

Things to do in Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi does not have any particular landmark or stunning view point, nevertheless, while driving around, you will discover a place that has changed very little in 20 years, aside from a few more motorbikes and the new 7-Eleven. A drive around its quiet roads reveals a place of true peace and simplicity for the traveller.

Koh Yao Noi beach

Wooden houses all along the roads, buffalos taking mud baths in the rice paddies, the cool, shaded roads passing through the many rubber plantations and the beauty of the mangrove with its trees standing in the middle of the sea are just a few of the natural charms of this simple island.

Koh Yao Noi Climbing

The laid-back feeling of the island is contagious, time slows down and nothing seems to pressure the inhabitants who spend a lot of time chatting in small groups, lounging in the afternoon under salas or in hammocks.

You will find few restaurants and few bars along the coastline with only a small village near the pier with small local shops and all the government buildings including a school, hospital, police station, and electricity and post offices. Another small concentration can be found at the Tha Krao Pier to Krabi on the east coast.

Cycling around Koh Yao Noi

To get around, motorbikes (200 Baht for a half day) and tuk-tuks are available for hire.

Kayaking in Koh Yao

Some local shops have sea kayaks for rent, but your hotel or bungalow will certainly offer these, as well as day trips to the amazing “Koh Hong” – the stunning rocks facing the island. See Kayaking tours (from Phuket) for more information.

Koh Yao taxi

How to get to Koh Yao Noi

You can get to the island from the airport, by a taxi which will take you to the pier in 25 minutes. Long-tail boat ferries make daily trips to Yao Noi from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast of Phuket. The fare is 80 Baht for the one-hour journey, with daily departures from Phuket at 9.30 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. The boat will make a short stop on Koh Yao Yai, then cross to Koh Yao Noi, only 8 minutes away. Long-tail boats can also be hired at Ao Po pier for charter to Koh Yao.

The island is between Phuket, Krabi and Phang-Nga Bay. It lies 42 kilometers south of the mainland of Phang-Nga Province. The bay has an area of 141,067 square kilometers, consisting of 44 islands. The two most important of these islands are Koh Yao Noi (Little Long Island) and Koh Yao Yai (Big Long Island).

Long-tail boat ferries make daily trips to Yao Noi from Bang Rong Pier on the east coast of Phuket. From the airport, a taxi will take you to the pier in 25 minutes. To get to the pier, take route 4027 east from the Heroines’ Monument, then turn right at the sign for Bang Rong (or Bangrong) and follow along for a few kilometers.

The fare is 50 Baht for the one-hour journey, with daily departures from Phuket at 9.30 am, 12 noon and 5 pm. The boat will make a short stop on Koh Yao Yai, then cross to Koh Yao Noi, only 8 minutes away. Long-tail boats can also be hired at Ao Po pier for charter to Koh Yao.

Transportation from Phuket Island to Kohyao Noi/Yai

The public boats (longtail and speed boats) are becoming more reliable and thus more popular with our adventurous or travel-savvy guests. This is public transportation though and comfort levels may not meet your expectations.

From Phuket

Take a taxi from the Airport / hotel on Phuket to Bang Rong Pier

Longtail boat or speed boat transfer from Bang Rong Pier to Manoh Pier Koh Yao Noi

Take Tuk Tuk (taxi) from Manoh Pier to Hotel /Bungalow/Resort

Weather of Koh Yao Noi

The island sits at Latitude 8 degrees north and enjoys a tropical climate characterized by year round high temperatures and fairly little rainfall due to the position. During the months of May-July and again in September-October Monsoon winds refresh the island with evening gusts that see the palm trees swaying and the odd downpour is possible. Best advice is to arm yourself with sun cream as the weather is mostly good.

Where to stay in Koh Yao Noi

A favourite of families with a good mix of accommodation, Pasai Beach stretches to meet the upscale Lom Lae Beach at the island’s southeastern tip. Head up the east coast to the lovely Klong Jark beach, which hosts a couple of high-end resorts along with some flashpacker options. Backpackers will be better served on Tha Khao Beach over on the southwest coast. Closer to the fishing boats, Nawik and Laem Sai offer more of a local air.

Six Senses Koh Yao Noi

For a lesser-developed island on the Andaman coast, Ko Yao Noi has a good variety of places to stay. From a 500 baht a night bamboo shack to a 50,000 baht pool villa, Yao Noi has it all. Peeking into most every bungalow and resort choice on the island, we were impressed with the quality and value of the offerings here.

Most places are small scale and family-run, and where they might lack cool efficiency they usually make up for it with a warm and helpful attitude. There’s little in the rock-bottom budget price range but for moderately cheap to flashpacker budgets, Yao Noi offers many solid choices. If you’re in need of mid-priced accommodation with air-con and swimming pools, you’ll find a better range on nearby Ko Yao Yai or Ko Lanta.

At the budget end, one of our favourites is Pasai Cottage, set across the road from Pasai beach in a cluster of bungalow resorts. Its 10 fan bungalows brim with colour and character, and the staff are friendly. The attached cafe offers sea views and a good gathering spot with a traveller’s ambience. Just up the road near Tha Khao beach is Nam Tok bungalow, another friendly spot where travellers will find good company. Though Nam Tok’s cheaper huts could use some fixing up, its welcoming owner and common kitchen and bar area add to its appeal, especially for those travelling solo.

Koh Yao Noi bungalow

Those visiting Yao Noi and seeking a place to stay in the 800-1,500 baht range really have a wealth of choice, and we had a tough time selecting the best. But three flashpacker-budget bungalows stood out for us. We really liked Suntisook Resort, a collection of fan and air-con bungalows found across the road from Tha Khao beach, for its cheerful design touches and relaxed, family-friendly garden setting. The restaurant is good, too, and run with care by a friendly mother and daughter team.

The nearby Baan Tha Khao Bungalow is another good spot with an absolute beachfront setting and a good variety of options for travellers, from smaller beach huts for two, to a family-sized bungalow with two double beds to concrete bungalows with air-con. If you’re not desperate for a beachfront spot, then try Hill House, found in a shaded rubber-tree plantation setting up a steep hill from Tha Khao beach. Its wooden fan bungalows have generous-sized balconies, which you’ll likely spend a lot of time on to take in the spectacular sea and sunrise views.

Koh Yao Noi bungalow

At the top end of the range, Six Senses Yao Noi (You can check rates, reviews & availability for this hotel on Agoda.com or Booking.com) resort is not only the best on Ko Yao Noi but is rated among the best in the world – it doesn’t appear in the Living Nomads accommodation list for the island only because we didn’t personally inspect it. On the bucket list! But if you have cash to burn and are looking for a romantic, pampered getaway, we’re certain you won’t go wrong there.

Six Senses Koh Yao Noi

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Yao Noi on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more photos of Koh Yao Noi

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Six Senses Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi bungalow

Koh Yao Noi beach

Koh Yao Noi Climbing

Kayaking in Koh Yao

Cycling around Koh Yao Noi

Koh Kradan

Koh Kradan is an island with a relatively small area (about 4 km long and 1000 m wide) in Trang province. Because of the size of the island is quite small to visit the island, visitors only take about 3 hours kayaking.

For couples in love, Koh Kradan is an ideal destination by the poetic space, the waves whispering and the cool breezes carry the salty taste of the sea. When you come Koh Kradan, you will have really comfortable relaxing moments in unspoiled natural space, tranquility here.

How to get to Koh Kradan

By private boats from Koh Mook or Koh Libong or Koh Ngai or from the pier at Trang coast. Day trip boats from Koh Lanta stop at Koh Kradan as well as speedboats from Koh Lipe like Tigerlinetravel.com or Bundhayaspeedboat.com. During the rainy season Koh Kradan can not be visited on a regular basis.

Whether from the mainland or other islands, all boats pick up and drop off in front of Kradan Beach Resort towards the south end of the main beach.

To/from the mainland Trang town is the main jumping off point for Ko Kradan, with travel agents near the train station offering combined minibus/longtail boat transfers departing in high season at 11:00 and 16:00 for 450 baht. After arriving at Kuan Thung Khu Pier on the mainland you’ll hop in the boat for the one-hour cruise to Kradan. Boats return to Kuan Thung Khu and a waiting minibus to Trang at 08:30 and 13:30. See the Trang transport section for info on getting there and onward transport.

There are no shared boats to/from Kradan in low season. A private transfer will run 2,200 baht all up from Trang—per group, not per person—and will depend on weather conditions.

Other islands From around November 1 to March 31, speedboats and ferries connect Ko Kradan directly to a number of other islands. Tickets can be booked through any resort on Ko Kradan; whoever sells you the ticket will need to call the boat so it’s best to give them prior notice.

Heading north, the Satun Pakbara speedboat picks up on Kradan at 10:45 and reaches Ko Muk at 11:00 for 300 baht; Ko Ngai at 11:30 for 400 baht; Ko Lanta at 12:00 for 1,150 baht; Ko Phi Phi at 13:30 for 1,850 baht; and Phuket at 14:30 for 2,650 baht. This boat is usually late so don’t count on making a 16:00 flight out of Phuket.

The cheaper and slower Petpailin ferry also runs to Kradan, picking up at 09:30 and running north to Ko Ngai for 300 baht and Ko Lanta for 400 baht. Another ferry stops at Kradan at 13:00 and runs up to Ko Phi for 450 baht and Phuket for 800 baht, arriving there at 16:30.

Heading south, the speedboat picks up on Kradan at 11:40 and reaches Ko Bulon Lae at 12:30 for 900 baht; and Ko Lipe at 13:30 for 1,400 baht.

Speedboats to Ko Kradan depart from Phuket at 08:30; Ko Lipe at 09:00; Ko Phi at 09:30; Ko Bulon Lae at 10:00; Ko Lanta at 10:30; Ko Kradan at 11:00; and Ko Muk at 11:30.

The Tigerline high-speed ferry also connects Kradan directly to Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Hat Yao pier in Trang, and Langkawi Island in Malaysia, plus all of the other islands listed above except Ko Bulon Lae. The southbound boat departs Phuket at 08:00 and picks up on Ko Kradan at 11:30, while the northbound boat departs Langkawi at 09:00 and stops on Kradan at 13:30.

You can also take a private longtail boat to Ko Muk or Ko Ngai for 800 to 1,200 baht. Ko Libong can be reached by private longtail for around 2,500 baht; you could save cash by heading back to Trang and transferring to a local minibus bound for the Libong ferry pier at Hat Yao.

Koh Kradan accommodation

Eight small resorts offer rooms and bungalows, from very simple huts and tents to luxury bungalows at the beach. All resorts are located on the east coast, except the Lost paradise resort, that has a few bungalows and a restaurant in the center of Koh Kradan, but only a few minutes walking from the beaches. Its possible to bring the own tent and sleep on the beach. Most people come for a day trip, so the overnight guests can spend a very lonesome and quiet evening and night on Koh Kradan.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Kradan on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more photos of Koh Kradan Island

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Koh Phra Thong

Koh Phra Thong island has an area of 88 km2 located in Khura Buri District, Phang Nga Province. Phra Thong Koh is part of the Mu Koh Ra – Koh Phra Thong National Park. The island is surrounded by the colorful coral reefs, coconut tree forests and lush mangrove forests.

The central part Koh Phra Thong island is the vast grasslands – the shelter of the animals such as snakes, deer, wildcat, lynx, sea eagles, hornbills, otters …

How to get to Koh Phra Thong

Ko Phra Thong is reached either from Saphan Pla pier, just past the Ko Surin National Park pier about 7 km north of the town of Khuraburi, or from a boat launch at Bang Det (also known as “Mangrove pier” or “Southern pier”), which lies about 5 km from Khuraburi town amongst the extensive coastal mangrove canals. While it’s possible to hire a longtail from Saphan Pla pier and show up at Ko Phra Thong unannounced, probably the better idea is to phone ahead to your resort of choice, in which case they will help arrange boat transport and give you a lift by motorbike from which ever pier you arrive at. If needing some direction, stop by Tom and Am Tour or Boon Piya Resort in the centre of Khuraburi, who are happy to arrange a motorbike taxi or songthaew from Khuraburi to the pier and call ahead to any of the resorts.

Tom and Am Tour may be contacted at (086) 272 0588 or [email protected]. Boon Piya Resort may be contacted at (081) 752 5457 or (076) 491 969.

Unlike many of Thailand’s more frequented islands, there is no single “go to” transport option for Ko Phra Thong. There is a local ferry that departs from Bang Det, usually very early in the morning, but due to it not consistently departing everyday and at different times when it does, it’s not a good option unless specifically suggested by one of the resort owners on Ko Phra Thong who are up to date on when and if it’s departing.

If it is, the cost should be 250B not including transport to the boat launch. The same boat returns to Khuraburi from the pier at Ta Pai Yoe most days around 8:00, although you’ll want to check with your resort before banking on that. The resorts on Phra Thong will charge an additional 100B — so 350B total for the trip — that covers a motorbike ride to the pier and a songthaew from Bang Det to the bus station in Khuraburi. This might seem steep for a songthaew ride, but it’s clearly how things work here, so if foregoing the 100B to your resort don’t be surprised if you have no way of getting from Bang Det to Khuraburi after arriving, and it’s not an easy route to figure out on your own.

Another option from Khuraburi, which again must be suggested and arranged by Mr. Chuoi or another of Phra Thong’s resorts, is to take a local banana boat for 400B. This is a very small boat just big enough for one big passenger with a big pack or maybe two smaller passengers with little in tow, but it could be a more adventurous way to get to the island while saving a little money.

The journey from Khuraburi, on the mainland, to the island of Koh Phra Thong is only possible by boat.

The usual method is a charming 1hr+ trip through some delightful mangrove scenery by longtail boat. The whole boat is charged at between 1,500 Bt to 2,000 Bt dependent on the resort. Each boat can take 8 people. Please check our travel notes page for more information on booking longtail boats.

Longtail boat travel to Koh Phra Thong – Important Note

Please note: The latest time of longtail departure is 16.30 from Khuraburi to Koh Phra Thong and 15.00 from Koh Phra Thong to Khuraburi. If you intend to arrive into Khuraburi after 16.00, then you should be prepared to spend a night at Boon Piya Resort and take a boat to Koh Phra Thong the following morning (we can make the necessary arrangements for you). Please take this into account when figuring out your travel plans.

An alternative is to take a more exciting whirl to the island by private speedboat. This will only take 20 minutes or so and costs 7,000 Bt for the boat. For further information please contact us below.

The other way — and the way that’s often first recommended by the tour companies and sometimes said to be the only way although that’s not true — is to pay 1,000B for a one-way longtail from either Saphan Pla pier or Bang Det. While expensive for solo or duo travellers, this isn’t a bad choice for groups since 1,000B should cover up to four people. Again, it’s best to arrange this in advance to ensure there’s a boat waiting. Although, when we just showed up at Saphan Pla pier and asked around we were able to locate a local longtail driver who offered to make the run for 1,000B. His name is Date, and although he speaks little English, you could give him a try if you find yourself at the pier without a boat. His number is (089) 972 1747.

From Ko Phra Thong, any resort can arrange a longtail transfer for 1,000B. It’s also worth mentioning that Golden Buddha has their own boats and typically arrange transport for their guests to and from the island. Particularly if the local boat isn’t running for some reason, it would be smart to check in at Golden Buddha and ask if you can hop in with one of their boats for cheaper than the 1,000B private boat.

Getting around

Ko Phra Thong is large and flat, and if looking to explore it’s possible to rent motorbikes (300B) or bicycles (50-100B) at Mr. Chuoi’s or Lions Village. We found it particularly suitable for bicycle, but take note that there are no convenience shops selling water along the long stretches between the villages and resorts, so be certain to take enough water as it can get very hot. Because of its large size, walking is not a particularly good way to get around between villages, but all of the resorts and Blue Guru’s dive shop are within walking distance along the northern beaches.

Koh Phra Thong weather

The weather on Koh Phra Thong dutifully follows that on the mainland. The only real difference is at the fringes of the season and during low season. During this time the deep showers are more localised and it is quite possible for Koh Phra Thong to be saved the torrential rain hitting the mainland.

Thankfully, during high season visitors to Koh Phra Thong can rest assured that their holiday will be dominated by glorious sunshine, clear air and calm seas.

Koh Phra Thong accommodation

While Golden Buddha offers stylish (and expensive) beach houses, most of the accommodation on Ko Phra Thong comes in the form of basic wood or bamboo bungalows. In terms of bungalow quality there’s not much to differentiate the cheaper resorts, but location and popularity does vary between them.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Phra Thong on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more Koh Phra Thong island photos

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Mu Koh Surin National Park

If you want to experience life on a deserted island like Robinson, Mu Koh Surin National Park (Similan Islands Marine National Park, Surin Islands National Park) is the place to visit. This national park is a small archipelago located in the Andaman Sea. Mu Koh Surin has a very diverse fauna system with various kinds of lizards, turtles, crabs, monkeys … Especially, when coming to this national park, visitors can admire the many beautiful coral reefs with brightly colored.

At Moo Koh Surin National Park, during the day, visitors can enjoy fresh seafood at the restaurant in the park. At around 22 o’clock, electricity will cut off completely on the island and this is a great opportunity for visitors to watch the sky sparkle stars.

How to get to Surin Islands

Getting To the Surin Islands While there are a great many companies in Phuket that advertise direct travel, it is very rare. Almost all companies transfer people the 200 km (yes we said 200) via minibus to Kuraburi pier, then onwards. Kuraburi is a fishing town located on the Andaman Sea. It is not developed for toursim. We encourage contacting Khao Lak companies for all your travel needs – they are cheaper and more knowledgeable about local conditions

Rough seas make travel to the Surins difficult during the southwest monsoon months of May-October, and sometimes impossible. Khura Buri Pier, some 125 kilometres north of Phang Nga Town, is the nearest launching point to the Surins, where ferryboats regularly make the 4-hour trip from November-April. Boats may also be arranged from Amphoe Kapoe Pier in Ranong Province, with trips taking about 7 hours. Note: Like all national parks in Thailand, there’s an entry fee of 200 baht for foreign visitors.

The most hassle-free and often cost-effective way to reach the Surins is by arranging a tour that departs from Phuket. Most dive and game fishing operators in Phuket can arrange liveaboards, or you can book a trip by speedboat here. Day tours feature visits to several different snorkeling locations plus lunch at the national park headquarters. The speedboats used take only an hour to reach the islands.

Ko Surin is open only from November 1 to April 30 each year, and Sabina runs speedboats everyday during this time, departing Khuraburi at 9:00 and returning at 14:00. Blue shirted Sabina staff and blue and yellow Sabina longtail boats are easy to find all around Ko Surin, so when ready to go home just let one of them know. The national park does not transport visitors to or from Ko Surin and when we asked, park officials didn’t care to be bothered about finding the boat back to the mainland.

Note that many other travel companies offer day trips to Ko Surin from Khao Lak, Phang Nga, and even as far afield as Phuket, and many of these have been known to give travellers the impression that boats to Ko Surin depart directly from those locations. The reality, however, is that if you book from somewhere other than Khuraburi you should be prepared for a two hour or longer mini bus ride to the pier in Khuraburi in each direction, so you would be looking at a total of 4-5 hours on the road plus 3 hours on the boat just to get to Ko Surin and back. Also be prepared to pay more if booking tours from these more distant locations. That said, the better choice — especially if wanting to do a daytrip — is to get to Khuraburi first and book the trip from there. The exception to this rule is if you’re going with a diving operation as these have their own boats and don’t need to rely on the Ko Surin pier in Khuraburi.

Tom and Am Tour may be contacted at (086) 272 0588 or [email protected]. Sabina Tours may be contacted at (076) 472 216, (081) 737 5801, [email protected], or http://www.sabinatour.com.

Getting around the Surin Islands

On the Surin Islands there are trails and very beautiful viewpoints. Bring your shoes! The beaches are not connected and it is sometimes quite difficult to climb over the boulders. The best way to get around is either through a scheduled tour or through the local longtail drivers. They are available for 1/2 day or full day hire. You can then truly explore the Surin islands. If you are short on time (and patience), we recommend using the services of a local dive shop or snorkeling company. A company has recently started offering an overnight tours, with the option to stay on the islands, while visiting various dive sites and snorkeling areas each day.

Surin Islands accommodation

Are you looking for Similan Islands accommodations? Staying on the Surin Islands can be done two ways. You may stay in the Tents or bungalows provided by the National Park, or on a diving liveaboard. Another way to enjoy the Surin park is to through day trips, so you can stay in Khao Lak or Kuraburi each night.

The only Island accommodation available is on the northern Surin Island (Koh Surin Nua) . The only bungalows and tents available for rent are here. If you are diving it is best to visit on either an overnight boat or a liveaboard. For Snorkelers you can happily choose between over night trips, camping or simply doing day trips from Khao Lak.

Surin Islands Tents/Bungalows

You may contact the National Parks directly here:  (+66) 0 7647 2145

National Park, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Department. The official name of the Surin Islands National Marine Park

If you have trouble booking or cannot complete the reservation – the good people at Khao Lak Life are happy to do it for you (They just go in person the the headquarters and arrange everything that way). They do, however, charge a small fee for this service. Contact them with your questions.

Surin Island Tents are large and simple. Included are sheets, pillows and a floor pad. The tents do have a mosquito net. The tents are placed about 1-1.5 meters apart in one central area quite near the beaches. They are currently 570 Baht per night and reservations are recommended, especially during Holidays. You are not able to put up your own tent.

Currently you can only reserve tents through agents, as their online system only works for bungalow reservations.

Surin Islands Bungalows

Currently there are 10 bungalows available for rent. They do feature air-conditioning and attached bathrooms. While Simple and clean, they are owned and operated by the government. But if you want a nice place to stay on the Islands, this is it! the cost is 2000 Baht per night and reservations are recommended at all times.

Diving Liveaboards

There are many to choose from and you stay on the boat. These are meant for the diver and rarely cater to snorkelers or non-divers. With over 40 different boats traveling along the Surin islands you have a wide variety of selections. If it seems like too much – try Wicked Diving’s ecologically friendly Richelieu Rock Diving Liveaboard which visits the Surin Islands.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Surin Islands National Park on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more photos of Similan Islands National Park

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Koh Ngai

Koh Ngai is a mountainous island located between Krabi province and Trang province. The island possesses the clear blue waters, white sandy beaches stretching along with colorful coral reefs and tropical jungle with rich, diverse flora and fauna.

To discover all the wild beauty of Koh Ngai, the best option is to walk. Alternatively, In addition, visitors can also visit the nearby islands such as Koh Mook and the Emerald Cave. In the early morning or late afternoon when empty is the most ideal time to visit the two islands.

To discover all the wild beauty of Koh Ngai, the best option is to walk. Alternatively, visitors can also visit nearby islands such as Emerald Cave and Koh Mook. In the early morning or late afternoon is the best time to visit these two islands.

How to get to Koh Ngai

Koh Hai or Koh Ngai located nearby Koh Lanta in the Andaman Ocean vacationers have many options for transportation to explore the Island, travelling to the The Fantasy Resort & Spa is easy from any location and can be arranged with us for your convenience. There are a lot of way to reach Koh Hai or Koh Ngai, depending on your need quickness and convenience. The most convenient way is to go by plane to Trang International Airport, which operated by budget flights, Nok Air and Air Asia.

Travelers can catch a train to Trang at Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station and stop by Trang Railway Staion where you need about one hour to reach Park Meng Pier can either travel to the resort via our speed boat or longtail boat service. So please contact us to arrange your transfer.

Ferries The convenient way is travel by high speed Ferries from Langawi, Phuket, Koh Lipe, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, Koh Hai, Koh Muk and Koh Kradan by Tiger line which offers the fastest sea crossing in the Andaman Sea

There are speed boats scheduled to leave from Pak Meng Pier daily. Should guest require earlier boat transfer, it is possible to manage according the numbers of passengers for sharing seats and on request for chartered.

From Pak Meng Pier to Koh Ngai, taking about 20 minutes by speed boat, and 45 minutes by Tour Boat

Koh Lanta – Koh Ngai Daily Ferry Boat Transfer

** On High Season only ** The Excursion Ferry Boat leave Ban Saladan Pier, North of Koh Lanta daily around 8 am. arrive Koh Ngai Jetty at 10.00 am. Vice versa, the trip back to Koh Lanta by the same ferry boats leaves Koh Ngai Jetty around 2 p.m. takes 2 hours to arrive Ban Saladan Pier, in Koh Lanta Yai.

The Koh Lanta To Koh Ngai ferry takes one hour. View Koh Lanta to Koh Ngai ferry times and book ferry tickets online

Koh Lanta to Koh Ngai Ferry Timetable and Costs:

Depart Koh Lanta at 10:30 – Arrive at Koh Ngai at 11:30

Adults – 750 Baht per Adult ( guests over 11 are classed as adults)

Child 2- 11 years – 525 Baht per child

Child under 2 – 500 Baht per child

Check in then board the High Speed ferry which departs Koh Lanta at 10:30

The journey to Koh Ngai is 1 hour, you will arrive at Koh Ngai at 11:30

Longtail Boat Transfer Between The Ferry And Island Please note: All fares are exclusive of a 50 Baht longtail boat transfer fee per person (including children) between the ferry and the islands of Koh Muk, Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan and Koh Lipe. This is because there is no pier on these islands, so the ferry cannot dock. The fee is payable directly to the longboat driver.

Koh Ngai Resort Pier

A standard pier on the South Andaman Sea, where you can go to any direction very easy. Koh Ngai Island becomes the center sea port between Phuket, Phi Phi, Lanta, and south down islands such as Koh Mook, Koh Kradan, Koh Libong, Koh Lipe, until Palau Langkawi of Malaysia.

Other islands

From November 1 to March 31 (perhaps into April for Tigerline and Petpailin), several boat companies connect Ko Ngai directly to a number of other islands. Tickets can be booked through any resort on Ko Ngai; whoever sells you the ticket will need to call the boat ahead of time, so give some prior notice.

Heading north, the Bundhaya and Satun Pakbara speedboats pick up at different points on Ngai’s main beach at 11:30 and reach Ko Lanta at 12:00 for 650 baht. The Satun Pakbara boat continues on to Ko Phi Phi for 1,350 baht and Phuket for 2,150, arriving there at 14:30.

The cheaper/slower Petpailin ferry also runs to Lanta, picking up at the Koh Ngai Resort pier at 10:00 and swinging by Kradan and Muk on the way back north.

Heading south, speedboats pick up on Ngai at 11:00 and reach Ko Muk at 11:30 for 350 baht; Ko Kradan at 11:45 for 400 baht (Satun Pakbara only); Ko Bulon Lae at 12:30 for 1,050 baht; and Ko Lipe at 13:30 for 1,600 baht.

Speedboats to Ko Ngai depart Ko Lipe at 09:00; Ko Bulon Lae at 10:00; Ko Lanta at 10:30; Ko Kradan at 10:45; and Ko Muk at 11:00.

The Tigerline high-speed ferry also connects Ko Ngai directly to Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Hat Yao pier in Trang, and Langkawi Island in Malaysia, plus all of the other islands listed above except Ko Bulon Lae. The southbound boat departs Phuket at 08:00 and picks up on Ko Ngai at 11:30, while the northbound boat departs Langkawi at 09:30 and picks up on Ngai at 14:30.

You can also take a private longtail boat to/from Ko Muk for around 1,200 baht; Ko Kradan for around 1,500 baht; and Ko Lanta for around 2,000 baht.

Bundhaya T: (074) 783 111 ; (080) 549 4545 www.bundhayaspeedboat.com Petpailin T: (075) 667 033 ; (081) 979 9001 Satun Pakbara T: (081) 959 2094 www.spcthailand.com Tigerline www.tigerlinetravel.com

How to arrive Trang Province

By Flight Route: Bangkok – Trang Arrival Trang Airport in the morning and our Airport Representatives will meet you at the Airport.

By Train 2 scheduled trains daily from Bangkok terminal in Trang Province, Rapid Train and Express Train. See Train timetable at www.railway.co.th

By Bus Scheduled Bus from Bangkok Southern Terminal to Trang Province Bus Terminal daily. See Bus Schedule at www.transport.co.th

From Trang Airport Our Airport Representatives will meet you according your prior request and arranged the shared or private car/van to the access Pak Meng Pier which takes 45 minutes from the airport.

From Trang Bus Terminal and Train Station Call a local taxi (Tuk Tuk) to transfer to our Transit Station in front of Railways Station, then you can shared the Van to Pak Meng Pier our Transit Station Manager will arrange the shared / private transfer to Pak Meng Pier, If you come via Train, just in front of the Trang Railways Station, you will find our Transit Station, Let’s start from there.

Koh Ngai weather

Koh Ngai a tropical climate. Temperatures don’t vary a lot throughout the year although the pre-monsoon months from February to April are a little hotter. The year is divided into a dry season, from January to March and a long wet season from April to December, with the strongest rains in September.

The best time to visit Koh Ngai is from December to March knowing that during the low season from May to the end of October, when it rains the most, tourism activity is very limited and most of the resorts on Koh Ngai and other Trang islands are closed.

Where to stay in Koh Ngai

There are ten small resorts offering fan and air conditional bungalows for reasonable prices: Koh Hai Thanya Resort, Fantasy Resort, Cliff Beach Resort, Koh Hai Resort, Koh Hai Paradise Resort, Koh Ngai Mayalay Resort & Spa, Thapwarin Resort, Seafood Resort and Coco Cottage. Each resort has its own restaurant, and for daily activities they offer day trips for snorkeling or island hopping to the islands nearby. A very nice and picturesque resort is the Thapwarin Resort at the northern end of the beach. The only long beach is on the eastern side, while the western coast is rocky and only accessible by boat or kayak.

You can find, check rates, reviews & availability for the hotels, resorts, bungalows in Koh Ngai on Agoda.com or Booking.com.

See more Koh Ngai photos

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See more Thailand travel guide at here.

6 most pristine islands in Thailand for this summer If you are tired with sea of people crowded in the famous tourist destinations, 6 pristine islands below certainly makes visitors fascinated.

0 notes

shannrussell-blog1 · 6 years ago

Photo

This trail takes you along the Southern Ocean, and beautiful eucalyptus forests.

The beginning of the walk

We waited with several other people, but it was in vain, so we decided to keep moving. Other walkers we met, later on, said they had better luck and got some great shots.

The trail takes you along the soft sand of the beach.

The first section

The first section you pass through are forests of Eucalyptus and Mallee, and if you are there in spring then we were told many wildflowers would be in bloom.

This is an example of the typical track surface you’ll be walking on.

Cup Gum campsite

The end of the first day finishes at the Cup Gum Campsite.

Shelters and facilities available

One of the best parts of walking holidays is meeting other walkers and sharing experiences. The comradery in the camps was great, with everybody friendly and easy to talk to.

The shelters had excellent facilities.

The second day of the walk

Eventually, you’ll descend to the soft sand of Maupertuis Beach.

In the end, we found walking in other people’s footprints was the best way. So long as you found someone with the same stride you would be fine.

Linda and I at the mouth of the Rocky River.

Keeping your gear clean and dry

I’d recommend putting your rain cover on the harness so your pack doesn’t get dirty.

The weather conditions

The weather overall was fairly good, with cool days and on the first two days, we had some light drizzly rain that was more annoying than anything.

We did get some rain on our first night though, otherwise, we had reasonably good weather for the entire trip.

We had reasonably good weather on our hike.

The third day of our hike

Our third day went inland and curved around towards the South coast of the island coming out at Remarkable Rocks.

For me, this was the most boring section of the trail as it went through thick scrub that didn’t allow any views anywhere. All you could see was thick scrub.

We still had about 4km to go so we loaded up again and went back in the scrub, for only a little bit, then back out to the coast where we continued along more impressive cliff tops.

Having a rest at Remarkable Rocks.

Banksia campground

A much easier section of the trail.

The next day

Hopping aboard the boat.

Crossing the river

Finally, there it was. A small boat for one person and their pack at a time to cross. We watched some of the others go first as we had our final lunch break on the trail.

We returned to pick up our packs and in about half an hour we were at our final camp, Tea Tree Campsite.

Crossing the South West River.

The final night – Tea Tree campsite

It was another chilly night and more tent fly’s had to be dried before we could head on our way. This was our last day and it was only about 7 kilometres to go.

The last section of the trail

A side trip to Admirals Arch.

Services on the trail

Reaching the end of the trail.

Fitness and gear you’ll need

You would need to have a reasonable amount of fitness as you will be walking about 13km each day except for the last day when it is only 7km.

You’ll need to be quite fit, as you’ll be walking on sand.

Good boots are essential because of the rocky surface. Some may prefer walking shoes, however, don’t bother with lighter footwear.

For fees and up to date information contact the information centre at Flinders Chase National Park, so get out there, and enjoy.

Is the KI Wilderness Trail on your list of hikes to do?

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