How to Visit Mu Koh Surin: Single or Multi-Day Trips
Everything you need to know to visit Thailand’s most pristine tropical island paradise
Mu Ko Surin National Park, an archipelago of five islands in the Andaman Sea, is known for its secluded beaches, crystal clear waters, and prime snorkeling spots.
The park is about 60 kilometers from the mainland, and it takes over an hour to get to the Surin by speedboat. The isolated cluster of islands is a much different atmosphere than many of Thailand’s other popular islands.
Surin’s beaches are secluded and bustling with wildlife. There are monkeys up in the trees and hermit crabs about the size of a human hand. Underwater around the five islands, clownfish swim in sea anemones and other colorful fish munch on coral. At night, bioluminescent plankton are like fireflies of the ocean, occasionally giving off a blue glow.
How to get there
The main port for Surin Islands is Khura Buri Pier. If traveling by van or taxi, make sure to confirm the locale with the driver. (I was taken two hours in the opposite direction by a van driver.) The boat ride to the islands is a huge portion of the overall trip’s expenses. The boat is fast and can be bumpy at times. If you are prone to motion sickness, the NHS recommends asking a pharmacist about suitable treatment.
Confirm your outward and return boat times with the operator before booking onward travel. If you're staying overnight, also confirm the park's check-out process and how your return boat place is reserved.
Tours will often arrange transportation. Surinislands.com's transfer FAQ says it no longer offers Phuket pickup or drop-off. Khuraburi town transfers are included. Its pages disagree about Khao Lak transfer charges, so confirm whether these are included and any extra cost for your chosen trip before booking.
Camping in the Surin Islands
Camping is both a budget-friendly option and a great experience. The park has tents set up on Mai Ngam Beach. At night, the sound of waves can soothe you to sleep. The tents are available for rent for 300 baht a night plus another 60 baht for a pillow, sleeping bag and mat. The tents are spacious and are suitable for two people. If you bring your own tent, the camping fee is 80 baht a night.
Monkeys are often in the trees overhead. Sometimes they will climb down and steal unattended food. Locks are on each tent to keep monkeys out.
A cafeteria is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Basic convenience store items can also be purchased at the cafeteria. Food is more expensive on the island than on the mainland. It’s about 120-280 baht for a meal and 120 baht for a fruit shake. Hot water is available throughout the day, which works well for cup noodles if you’re on a budget. Many people bring extra food and snacks to save money.
The power is on from around sunset to sunrise, so power outlets get filled quickly in the evening. It would be wise to bring a power bank to charge any electronics when a power outlet is not available.
Book directly through the national park in advance or at the park. Visit mukosurin.com for more information.
Other accommodations
Tents can get hot, and quickly filled with sand. So if camping isn’t your thing, the park offers two types of bungalows to rent. One is a two-person bungalow for 2,000 baht a night. It has a twin bedroom, bathroom, and balcony. The other is a four-person bungalow for 3,000 baht a night. It has two twin bedrooms, a bathroom, and a balcony. Visit mukosurin.com for more information.
Tours
While booking on your own can be cost-efficient, sometimes you need a Thai friend to help with translation. Plus, arranging accommodation, transportation, and excursions separately can be time-consuming and, if you don’t speak Thai, can sometimes be difficult. Booking a tour with everything included can be convenient and hassle-free.
Surinislands.com offers day trips and three-day, two-night trips. The overnight package includes snorkeling excursions, camping accommodation and boat transfers. For its advertised 2026/27 season, adult prices (ages 12+) are 3,700 baht for a day trip and 8,200 baht for three days, including the park entry fee. Its bungalow upgrades are advertised at 2,500-4,000 baht per bungalow per night, plus a 300-baht service fee per bungalow per night, depending on type, date and availability.
Sabina Tours offers trips from as short as a single day to as long as four days. The prices include food, snorkeling excursions, and camping costs. For more information, go to sabinatour.com.
What to do
Snorkeling is the main attraction at Surin Islands. Clownfish, angelfish, and parrotfish are seen swimming by colorful coral reefs and sea anemones. Moray eels and sea turtles are also spotted. There are numerous spots throughout the archipelago that can be reached by longtail boat.
The park offers morning and afternoon 2-hour snorkel trips for 200 baht each. A charter trip on a longtail boat is 4,000 baht for a full day and 2,000 baht for a half day. Up to 15 people can fit on a longtail boat. Snorkel gear can be rented for extra costs, but it might be better to bring your own.
Snorkeling can also be done at Mai Ngam Beach. Surinislands.com's FAQ warns of boat traffic there. Check the day's conditions and permitted swimming areas with park staff before getting in.
Scuba diving excursions need to be booked in advance. There are various diving companies on the mainland offering trips to Richelieu Rock, which is said to be one of the best dive sites in Thailand.
The park also offers visits to the Chao Le Village, a small community of sea gypsies known as Moken. According to the park, the Moken people live in boats for half the year, and then they build temporary houses on Surin’s beaches to have a stable shelter during the rainy season.
When to visit
For 2026, the announced closure for tourism and overnight stays runs from 15 May to 15 October. Confirm the opening date with the park before booking. November to April are peak times to visit the park to get the most out of the sunny weather.
Entrance fee
The entrance fee for foreign adults is 500 baht and 300 baht for children. This is only paid one time regardless of how many days you stay. There are additional fees if you scuba dive.
Park Rules
There’s no alcohol allowed on the island, but empty cans of Chang beer are often in the trash can, so not everyone obeys the rules.
Other rules on the island are in place to protect nature and wildlife.
- Don’t bring styrofoam to the park
- No loud noises that would disturb the wildlife
- No pets
- No flying drones
- Don’t collect anything other than rubbish
- Don’t disturb the wildlife
- Do not touch marine life or coral while snorkeling or diving