Ko Rok - Snorkeling Paradise
|
Once you are on Ko Lanta, Ko Rok is a popular island for first time visitors. Just one hour away by speed boat, to the south of Lanta, are the twin limestone islands of Ko Rok Nok and Ko Rok Nai,
within the boundary of Ko Lanta’s National Marine Park on the edge of Thailand’s national boundary line.
Ko Rok’s nature is very diverse with some perfect beaches, tropical rain forests and a full square mile of fabulous coral reefs.
There are no villages or resorts, and the only people living here exist on the Ko Rok Ranger Station.
The beaches here have been hailed as some of the most beautiful in Thailand. The fabulous underwater world with a huge variety of sea life and corals, and glass-clear waters with up to 30 metre visibility.
On land a jungle of ancient Banyan Trees houses fantastic nature-watching opportunities for big monitor lizards and troops of shell crabs.
Nearby Island Ko Rok
|
|
Ko Phi Phi - Sight-Seeing
|
Ko Phi Phi has been a world famous tourist attraction for over 30 years. Some visitors to the the island may find it over-crowded and more expensive than Lanta due its popularity with regular tourists.
If however, you’ve never seen Ko Phi Phi before, it is a trip that should not be missed.
There are actually two islands, Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Ley.Don offers many resorts and options for tourist accommodation and has two popular horseshoe-shaped beaches,
but Phi Phi Ley is sparsely populated with few people living on it, retaining a certain charm, which was captured by Hollywood in the movie ‘The Beach’, in which Phi Phi’s Maya Bay featured.
Ko Phi Phi offers amazing natural sights unique to the area - very high limestone cliffs with waterfalls dropping vertically in the crystal clear sea below. And the snorkeling here really is second to none.
Nearby Island Ko Phi Phi |
|
|
Some 40 nautical miles south of the Lanta Islands lies one of the best dive sites in Thailand, indeed in the world.Just breaking the surface of the waters, Hin Daeng is a huge site with depths far below normal recreational limits. The south-west side of the site drops by over 60 metres, creating a steep wall of soft corals.
Leopard sharks are often seen in the area, and keep an eye out for whale sharks and manta rays. The east side has the best soft coral growth and two ridges that slope gently into the deeper waters. Pelagic fish such as jacks hang out close to the rock.
In shallower areas moray eels are commonly found hiding in cracks in the rock face. Hin Daeng is also good for aquatic critters such as nudibranches, cowries shells and various species of shrimps.
Hin Muong is a long rocky ridge just a few hundred metres from Hin Daeng with it's top at a depth of 8-9 metres and its bottom at 60-70 metres. It is actually connected to Hin Daeng, but the dangerous depth prohibits a dive between the two.
Currents can sweep quite strongly over the ridge, but you can always stay on the sheltered side. The surface of Hin Muong is covered in soft purple corals and anemones, and swarms of tiny silverside fish are constantly under attack from predators such as jacks and trevallies. Leopard sharks and whale sharks are common here also.
Even if you don't see a "big fish", Hin Muong is a beautiful sight with its steep, colourful coral walls.
Nearby Island Hin Daeng Hin Muang
| |
Ko Ngai (Ko Hai)
|
The general Thai population call this island Ko Ngai, but the island locals know it as Ko Hai. This is the island closest to Ko Lanta, just off the east side. The island is lush with verdant rainforest, secluded romantic beaches and a kilometer long reef that runs around the island. There are only five resorts here making this tiny island feel spacious and deserted.
This coast is ideal for traveling the islands on a group or package tour, as with five islands lined up together, Ko Ngai, Ko Kradan, Ko Cheuk, Ko Waen and Ko Mook, accessibility is easy. One of the highlights of any tour near here is always the Emerald Cave at Mook Island, and the snorkeling at Ko Cheuk and Ko Waen are also marvelous. The flat island of Ko Kradan has one of the most beautiful beaches in Thailand.
Nearby Island Ko Ngai |
  |
|
|
|
  |
Ko Ha lies between Ko Phi Phi and Hin Daeng, not far from Ko Lanta. Made up of 5 small islands (Ha means five in Thai) there is only one small beach in this group that's suitable for snorkeling and diving, offering several different dive site possibilities.
The best of these is on Ko Ha Yai where you'll find two enormous caverns, their entrances at 10-14 metres depth. A dive is best started on the reef to the west of the caves, where there are some nice coral heads and fields of sea whips at a depth of 20-25 metres. The caves at the end of this dive are certainly the highlight. You can surface once inside and see large stalactites hanging over your head, and the light coming into the caverns makes for some beautiful photographs. At the back of the east cave is a small hole leading to a tunnel some 25 metre long, which ends in a small chamber. This should only be attempted by divers with appropriate training and experience who have the proper equipment with them.
Nearby Island Ko Haa |
| |
|
