17 Day Trip „Best of Thailand“
It doesn't get any better than this – 17 crazy days with every diving highlight a diver could imagine. From Bangkok to the Similans, then Koh Surin, Kao Lak, etc. This trip will stay with you forever: Thailand's top spots in the Andaman Sea, from Bangkok to the Malaysian border, dive with whale sharks and manta rays, explore wrecks, and be enchanted by the smiles of Thailand.
An adventure between Bangkok and Malaysia
The tingling sensation starts as soon as we take off: 17 days of freedom - Bangkok, reefs, island hopping to the Malaysian border. We travel light, breathe deep, dive a lot...
This 17-day diving trip takes us from the vibrant metropolis of Bangkok to the border with Malaysia - with stops at the legendary dive sites of the Andaman Sea. Together with Scubatours, we experience an adventure full of colour, big fish and unforgettable underwater encounters.
Carousel items
Bangkok - The start of the adventure (day 1-2)
Bangkok is sizzling. Night markets, street food, a sea of lights - and first-time visitors are amazed by the Grand Palace, Wat Arun and Khao San Road. For us, it's a warm-up... the real adventure awaits in the south. Before the diving safari begins, we acclimatise in Bangkok: street food and night markets are a must-see!
Hotel tips:
- Budget: Lub d Bangkok Siam (~15 €/night)
- Mid-range: Casa Nithra (~50 €/night)
Transfer to the south: Night bus (~20 €) or flight (~50-100 €).
Khao Lak & Similan Islands - liveaboard feeling (day 3-5)
Bus to Khao Lak in the morning, check in, then off to the base. Day trips or 1-3 nights on the hotel boat - the latter goes beyond the budget, but offers more spots. Richelieu Rock flashed us: macro treasures AND big fish, a place for the logbook of hearts. Elephant Head Rock: Cathedrals of granite. Christmas Point: Colours that stay in your head.
The highlights:
- Richelieu Rock: World class - macro and big fish in an explosion of life.
- Elephant Head Rock: Spectacular rock formations.
- Christmas Point: Colourful coral reefs.
Hotels: Wandee Bed & Breakfast (~20 €/night) or Khaolak Bayfront Resort (~70 €/night). For those who prefer day trips.
Where you can relax and unwind
The Thai way to get around on the water, the beautiful wooden longtail boats, for little money you can spend a whole day travelling from bay to bay, take a few people with you and you will have a great time.
Koh Surin National Park - picture-perfect corals (Day 6-7)
Clearer water, healthy corals, turtles on Turtle Ledge, macro magic at Hin Pae. If you love muck: pack a macro lens! We book a combination package - saves nerves and secures places in the high season
Accommodation: Tent (~10-15 €/night) or bungalow (~25 €/night)Transfer: Complete packages (sleeping + ferry + diving) from ~120 € are worthwhile.
Phuket - Diving between the hustle and bustle and longtail boats (Day 8-9)
Phuket is lively, but diving spots such as Shark Point and Anemone Reef are also tempting here. Lots of hustle and bustle, but with corners to fall in love with, throw yourself into the old town of Phuket, delicious food on every corner, stick to the locals, avoid the tourist miles. Our tip: Plan your journey realistically; sharing a taxi saves time and money, tuk-tuks are nice but completely overpriced.
Hotels: The Memory at On On Hostel (~15 €/night) or Palmyra Patong Resort (~50 €/night).
Koh Phi Phi (Day 10-11)
On land, you can still feel the scars of the pandemic. Under water, however: A fresh start. At Shark Point we count over 20 blacktip sharks; at Bida Nok/Nai and Hin Bida the reef is raging. At night we dance the night away in Apache, on PhiPhi Island there is hardly any sleep, which we get between dives. Very cool spot!
Transfer & sleep
- Phuket → Koh Phi Phi: - cheap: standard ferry ~2 h, ~15 € - medium: speedboat ~1.5 h, ~40 €
Koh Lanta (Day 12-13)
It's a long drive (3-4 hours) out into the Andaman Sea - but it's worth it. Hin Daeng &HinMuang rise like red/blue-violet mountains from the depths.mantas, yes we had them on both dives, big giant mantas hovering above us ? Whale shark? Unfortunately we had no luck, the day before they had a whale shark, but it doesn't always work out, and we had one in front of the lens in Phi Phi. Conclusion for us: Mantas, big shoals, lots of adrenalin and 3 mega dives, the price per day trip is steep(~170 € p. P.), but a no-brainer. Worth every cent !!!
Carousel items
Koh Lipe (Day 14-15)
Our favourite island - bigger today, but still sugar. The whitest coral sand in Thailand, and in the evening the sky is on fire with good music, a Chang beer, the Neoprenis find each other and it's another long night. The next day, strong currents at 8 Mile Rock, carpets of flowers at Stonehenge. Walking Street in the evening, great food for little money at Forra and another sunset on the beach. A lucky day.
Note: Koh Lipe has exploded in terms of hotels and resorts in the last 3 years, prices have risen. However, the island has a flair that is hard to resist. The white coral beach is still unbeatably beautiful! And the sundowners will have you dreaming of it for a long time to come.
Transfer & sleep
- Koh Lanta → Koh Lipe:- cheap: standard ferry ~4 h, ~30 €-medium: private speedboat ~3 h, ~80 €
- Lipe - Hotel:- cheap: Bloom Café & Hostel, ~20 €/night-medium: Idyllic Concept Resort, ~80 €/night
Satun & border with Malaysia (day 16-17)
Chilling out in Thale Ban National Park, then over to Langkawi or by speedboat and bus to Trang airport. Our heads are full, as are our memory cards, then we head back home via Bangkok, wherever that may be. We made this trip in 2022 and travelled for 2 months. This trip was created from our experiences and we organise it in a group 1-2 times a year. So if you don't want to travel on your own, you are welcome to join us.
Unfortunately, we can hardly add any high-quality underwater photos to our report, some of the photo equipment and all memory cards were in the same backpack and it was stolen from us at the airport, we didn't pay attention for a moment and it was gone - very annoying experience on the side.
Transfer & sleeping
- Koh Lipe → Satun:- cheap: ferry ~1.5 h ~18 € + bus ~12 €-medium: ferry + taxi ~1 h, ~60 €
- Satun - Hotel:- cheap: Sinkiat Thani Hotel, ~28 €/night-medium: Forra Dive Resort, ~50 €/night
Questions and answers
Which diving licences and certificates do I need?
At least AOWD, Nitrox Certification, Deep Dive and 50 dives logged.
Do I need diving insurance?
Yes, every diver must provide proof of valid diving insurance.
Best time to travel?
Mid-November to April (dry season).
Are big fish encounters guaranteed?
No, there are no guarantees for this, only empirical values where and when which of these animals can often be seen.
Is this trip also suitable for beginners?
No, for safety reasons the minimum requirements must be met, see requirements above.
What about medical care?
Thailand has a large network of international clinics, which are located at all tourist resorts, and local care is also available
Can a partner come along as a non-diver?
In principle yes, but as a non-diver you are left out and still have to adhere to all times, which will be very unsatisfactory for the person, so rather an honest no
If you would like more information about this trip, please write to us here and we will get back to you as soon as possible - thank you