James Bond Island Tour
By November 16, 2022 Island Hopping, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

James Bond Island Tour

James Bond Island Tour Explained:
One of our most popular private speedboat day excursions is our James Bond Island Tour, heading out to Phang Nga Bay. This is a sumptuous day trip that includes classic sights as well as more sporty activities such as caving and paddling. On 5 Star Marine’s James Bond Island Tour you will go to a place unlike any other, with stunning karst limestone formations rising steeply from the turquoise waters creating an unbelievable seascape for your special photos.

The Popularity of James Bond Island:
When selecting the James Bond Island Tour by private luxury speedboat, the experienced captain and guides will take you and your select group of friends or family off to the well-known Koh Tapu (James Bond Island) in Phang Nga Bay. Here you can take in the sights of Phang Nga Bay’s fames location. This James Bond Island Tour is one of the most popular day trips run from Phuket, and once you arrive it is easy to understand why.

This area is actually a marine protected site; therefore, boats are not allowed to get too close to the Island. However, right beside is the island of Koh Ping Ghan, which features a large rock that leans to one side and several caves which are perfect to explore. From here, you will have a fantastic area from which to take photographs of the famed landmark during your James Bond Island Tour.

James Bond Island has been a popular destination for vacationers since the 1970s, when it was featured in the film ‘The Man With the Golden Gun’ as the location of Scaramanga’s hideout. The James Bond Island Tour that 5 Star Marine provides remains a highly enjoyed trip as a result of the popularity of the film.

Indeed, this attraction helped to support the inhabitants, stores, restaurants, and the floating Muslim village of Koh Panyee, where huts, eateries, and even a floating football pitch have been erected above the water. This can all be experienced and supported as part of your James Bond Island Tour.

Spotlight on The James Bond Island Tour
No matter what it is that you require, 5 Star Marine will do all they can to provide for your perfect day out. Our experienced team will do their best to steer you away from the crowds so that you may have a day that stands out in your memory. During your James Bond Island Tour some of the possible highlights along the way are as follows:

• Stop by Panak Island to enjoy floating peacefully inside one of the hidden caves surrounded by mangroves, before basking in the golden bay.
• At Ko Kudu Yai, take in the exquisite beauty of the clear waters and indulge in this stunning lagoon.
• For a spot of lunch, we suggest taking you to the small island community of Koh Panyee where you can have some traditional food as well as support the local community.
• Once you arrive at James Bond Island, get snap happy from Koh Ping Ghan for the best shots
• During your James Bond Island Tour we can help you participate in some cave canoeing or exploring if you desire.
• Perhaps get lucky and make a sunset stop at Koh Pear, a very thin strip of sand which appears as if you are walking on water.

James Bond Island Tour Inclusions:
• Experienced Captain and Crew
• Private luxury speedboat
• Fresh fruits
• Soft drinks
• Water
• Snorkelling equipment
• Life jackets
• Insurance
• Beach mats
• On tour photos
• Tour video
• Cool towel
• Fins (adults)
• Hand sanitiser

Bookings and Enquiries:
We’re excited to have you join us on the memorable James Bond Island Tour aboard one of 5 Star Marine luxury private speedboats. Please get in touch to book in advance to avoid disappointment

Shaun Stenning
+66 (0) 93720 6221
www.5starmarinephuket.com
[email protected]

Favorite Locations
By November 10, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Favorite Locations

If you are looking for the best Phuket Island destination to visit then I am sure you would just go on your phone and search in Google “Best Phuket Islands to visit”

Yes, that is great, and Google, Alexa, and Siri are all great resources to get multitude of information, BUT I was taught, when visiting a new country or a new city, that if you want to know where the best food is or the best bars and restaurants are, or the best places to hang out or even the best Phuket Islands to visit then you should ask a local.

Our 5 Star marine Phuket team, has over 40 years of experience running Phuket Boat Tours, and not just that many of the 5 Star Marine Phuket Team grow up in Phuket or Phi Phi, or Phang Nga Bay so they have more than just the years of experience out on Boat Tours, they have their whole life living and experiencing the wonders of this beautiful area.

We had one simple question to ask the 5 Star Marine Phuket team and that was; What is your favorite Phuket Tour Destination?

The top 4 Phuket Island Tour destinations from the 5 Star Marine Phuket Team were:

Koh Ha (Including Koh Rok)

If you are looking for something a little more exotic, lesser known, and arguably as beautiful, (if not more), than the Similan Islands, then Koh Ha and Koh Rok are perfect. These small islands are situated South of Phuket. The stunning water clarity with a diverse range of colourful marine life and corals, therefore make Koh Ha and Koh Rok some of the best snorkelling opportunities you can find

Click Here

Phi Phi

Phi Phi is a really well know location and of course has one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, Maya Bay made famous after being featured in the 2000 movie, “The Beach” featuring Leonardo DiCaprio. While many people mistakenly believe that Phi Phi is made up of just one Island, in fact, it is a group of 6 islands in total. Phi Phi also offers you experiences such as Monkey Beach and Viking Cave, as well as opportunities to swim with Black Tip Reef Sharks.

Click Here

James Bond Island

Phang Nga Bay truly is one of nature’s spectacular works of art; where the vast karst rock scenery presents a visually stunning location, and the most famous island in the whole of Phang Nga Bay is James Bond Island. This famous landmark in Phang Nga Bay found its way onto the international tourist map through its starring role in the James Bond movie The Man with the Golden Gun.

Click Here

Racha

Lying about 20kms south of Phuket, the Racha Islands comprise two islands, Koh Racha Yai and Koh Racha Noi. To confuse matters they are also known as Koh Raya Yai and Koh Raya Noi. Raya Islands provide the ideal destination to enjoy nature. With some of the best snorkelling reefs in Thailand and quiet, tropical white powdery beaches and crystal-clear turquoise waters, they provide a balanced combination of relaxing, tranquil locations with amazing sea life.

Click Here

So, there you have it, the locals have spoken. Of course, there are many more destinations that you can visit and explore while out on a 5 Star Marine Phuket Private Boat Tour. Just drop us a message and we will be happy to guide you to the best destination for your ultimate Phuket Island experience.

James Bond Island and Phang Nag Bay Private Boat Tour
By October 11, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

James Bond Island and Phang Nag Bay Private Boat Tour

Phang Nga bay is a popular Private Phuket Boat Tour including the iconic James Bond Island. The 5 Star Marine Phuket boat tour into Phang Nga Bay from Phuket takes you into some awesome limestone caves and stunning hidden lagoons as well as kayaking up close to the limestone Kasts and visiting the amazing floating football pitch in Koh Panyi at Phang Nga Bay, Thailand, and of course going to James Bond Island, the island used in the James Bond movie “The Man with the Golden Gun”

Before you get to see the amazing James Bond Island, whose name in Thailand as Ko Ta Pu, (Also known Khao Ping Kan, BUT that is a different island, don’t worry I will explain all later), take your time to enjoy the spectacle that is Phang Nga Bay. This stunning bay offers you so much to see and do. The hundreds of caves alone could take you months to explore and that’s not to mention the stunning hidden lagoons and beaches or the stunning limestone Karsts that rise up from the emerald waters which you can explore up close by kayak. Phang Nga Bay is part of what was once a huge coral reef that covered much of what is now Southeast Asia.

One of the other amazing sights to visit when you head out for a Private Phang Nga Bay boat tour is the world’s only floating football pitch. This amazing floating football pitch is at Koh Panyi, which is a fishing village in Phang Nga Province, Thailand, notable for being built on stilts by Malay fishermen. The football pitch was built by children who rather than spend the day fishing, wanted to play football. So, they found some old buoys and slowly made their very own floating football pitch.

James Bond Island is one of the must do’s when you are on holiday in Phuket, as I mentioned earlier it has many names. So, the island that most people take their selfies in front of is what is called Ko Ta Pu, translated into English, which means Nail Island. This was the island that in the James Bond Movie “The Man with the Golden Gun” was the backdrop when James Bond and Scaramanga had their duel. The island that your private boat will drop you off is called Khao Ping Kan, but both are more commonly known as James Bond Island.

If you are looking for a real epic day trip, checking out the awesome spectacular scenery that only Phang Nga Bay can offer then book up a Private Phang Nga Bay Boat Tour. You will not be disappointed.

Fun Fact:
Did you know that Ko Ta Pu, was also used in another James Bond film, Tomorrow Never Dies, BUT it was said to be in Vietnam.

YouTube host Jay Leshark and camera man, and awesome 5 Star Marine Phuket tour Guide Alex head out to spend a day exploring Phang Nga Bay. They float into caves, and find hidden lagoons, before kayaking and getting up close with the stunning limestone rock formations, and then they finally get that perfect Instagram picture at James Bond Island. Oh yes and Jay gets to check out the amazing floating football pitch at Koh Panyi. Must remember to take a football next time.

The Best Phuket Islands Private Boat Tour to Khai Islands
By October 5, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

The Best Phuket Islands Private Boat Tour to Khai Islands

Are they worth visiting?

There are many beautiful islands to visit around Phuket, Phang Nga Bay, and Krabi. Yet a 15 minutes Private Boat ride from Phuket’s East Coast Boat Lagoon Marina there are three islands that offer superb white sandy beaches and clear water where colourful and friendly fish come to swim around you.

The three Khai Islands are perfect for those visiting Phuket with young families, if you don’t wish to travel far on a Private Phuket Boat Tour, or if you are new to snorkeling and looking for snorkeling straight off the beach.

The Khai Islands are made up of 3 separate islands:

  • Khai Nai
  • Khai Nau
  • Khai Nok

Each of these three Islands off Phuket’s East Coats offers something different for you to enjoy while out on a 5 Star Marine Phuket private boat tour. The larger two islands, Khai Nai and Khai Nok are similar, each hosting some small beach bars, and restaurants, sun loungers with umbrellas, souvenir shops, and jet ski rentals. The major difference between these two tropical islands is the snorkeling.

Both offer great snorkeling off the beach, yet if you have small children or you are new to snorkeling then Khai Nok is the best option for you. Walking 1 or 2 steps into the warm tropical waters off Khai Nok and hundreds of colourful tropical fish come straight up to you and swim around you.

Now don’t get me wrong, Khai Nai also has amazing snorkeling, and you can again walk straight from the beach into the sea, and if you swim out only a few meters you will find a beautiful tropical coral reef with clown fish swimming around.

Khai Nau is the smallest of the three Khai Islands and it doesn’t have any beach bars, restaurants or even a beach, BUT it is an excellent spot for fantastic snorkeling, right off the boat and has a huge variety of coral and marine life to explore, such as moray eels, clown fish, parrot fish, sea stars and so much more.

So, to answer the question: Are they worth visiting?

The simple answer to this is YES.

The three Khai Islands are perfect for those visiting Phuket with young families, if you don’t wish to travel far on a Private Phuket Boat Tour, or if you are new to snorkeling and looking for amazing snorkeling straight off the beach.

Maya Bay in Phi Phi is OPEN
By October 5, 2022 5 Star Marine News, Island Hopping, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Maya Bay in Phi Phi is OPEN

Maya Bay, in Phi Phi, the most famous beach in Thailand, if not the world, is back open as of 1st October 2022. The iconic Maya Bay, in Phi Phi, closed on the 1st of August 2022 so that the Thailand National Park Authorities could assess the effect that the new rules and regulations that they had put into place since January, have had on the bay and the beach.

YouTube host Jay Leshark and his kids, got up before sunrise to head down to Maya Bay, with Cameraman, and 5 Star Marine Phuket tour guide Alex to try to be the first people on Maya Bay and see what it’s like after the 2 months that it had been closed.

Arriving at 8 am they were the first people, apart from the National Park Staff, to come back to Maya Bay.

There was some very encouraging news, as they saw some very young Black Tip Reef Sharks feet from the beach, and not only baby sharks but also some young juvenile Black Tips as well. It seems that even though the new rules and regulations they set out in January did allow people back on to “The Beach” the sharks that had returned after the over 2-year closure are still there and still breeding. This is very good news.

As of writing this, we have not seen the full report from the Thailand National Park Authorities about the effects on Maya Bay, and when we do get this report, we will be sure to share it here.

The rules and restrictions that they put in place in January are still in effect, so many tourists will be restricted per day and no swimming in the bay, plus boats are only allowed to drop tourists off at the backside of Maya Bay.

We recommend that if you want to see Maya Bay on one of our Private Phuket Boat Tours then you leave as early as you can, as the Bay early in the morning is so beautiful and you will definitely miss the crowds. CLICK HERE to see the Phi Phi Tour

Maya Bay, Phi Phi is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Thailand the bay and the beach were featured in the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio filmed over 20 years ago.

In the past few weeks, Maya Bay and the movie producers of “The Beach”, known as 20th Century Fox, now named 20th Century Studios have been in the news as the Thailand Supreme Court has fined them 10 million Baht to restore the beach.

The 10 million Baht will be used by Thailand’s Department of Forestry to restore the natural environment at Maya Bay to its natural state.

It will be very interesting to see what happens with this news story.

What Phuket Islands are opening in October 2022 and Phi Phi and Phang Nga Too
By September 19, 2022 5 Star Marine News, Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

What Phuket Islands are opening in October 2022 and Phi Phi and Phang Nga Too

The Phuket high season is coming and many of the islands surrounding Phuket are reopening after being closed for the Thailand low season. One of the most anticipated openings is that of Maya Bay in Phi Phi which will be reopening on the 1st of October 2022.

Maya Bay, Phi Phi is one of the best and most beautiful beaches in Thailand IF not the world. The beach was featured in the movie “The Beach” with Leonardo DiCaprio which was filmed over 20 years ago. It was closed on the 1st of August to give the Thailand National Park Authorities time to check and assess the last few month’s effects of tourists being allowed back on the beach.

 

Many of the other islands around Phuket and Krabi are opening on the 15th of October 2022. These include the stunning Similan Islands.

The Similan archipelago consists of eleven beautiful islands, and The Andaman Sea around the islands is one of the best-kept secrets of Thailand. The crystal-clear blue water is filled with marine life, which makes spotting, sharks, barracudas, triggerfish, and various tropical fish not a problem at all. It has some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world.

Also opening up on the 15th of October are the Surin islands. The Surin Islands are an archipelago of five islands and are very popular for their awesome coral gardens and fine white sandy beaches. The Surin Islands are one of the most famous diving and marine life viewing sites in the world, and arguably the best in Thailand.

5 Star Marine Phuket is also opening up some of its tours which it has put on hold during the Phuket low Season, so back open from the 15th of October are the tours to Koh Ha and Koh Rock. These two islands combine stunning water clarity with a diverse range of colorful marine life and corals and therefore offer some of the best snorkeling opportunities you can find. (And they are number one on my list of Phuket Islands to visit)

 

Also opening up are the Private Phuket Tours to Koh Lip, famous for its white powdery sand beaches and coral-rich turquoise waters, and the Koh Mook 3 day 2-night tour which also includes Koh Ngai, Koh Kradan, and the stunning Emerald cave.

With many Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, and Phang Nga islands opening up and some amazing private Phuket boat tours from 5 Star Marine Phuket coming back, it is looking like after 2 years of Covid-19 this coming high season is going to be fantastic.

Is Phi Phi Island and Maya Bay Open?
By September 14, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Is Phi Phi Island and Maya Bay Open?

  • “The Beach” Returns

The stunning Maya Bay will reopen to the public on 1st October 2022, so be sure to save the date! At this time of year, the Monsoon season ends and the dry season begins, bringing with it more favorable wind and sea conditions.

  • The Famous Bay

Maya Bay, situated on Phi Phi Ley, is perhaps the best-known destination in the whole archipelago. The 2000 Leonardo DiCaprio film “The Beach” used it extensively, which was a major contributing factor to the area’s newfound fame during the years which followed.

  • What About Phi Phi?

Maya Bay reopens after being closed for two months. However, although Maya Bay itself was closed during August and September 2022, please note that Phi Phi itself was fully open and available for private luxury tours with 5 Star Marine. Maya Bay had originally been closed for visitors for over three and a half years and opened for the first time after this closure in January of 2022. Again, during this period, the rest of Phi Phi was all available to explore as normal.

During the previous closure periods, you could still take in the beauty of Maya Bay from a 5 Star Marine private speedboat and capture some great photos of your day trip; however, you simply could not walk on the actual beach during any closure rehabilitation times.

  • Why Was Maya Bay Closed?

The area was closed in an effort to aid in the recovery of marine life, coral reefs, and underwater gardens. The shutdown during August and September 2022 was also implemented to allow for infrastructure repairs on the island and to give the protected area a break from the tourists who had recently returned to this picturesque Bay.

Park authorities had previously planted a new coral reef area and additional trees were also placed by the beach in order to help prevent erosion; all of this was as part of efforts to recover the whole area. The closure of the breathtaking site is a good reminder of the huge efforts that had gone into (and continue to take place) restoring this area.

  • Maya Bay After Reopening

When Maya Bay reopens on 1st October 2022, you will be able to see the thriving return of its native flora and fauna; including clownfish, crabs, and even blacktip sharks. At 5 Star Marine, we are happy to announce that once open again, the number of people allowed onto Maya Bay at any one time will be limited to help protect the natural environment from extensive damage.

  • Getting To Maya Bay

A floating pontoon has been put in place on the opposite side of the island, so guests going to Maya Bay on Phi Phi Leh will use the pier at Loh Samah Bay. Here you will be greeted by a National Park ticket booth before you make your way to a wooden boardwalk and nature path which connects Loh Samah to the beach at Maya Bay.

  • National Park Fees

Maya Bay is on Phi Phi Leh, which is part of the Hat Nopparat Thara National Park. Once the Bay is reopened, all visitors to the area will be required to pay the National Park entrance fee which will return to full pricing. As of July 2022, the entrance fee to visit Maya Bay was THB 400 for adults and THB 200 for children.

  • When Should You Visit?

At 5 Star Marine, we have experienced and skilled captains and crew who know exactly how to miss the crowds on your private boat tour, so you can sit back and relax knowing you are in safe and capable hands. When planning a private tour to the Phi Phi islands area, we suggest that in order to avoid the crowds, you should visit Maya Bay either early in the morning or later in the afternoon.

  • Responsible Tourism

5 Star Marine will ensure that you get to enjoy the beauty of Maya Bay, whilst practicing responsible tourism to help keep the area protected and allow it to continue regenerating.

The Marine Park has worked tirelessly to get Maya Bay back to its previous stunning condition; so, here at 5 Star Marine, we ensure that all our tours adhere to any new rules and help demonstrate respectful tourism.

Enjoy 5 Star Marine’s Phi Phi Islands Private Tour, where you and your select group of friends can experience the ultimate and iconic scenery. Discover Maya Bay, the world-famous location on this luxury day trip.

For Bookings / Enquiries:

Shaun Stenning

+66 (0) 93720 6221

www.5starmarinephuket.com

[email protected]

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Which Islands Open in October 2022?
By September 14, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Which Islands Open in October 2022?

This October brings renewed excitement as our guests will be able to enjoy a number of re-openings giving access to more tropical beach destinations.

This time of year also marks the transition from the Monsoon to the dry season, when calmer winds and sea conditions make for an ideal mix. As these destinations are perfect for either day or multi-night private speedboat trips from Phuket, we have pulled together a list of the top 4 places to visit from October 2022 to help inspire you:

  1. Maya Bay (Reopens 1st October 2022)

Maya Bay, located on Phi Phi Ley, is one of the most iconic sites in the Phi Phi islands. It became renowned after featuring as the main location for the 2000 film “The Beach” starring Leonardo DiCaprio. The plot focuses on a group of travellers wanting to create their own haven from the outside world at Maya Bay.

The stunning Bay will now reopen this October after being shut for two months (August and September 2022). Tourists were originally allowed to return in January 2022 after Maya Bay was closed for almost three and a half years.

This year’s closure was put in place in order to rebuild the island’s infrastructure and give the protected area a respite from visitors who had already returned to its beautiful bay. The shutdown of the stunning location serves as a reminder that an enormous amount of work has gone into repairing this bay.

From October when Maya Bay reopens, you will be able to see how the wildlife has returned and thrived; the bay is now home to clownfish, lobsters, and blacktip sharks!

  1. Similan Island – (Reopens 15th October 2022)

The breathtaking Similan Islands will also reopen in mid-October again this year. A fantastic island-hopping site off Phuket’s west coast, the islands are teeming with incredible aquatic life, lush coral, and sandy white beaches.

Enjoy a spectacular private speedboat excursion to the legendary Similan Islands, a picturesque archipelago of 9 islands in the Andaman Sea in southern Thailand. These islands are only accessible for six months of the year – from the middle of October to mid-May; which means that everyone here at 5 Star Marine is extremely excited about this year’s reopening.

This is one of the most well-known island groups in the region, and it is famous for having some of the world’s most stunning coral reefs. When you first arrive you will see large rocks on the coasts of numerous islands, which form a particular characteristic of this location.

5 Star Marine’s fleet of luxury VIP speedboats has already been granted permission to visit the Similan Island National Park area, so you get to appreciate the natural marine richness and crystal-clear blue seas that this area has to offer.

  1. Surin Island – (Reopens 15th October 2022

The Surin Islands are the ideal underwater playground for scuba diving and snorkelling in Thailand thanks to the beautiful coral reefs and soft, white sand beaches. Mu Ko Surin National Park houses the Surin Islands; which consists of a group of five islands located around 100 kilometres north of the Similan Islands.

Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai are the two main islands which have several unspoilt bays and are separated by barely 200 metres of clear water, which creates a shallow and popular snorkelling spot. These islands are still undeveloped, making this a natural habitat for an array of marine life and pristine coral gardens. The area is also known to attract whale sharks, which you might get the chance to see whilst out snorkelling with 5 Star Marine.

As with the Similan Islands, Surin Islands are also only accessible for six months of the year (from mid-October to mid-May).

  1. Koh Ha and Koh Rok – (Accessible 15th October 2022)

By the middle of October, the Monsoon season is ending and the dry season begins, bringing with it more favourable wind and sea conditions. This is a great time to get out and explore, especially if you are searching for something a little more exotic and less well-known.

A private day or multi-night private trip to these magnificent locations will provide some of the greatest snorkelling in the world, combining spectacular water purity with a broad variety of colourful marine life and reefs for a truly unique experience. Whale sharks may also be seen between these islands throughout the season.

Koh Ha and Koh Rok are small islands located immediately south of Koh Lanta, situated within the Mu Ko Lanta National Park. By selecting to explore these islands you will be assured of fantastic snorkelling, lovely soft sandy beaches and fewer crowds than some of the more well-known islands. A bit longer to go compared to most of our other day trip options (which is why many happy clients select a multi-night approach); yet well worth every minute for the assured natural splendour.

We hope you are just as excited as we are about the opportunity to discover the reopened and accessible islands from October 2022!

For Bookings / Enquiries:

Shaun Stenning

+66 (0) 93720 6221

www.5starmarinephuket.com

[email protected]

Facebook

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Private Boat Tour Phuket – Recommended Departure Times
By September 8, 2022 Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Private Boat Tour Phuket – Recommended Departure Times

We take our customer satisfaction seriously; this means that we regularly run staff training.  Only yesterday we had our Guide Team in training and planning sessions for the upcoming high season.

One of the things we like to do as a company is run our private boat tours to avoid the crowds.  After discussions yesterday we would like to update our recommended departure times.

The recommended departure times for our Private Boat Tours are not set in stone, you have the flexibility to select a different time; however, with that said, our Guide Team feels that the best way to avoid the crowds is to depart from your hotel at the following times:

06:30 AM – Beat the Crowds

This departure time means that we depart from the pier before the large group tours, and just after the sunrise tours.  This should allow our Guide Team to build a program that avoids most of the crowds and creates a unique experience for you.

10:30 AM – Behind the Crowds

This departure time means that we depart from the pier after all the large group tours.  This ensures we time our tour to go to the best spots after all the group tours have left them.  It should also allow us to have clear water on the tour.

Both of these suggested departure times will allow our teams to create the perfect program for you, avoiding the crowds, in all tide conditions.  When booking your next private boat tour with us consider these two departure times for the very best experience.

How Long Can You Stay In Thailand For? | Breaking Phuket News | August 2022
By September 8, 2022 5 Star Marine News, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

How Long Can You Stay In Thailand For? | Breaking Phuket News | August 2022

How Long Can You Stay in Thailand? New tourist visa rules, plus a brand-new café opening in Phuket and 5 Star Marine Phuket has a brand-new Phuket weatherman (kind of). All this is discussed in this month’s Breaking Phuket News by the owner of 5 Star Marine Phuket Shaun Stenning and YouTube host Jay Leshark, all while drinking coffee at the brand-new café “Next Door” to the 5 Star Marine towers.

How Long Can You Stay in Thailand?

Are you planning a trip to Thailand in the near future? If so, good news for you and good news for anyone working in the tourism industry, Thailand has decided to extend the stay period for those who enter Thailand on a Visa On Arrival. Starting on October 1st, 2022, Thailand CCSA has announced that the Visa extension stay period will be extended from 30 days to 45 days.

“We are looking to extending their stay, This will help boost tourist spending, revive the economy and reduce impact from the coronavirus pandemic.”A CCSA official said.

But Who can take advantage of these new rules?

The Visa extension rule will allow tourists from 64 different countries to come into Thailand without applying for a visa before they arrive. Which countries are on the list? please see below the full list:

The new visa extension is all part of the Thailand government’s efforts to increase economic recovery post-pandemic as it looks to gain 8-10 million foreign arrivals this year. This was the figure reported in The Bangkok Post.

In August, Tourism and Sports Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said some 1.07 million foreign tourists had entered Thailand in July, which is the first time that monthly arrivals have exceeded 1 million since the pandemic.

But even better news for travelers from Korea, Brazil, Peru, Argentina, and Chile, as you will receive permission to stay in Thailand for up to 90 days under Visa Exemption.

New Coffee Shop open in Phuket

Always wanted a have a coffee overlooking the 5-Star Marine Towers, well now you can. The Next-Door Café has opened right next door to 5 Star Marine offices, so when you come on a 5 Star marine private boat tour you can grab a freshly brewed coffee or a snack before you go.

And finally, 5 Star Marine has a brand-new Phuket Weather Station that can accurately tell you what the weather is doing live, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The new station has been in creation for many years using NASA scientists to help with the hard stuff, hence why their rocket launch for Artemis I was delayed. Many people may say it’s just a coconut on a string, and well to be honest they might be right.

Here is the full list of countries that can get the NEW 45 days Visa on Arrival.

1          Andorra

2          Argentina

3          Australia

4          Austria

5          Bahrain

6          Belgium

7          Brazil

8          Brunei

9          Cambodia

10        Canada

11        Chile

12        Czech Republic

13        Denmark

14        Estonia

15        Finland

16        France

17        Germany

18        Greece

19        Hong Kong

20        Hungary

21        Iceland

22        Indonesia

23        Ireland

24        Israel

25        Italy

26        Japan

27        Korea

28        Kuwait

29        Laos

30        Latvia

31        Liechtenstein

32        Lithuania

33        Luxembourg

34        Macau

35        Malaysia

36        Maldives

37        Mauritius

38        Myanmar

39        Monaco

40        Mongolia

41        Netherlands

42        New Zealand

43        Norway

44        Oman

45        Peru

46        Philippines

47        Poland

48        Portugal

49        Qatar

50        Russia

51        San Marino

52        Singapore

53        Slovak Republic

54        Slovenia

55        South Africa

56        Spain

57        Sweden

58        Switzerland

59        Turkey

60        Ukraine

61        United Arab Emirates

62        United Kingdom

63        United States

64        Vietnam