Best Islands In Phuket | Shaun Stenning
By May 4, 2023 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Best Islands In Phuket | Shaun Stenning

According to Shaun Stenning, Phuket, Thailand is surrounded by several beautiful islands that are worth exploring. Each island has its own unique charm and attractions, ranging from stunning beaches to hidden caves and lagoons. Here are the best islands in Phuket that you should not miss on your next trip.

  1. Phi Phi Islands

The Phi Phi Islands, located just a short boat ride away from Phuket, are a must-visit destination for any traveler. The islands are surrounded by crystal-clear waters, and the beaches are lined with lush green trees and towering limestone cliffs. Maya Bay, made famous by the movie “The Beach,” is a popular attraction, and visitors can also enjoy snorkeling, diving, and hiking.

  1. Similan Islands

The Similan Islands, located off the coast of Phang Nga Province, are known for their stunning coral reefs and clear waters. The islands are a popular destination for snorkeling and diving, and visitors can see a wide variety of marine life, including sea turtles and tropical fish. The islands are also home to several hiking trails and camping sites, making them a great place for outdoor enthusiasts.

 

  1. Koh Racha Yai

Koh Racha Yai, also known as Raya Island, is located just south of Phuket and is a popular day trip destination. The island is known for its stunning beaches, crystal-clear waters, and excellent snorkeling and diving opportunities. Visitors can also enjoy hiking, kayaking, and exploring the island’s traditional fishing villages.

 

  1. Koh Yao Noi

Koh Yao Noi, located between Phuket and Krabi, is a peaceful and serene island that offers a quiet escape from the crowds. The island is surrounded by lush green forests and offers stunning views of the surrounding waters. Visitors can enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, and visiting the island’s traditional fishing villages.

Conclusion

Phuket, Thailand is surrounded by several beautiful islands that offer a wide range of activities and attractions for visitors. Whether you’re looking for a peaceful escape or an adventurous outdoor experience, the islands of Phuket have something for everyone. So why wait? Book your trip today and explore the stunning beauty of these amazing islands.

Top 5 Snorkeling Tours in Phuket, Thailand
By December 23, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Top 5 Snorkeling Tours in Phuket, Thailand

The islands around Phuket are known for their crystal-clear waters and diverse marine life, making them ideal for exploring and snorkelling. The region is home to a wide variety of coral reefs and other underwater habitats that support a diverse array of sea species, including colourful tropical fish, sea turtles, and even whale sharks.

The warm, shallow waters and good depth visibility around many islands that are conveniently accessible on a day trip with 5 Star Marine, making it easy to see the underwater world and explore the reefs up close. In addition, trained guides can provide vital information about the aquatic ecosystems and help ensure a safe, memorable and enjoyable experience on your private speedboat tour.

1. Phi Phi
There are many reasons to consider a day trip to Phi Phi Island, which is located in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Thailand. One of the main attractions of Phi Phi Island is its beautiful beaches and turquoise waters, which are perfect for swimming, snorkelling and exploring. The island is home to several stunning beaches, including Maya Bay, which was made famous by the movie “The Beach,” and Bamboo Island, which is known for its powdery white sand and crystal-clear waters.

A small selection of good spots for snorkelling in Phi Phi Island, include:
• Maya Bay: This is a popular spot for snorkelling, as the bay is surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and is home to colourful tropical fish and sea turtles. Please note that you cannot snorkel directly from Maya Bay beach but can just beyond the bay from the boat.
• Loh Samah Bay: This bay is known for its crystal-clear waters and colourful coral reefs, which are home to a wide variety of marine life.
• Bamboo Island: This small island is located a short boat ride from Phi Phi Island and is known for its stunning soft sand beaches and clear waters. It is a great spot for snorkelling where you might get the chance to see tropical fish and sea turtles, as well as an idyllic lunch picnic spot.

2. Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are well-known for their striking crystal clear seas and varied marine life, making them an excellent snorkelling destination. The islands are part of the Mu Ko Similan National Park, which is home to a diverse array of coral reefs and other underwater ecosystems. With these reefs you will encounter a wide variety of marine life, including colourful tropical fish, sea turtles, and potentially whale sharks.

With a variety of dive sites and snorkelling areas to select from, the Similan Islands are particularly renowned worldwide. Elephant Head Rock, famed for its massive underwater rock formations and colourful coral reefs, and Shark Island, which is home to a variety of sharks and other marine life, are two prime examples.

Overall, the Similan Islands are a fantastic snorkelling location, with pristine seas, rich sea life, memorable scenery, and a broad range of snorkelling spots to explore.

3. Koh Rok / Koh Ha
These islands are for you if you are searching for somewhere a little more exotic and are perhaps as breath-taking as the Similan Islands. These tiny islands are in the Mu Ko Lanta National Park, immediately south of Koh Lanta.

These two islands provide some of the greatest snorkelling options available due to their exceptional water clarity, rich marine life, and colourful reefs, which make for a very unique experience. In season, whale sharks are also frequently observed swimming between these islands.

Visiting Koh Rok and Koh Ha makes for a perfect multi night experience, and will provide some of the greatest snorkelling, beautiful soft sand beaches, and less crowds than the more popular Similan Islands. Compared to most other day trip destinations from Phuket, this one is a little further out, but the assured natural beauty makes the journey worthwhile.

4. Raya / Racha Islands
Raya or Racha Islands are renowned for their pristine seas and rich underwater sea life, making them a popular snorkelling destination. The islands are situated in the Andaman Sea and are home to a multitude of coral reefs and other underwater ecosystems that are teeming with marine life, such as vibrant tropical fish and sea turtles.

Around Racha Island, there are several excellent snorkelling locations, including Siam Bay, which is located on the south side of the island and is renowned for its magnificent coral reefs and aquatic species including colourful tropical fish and sea turtles.

Patok Beach is located on the north side of the island and has a beach which is known for its clear waters and divers’ underwater life, teeming with tropical fish and other marine life. In addition to snorkelling, these islands are home to noteworthy diving locations, have 5 star hotels and restaurants to select from for a tropical lunch.

5. Coral Island
Coral Island, commonly known locally as Koh He or alternatively Koh Hae, is located close to Phuket so lends itself to being conveniently located and extremely family friendly.

This Island is renowned for its crystal blue seas and abundant marine life, making it another popular snorkelling destination to add to your list. It is situated south of Phuket and is home to a multitude of coral reefs and other underwater ecosystems.

There are a number of excellent snorkelling locations around Coral Island, including the coral reefs that encircle the island and the shallow seas along the beaches. In addition, the island is home to various snorkelling and diving locations, including Koh Hae Yai, which is renowned for its vibrant reefs.

Coral Island also lends itself to being a family friendly day trip; not only is it located near to Phuket, but because a trip to Banana Beach Club on the island serves a good selection of dishes, has clean facilities plus offers massages, canoes and plenty of Instagram-worthy set ups.

We look forward to welcoming you for a trip of a lifetime, snorkelling amongst the rich coral and marine life we are lucky enough to have around the islands surrounding Phuket.

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

Sunset BBQ on a Phuket Private Boat Tour
By December 23, 2022 Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Sunset BBQ on a Phuket Private Boat Tour

• Sunset is the opening music of the night.
• Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn.
• It is almost impossible to watch a sunset and not dream.
• Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully.

Ok, that’s enough inspirational quotes about sunsets.

Our brand-new Phuket Sunset BBQ is now available and can be part of any of our tours, or if you are looking for something magical then why not book up a Phuket Sunset Beach BBQ and Dolphin Spotting?

When it comes to BBQ’s, in my opinion, any time of the day or night is perfect for a BBQ, BUT if you want something special then how about, while watching the sunset, you enjoy a traditional Thai BBQ on a white sandy beach while enjoying a cocktail, all this adds up to that perfect BBQ experience, in fact that perfect 5 Star BBQ experience.

The 5 Star Marine Phuket brand-new Phuket Sunset BBQ is now available and can be added to any of the 5 Star Marine Phuket tours, so if you are heading to Phi Phi to check out the awesome Maya Bay, then on the way back you can stop and chill and relax and watch the Sunset drop down behind Phuket before you head back to the 5 Star Pier. Or if you are heading up into Phang Nga Bay to see the spectacular James Bond Island then again on the way back to the 5 Star Phuket Pier, you can enjoy a traditional Thai BBQ while sipping on a sunset cocktail.

BUT WAIT!

If you are looking for something magical then why not book up a Phuket Sunset Beach BBQ and Dolphin Spotting?

Grab your family and friends, and be ready for an unforgettable experience on the water.

The 5 Star Marine Phuket private Sunset Beach BBQ and Dolphin Spotting Tour, is unlike the standard Phuket group excursions. We will not hurry you from the beach to the beach, or rush you to miss any of the stunning Phuket Islands. You have exclusive use of one of our luxury speedboats.

The Phuket Sunset Beach BBQ and Dolphin Spotting tour is a special private cruise, and the perfect blend of snorkeling, dolphin spotting, and traditional Thai-style private beach BBQ.

As with all our 5 Star Marine tours, the Phuket Sunset Beach BBQ and Dolphin Spotting tour is bespoke, but as a general idea, you would leave from our pier in Boat Lagoon for a cruise around the stunning surrounding islands.

Go snorkeling in crystal clear waters where you will get to see an array of colourful tropical fish and other marine life; and of course, ALL snorkeling equipment is included on board.

Then we go and check out the dolphins. There is nothing that compares to seeing dolphins in their natural habitat, and getting the opportunity to witness them in the wild is a spectacular experience. So, this tour gives you the chance to potentially see a pod of dolphins; and as naturally inquisitive creatures they often come right up and swim alongside our speedboats giving you an unforgettable close-up experience.

After seeing these stunning playful animals, it’s then time to indulge in a private beach BBQ featuring authentic Thai-style beef and chicken satay, all grilled on the beach for you by the 5 Star Team. You can take a dip in the sea, and enjoy a cocktail or Mocktail on the beach as you watch the sky light up in a thousand colours for an unforgettable tropical sunset experience.

This is a true 5 Star Marine experience.

See the tour information here: https://5starmarinephuket.com/locations/phuket-sunset-cruise/

Phuket News Update December 2022
By December 20, 2022 5 Star Marine News Comments Off

Phuket News Update December 2022

The latest Phuket News for December 2022 is brought to you by 5 Star Marine Phuket.

 

Join Shaun owner of 5 Star Marine Phuket, and 5 Star Marine Phuket YouTube host Jay Leshark as they discuss the latest Phuket News and update you on the current Phuket weather, Phuket roads, travel, and which islands are open and ready for you to book a tour.

 

Phuket Weather

 

Phuket has two main weather seasons, and if you are looking for the time of year when you get the least amount of rain in Phuket and the most amount of sun then high season is between November and April. Now that doesn’t mean that during these months that the sun is shining every single day, and you have to remember that Phuket is in the tropics and so we get tropical weather, which can mean the odd rain shower here and there.

 

One thing we also have to explain to people when they come to Phuket is that just because it’s raining in one location in Phuket, that doesn’t mean that it’s raining over the whole of Phuket. In fact; you can be driving down the road and one side is 100% dry and no rain at all, and on the other side of the road it’s raining.

 

If you have booked a 5 Star Marine Phuket private boat tour and you are worried about the weather, we have some top tips for you.

 

WAIT until the morning of your trip to really check the weather. The Phuket Weather forecast for high season, will generally say, Sunny with a chance of Thunderstorms. This is the go-to weather forecast for high season weather in Phuket.

 

If you are staying in Patong and it’s raining on the morning of your tour, don’t worry as Patong is on the West Coast of Phuket and your tour is going to the East side of Phuket and the weather can be very different. Phuket has lush jungles and mountains in the middle of the island which have huge effects on the weather in Phuket.

 

Phuket Roads Update

 

A month or so ago the road between Kathu and Patong collapsed due to a landslip which was an effect from all the rain and flooding that we had at the start of November. You would have seen all the floods that we had. This road was a vital connection between the West and East of Phuket and the Patong Hill Road collapsing caused major transport and traffic issues on the two other routes that take you into Patong. Traffic going or coming into Patong had to go either south down the West Coast through Kata and Karon or North up the West Coast through Kamala and Surin. This did cause a few longer journeys for many locals and tourists BUT now the Patong Hill Road is open for what they are calling “Light Traffic” Please do not ask me what “Light Traffic” is, as I have no idea. BUT the good news is that mini buses, cars, motorbikes and light trucks (not sure what that is either) are now all allowed to use the Patong Hill Road, which is very good news as we are now coming into Peak Season.

 

Phuket Marine Life

 

Some super great news. The past few years have been difficult for many people, however the marine life not only here in Phuket, but across the world seemed to have really benefited from the past few years. So much so that the Phuket pod of dolphins has grown and are much more active than they were 3 or 4 years ago, and even more amazing news is that humpback Whales have been seen in the past few weeks up in the Similan islands as well as a small pod of orca’s (Killer Whales). This adds to the already stunning marine life we have here in Phuket, with the sea turtles, Whale Sharks and Rays. This is just a small amount of the stunning underwater life you can see here in Phuket; I have not even mentioned the Black Tip reef sharks at Maya Bay, the clown fish, the moray eels, Star Fish, Parrot Fish, snappers, and so much more. We are so lucky to live in such a stunning location.

 

If you want to see some of these stunning animals then book up quickly and some of these beautiful marine creatures are only here for a short time. So click here NOW to book.

 

Just one fact for you – Killer Whales are Dolphins. That’s right, Dolphins.

Deep Week Thailand 2022
By December 6, 2022 Island Hopping, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Deep Week Thailand 2022

November 26 – December 3, 2022

Phuket Thailand

Deep Week Thailand is the world’s premier Freediving Education Event and the world’s largest freediving festival! Some of the world’s best free divers assemble in Phuket for a week of freediving activities in one of the most scenic locations in the world.

Led by Adam Stern and Bangkok Freedivers, in partnership with 5 Star Marine Phuket, the event welcomed over 100 free divers from across Asia, Europe, the US, and Australia, making it the world’s largest freediving festival.
What is Deep Week?

Deep Week is a one-of-a-kind experience! There is no other event like this! Deep Week brings the best freedivers, freediving instructors and experts from all over the world, where they can share knowledge and improve their freediving skills. Deep Week Thailand was created by Adam Stern who also created the Freediving Family. Adam is an Australian champion and 8-time Australian record holder in the sport of freediving. He’s not just an athlete, but also a leading educator in this sport.

Along with Adam, 8-time French National Record Holder one of the top freediving educators in the world Thibault Guignes and Ploy Scott, a central figure in the Thai freediving scene and competitive freediver, were on hand to pass over their knowledge and skills to 100’s of free divers.

Phuket is a perfect place to host Deep Week Thailand due to the water clarity and sea conditions which are perfect for Freediving, and working with 5 Star Marine Phuket is ideal due to the short distance from Phuket Boat Lagoon to the dive sites at Racha Yai and Racha Noi.

Along with the day’s Freediving, there were also daily workshops on a variety of freediving topics as well as pool sessions, static sessions, and all the Wave theory sessions needed to complete the Molchanovs freediving course. They also hold free yoga, meditation, and HIIT classes each day.

During Deep Week Thailand, freedivers were able to complete any level of the different courses from Molchanovs freediving.

This was the second Deep Week Thailand and the event is growing with each festival. We are looking forward to Deep Week Thailand 2023

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel Walk Through
By November 28, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel Walk Through

Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel is one of Phuket’s best hotels. The 5-star Marriott Bonvoy beachfront lifestyle resort comes with a unique design. Situated on the beautiful Mai Khao Beach, and only a 15-minute drive from Phuket International Airport.

5 Star Marine Phuket YouTube host headed up to the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel to have a look around the stunning resort and check out the rooms and the facilities at this beautiful Phuket 5-Star Resort.

The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel offers spacious Deluxe rooms (46 sqm.), homey One Bedroom Suites (97 sqm.), and contemporary, tropical design private Pool Villas starting (117 sqm.).

One of the distinctive design elements of the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa Hotel is the Renaissance Phuket’s signature lobby and villas roofing inspired by the shape of the Leatherback Turtle shell as Mai Khao beach is one of the few Phuket beaches that continue to have nesting turtles.

What about food and drink?
Well lucky for you the Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa has a wide selection of onsite restaurants and bars to choose from.

The Sand Box Beachfront Bar & Eatery at Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa is one of the most exclusive beachfront dining spots in Phuket with a modern tropical design, a cool open-concept kitchen, and a brand-new Italian imported wood-fired pizza oven, and all this with stunning views over Mai Khao Beach.

Then there is the multi-award-winning Takieng restaurant. Serving classic Southern Thai and Phuket’s favorite dishes with premium local ingredients, Takieng is in the top 25 Phuket restaurants in 2022. Takieng means ‘lantern’ in Thai, referring to the local fishermen’s daily routine of taking the longtail boat with their fishing nets and lanterns to catch fish at night to avoid the heat from the day’s sun.

Many of the ingredients used are locally sourced, some of which are hyper-locally sourced, such as mole crabs and Lin Harn leaves that can be found exclusively on Mai Khao beach.

There is so much more to The Renaissance Phuket Resort & Spa, including the stunning Quan Spa, a fully equipped 24-hour fitness center with daily recreational activities such as Thai boxing, yoga, beach volleyball, and water sports, and a fully staffed Kids Club.

To be fair the best thing to do now is to watch the video of Jay’s walk-through so you can get a full idea of this beautiful 5 Star Phuket Resort.

James Bond Island Tour from Phuket
By November 22, 2022 Island Hopping, Phuket Tips, Private Boat Charter Comments Off

James Bond Island Tour from Phuket

Getting a private speedboat with 5 Star Marine to tour James Bond Island is one of the most memorable things you can do when you’re in Phuket. Here, we explore what you can expect from a day going on our James Bond Island Tour from Phuket.

5 Star Marine
During our James Bond Island Tour from Phuket, you will have the opportunity to view the island’s most interesting features in the luxurious comfort of a private, fully upgraded speedboat. As you head out to Phang Nga Bay you will be welcomed to the home of some of the world’s most beautiful limestone formations.

One of the most iconic features of Phang Nga Bay is its limestone islets, including James Bond Island and Koh Panyee; The bay is filled with these vertical limestone cliffs which makes the area perfect for kayaking and exploring the sea caves.

The James Bond Island Tour from Phuket with 5 Star Marine is one of the most popular day trips. Rest assured, you and your friends or family will be treated like a “Super VIP” every step of the way. Not only will you get the chance to swim in a secluded lagoon on the way to Phang Nga Bay, but you can also visit the floating island of Koh Panyee and enjoy a traditional Thai lunch.

A private luxury speedboat offers you a truly impressive experience; you have the opportunity to see the best sites, you will also be able to work with our experienced crew to customise your itinerary to suit your specific requirements.

James Bond Island
Located in Phang Nga Bay, James Bond Island is a fantastic area to explore. This limestone island is part of the Ao Phang Nga National Park and was featured in the film “The Man with the Golden Gun” in 1974, starring Christopher Lee and Roger Moore where the island was the hideout for Scaramanga.

The James Bond Island Tour from Phuket is a bespoke experience, so our guides and captain can help with spots for lunch such as the floating Ko Panyee village, canoeing or kayaking through caves, finding iconic photo opportunities and many other fantastic activities.

Private Speedboat Benefits
Whether you’re traveling to Thailand for the first time or you’ve already visited, James Bond Island is a must-see. With 5 Star Marine, the James Bond Island Tour from Phuket is a perfect private tour for a full day trip. In addition, you can sit back and relax with the following inclusions for your tour:
• Fresh fruits
• Soft drinks
• Water
• Snorkelling equipment
• Life jackets
• Insurance
• Beach mats
• On tour photos
• Tour video
• Cool towel
• Fins (adults)
• Hand sanitiser

We look forward to welcoming you onboard our luxury speedboats to experience our James Bond Island Tour from Phuket.

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

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.