Mu Ko Surin National Park: Seasons, Fees, Trips & Stay

Featured image: Kent Wang, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Flickr.

Mu Ko Surin National Park at a glance

Surin lies about 55 km off the Phang Nga coast by one count. DNP's boat section says about 60 km and its overview says about 70 km, so plan on a crossing of 55 to 70 km. Five islands make up the park. Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai are the main pair, separated by a channel roughly 200 m wide. Ko Stok (also called Ko Ri) and Ko Torinla (Ko Khai) are the second, smaller pair of rocky islands. Ko Torinla has a long hard-coral slope on its east side that divers like. Ko Klang, the fifth island, has no coral and little to see.

• Best for: snorkeling off sheltered beaches, diving, and camping beside the sand.
• Skip it if: you cannot swim, want nightlife or air-conditioned comfort, or travel between mid-May and mid-October.
• Season: about 15 October to 15 May, with early closures in bad weather.
• Land access: only the Moken village and the campsites are open to visitors.
• Facilities: park restaurants on Ko Surin Nuea and no hotels.

When to go and when the park closes

Park information gives 15 October to 15 May as the open season. DNP's boat page says passenger boats run daily until 16 May, while one operator's 2026/27 season ends on 10 May 2027. Plan for a closing date anywhere from 10 to 16 May. Rough seas can close the park earlier. Hot, dry weather runs from mid-February to mid-May, and April is the hottest month. Mid-October to February brings northeast monsoon wind and general rain. Southwest monsoon rain falls from mid-May to mid-October, with September the wettest, and the park is shut then. Divers aim for December to April, when winds are light and water averages about 29 °C. Manta rays and whale sharks are rare, but February to April gives the best odds.

• Mid-October to November: the park reopens, and Ao Chong Khad campsite runs 15 October to 30 November.
• December to February: calmer seas and the start of the main diving window; Ao Mai Ngam campsite opens 1 December.
• February to April: the best odds for large pelagic species, plus the hottest days in April.

How to get to the Surin Islands from Khura Buri

Khura Buri Pier is the departure point, and the park visitor center stands beside it. It lies about 12 km from Khura Buri town, roughly 20 minutes by road, and 2 km off Phet Kasem Road. A guarded car park serves the visitor center. Day trips from Phuket or Krabi mean a 3 to 4 hour drive to the pier, so they make a poor plan. DNP's published boat schedule has the passenger boat leaving Khura Buri at 9:00 and reaching Ko Surin Nuea headquarters at 11:30. The return departs at 13:00 and arrives at 15:30. The crossing is about 60 km and takes 1 to 2.5 hours, depending on boat type. Fares are ฿1,100 to ฿1,200 per person round trip by passenger boat and ฿1,700 by speedboat. Prices and hours checked November 2026. Bang Ben (Kapoe) Pier in Ranong is the northern alternative, about 75 km north of Khura Buri Pier, and trips from it take longer. From Bangkok, an overnight public bus leaves the Southern Bus Terminal at 19:00 and reaches Khura Buri around 5:00 for about ฿640. A motorbike from the bus station to the pier costs about ฿50, and a taxi about ฿200. Phuket airport is about 170 km from the pier, while Krabi and Surat Thani are about 200 km. Sleeping in Khura Buri the night before is the safest plan for independent travelers, because the useful boat leaves early.

Park fees, tickets and opening hours

Entry costs ฿500 for foreign adults and ฿250 for children aged 3 to 14. Thai adults pay ฿100 and Thai children ฿50. Opening hours are 08:30 to 16:30 during the season. DNP asks visitors to carry the receipt after paying. Fees can be paid at the Khura Buri visitor center, at park headquarters on Chong Khad Bay, or to staff at Richelieu Rock. Snorkel and lifejacket hire at the visitor center costs ฿40 per item per day. Operator packages usually fold the fee into one price. For how other parks charge, see fees across Thailand's national parks.

Things to do: snorkeling, diving and the Moken village

Snorkelers and divers share most of the park. Sheltered, shallow reefs on the east coast suit beginners and families, according to a local operator. Offshore sites with stronger currents suit confident swimmers. Tides can swing by up to 3 m, so ask your boat crew where the current runs. Richelieu Rock is the headline dive. This limestone pinnacle sits about 18 km from Ko Khai and 45 km from the coast, rising from roughly 30 to 35 m to just below the surface. Most Richelieu diving runs from liveaboards or dive boats, not from the snorkel day trip. Koh Bon and Koh Tachai belong to the Similan island group, not Surin. One small Moken community lives in Ao Bon Yai village on Ko Surin Tai. Thai speakers call the Moken chao lay, a label meaning sea people. Wear a shirt in the village, and ask before pointing a camera at anyone.

• Mai Ngam Bay: calm, shallow water for swimming off the beach, reached by a 2 km trail from Chong Khad Bay or by boat.
• Chong Khad Bay: park headquarters, a white beach and reef within wading distance.
• Channel between Ko Surin Nuea and Ko Surin Tai: shallow water about 200 m wide, popular for snorkeling.
• Jaak Bay: a long white beach with coral reefs on the northeast of Ko Surin Nuea.
• Turtle Ridge: a hard coral slope at 5 to 20 m where hawksbill and green turtles are sometimes seen.
• Ao Krathing: a short walk from Chong Khad Bay for sunset.

Where to stay and eat on the islands

Ko Surin Nuea has two campsites that open in different periods. Ao Chong Khad runs 15 October to 30 November, and Ao Mai Ngam runs 1 December to 15 May. The park rents 70 tents. A two-person tent costs ฿300 a night and a three-person tent ฿450. A sleeping set with bag, pillow and mat adds ฿60 per person. Bringing your own tent costs ฿80 per person per night, well above the ฿30 charged at most Thai parks. Three park bungalows sleep four for ฿3,000 a night, with ฿900 off Monday to Thursday. Operator bungalows come bundled into 2D1N and 3D2N packages. There are no hotels. Food comes from park restaurants at each campsite, listed as open daily from about 7:00 or 7:30 until 20:00. DNP's online reservation system was reported down through the 2026 season. Phone the park office on +66 7 647 2145 or 2146 and ask a Thai speaker to call for you.

• Cash: card machines are not part of the island setup described by the park.
• Power bank: electricity is limited at campsites.
• Reef-safe sun protection.
• Snacks for the gaps between restaurant hours.
• Mainland night: Khura Buri suits an early boat, while Khao Lak offers more hotels at the cost of a 1.5 hour drive.

Sample plans: day trip, 2D1N and 3D2N

Choose by how much time you want in the water. Operator figures below are 2026/27 quotes that include the park fee. They are not park prices.

• Day trip from Khura Buri or Khao Lak: board at 9:00, snorkel at several bays, and return to the pier before evening.
• 2D1N snorkel trip: sleep at the campsite or a bungalow, then swim in quiet late-afternoon and morning light.
• 3D2N trip: add a second morning and extra reef stops, and book the bungalow upgrade if you want air conditioning.

Costs and budgeting for Surin

Self-arranged trips cost less on paper but demand more phone calls. An operator package covers transfers, fee, meals and gear. The independent route needs a boat fare, the park fee, a tent or bungalow, gear hire and meals. Park restaurant prices are not published, so total only after you have asked.

Safety, signal and responsible visiting

Currents are the main hazard. DNP notes tides can differ by up to 3 m, which drives strong flows around the islands. Stay near the beach on your first swim. Weather can close the park early, so keep a spare day in your itinerary. Most land is off limits apart from the Moken village and the campsites. Rule-breakers face a reported fine of ฿2,000 and removal from the islands. Do not stand on coral, touch turtles or feed fish. Coral bleaching in 1998 and 2010 killed much of the reef, and park authorities announced a near-full recovery in August 2019. Mobile signal depends on your carrier and location.

• Park headquarters: AIS, True and DTAC.
• Mai Ngam Beach area: AIS and DTAC.
• Ao Chong Khat area: AIS and DTAC.
• Khura Buri port area: AIS, True and DTAC.

Mu Ko Surin vs Similan and other Andaman parks

Similan lies about 100 km south of Surin and shares the mid-October to mid-May season. Surin asks for more travel time and planning, with smaller infrastructure and fewer comforts. In return you get quieter evenings once day boats leave. Peak days still draw 450 to 800 visitors, so expect company on the beaches. For a different stretch of coast, look at Tarutao's island group. Mu Ko Lanta's reefs and beaches are another option. Short on time near Phuket? Sirinat's beaches need no offshore crossing. Phi Phi's island park and Hat Chao Mai's coast complete the Andaman options.