5 Thailand Liveaboard Routes: Season, Costs, How to Choose

Featured image: dia_n, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr.

Thailand liveaboard routes at a glance

Trips run from 2 to 12 days, with about 4 dives a day. Divers can skip dives and rest. This table sets the five routes side by side before the detail below.

5 Thailand Liveaboard Routes Compared

Prices and hours checked November 2026. Trip lengths below come from operator itineraries, which change by boat and year. Each route has a clear reason to pick it and a clear reason to skip it.

1. Similans, Richelieu Rock and Surin

This is the classic Thailand liveaboard route and the one most operators sell. Boats leave Khao Lak or Phuket and work through the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and sometimes the Surin Islands. Christmas Point offers granite swim-throughs, and East of Eden has shallow coral gardens. Elephant Head Rock brings channels and sharks. Richelieu Rock is a horseshoe-shaped pinnacle where whale sharks are most often reported.

Our notes on the Similans dive sites cover each stop. For the quieter northern leg, see the Surin Islands stops. Choose this route if it is your first Thai trip. Skip it in December and January if you hate crowds, because boats and prices peak then.

2. Hin Daeng, Hin Muang and Koh Ha

These sites lie south of Phuket and are rated among the best in Thailand outside the Similans. Expect caves, submerged pinnacles, healthy reefs, macro life, sharks and manta rays. Hin Daeng and Hin Muang suit a short trip. They also work as an add-on to a Similans charter if you want to see most of what Thai diving offers.

Depth and occasional strong current mean operators expect moderate experience. Confirm the departure pier when you book, because boats here do not all leave from the same place. Skip this route if you want the Richelieu Rock whale shark odds. Skip it too if you are a brand-new diver.

3. Thailand plus Myanmar

This is the route for divers who want fewer other boats. Cruises of 7 to 10 nights leave Khao Lak or Ranong between November and April. Boats usually dive the Similans, Richelieu Rock and Surin first. They then cross into the Mergui Archipelago, where Black Rock, North Twin and Western Rocky see few visitors.

Read about the Mergui dive sites before you commit. Advanced divers can also look at the open-water seamounts at Burma Banks. Currents range from gentle to strong, so intermediate to advanced divers fit best. Skip it if you have under a week or have not checked Myanmar entry rules with the official government source.

4. Koh Lipe and Tarutao

Tarutao National Marine Park is the quietest route. Boats leave Pak Bara and cruise 3 to 5 nights around Koh Lipe and Tarutao. Expect limestone pinnacles, sloping reefs and volcanic rock. Sites such as 8 Mile Rock and Stonehenge draw barracuda, trevally and reef sharks, and the macro life around Koh Lipe is good.

Inner sites are shallow and gentle, while outer pinnacles have harder current and more depth. All levels can find a fit. Skip it if whale sharks are the goal. They are less common here than at Richelieu Rock and mostly show during plankton blooms.

5. Phuket and Phi Phi

This is the green-season option. Trips run for 1 or 4 nights and suit any experience level. Dives focus on pinnacles and walls carpeted in anemones and soft coral, a passenger ferry wreck, leopard sharks and blacktip reef sharks.

Our Phuket liveaboard departures page covers the local boats. Pick it if you are visiting between May and October and want a night or two on the water. If you can wait for the Andaman season, the Similans offer far more big-animal diving.

Best time for a Thailand liveaboard

Similan and Surin trips run from mid-October to mid-May. The Andaman dry season runs from November to the end of April, when seas are calmest. Whale shark odds rise from February, and April is often billed as the best month. December and January are the busiest and priciest weeks, so shift to February or March if you can. Water sits at roughly 26-29°C, and visibility can pass 30 m. Plankton blooms can cut visibility but also draw whale sharks and mantas. May and October are the monsoon shoulder months with more rain. Check the Similan season notes for site closures. The national park authority publishes official park status and fees.

Who each Thailand liveaboard route suits

Most Thai diving is not about ripping currents. Open water students and well-travelled divers both find suitable sites. Some spots are exceptions. Elephant Head Rock can run strong, Koh Bon Pinnacle may need a negative descent, and Hin Daeng has depth. Myanmar trips lean toward intermediate and advanced divers. Tarutao is the gentlest overall. Beginners can take courses on some Similan boats, and certifying agencies such as PADI set the training standards. Non-divers and snorkelers are welcome on short Phuket to Similan trips, and some boats offer a non-diver discount. Snorkelers can reach Surin, Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock shallows. Pick by traveler: a first-timer takes the Similans, a whale shark chaser books February to April, a short-on-time traveler tries Hin Daeng or Tarutao, and an experienced diver heads to Myanmar.

What a Thailand liveaboard costs and what changes the price

Costs vary mainly by boat class, and no single fare fits every trip. Budget boats with shared bathrooms sit at the low end. Ensuite cabins, camera rooms and small groups sit higher. Trip length and route matter too, since a 3 to 5 night sampler costs less overall than a 7 to 10 night Myanmar cruise. Peak December and January weeks cost more than February or March. Extras add up: park fees, gear rental, nitrox and transfers may or may not be included. Daily rates quoted on booking sites change by currency, date and cabin, so compare the full trip price. Our boat and operator comparison is the next step once you know your route.

Getting there, departure ports and transfers

Most visitors land in Bangkok and fly to Phuket, a flight of just over 1 hour. Some international flights reach Phuket directly. Buses or trains from Bangkok to Phuket, Khao Lak or Ranong can take up to 12 hours. Khao Lak is the traditional gateway for the Similans, and a Phuket taxi or bus can reach it. Many liveaboards arrange transfers. Day boats from Khao Lak take up to 3 hours round trip and allow about two dives, so they reach fewer sites. Myanmar trips leave from Khao Lak or Ranong, and Tarutao trips leave from Pak Bara. Ask the operator for the pier and transfer time. Arrive a night early, and do not book same-day onward flights. See Phuket pier options for local detail.

How long to book and how to fit it into a Thailand trip

A 2 to 3 night sampler works for a short stay. Four to 6 nights let you add Richelieu Rock and Surin without rushing. Seven to 10 nights are needed if you want Myanmar. Tarutao runs 3 to 5 nights. Leave a buffer day on each side. Non-divers should look at short trips with snorkel seats instead of long ones, so they are not on a boat for days with little to do.

What to ask before you book

Ask how many divers each guide leads, since some operators advertise a maximum of 5 per guide. Ask whether the route is guaranteed or weather-dependent, and which sites you can expect. Ask whether park fees, nitrox and gear are included. Check the cabin and bathroom setup, the cancellation policy, and the certification level required. Take out dive and travel insurance, and Divers Alert Network is one source for dive-specific cover.

Common mistakes to avoid on a Thailand liveaboard

Booking the wrong month tops the list, such as May to October for the Similans. Choosing a short trip that skips Richelieu Rock is another, because that site is the main draw on most itineraries. Overbooking the Myanmar leg without checking entry rules can strand a plan. Arriving the same day as departure risks a missed boat. Finally, avoid assuming wildlife is guaranteed. Sightings are often better in February to April but never certain.