Home   Classes   Trips   More   Blog   back

Traveling in the South of Thailand, Snorkel Intensive, Jan./Feb. 2014

led by Kasma Loha-unchit

Note: The Southern Thailand trip has a number of different itineraries.

This describes the 20-day trip scheduled for January 23 to February 12, 2014.

The trip has a special emphasis on great snorkeling.

Click any image to see a larger version.

beachThis special trip of the South explores rainforest preserves, hidden caves and countless idyllic islands in the enchanting Andaman Sea. There is a special emphasis on snorkeling. We visit three marine national parks with exceptional and biologically diverse coral reefs. This is an excellent opportunity to explore many wonderful beaches and to experience the best snorkeling in Thailand.

Kasma's trip to Southern Thailand is a truly "off-the-beaten-track" adventure. Although the people of the south share many of the characteristics of the Thai people, the south has a very different flavor reflecting its higher concentration of Muslim people and its proximity to the ocean.

BeachLet's start with the beaches. You'll spend much of your time either on beautiful, white sand beaches or on boats getting there. Kasma is an avid snorkeler and takes you to the best snorkeling spots in Thailand. You will have several full days where all you do is eat, snorkel and then eat and snorkel some more. (If you do not have experience snorkeling this trip is not for you. To go on this particular trip you need to know how to swim well, know how to snorkel and love the ocean.) (Check out Kasma's underwater pictures and her snorkel Krabi photos.)

Fan Coral In addition to the lovely beaches, you will also take rain-forest walks, visit waterfalls and do a bit of cave exploration. This is a trip for physically fit and active people who don't mind climbing in and out of boats when the occasion calls for it – and it will!

This trip is perfect for nature lovers who enjoy camping. Because so many of our spots are chosen for their beauty, either above or below the water, the accommodations can be rustic. On one national park island we may need to camp (it's happened once before). Even if we don't camp, we'll stay in cabins without air conditioning or hot water and with electricity available only for certain hours in the evening, night or morning. There won't be amenities such as room service – the consolation is that we're staying in paradise, at least by Kasma's definition!

MarketAnd then there's the food. Whenever possible, we'll explore Thai markets, with their delectable offerings ready to eat or cook. Street food is some of the most delicious food in Thailand and we'll do our share of grazing. If you like seafood, be prepared for many delicious meals with seafood as fresh as you can wish. Most dinners we'll eat 5 or 6 dishes, family-style. In Krabi we'll have a few meals at a very good restaurant. Just be warned, on the islands the food may not be quite as good as on other occasions as we are dependent on the national park service while there.

Food is an important part of the trip and participants must love spicy Thai food ‐ at least 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. We cannot accept anyone who has special dietary needs – including food allergies, strong food preferences or not eating a specific food be it animal (pork, chicken, fish, shellfish), vegetable (such as onions or peanuts) or grain (wheat, for example). Check out Kasma's Trip Food Photos as well as a former trip member's food photos from the South (offsite, opens in new window).

Octopus in Krabi Snorkeling is the definite highlight of this trip. You'll see an amazing variety of dishes, often in large schools, and we usually run into sharks, turtles and the occasional octopus. There is still some lovely coral to be found in Thailand, from brain coral to fan coral to staghorn coral and other varieties you may not have seen before.

SunsetWe'll travel around Thailand in one or two mini-vans with driver(s) who become part of the family. Our other main mode of transportation will be boats, both larger boats and the famous long-tail boats (see first picture at the top). At some point we can almost guarantee a beautiful sunset that will be one of the other memories you take home with you.

Southern Trip Photos

Photo albums may contain photos of places not visited in this 20-day trip. Relevant photos are those of Bangkok, Hua Hin, Pranburi, Ranong, Koh Surin, Krabi and Koh Tarutao.
 

Note: This 2010 trip has the same 20-day itinerary as this trip.

The 2008 & 2012 trips were 28-day trips rather than the 20-day trip currently scheduled.

Return to top