Surin Islands National Park: What to Know Before You Go (Opening Dates & Rules)
Quick Answer: The Surin Islands open on 15 October 2026 and close around 15 May 2027, open daily from 08:30 to 16:30. Foreign visitors pay 500 baht for adults and 250 for children aged 3 to 14. The park lies about 55 kilometres offshore in Phang Nga, roughly 1 to 1.5 hours by speedboat, and is home to the Moken sea people.
Where Are the Surin Islands?
Mu Ko Surin National Park is an archipelago of five islands in Phang Nga, Andaman Sea, famous for hosting Thailand’s richest shallow coral reefs. Located near the Myanmar border north of Khao Lak, the park is accessible only via guided tours or park boats departing from Khuraburi and Ban Nam Khem piers.
The draw is the reef. These are shallow fringing reefs in sheltered bays rather than deep dive walls, which is why the Surins are a snorkelling destination first and a diving one second – our comparison of the two Andaman marine parks sets out how that differs from the Similans.
Surin Islands Opening Dates 2026-27
The park runs on a fixed annual cycle, closed through the southwest monsoon and open for the calm months.
- Opens 15 October 2026 and closes around 15 May 2027 (as of 2026, according to the Department of National Parks).
- Daily hours are 08:30 to 16:30, which is why day trips all leave the mainland at dawn.
- The park can close early if the weather turns before mid-May, and individual days are cancelled when the crossing is too rough.
- December to March is the best window – flattest sea, clearest water, and the most reliable visibility. October and May are open but less predictable.
The closure is not administrative caution. From late May, the southwest monsoon puts swell across the whole Andaman coast, the crossing becomes unsafe in a small boat, and the five months without visitors give the reef and the beaches a recovery period that is a large part of why the Surins are in better condition than reefs closer to the mainland.
The practical advice that follows: book the Surins early in your trip rather than on the last day, so a cancelled crossing has somewhere to move to.
Entrance Fees
The national park fee is separate from any tour price and is collected at the park or at pier check-in. Bring cash.
| Visitor | Adult | Child (3-14) |
| Foreign visitor | 500 THB | 250 THB |
| Thai national | 100 THB | 50 THB |
Almost no operator includes this in the ticket price, so check your confirmation – if the fee is not listed as included, budget for it per person on the day. Rates are set by the department and change periodically, so treat these as current figures rather than permanent ones.
Can You Stay Overnight? Camping and Park Bungalows
Yes – and this is the significant difference between the Surins and the Similans, where overnight stays on the islands ended some years ago. On Ko Surin Nuea, the national park still runs campsites and a small number of bungalows.
- Ao Chong Khad campsite operates from 15 October to 30 November.
- Ao Mai Ngam campsite takes over from 1 December to 15 May.
- Tents can be rented on site, typically a few hundred baht a night, or you can bring your own.
- Park bungalows exist but are very limited and cost considerably more, with cheaper rates midweek.
- Everything books through the national park system rather than through hotels, and the good dates go early in the season.
Facilities match the setting rather than a resort: shared bathrooms, a park restaurant with set hours, electricity for part of the evening only, and patchy phone signal. Bring a torch, a power bank, insect repellent and anything you cannot buy on an island fifty-five kilometres from shore.
Staying over changes the trip completely: you snorkel in the early morning before the day boats arrive, and again in the late afternoon after they have gone. For anyone whose main reason for coming is the reef, it is worth the effort of booking.
How to Get to the Surin Islands
- Speedboat from Khuraburi pier. The shortest crossing, around an hour, and the route the national park’s own boats use.
- Speedboat from Ban Nam Khem. Closer to Khao Lak, so the total day is shorter for most visitors staying there.
- Day trip with transfers included. The common choice – hotel pickup, pier check-in, boat and guide handled as one booking.
- Overnight camping trip. Same crossing, but you stay, and the boat leaves without you.
There is no public ferry and no independent way across, so the decision is really about which pier your trip leaves from. If you are basing yourself up the coast, our guide to the area covers what else is worth the time there.
The Easiest Way: A Day Trip from Khao Lak
For most visitors, a single long day is the right shape for this trip. The Surin Islands Snorkeling Tour From Khao Lak runs about ten hours door to door, with pickup from Khao Lak hotels between 6:00 and 7:00 am, check-in and breakfast at Ban Nam Khem pier, then the crossing.
On the islands, the day covers snorkelling at Chong Khad Bay, a visit to the Moken community, and lunch and further snorkelling among Bon Bay, Mae Yai Bay, Pineapple Bay and Tao Bay depending on conditions. Gear, life jackets, Thai meals, English- and Thai-speaking guides, and insurance are included, with a maximum of thirty people on the boat. It takes ages 4 to 80, and the national park fee is paid separately.
Our full day trip walkthrough goes through the programme bay by bay if you want the details before booking.
Visiting the Moken Village Respectfully
Ko Surin Tai is home to a Moken community of a few hundred people living in traditional houses on the bay. They are a semi-nomadic sea people whose connection to these waters goes back generations, and the village is somebody’s home rather than an exhibit. Dress modestly, ask before photographing anyone, and if you want to support the community, buy a handicraft directly rather than handing out sweets or money to children. Our day trip guide covers the visit and the etiquette in more detail.
Essential Tips Before Visiting the Surin Islands
What to Bring
- Cash in Small Notes: No ATMs or card machines are available on the islands. Bring enough physical cash for national park entry fees, local snacks, and souvenirs at the Moken village.
What to Keep in Mind (Rules & Etiquette)
- Protect the Reefs: Wear reef-safe sunscreen, keep your fins clear of corals, and never touch, stand on, or feed marine life.
- Leave No Trace: Take all your trash back to the mainland, avoid single-use plastics, and leave shells and sand undisturbed.
- Respect Closed Areas: Stay within designated visitor zones, avoid restricted conservation areas, and respect Moken village privacy.
FAQ
15 October 2026, closing around 15 May 2027. The park keeps the same mid-October to mid-May season every year and can close early if the monsoon arrives sooner.
500 baht for foreign adults and 250 baht for children aged 3 to 14, paid in cash at the park or at pier check-in. Most tour prices do not include it.
Yes. The national park runs campsites on Ko Surin Nuea – Ao Chong Khad from mid-October to the end of November, and Ao Mai Ngam from December to mid-May – with tents to rent and a few bungalows. Book through the park system well ahead.
The Surins, for most people: shallower reefs in sheltered bays, and you can stay overnight. The Similans have more dramatic granite scenery and better diving. Our side-by-side comparison goes through both.
Seven Months, Then the Sea Takes It Back
The Surin Islands are only open for seven months of the year, there is no way to reach them casually, and the rules are stricter than most Thai parks – all of which is why the reef is still in the condition it is. Know the dates, bring cash for the fee, respect what you are snorkelling over, and it is one of the best days on the Andaman coast.
With the park reopening on 15 October, the Surin Islands Snorkeling Tour From Khao Lak is the straightforward way to do it – transfers, boat, guide, gear, and meals handled, and all you add on the day is the park fee.