The Surin Islands archipelago is situated in the picturesque Thai province of Phang Nga. They are about 60km away from the west coast of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Bangkok is 550 km to the north and the busy tourist destination of Phuket is 160 km south. The boundary of the Surin marine park lies just south of the Burmese (Myanmar) border.
The closest town is Khuraburi - a traditional coastal location with a busy port, a great market and a laid back attitude. Khuraburi is only just beginning its journey as a tourist destination with only a few small resorts and scruffy travel agencies. This only adds to its charm.
All day trip excursions to the Surin Islands start in Khuraburi.
By plane: Low cost internal flights are available through a number of operators (e.g. Air Asia, Thai Smile, VietJet) to Phuket, Krabi or Ranong. From Phuket, Krabi or Ranong it is possible to get a bus or taxi to Khuraburi.
By bus: Excellent government buses run directly to Khuraburi from the southern Government Bus Station. The most appealing are the 24 seat Super VIP buses costing around 1,000 Bt. These are spacious, cool and comfortable. 32 seat VIP buses are available at around 800 Bt. There are a few departures leaving Bangkok each day in the evening and arriving in Khuraburi 10 hours later for an early breakfast.
As such, you can catch an overnight bus from Bangkok and be on a boat to the Surin Islands the following morning. This is a very popular way for Bangkok Thais to visit the area so it is best to avoid the weekends and Thai public holidays.
By bus: The government buses run from both Krabi and Phuket to Khuraburi from the respective government bus stations.There are two direct buses a day from Krabi. These are the 8 am and 12 pm services to Ranong. The journey takes 4 1/2 hours and the price is around 300 Bt. It is also possible to leave at other times of the day but this will require a change of bus at Phang Nga. These buses are not available to book in advance.
There are many more services from Phuket as Khuraburi is on the main route from Phuket to Bangkok. As such, you can turn up at Phuket government bus station at any time before 6pm to find a bus leaving within 2 hours. The journey time is 3 1/2 hours and the ticket price around 250 Bt. These buses are not available to book in advance.
Download .pdf of full bus timetable from Phuket to Chumphon including stops at Kho Kloi, Khao Lak, Takua Pa, Khuraburi, Kapoe, Ranong.
A more relaxing way to start your Surin Islands adventure is to spend the night in Khuraburi. We can arrange accommodation for you at Boon Piya Resort in the centre of Khuraburi Town. However, if you are short on time then an early minibus transfer from Phuket in the morning of your Surin Islands trip can also be arranged.
Visitors planning to stay a night in Khuraburi should consider Boon Piya resort.
Air Asia are one of several internal airlines which allow fast cheap travel within Thailand.
The government buses in Thailand are excellent quality. They are a great way to see the country and very well priced.
A lot of visitors get a private taxi from Phuket airport to Khuraburi. This is fast and surprisingly good value.