Intrepid Cruising the Thai Islands

Day 1: Phuket

Welcome to Phuket! On arrival at the airport, enjoy an included transfer to your accommodation for tonight. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm on day 1. You can arrive at any time during the day as there are no activities planned until this important meeting.

Day 2: Embarkation in Phuket

In the morning you will check out of your hotel and travel in a private mini van to Phuket Old Town. On the way you will stop at Khao Rang mountain peak for a view of Phuket. This is a great spot to try a local coffee and take a few photos. Arrive in Phuket Old town and spend some time walking through the streets to experience the Chino-Portuguese Architecture. Lunch will be at your own expense and your tour leader can suggest some authentic Southern Thai Food restaurants for you.

Day 3: Khao Lak

Disembark in the morning for a day on the island. Choose whether to join in an optional excursion to the Sai Rung (rainbow) Waterfall for a swim in the freshwater pool that forms under the cascade. If you’d prefer, of course, you can always stretch out and relax on one of the island’s beaches. Later, make a poignant trip to the Ban Nam Khem memorial, which remembers those who lost their lives in the 2004 tsunami. The rest of the day will be spent on Bangsak Beach, a beautiful stretch of sandy shoreline.

Day 4: Mu Koh Kam

Travel by longtail boat to Baan Talay Nok village. Enjoy a locally-guided tour around the village, which was actually destroyed by 2004 tsunami and subsequently rebuilt. You’ll hear some eye-opening stories of survival and how the village has recovered. For lunch, sit down with some local families and dine on tasty dishes. Try your hand not only at soap-making but also at some cooking, preparing a local dish of grilled coconut wrapped in banana leaf.

Day 5: Mu Koh Kam

Enjoy a day of activities on and around the rarely visited Ka Islands, so untouched they bring to mind Castaway or the adventures of the Swiss Family Robinson. Enjoy an indulgent beach barbecue for lunch. Tonight, sail to Koh Phayam. Overnight at sea.

Day 6: Ko Phayam

Arrive nice and early in Ko Phayam, the second-largest Thai island in the Andaman Sea. Enjoy a day of swimming, snorkelling and another beach barbecue. Overnight at anchor.

Day 7: Ko Surin Tai

Sail to Ko Surin Tai in the morning for a Moken village tour. Spend some time learning about the traditions and culture of the Moken people, a seafaring ethnic group of Austronesian origin who still mostly live a seminomadic hunter-gatherer life (despite Thai and Burmese attempts to assimilate them into the wider culture). Notice their colourful poles, known as labong, which represent their ancestors. Lunch is included so you can enjoy some local cuisine in a fascinating setting. In the afternoon, enjoy some snorkelling and relax on the beach. Spend the night at anchor.

Day 8: Ko Surin Tai

Enjoy another day basking in the beauty of Surin Tai. This is one of the best spots for snorkelling on this trip. Choose to explore this beautiful underwater ecosystem on an optional snorkelling day trip, or simply enjoy the beautiful beaches and make use of all the equipment on-board the vessel. Lunch today will be a beach picnic. As the sun goes down, return to the vessel for a captain’s dinner, where you can toast to the journey. Sail south towards Phuket.

Day 9: Disembark in Phuket

Arrive in Phuket early in the morning and disembark after breakfast as the adventure comes to an end.

Meals: 8 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 7 dinners
Transport: small ship cruise, zodiac, bus
Accommodation: hotel (1 night), small cruise ship (7 nights)
Included activities:

• Welcome Dinner
• Phuket old town tour
• Bangsak Beach
• Ban Nam Khem Tsunami Memorial
• Baan Talay Nok – Community visit including lunch
• Beach BBQ
• Guided Moken Village Visit
• Farewell Dinner

Please note, prices listed are guide prices only and are based on 2 people sharing and don’t include any additional supplements. Holiday prices are fluid and dynamic and may be changed at a moment’s notice, prior to booking, at which point they are confirmed. Please call the team free on 0800 707 6229 for more departure dates available and a quote.