A Koh Lanta snorkeling tour is on our list of top things to do when visiting Thailand.
Offering a relaxing getaway with it’s quiet beaches and rainforest surroundings, Koh Lanta is a great destination for couples as well as families.
With plenty of outdoor activities like a day tour to Koh Rok for snorkeling. You can be active or just sit back and enjoy the peace and tranquility of the island.
You’ll also find fantastic luxury resorts for accommodations.
A magical underwater world with coral as far as you can see and brightly colored fish dancing in the choreographed show of nature.
The snorkeling near Koh Lanta is absolutely breathtaking!
We had tried snorkeling in Koh Phi Phi and enjoyed it, but didn’t realize what good snorkeling was until we experienced it with Opal Speedboat Tours off the coats of Koh Rok.
Up until that point, we had only gone snorkeling by longtail boat off the beaches of Koh Phi Phi. That experience was not bad at all.
We were able to stop at famous spots like Maya Bay – AKA “The Beach” – and met some cheeky monkeys on their own island.
However, our experience of visiting Koh Rok was something on a higher level.
Koh Rok Island
The island of Koh Rok is uninhabited and only visited by a small number of tourists so it has maintained its natural beauty.
There are no public boats allowed on Koh Rok, so the only way people can get there are through tours or chartering a private boat.
You have to remember that May to November is the rainy season in Thailand so there are no tours and such or accommodations available on Koh Rok.
While there are no formal resort-type accommodations, those who want to stay longer than a day have the option of renting a tent and bedding.
It’s surrounding waters contain coral and sea creatures that are a must see.
Part of the Mu Ko Lanta National Park that is protected, Koh Rok consist of two islands that are separated by a channel of hard and soft coral.
The crystal-clear waters along with the 5 meter depth of some areas of coral make this area one of the best for snorkeling in the Andaman Sea.
You’ll not only love the colorful coral stretching just below the water’s surface, but surely be mesmerized by the variety of marine life that you will encounter, including angel fish, puffer fish, and sea cucumbers.
On the island, you can relax on the powdery white sand, or even swim with colorful fish in just a few inches of water by the beach (try to go in areas where there few people).
Don’t be surprised if you get a visit from the monitor lizards (some of the biggest you’ll see in Thailand) as they are on top of the food chain here.
Watch your step, especially in the shaded areas covered in plants and bush just beyond the beach. They love to lounge around and check out the scene!
Want to check out more on beautiful islands that we’ve visited?
Take a look out some photos from this article of our time on the beaches of Bali.
Day Tour From Koh Lanta To Koh Rok
We visited Koh Lanta in peak tourist season, December. We arrived tired due to the activities in Koh Phi Phi and the one hour long ferry ride to the island.
Luckily, our accommodations on Koh Lanta turned out to be just the getaway we needed.
We stayed at the LaLaanta Hideaway Resort, which is very true to it’s name. If you want to feel like a castaway (in a good way) this is where you should stay.
The resort is tucked away at the edge of the island with lush rainforest surrounding it.
Their private beach was huge and very quiet even in the height of tourist season. I would venture to guess that they have the best Koh Lanta beach!
Where To Stay In Koh Lanta:
We had no plans of snorkeling again.
However, after a day of relaxing on the private beach and swimming in the calm waters of the Andaman Sea, we decided to get a bit active and do something.
While there’s lots to do on the island such as visiting waterfalls and caves, the idea of checking out another island intrigued us and we were still hungry for more underwater fun.
The resort was able to coordinate the tour on our behalf. They booked with with Opal Tours for the following day.
The tour can also be booked directly with Opal Travel by calling or emailing them. Pricing and tour information can be found on their website.
They offer a 4 island Tour that get’s a lot of high ratings as well. So if you’re in Koh Lanta for a few days, we would suggest taking that tour as well.
At the time of our booking, we paid 1700 THB (just under $50 USD) per person for the full day Koh Rok tour.
Speedboat To Koh Rok And Snorkeling
The speedboad met us right on our beach around 8:30 in the morning. This was a fun way to get picked up and really kicked us off to a great start.
It was obvious we were the last passengers (around 20 others already on the boat) to board considering that right after we got on, the boat took off for Koh Rok.
The ride on the speedboat was pretty smooth and the 45 minutes felt a lot shorter. I think it helped that we were sitting in back seats.
We really didn’t feel a lot of turbulence. I tend to get very heavy motion sickness and by some miracle it didn’t happen on this boat ride! Phew!
The crew on our tour were fun and hospitable. They took great care to make sure we were safe and aware of our surroundings.
They informed us of the days plans and timing so it was good to know exactly what was going to happen and when.
Each time we stopped to get into the water, they were attentive to all of us. Making sure to help us with our gear and getting on and off the boat.
Our tour included:
- Tour Guide
- Transfer from-to hotel
- First class service
- Lunch Buffet (Thai menu with seasonal fruit)
- Snorkeling Equipment
- Life Jacket
- Insurance
There’s no need for a towel because you get dry quickly on the boat and on the beach. If you really feel the need to have one, you should bring it with you.
Additionally, I brought my water shoes just because I, personally, am more comfortable wearing flippers with my water shoes on (I dunno, maybe that’s weird?).
If you are taking your mobile phone, you should have a waterproof case for it (make sure to test it for leaks beforehand).
A waterproof camera is a must if you want to take the memories of this amazing experience home with you.
Here’s a video from our trip to give you an idea of what I’m talking about.
If you’ve enjoyed this article please make sure to share it and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below!
Looking for a great resort while in Koh Lanta? Check out our Review of Crown Lanta Resort and Spa!
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If you love animal interaction, you might also like our article on the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary in Chiang Mai.
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