3 Days 2 Nights Inspection trip from Phuket to Koh Samui and Koh Nang Yuan

After an invitation by the transport company Lomprayah I recently joined this 3 Days and 2 nights trip to the Gulf of Thailand. This bus and ferry service is basically the only alternative to a flight between Phuket and Koh Samui, it's a good solution for those travelling on a tighter budget or when the few direct flights available daily are sold out. Of course the travel time is quite longer compared to a flight and you arrive at destination a bit tired, though in the overall the trip is comfortable and very well organised.

DAY 1

There are now two trips scheduled daily from Phuket to Koh Samui, one with early departure at 7:00 and a later one with departure at 10:00. For this occasion we were on the early trip, of course it's harder to wake up very early in the morning though I guess this is a better choice when people don't have many holiday days available, this way you don't waste a whole precious day just travelling especially considering that here in Thailand the sun sets quite early.

The meeting point for the start of this inspection trip was in Patong, though for the regular trips there is free pick up at all hotels in the main areas like Patong, Karon, Kata and Phuket Town. We started our trip right on time as soon as all the passengers were gathered. On this day we weren't many people travelling so we used two minivans rather than a larger coach. The air conditioned vans were clean and comfortable with and the staff made sure that there was plenty of space for passengers and luggage without squeezing anyone.

Aircon minivan Phuket-Samui

The driver safely drove us north over the Sarasin Bridge and then east trough Phang Nga, Krabi and Surat Thani provinces. The landscapes that can be seen out of the window are very nice, especially on the road to Krabi which is immersed in green lush vegetation and limestone karst formations. We had a quick stop half way at a service area for those who had to go to the restroom and to buy some drinks and snacks, then we finally reached Donsak Pier in Surat Thani around 11:30. The Lomprayah staff at their office at the pier gave us some free snacks and water while we had to wait for the ferry departing one hour later. There was a waiting area with chairs in the shades so the wait wasn't too bad.

Lomprayah office at Donsak Pier

At 12:30 the ferry was ready so we boarded and quickly started cruising towards Koh Samui. The ferry is a large high speed catamaran with three decks: the lower deck hosts the large Standard Class with the bar, on the middle deck are a shaded outdoor seating area plus the VIP and Exclusive rooms (accessible by paying a little surcharge, see pictures below). while on the open air upper deck can find several benches for the sun lovers though keep in mind that with the high cruising speed it gets quite windy up there.

The ferry is really "high speed" and it took just 45 minutes to get to Nathon Pier on the west coast of Koh Samui, the boat is very stable so the trip was smooth and comfortable, especially as I was in the Exclusive Room.  We had minivans waiting for us right on the pier and we quickly got transferred to a nearby restaurant for a tasty Thai lunch, while some of the other passengers stayed on the ferry which after Samui proceeds to Koh Phangan and then Koh Tao. Once back on the minivans we moved to visit the popular sightseeing site called "Grandfather and Grandmother rocks"  (Hin Ta and Hin Yai). The rocks are less than 50 meters far from each other and got this funny nicknames because they look, respectively, like male and female genitalia!

Grandfather and Grandmother rocks (Hin Yai and Hin Ta)

After this little sightseeing and driving around the island, in the late afternoon we finally got at Ibis Hotel on Bophut beach, on the northern side of Koh Samui. Here we spent both nights before returning to Phuket. The area is nice and quiet, I would say it's very suitable for families.

DAY 2

Another early wake up, ready for the day trip to Koh Nang Yuan Island offered once again by Lomprayah to show us the beautiful island and the facilities they provide. After some time for breakfast at the hotel we were transferred to Maenam Pier which is located on the northern coast of Samui, more conveniently for trips heading north. Once there we boarded the same ferry that we used on the previous day and around 8:00 we started cruising. After about 20 minutes we had a quick stop at Koh Phangan to drop off and pick up passengers there and then proceed further north until we finally reached Koh Nang Yuan around 10:00. This is the regular route and timing that the ferry does every day, and after Koh Tao proceeds all the way to Chumpon from where the passengers can then get the bus to Bangkok or other destinations in the north.

During the cruising I had a nap in the comfortable VIP room and when I got off the ferry I thought I was still dreaming because, before then, I believed that such a place could only exist in dreams. The tiny island is actually made up of three pieces of land which are connected by a huge white sandbar. The island hosts a very particular resort with the rooms hidden in the vegetation on the slopes, and the most of the shore is covered by large granite boulders among which can find a wooden walkway that allows people to reach the rooms and the pier. 

Pier at Koh Nang Yuan

As this was an inspection trip and not just for leisure, the staff accompanied us to see some of the rooms, there are many different types that can meet pretty much all budget, group sizes (the Grand Family room sleeps up to 7 people) and levels of comfort. 

The white sandy beach

After looking at the rooms we hiked to the view point, to get there we had to walk for a while on the wooden walkways and then climb a good number of stairs but the view from the top is absolutely worth the effort, I guess the picture below speaks by itself!

The breath taking view from the viewpoint

Once back down to the beach, around noon, we had lunch at the central islet which hosts the only restaurant on the island and a small beach bar. Being on a small island of course most things purchased here will be a little more pricey than on the mainland. The menu is not so extensive but the food is of high quality.

Of course considered its layout and location the island does have a couple of drawbacks like certain times of the year there does tend to be a lot mosquitoes and there is obviously a limited supply of water but all this just adds the unique island way of life, if you like island in paradise setting then Koh Nang Yuan is the place to go. 

In the afternoon we boarded a different boat for a short snorkeling trip on the east coast of Koh Tao. This boat was large and comfortable with a lot of space so it's perfect also for larger groups, it’s also ideal for inexperienced snorkelers or non swimmers because they have all sorts of flotation devises for you to hang on to. The snorkeling site was quite good even though we were there at high tide and visibility wasn't the best, however ours was a different tour from the regular one in which itinerary is planned every day to offer the best experience to the participants.

Snorkeling boat (right) and catamaran ferry (left)

Snorkeling at Lighthouse Bay - Koh Tao

We had enough time to enjoy the snorkeling, then we went back to Koh Nang Yuan to get back on the ferry departing at 14:30 and return to Koh Samui. While in the morning the sea was calm, in the afternoon the weather got a bit worse and the sea became quite rough between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, After years of diving nearly every day I am used to choppy seas and never suffered seasickness, but  I was still very glad to be on a large and stable catamaran ferry rather than on a small speedboat jumping from wave to wave and I'm sure most of the other passengers thought the same thing. The ferry was back at Maenam Pier right on time at 16:30, and as usual our minivans were already there to transfer us back to the hotel.

DAY 3

This last day, the return day, was obviously not much different from the first one except that we did the reversed route. We had the early start with pick up at 7:30 while ferry departed Nathon Pier at 8:30, though there is also a later ferry departing at 12:45 for those who prefer to sleep more and don't mind a later arrival in Phuket. Differently from the trip on day one, as this time we were more people, rather than in a minivan we were transferred by a large and comfortable coach.

We finally reached Phuket around 15:30, while with the late departure would have been around 19:00.

Lompraya's VIP coach

Phuket Weather Update 17th March / 23rd March 2014

The weather in Phuket at the moment in not very changeable, in fact I don’t think it has changed that much in the last three months. It has gotten a little hotter each week yes, it has rained only once in that time.

Who can complain about that, this is the high season here on the Andaman Coast, and so far, it has been an excellent season, with more and more tourist than ever before coming for the Thai weather, while they escape their own winter blues.

Unfortunately nothing last forever and the weather will soon change accordingly. Next month sees the start of the Thai New Year Festival, otherwise known as Songkran, and for those that have witnessed this quite crazy celebration will agree that how much fun it can be.

The Songkran festival is celebrated on the 13^th until 15^th of April (dates vary very slightly in different provinces of the country) in Thailand as the traditional New Year's Day and is the start of the much wetter monsoon season. Please do not think that it rains all the time after this date, as it does not. Phuket is still a perfect destination for your holidays any time of year.

Latest Weather

Monday 17th March: Max Temp 36 - min Temp 25 degrees very little breezes and some cloud cover. A touch cooler during the late evening time

Tuesday 18^th March: Max Temp 34 – Min temp 26 degrees clear skies for most of the day, meant the evening was a touch cooler but not much.

Wednesday 19^th March: Top Temp 36 degrees down to 23 late night, quite a large difference in temperatures today. In the shade out of the breeze it is very hot in fact stifling at times.

Thursday 20th^th March: Max Temp 35 degrees down to 26 degrees. Today we went to James Bond Island and what great day we always try to do something on a Thursday as it is a little bit less crowded during the week. See below for more details…

Friday 21^th March Max Temp 34 degrees, and a low of 25 again the weather is still very settled no sign of any rain, we did have a drop last week. Must have been a lost and lonely wandering rain cloud because it has not been back to bless us.

Saturday 22^nd March: Max Temp 33 degrees and lows of 21 degrees no rain this week we could do with some now as it is really starting to turn the land light brown, even the coconut trees look like they need a drink or two. To be fair, once it starts raining we will only complain.

Sunday 24^rd March: Max Temp 31 high going down to a milder 25 in the evening. Today we out to Jung Ceylon in Patong beach, it’s a great shopping centre filled with all the latest goods from around the world. You can stay there all day there are loads of place to eat and drink there is massage areas, book shops clothes, it is just like the shopping malls back at home.

Our James Bond and Phang Nga tour

is a great day out for the whole family. Avoid the hustle and bustle of the other and more crowded tours and come with us, as we show you one of the most famous little islands in the country. 

James Bond Island is so called because the movie The Man with the Golden Gun, Starring Roger Moore as 007 (James Bond) and Christopher Lee as Scaramanga his deadly adversary, was partly filmed there.  

Our private sightseeing tour is tailor made for everyone. We will pick you up in the early morning in our own luxurious Mini Bus, and then we will take you to see islands that you would never even dream existed, like Koh Panyee the island built on Stilts in Phang Nga Bay. Then we will whisk you off on a traditional Thai long tail boat through the mangroves and other small land outcrops and islands. 

Included is a detailed tour of the famous Bond island plus lunch is served supported by a Thai menu, after lunch, we will visit other sightseeing areas. All you need to bring with you is a little spending money in case you want to purchase souvenirs, some sun cream, and a hat maybe and of course your camera.

That’s all folks see you all next week, and be sure in the meantime to check our Easy Day website for all the latest tours that you too can join us on.

>> More Phuket Weather Reports 

Phuket Weather Update 10th March / 16th March 2014

Phuket Weather Update 10th March / 16th March 2014

The weather does not change much in Phuket for the first few months of the year, so it came as a little but pleasnt surprise on Saturday it rained for 15 minutes or so. Even my motorbike was happy about that, as it's its first wash for a week.

Just the small amount of rain we had has added life to our garden too, the, for so long dried up plants have now sprung back to life. 


Phuket is a fantastic Island, whether you live here or come on holiday or just come some fun in the sun, there is no doubt about it Phuket has it all and this week sees the start of the Talang festival

PHUKET: The annual Battle of Thalang festival begins at Victory Memorial Field tonight, marking Phuket’s stand against Burmese invaders at the site 229 years ago.

The Victory Memorial Field recently received a 26-million-baht makeover and welcomed the

Phuket Weather Update 10^th March / 16^th March 2014

Phuket is a fantastic Island whether you live here or come on holiday,addition of 2.5-meter-tall statues cast in bronze honoring the Nine Heroes (story here).

Phuket Governor Maitri Inthusut this morning led a wreath-laying ceremony at the Heroines’ Monument (map here) to honor heroines Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn, and those who gave their lives in defence of the island.

The large-scale re-enactment of the battle, played out each night of the annual festival, will begin at 8:30pm.

“As always, the re-enactment will include impressive light and sound displays provided by the Phuket Provincial Administration Organization,” Governor Maiti said.

Stalls at the festival grounds will open at 5pm each day, offering amusement rides for children and local food, as well as a huge assortment of local produce and One Tambon One Product (OTOP) goods for sale.

Live entertainment scheduled for the festival is as follows:

March 16-17: Manorah, a form of folk-dance from the south of Thailand, performed by the Kluen Noi Dao Rung dance troupe

March 18: Live music by the Mai Lha band

March 19: Live music by the Boxer band and Pee Teng Srivichai

March 20: Live music by the Laem Sa-Rub-Lai band

March 21: Live music by the Chai-Lai band

March 22: Live music by Ao Veanlan, Wong Klom and the 9 Step bands

March 23: Nang Talung (shadow puppet) performances by Nong Deaw and live Thai country music by Sompong Wonglukklak

March 24-25: Miss Thao Thepkrasattri and Thao Srisoonthorn beauty pageant

Latest Weather

Monday 10th March: Max Temp 36 - min Temp 25 degrees extremely hot with passing clouds and little breeze.

Tuesday11^th March: Max Temp 35 – Min temp 27 degrees slight breezes, passing clouds hot very hot.

Wednesday 12^th March: Top Temp 35 degrees down to 23 again very hot with scattered clouds cooling off a little in the evening.The beaches are very busy this week again.

Thursday 13^th March: Max Temp 35 degrees down to 26 degrees. Phi Phi Island. Scattered clouds, very hot.

Friday 14^th March Max Temp 35 degrees, again very hot it must rain a little soon surely of low 24.

Saturday 15th March: Max Temp 34 degrees started off a normal day with hot sun and scattered clouds passing, but then a most wonderful thing happened it rained for 30 minutes wahooo… with a low of 21.

So it finally rained in Phuket, you could hear the cheers all the way up to Bangkok. It has been getting hotter and hotter over the last few weeks so a spot of Rain was always inevitable I think.

Sunday 16th March: Max Temp 31 degrees down to a night time low of 27 degrees business as usual today although in the early evening it did look like it might rain, but nothing came. Tonight we are going to Naka Night Market again.

Here are two great days out…

Patong Beach

Patong Beach, is over two miles long, a golden sandy beach adorned with sunbeds umbrellas and semi naked westerners of all shapes and sizes; Patong Beach There is no place like. It may not be everyone’s idea of paradise, but it’s a whole lot of fun. Read On ...

NaiYang

Nai Yang Beach is another un-spoilt beach of golden sand and azure blue seas, rivaling any beach on Phuket. Nai Yang Beach is a sleepy little village, not far from Bang Tao Beach, and is... Read on...

Koh Nang Yuan Island

Koh Nang Yuan is an island by Koh Tao that will simply take your breath away. There are paradise islands, and then there is Nang Yuan the little island is actually made up of three pieces of land and which are connected by a huge sandbar. It’s a place where postcard pictures are taken, and where people dream about when life is tough.

Koh Nang Yuan is owned by a local business and visitors can expect to be charged a 100 Baht entrance to get on the island. The small fee goes a long way in keeping the island in pristine condition, in fact guests are asked not to bring plastic onto the island  instead all drinking water is served in reusable glass. It is such a refreshing change to see people really care about the environment, in such a positive way.

Koh Nang Yuan is about a 10 minute journey from the west side of Koh Tao. There are speed boat tours available as well as the large ferry company offering a package day trip but you will be surrounded by literally hundreds of others, it may be cheap and cheerful if that is what you like.

The island host a small resort, which has excellent accommodations and the staff are just so friendly and helpful, you will not want to leave this idyllic tiny little piece of paradise. There really is not much to do on Nang Yuan other than explore the island itself sunbath or go scuba diving, there is a small dive centre located right on the island.

There is just one restaurant on the island and only one small beach bar. Remember that is is on a small island and most things purchased here will be a little more pricey than the main island. Then again you get what you pay for and the prices tend to keep any strays island beer bar flies away. The menu is not so extensive but the food is of high quality. The beach bar is, unsurprisingly, located on the beach and is on the expensive side too.

Depending on which time of the month you decide to go will dictate how much or how little of a beach you will have to lie on the beach can be a tiny lace of sand racked with sun loving bodies, or a wide, uninhabited stretch of paradise. Amazingly, it remains beautiful either way.

Words are hard to find when trying to describe the snorkeling on Koh Nang Yuan as simply put, it is one of the best snorkeling spots in Thailand. 

The shallow reefs surrounding the island are lined with intricate soft and hard corals as well as schools of beautiful coloured Wrasses, fascinating colorful Parrotfish, the Damselfish will try to nibble your toes it’s like a dream.   

Shelter from the islands means the water is calm and clear. 

There is also great diving here too and dive boats visit the area regularly the dive sites here are called Twin Peak and Japanese Gardens and lie just off the island and are shallow enough for snorkelers to enjoy too. Snorkeling gear can be rented in the Koh Nang Yuan Resort’s Dive Shop, if you want to try diving or are experienced then this is a great spot..

The island does have a couple of drawbacks like certain times of the year there does tend to be a lot mosquitos and there is obviously a limited supply of water but all this just adds the unique island way of life, if you like island in paradise setting then be prepared to fall in love with Koh NangYuan.

There is free transfer from the main pier on Koh Tao, usually by longtail boat, which will bring you directly here. 

Koh Nang Yuan View Point

Another great thing to do on the island is take a small trek to the top of the view point where you can get some great panoramic photos to show your friends at home just what you have doing. Be warned though the path is quite steep and it does get hot especially under the midday sun, don’t forget your camera and a bottle of water.  

Oh course I nearly did not mention that Koh Nang Yuan’s newest attraction is ziplining, oh yes you got it Ziplining. You will be giving a short brief before you take the plunge over the edge. The course consists of two lines that go between the island it is the world’s first island to island zipline, incredible.

Phuket Fishing Park

The Phuket Fishing Park is Phuket’s best and incidentally only freshwater Monster Fishing Lake! We have over 12 different species from Thailand, America and many other parts of the world. 

Our fish are exotic monsters, fishing is popular in Thailand, up and down the country there are fishing lakes and Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake is definitely one Thailand’s best and with the most varied species, all waiting for you to catch.

We can also arrange pick up for you, we are located not too far from Patong or the other west side seaside resorts on the Island. If you require our hotel pickup service, then just tell us what date and time and where we can pick you up from and of course, when you are all fished out, we will take you back! Contact us!

The fish in our lakes are comprised of several species, some from Thailand, and others from the far flung corners of the world. They include:

The famous Alligator Gar which is a top North American predator. It’s the largest freshwater fish in Mississippi river and grows up to 150kg, the biggest we have in the Phuket Freshwater Fishing Park Lake is 30kg and it is a beauty.

Arapaima is one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world and one of the fiercest too. We have put some in the Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake last year and my how they have grown already. The Arapaima, pirarucu, or paiche (Arapaima gigas) is a South American tropical freshwater fish. It really is a living fossil and one of the largest freshwater fishes in the world. It is very aggressive and loves chicken, full chickens. Great Sport.

The Barramundi is an excellent fighting fish; it will jump and scrap until it is exhausted. In the Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake, we have recently stocked a few Freshwater Barramundi to see how they will adapt, if they do well, we’ll definitely be putting in more! They have been a great addition to the lake, as they are one of the most aggressive and exhilarating predators in Thai waters.

The Giant Mekong Catfish is the biggest freshwater fish in the world. It can grow up to 400Kg, the biggest Mekong catfish we have in the Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake is 50kg and I promise you that is a huge fish. The Mehkong Catfish is usually caught on bread, but who knows, they have been known to take other food stuffs too.

The Giant Piranha Pacu watch your fingers, they eat everything that you put on the hook. This exceptional fighting fish is originally from South America and the biggest we have in the Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake is around 8Kg, and boy do they fight  like demons.

The Siamese Shark from Asia is also called the Striped Catfish. It is a very bold eating fish and will fight till the end. We have them up to 20kg in our Phuket Freshwater Fishing Lake.

We have many other species too, all our fish are in tip top condition, we look after them like our own, whether you are an avid angler back home or whether you just want to try it for the first time, you will love the day out here,  so come let us show you what real fishing is all about.

We have two different fishing programs one program is for the Bread eating species. Target species: Siamese Carp, Striped Catfish, Golden Carp and others.

Or you can try the other program where we use Chicken and Shrimp for Fishing. Target species: Alligator Gar, Pacu, Redtail Catfish and others.

You can even have a go with the two different baits; we will take care of your every need. So if you run out of bait, ring the bell and we’ll get you some more. Or if you would like to fish with 2 rods lets us know, we can arranged this for a minimal fee. For the keen and more experienced fisherman we definitely recommend this. As most species can be caught on bread, it has been known to catch even a Pacu and Alligator Gar’s on bread.

Phuket Fishing Park has a restaurant where we serve both Thai and Western food. Thai dishes include: Thai Curry – cooked to your liking Special Fried Rice Fried Rice, Steamed Rice & Coconut Rice Western dishes include: Fresh Fish and chips with salad Steak and chips with salad Chicken and chips with salad too.

We have experienced staff that are very friendly and helpful, they will offer advice on every species. And will certainly do everything in their power to make your stay at the Phuket Fishing Park happy and memorable. Obviously, they are extremely experienced fishermen and will provide you with the best tips on how you can catch too! Tight Lines!