Mu Koh Surin National Park, Thailand February 25, 2008. “Welcome to Paradise”, I say to a group of Thai friends I unexpectedly meet here on Mu Koh Surin. This island national park & marine sanctuary in the Andaman Sea is popular with Bangkok Thais as a weekend beach camping spot, and equally popular with Farrangs (foreign tourists) as a world-class coral reef snorkeling destination. 
Fabulous white sand beach, pretty good visibility, big fish quality coral reefs, and virgin rainforest scenery will keep you out of the tent and actively enjoying this, my number 1 pick of outdoors island destinations in Thailand.
Yes tent camping is the predominant and most affordable lodging here. You can camp at the Park Headquarters or at the more scenic Mai Ngam beach where I pitched my rental tent that I brought from Kuraburi on the mainland (60 Baht a day rental). The park also has nice large tents for rent at 300 Baht a day. These take-up prime beachfront spots in Zones 1-5 leaving the further 5 zones for private tents including large weekend group tours. There are some expensive bungalows at the Park Headquarters and they are building more.
Many couples enjoy the relaxed romantic beach setting.
Meals are served in the relaxing open-air Coop canteen restaurant.
You buy coupons at the information counter and use these to purchase food in the canteen. Breakfast is 7:30 – 9:00am, Lunch 12nn – 2pm, and Dinner 6:30-8:00pm. Food is basic and affordable Thai food. I usually had fruit (30 Baht, not always available), and fried mixed vegetables on rice (40 Baht), or stir-fried chicken on rice (50 Baht). Water is always available free.
After a quick fruit and instant coffee (20 Baht) I buy my snorkel boat ticket (80 Baht) and hurry across the island to Ao Kra Thing bay and depart with the other tourists in our wooden long-tail boats for the morning snorkeling trip.
Exciting fish I saw included during my 3 weeks– A medium size Manta Ray, white and black tip reef sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, smaller sea turtles, Jacks, Mackerel, a sea snake, lion fish, giant Clams, Moray eels, even a nudibranch. Commonly seen fish of good size and variety include: Groupers, Snappers, Triggerfish, Butterfly fish, Anemone fish, Goatfish, Angelfish, etc.
Fabulous white sand beach, pretty good visibility, big fish quality coral reefs, and virgin rainforest scenery will keep you out of the tent and actively enjoying this, my number 1 pick of outdoors island destinations in Thailand.
Yes tent camping is the predominant and most affordable lodging here. You can camp at the Park Headquarters or at the more scenic Mai Ngam beach where I pitched my rental tent that I brought from Kuraburi on the mainland (60 Baht a day rental). The park also has nice large tents for rent at 300 Baht a day. These take-up prime beachfront spots in Zones 1-5 leaving the further 5 zones for private tents including large weekend group tours. There are some expensive bungalows at the Park Headquarters and they are building more.Many couples enjoy the relaxed romantic beach setting.
Meals are served in the relaxing open-air Coop canteen restaurant.
You buy coupons at the information counter and use these to purchase food in the canteen. Breakfast is 7:30 – 9:00am, Lunch 12nn – 2pm, and Dinner 6:30-8:00pm. Food is basic and affordable Thai food. I usually had fruit (30 Baht, not always available), and fried mixed vegetables on rice (40 Baht), or stir-fried chicken on rice (50 Baht). Water is always available free.After a quick fruit and instant coffee (20 Baht) I buy my snorkel boat ticket (80 Baht) and hurry across the island to Ao Kra Thing bay and depart with the other tourists in our wooden long-tail boats for the morning snorkeling trip.
Exciting fish I saw included during my 3 weeks– A medium size Manta Ray, white and black tip reef sharks, Napoleon Wrasse, smaller sea turtles, Jacks, Mackerel, a sea snake, lion fish, giant Clams, Moray eels, even a nudibranch. Commonly seen fish of good size and variety include: Groupers, Snappers, Triggerfish, Butterfly fish, Anemone fish, Goatfish, Angelfish, etc.
Corals are mostly branching, encrusting hard corals, with noticeable dynamite fishing damage on some reefs but overall still very good quality for these modern times.
Other interesting aspects here include the Moken natives or sea gypsies. Their children are cute with traditional haircuts and simple beach play. Several sat with me while I was reading the 2nd hand magazines and pointed for me to describe the pictures to them. They enjoyed the attention but did not understand any of my English or broken Thai.
Local wildlife provides some camping excitement. A troop of Macu monkeys regularly patrols the campground watching for tasty items to steal. I brought a prized bag of mangos from the canteen back to my tent late one morning. I hung the bag on a tree in front of my tent and went to the nearby restroom. Three minutes later I came back to find a lone big male monkey eating my mangos. “Hey, those are my Mangos”, I stupidly shouted at him. Used to such statements, he just looked at me and peeled off another piece of the one he was eating, dropping the skin piece next to my tent. “Well at least share, give me back one”, I continued my monolog as I approached closer. He slowly backed away carrying my mangos. I ducked into my tent and retrieved my camera just as he was climbing into a tree.
There he sat, a mango in each hand and one foot, casually eating yellow mango, and tossing the finished seed down to the other primate below.
Walking back to my tent along the beach after dinner I spied this group of Thais photographing this fragrant white flower. They said it blooms for only 1 night. Sure enough the next day it was on the beach.Gold at the End of the Rainbow, Mu Koh Surin National Park is indeed Paradise. And my number 1 pick for snorkeling spot in Thailand. 
Trip notes: Island is only open from late November to early April. SW Monsoon prevents boat travel to the island the rest of the year.
Trip notes: Island is only open from late November to early April. SW Monsoon prevents boat travel to the island the rest of the year.
My tour package will include getting your tent and pad and pillow as well as pier and boat transport.
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