The turquoise channel
Snorkelling between the islands.
dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · Vaclav Zrno — CC BY 3.0 · dronepicr — CC BY 2.0 · An-d — CC BY-SA 3.0
Twin islands far out in the Andaman Sea south of Ko Lanta, Ko Rok Nai and Ko Rok Nok, separated by a narrow channel of turquoise water over coral reef and covered in dense forest with no villages or hotels. Their beaches are soft white sand and their water among the clearest on Thailand's west coast. Visitors come on a day trip by speedboat from Ko Lanta, snorkelling in the channel between the islands among colourful fish and coral, sometimes turtles, then lunching on the beach under the trees. Big water monitors wander the beach, huge lizards that are harmless if left alone. On the northern island a short trail climbs to a view over its twin. The park fee is about two hundred baht per foreign adult, and snorkelling trips are sold including boat, gear and lunch, so ask whether the price includes the fee. The islands close in the monsoon, from about mid-May until late October. The speedboat takes about an hour and the sea can be choppy, so take care if you get seasick. Bring reef-safe sunscreen, and never stand on the coral or feed the fish. It is one of the finest day trips in southern Thailand for families who swim well.
Snorkelling between the islands.
Beaches with no hotels.
Huge lizards on the beach.
About 47 km south of Ko Lanta in the Andaman Sea, within Mu Ko Lanta National Park
From about late October to mid-May; the islands close in the monsoon season.