Surin Island Reopens: Explore the Sea Gypsy Way of Life and Relax at Casa de La Flora 🌴

Surin Islands are now open for the early tourism season. Let's take a flight to visit and admire the beautiful coral reefs on the islands, which are renowned as the most stunning diving spots in Thailand.

Arriving in Phuket during October, the journey from the airport to Phang Nga was met with relentless rain.

We stopped for a meal to recharge at Baan Khao Lak Seafood, a restaurant with a mangrove forest atmosphere. We arrived late in the evening, so we were unable to admire the natural surroundings of the restaurant.

The food was delicious and did not disappoint. The tamarind prawns were tasty, but the sauce was a bit sparse. The service was good, and the prices were reasonable. The most expensive dish was the deep-fried sea bass with fish sauce, which cost over 300 baht due to its large size. We ordered six dishes, including plain rice and drinks, and the total bill came to just over 1,000 baht.

Replenished and energized for the journey ahead.

This trip, we stayed at the Casa de La Flora Hotel, which is rumored to be a beautiful hotel. Casa de La Flora is Spanish for "house of flowers". It is located in Khao Lak, Phang Nga, about 62 kilometers from Phuket International Airport. Let's take a look.

This small hotel with only 36 rooms is located on Bang Niang Beach. Despite its size, the hotel offers high-quality amenities and a prime beachfront location. Upon check-in, guests are welcomed with refreshing coconut water and herbal cold towels.

This hotel offers a unique and personalized experience. Upon check-in, guests are invited to choose their preferred scent for shampoo, shower gel, and body lotion. The hotel then provides these amenities in charming miniature bottles, adorned in green, red, and white. We opted for the relaxing aroma of lavender, which proved to be a delightful choice.

Our accommodation is a villa. It is a Duplex Grand pool Villa named Baan Payom. A 12-year-old child can stay with an extra bed for 2,000 baht (free for children under 12). Breakfast is 700 baht per day. The room rate per night is 17,000 baht with free breakfast for 2 people (special prices are available for Thai people during low season).

Upon entering the room, a staff member provided a detailed explanation of the room's features. The staff here are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, with bright smiles that enhance the overall experience.

The Duplex Grand pool Villa has three floors. The ground floor is a living room that opens onto a private swimming pool, which is well-proportioned.

The lower floor features a self-service coffee machine, a refrigerator stocked with drinks, Doi Kham fruit juices, beer, mineral water, and snacks. All items are complimentary and available for your enjoyment.

The ground floor opens onto a small private swimming pool.

The lighting system is automatic touch-sensitive with multiple scenes to choose from according to your mood. 555

To keep you entertained, we have prepared a fun game of OX for you to enjoy.

The color-changing stool is perfect for lounging by the pool.

Large smart TVs

The second floor or mezzanine is a bathroom and dressing room.

The bathroom features a spacious Jacuzzi tub, perfect for a relaxing soak for two.

The bathroom features two spacious rain showers, eliminating the need to compete for shower time.

The washbasin area is equipped with hot and cold water options for brushing your teeth. Thick and thin towels are provided for your convenience.

The hotel was exceptionally well-maintained and lived up to its five-star rating. It offered amenities beyond expectations, including toothbrushes and toothpaste, with specialized round and flat toothbrushes for women's facial cleansing. Additionally, it provided small wooden combs, shampoo, conditioner, and body lotion in the scent chosen during check-in. Bathrobes for both men and women were available, along with mosquito repellent. All three floors were open to each other, and the air conditioning maintained the desired temperature throughout, ensuring a consistently cool environment.

The bathroom has transparent glass walls, which may be uncomfortable for those who value privacy.

Large hair dryer

Even pillows come in a variety of options, including health pillows and down pillows, with different sizes to choose from, whether you prefer thin or thick. We chose a down pillow and an additional health pillow.

The top floor is the bedroom.

Quiet and comfortable sleep, the bed is soft and not too hard.

The morning view from the bedroom is refreshing, with fresh air.

Take a swim.

Herbal tea is provided for you to enjoy while you relax and let the water massage your body.

The area surrounding the hotel experienced rainfall last night.

Nestled on the stunning shores of Bang Niang Beach.

Shared swimming pool, beautifully designed.

Hungry? Let's have breakfast together!

Casa de La Flora welcomes a 3-star Michelin chef from Spain to collaborate with the chefs at La Aranya restaurant. In addition to this exciting collaboration, the restaurant also boasts a new menu featuring a unique blend of local delicacies and Casa de La Flora's signature design aesthetic.

La Aranya: A Forest of Culinary Delights

La Aranya, meaning "forest" in Thai, serves as the main dining venue at this establishment. It embodies the concept of a lush forest, symbolizing the abundant source of nourishment found within the "house of flowers." The open and airy design, featuring expansive sea views, complements the simple elegance of the wooden furniture, creating a harmonious blend with the surrounding nature.

A buffet is available for you to choose from.

The restaurant offers a variety of dishes to choose from. We ordered from the menu.

Looks delicious.

The dish is beautifully presented and the taste is good.

Full of energy after a delicious meal, let's go island hopping! This trip, we'll be joining Seastar and heading to their pier. The Seastar pier is conveniently located near Ban Nam Khem, making it the perfect starting point for our journey to Surin Islands. The boat ride from the mainland to the islands takes approximately 2 hours.

We booked a one-day trip through Thailandlism, which included lunch and cost approximately 2,000 baht per person. The price included round-trip speedboat transportation, lunch, drinks (fruit juice, soft drinks, tea, coffee), and fruit, snorkeling equipment (mask, fins, life jacket, towel), a tour guide, accident insurance throughout the trip, and park fees.

The captain of the Seastar, Uncle Lung, is a very kind and polite person. We were very impressed and enjoyed our experience. Uncle Lung even gave us some chilled coconut to drink. He told us that he only has one child and that he had prayed to the goddess of the sea before chilling the coconut. We would like to thank him again here.^^

Let's go to the island!

Surin Islands National Park is located in Kura Buri District, Phang Nga Province. It is an archipelago situated in the Andaman Sea and borders Myanmar, approximately 70 kilometers from the west coast of Thailand. The park is renowned for its stunning coral reefs, making it a world-class diving destination.

Our first dive was at Ao Chong Khao Khad, a beautiful home to anemonefish. There were many anemonefish and schools of mackerel.

The sky is overcast with rain, but the sea water is still beautiful and clear.

The coral reefs are truly stunning. Even without diving, the view from the boat is breathtaking.

The coral reefs at Surin Islands are truly world-class, making it a top destination for snorkeling and diving. The vibrant and diverse coral formations rank among the most impressive I have seen in my snorkeling experiences.

Point 2: **Diving at Ao Bon**, located on the eastern side of South Surin Island, is home to the Moken people.

This area is abundant in marine life.

Multicolored coral, abundant seagrass, brain coral, and fire coral are all visible without even entering the water. The Surin Islands are located in a large bay, which protects them from waves and wind during both the dry and rainy seasons. This makes them the ideal location for the development of shallow-water coral reefs, which are the most abundant and extensive in Thailand.

Prepare to eat on the island.

Small boats from each company are parked waiting for lunch and leisure activities. Then, they will take a short boat ride to the Moken village.

Buffet-style dining

Sweet fish sauce with mango is also available.^^

Let's take a walk around the island. The island offers a variety of accommodations for tourists, including single houses and twin houses to suit your style. For more information, please contact the park office at 076-472145 or 076-472146.

Strolling around the island, the water color is so beautiful. If the weather were clear and the sun brighter, the reflection would be even more stunning.

Playing in the water is so much fun.

Sea lilies, beautiful flora along the beach

Let's explore the lifestyle of the Moken, the last remaining group of sea nomads who still maintain their traditional culture. This small village of approximately 200 people currently resides on South Surin Island. They engage in traditional fishing, sell souvenirs to tourists, and some work as employees of the national park.

The house is very simple and natural.

The location of the village is well protected from monsoon winds due to the surrounding hills.

Moken children brought a small amount of snacks. Anyone who brought snacks or other items to share with the children is welcome to do so.

During the tourist season, Moken women and children sell souvenirs to tourists. Beautiful bracelets are available for 50 baht each.

There are also wood carvings.

The sacred object that serves as a spiritual anchor for the Moken people resembles a small shrine in the center of the village. It features a "luang boeng," or ancestral spirit pole, which is a brightly colored, carved wooden figure of a man and a woman. Every year, the Moken people hold a ceremony to celebrate the ancestral spirit pole, known as "Niah In Luang Boeng," which is considered a significant event for their community.

The Sea Nomads' Ritual of "Floating Boats": A Celebration of Tradition and Resilience

Every April, the Moken people, scattered across islands in the vicinity and in Myanmar, converge on the Surin Islands for the "Floating Boats" ceremony. This ritual serves as an offering to appease the spirits and ancestors, seeking their protection and safe passage from harm. The Moken, renowned for their deep connection to the sea and their unwavering commitment to tradition, exemplify the enduring power of cultural heritage.

The house is constructed in a simple style using bamboo. The walls are covered with palm leaves and the roof is thatched with coconut leaves, readily available materials. The overall appearance is undeniably charming.

They live in close harmony with nature.

The Moken village could also be called the Cat Village, with a huge number of adorable felines.

A large and adorable fat cat

The little boy was playing under the house.

Please bring me more snacks next time.

The children play in close proximity to nature, and their ages are remarkably similar. The guide explained that this is because the parents planned to have their children around the same time, making it convenient to go to the hospital for childbirth together.

The Moken people of Ao Bon Yai all have national identification cards and are Thai citizens. Everyone on the island received a royal surname from the Queen Mother, "Kla Talay" (meaning "brave sea"), which is fitting given their reputation as exceptional swimmers.

Boats are essential to the Moken people, as every household must know how to fish and gather seafood.

The island also has a school, thanks to the kindness of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. Concerned about the children and the quality of life of the Moken people, she initiated the establishment of a "Moken Community Learning Center" by relevant agencies. The center has been supported by her personal funds since May 2005.

This family loves nature very much.

Are you leaving already? Come visit me again, and next time, bring some cat treats! ^^

The last diving spot on the island.

The coral reefs are as abundant and healthy as ever.

It was already evening when they arrived at the hotel.

Today is a lucky Friday with a cocktail party for guests. It starts from 6:00 PM to 6:30 PM.

Non-alcoholic options, such as mocktails (mixed fruit juices), are also available.

This hotel's selfie corner is very popular, as it feels like you're lying right on the edge of the skyline.

Dinner will be served at the hotel.

This dish costs 380 baht. The portion is very large. My daughter likes it, but I prefer a more spicy Thai style. The tom yum soup is delicious.

A tranquil secluded beach on a relaxing day.

The breakfast spread was incredibly generous.

This is the most delicious Ovaltine in the three worlds. 5555 Since I've been drinking it, it's been the most delicious, not too sweet, and very smooth.

Japanese-style pork claypot rice is also delicious.

The crab curry noodles are very spicy.

Breakfast is available until 11 am.

Surrounding areas of the hotel

Swimming pool

Check out and continue the journey.

The Surin Islands Trip: A Delightful Escape

The Surin Islands trip was an absolute delight! Stay tuned for our next adventure in the southern city, which will be shared in the following post: link to the next post.

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