Best of Thailand

Requirements: PADI Open Water or equivalent - minimum of 10 logged dives

itinerary-duration

Duration

10 nights

itinerary-skill

Skill level

Open Water

Best of Thailand

Overview

Pristine Corals
Coral gardens
Stunning Topography
Stunning natural topography
Abundant Marinelife
Abundant marine life
Great Visibility
Something for every diver
Wildlife and Culture
Rich Culture

Join The Phinisi on this unique liveaboard itinerary exploring some of the very best scuba diving that Thailand and the Andaman Sea has to offer. Over the course of 10 nights, the liveaboard diving itinerary combines highlights of our 6 nights Similan and Surin Islands itinerary with 4 nights Southern Thailand allowing you to experience the delights of Hin Daeng, Hin Muang, Koh Haa and Koh Phi Phi along with the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock and the Surin Islands; Truly the Best of Thailand.

Dates & Prices

What's included:
Obligatory surcharges:

Maps & Itinerary

Similan Islands National Park
Eastward sites

Sites on the eastern side of the Similan Islands tend to be sand covered fringing reefs predominantly made up of hard coral. The reef plateaus are around 5-10 metres deep with gentle slopes heading down to the reef edge at around 20-25m. Where present, currents on the eastward site tend to be relatively gentle. 

Westward sites

The dive sites on the west side of the islands are a little different. Giant granite boulders tumble to the sea bed easily reaching depths of 40m. Being more exposed to the open ocean,  these sites can be prone to strong and often unpredictable currents. The currents have kept the boulders free from a build up of sand, leading dive sites consisting of a variety of canyons, tunnels, swim-throughs, archways and caverns. The diving can be challenging but the increased chance of larger pelagics makes up for that. 

Surin Islands National Park

The topside scenery of Koh Surin, with evergreen forests, mangroves, and small beaches, surpasses even that of the picturesque Similan Islands. Under water the reefs of the Surin Islands have some of the greatest hard coral diversity in Thailand.

Koh Phi Phi National Park

Located 45km to the east of Phuket, the Moo Koh Phi Phi Archipelago consists of 6 islands, the largest and only inhabited of which is Phi Phi Don. Above water scenery is dramatic with huge limestone cliffs and sheltered coves and bays with white sandy beaches. Many of the dive sites are walls with depths ranging between 10 and 25 metres, covered in coral bushes and sea fans.

Koh Haa National Park

With a name that translates as Five Islands, there several dive sites around these amazing islands where you can explore pinnacles, walls, boulders, caverns, and swim-throughs to discover the varied marine life that have made these islands their home.

Hin Daeng & Hin Muang

These two pinnacles (translating directly as Red Rock and Purple Rock) reach down to over 70m in open ocean, and are best known for manta ray and whale shark encounters. Almost perpetual good visibility and dramatic topography combined with huge fish numbers make for excellent liveaboard diving.

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Your cruise director will schedule up to four dives per day; 3 day dives and a sunset or night. This totals approximately 32 dives over 11 days / 10 nights. The diving day is scheduled as follows:

  • Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1
  • Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
  • Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3
  • Snack relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4, where possible
  • Dinner
Detailed itinerary

The itinerary above is an example only and is subject to change depending on local regulations and restrictions, guests’ experience, weather conditions and logistics, and is at the Captain’s discretion. Adverse weather can affect this route which includes several overnight sailings.

PLEASE NOTE: In some cases, the 10 night Best of Thailand itinerary may be split into 4 nights Southern Thailand combined with 6 nights Similan & Surin Islands to accommodate guests who are not able to do the whole 10 night duration. However, should there be a need to do so for any reason, it simply means that guests can embark or disembark in Chalong while others remain on board as The Phinisi travels between the Southern Islands and the Similan Islands. This does not impact on the areas visited over the course of the full 10 nights or the total number of dives that are possible.

Accommodation

9.12

Rated excellent

Nitrox

Surcharge

Wifi

No

Equipment

Surcharge

Tech friendly

No

The Phinisi is a traditional Indonesian sailing yacht offering liveaboard dive holidays in Thailand and Myanmar, comfortably accommodating 18 divers. It boasts a spacious dive deck with plenty of storage space for all your dive gear.

The outdoor dining area at the stern is covered and shaded so you can fully take in the breath-taking views of Thailand and Myanmar. Every day, our chef prepares plenty of dishes from the famous Thai cuisine with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Friendly and experienced, our boat and dive crew are there to meet your every need, making your diving holiday in Thailand and Myanmar unforgettable.

Extras

Master Liveaboards offers a range of services to make your stay on board even more enjoyable. Equipment rental, Nitrox and courses can be pre-booked and pre-paid at the time of booking your liveaboard holiday. 

Marine Park & Port Fees
Per person
Southern Thailand – 4 / 5 nights
50 USD (non-diver $35)
Similan & Surin Islands – 4 nights
50 USD (non-diver $35)
Similan & Surin Islands – 6 nights
65 USD (non-diver $35)
Best of Thailand – 10 nights
115 USD (non-diver $70)
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar) – 7 nights
280 USD
Mergui Archipelago (Myanmar) – 10 nights
350 USD

The applicable marine park fees for your itinerary will be added to your onboard extras to be paid on the boat before disembarkation.

Equipment
4 nights
6 nights:
7 nights
10 nights
Full set* (excluding Computer & Torch)
88 USD
125 USD
150 USD
175 USD
BCD
28 USD
40 USD
48 USD
56 USD
Fins (incl. booties)
12 USD
17.50 USD
21 USD
24.50 USD
Mask
12 USD
17.50 USD
21 USD
24.50 USD
Regulators
28 USD
40 USD
48 USD
56 USD
Wetsuit (3mm shorty)
24.50 USD
35 USD
42 USD
63 USD
Dive Computer
28 USD
40 USD
48 USD
56 USD
UW Torch/Flash light
12 USD
17.50 USD
21 USD
24.50 USD
Upgrade to 13ltr (100 cuft) cylinder
35 USD
50 USD
60 USD
90 USD

On-board pricing is subject to change without notice. Although we try to keep documentation as up-to-date as possible, please be aware that prices may be different on your cruise.

PLEASE NOTE: Prices listed above are valid until 31st July 2024. Revised pricing effective from 1st August 2024 can be viewed here.

*Full equipment set includes BCD, Regulators, Wetsuit, Mask, Fins and Snorkel only. 

We recommend pre-booking equipment to ensure availability and correct sizes are on board.

Price
Per diving day
25 USD
4 nights
88 USD
6 nights
125 USD
7 nights
150 USD
10 nights
175 USD

On-board pricing is subject to change without notice. Although we try to keep documentation as up-to-date as possible, please be aware that prices may be different on your cruise.

Prices listed above are valid until 31st July 2024. Revised pricing effective from 1st August 2024 can be viewed here.

Beer
US$2.50
Wine (per glass)
US$3.75
Merchandise: T-Shirt
US$12.50
Kayaking (subject to availability)
Free
PADI Courses
Cost:
PADI EANx- Nitrox
100 USD
PADI Advanced Open Water
250 USD
Other PADI Speciality Courses
Please enquire*

PLEASE NOTE: The course prices listed above are valid until 31st July 2024 and are for completing the practical (diving) elements only. Additional costs apply for course study materials and certification registration.

You can register for online learning for PADI Advanced Open Water and PADI EANx (Nitrox) here

Courses are subject to availability and must be pre-booked to ensure an instructor is available.
Master Liveaboards

Sail with us on this amazing liveaboard adventure

Explore the 'Best of Thailand' aboard The Phinisi

You could secure your spaces today for as little as 5% deposit*

*our payment terms and  standard terms and conditions apply

Customer Reviews

Take a look at what our customers have said about our liveaboards in Thailand

Excellent service on the Junk
Excellent service on the Junk
The Junk, Nov 2019
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Dive sites wonderful. So much life. So many fish. Great photographic opportunities. One of the best dive trips I have done. Best dive site Richelieu Rock. Absolutely fabulous. Dive guide Jerome was excellent. Thank you. All staff gave excellent service. Particularly with assisting me in and out of tender. Food was excellent. Rooms kept spotless. ALL staff so friendly and ameniable. I made some wonderful memories. Thank you..
Wonderful and experienced crew, an amazing boat
Wonderful and experienced crew, an amazing boat
The Junk, Oct 2019
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We all enjoyed the trip very much, my teens kids as well, lovely experience for them to get more familiar with diving and be disconnected from everything. Crew super nice, professional, incredibly helpful, amazing personalized dive experience thanks BJ for all your patience with us! We will be back!!
Excellent Diving on a Marvelous Ship
Excellent Diving on a Marvelous Ship
The Junk, Aug 2019
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The entire experience aboard the Junk is absolutely wonderful. Diving groups are kept small so that the divemasters can focus on everyone's enjoyment. They modified our trip in August so that we had 3 days of excellent dives despite some choppy waves, The crew of the Junk is very attentive to our dive equipment and prepared delicious meals every day.
Great customer service...on the boat
Great customer service...on the boat
The Junk, July 2019
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Johnathan and crew made the best of a stormy week and rough seas. Customer service on the boat was first class and meals were for royalty. Even though the number of available dive sites were limited by the weather, we still saw most of the marine life on the ID slate. Great trip! Front office was tough to get a hold of and their database was malfunctioning.
Best Liveaboard experience ever!
Best Liveaboard experience ever!
The Junk, November 2018
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Great diving, warmest and most helpful crew and cruise director/instructors/MDs/guides EVER and really tasty food served daily with lots of love! Many Thanks to THE JUNK, the fellow divers/friends and all the people who contributed to this wonderful experience! I will be definitelly coming back when in Thailand, hopefully as soon as possible! Kopkunka for everything!
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Do you have questions about Thailand?

We’ve tried to include a lot information on our website. You may find, however, that you have additional questions about our Thailand liveaboards, The Junk and The Phinisi; the diving around Thailand and the Similan Islands or general travel information. Via the following link you can find answers to some commonly asked questions. Should you have other questions or queries, please contact our reservations team who will be pleased to assist you.

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