Thailand offers countless natural sites of breathtaking beauty. This is true for the mainland as well as for the numerous islands. But it also applies to the sea itself. The Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine National Park is an example of a fantastically beautiful national park in the sea.
The national park was already founded in 1980 and covers an area of about 100 km² with a group of 42 islands made of limestone, which rise to 400 m from the water, which is on average only 10 m deep.
The entrance fee for the park is 300 THB per person, access is possible from morning to afternoon. Fishing is prohibited and compliance is monitored by patrolling rangers.
From Samui it is about 50 km, or about two hours by boat, to Ang Thong. In clear weather we can see the marine park from our terrace. So, it was only a matter of time before Alexandra would be looking for deals to get there.
Ko Samui Boat Charter at Marina Port Sa Ket near Lipa Noi was to become the partner of choice. The offer includes a day trip on a teak boat with up to 30 people. Generally unattractive for us due to group size, but perfectly fine in a group of 10. At least when the weather is nice.
Included are breakfast and lunch and with a great chef on board this is also a nice culinary experience. The boat has kayaks with it and also provides you with snorkeling equipment. The provider, a Czech guy named Ron, who has traveled the world and has lived in Thailand for 20 years, is prepared for a varied day full of different impressions and charges you 3,300 THB per person. We find that absolutely fine.
At eight o'clock in the morning it starts. You will be picked up on time. At least, if the transmission of the address data is reliable. Sometimes that works. Not with us. We don't mind such little things. Time details are to be understood more as an orientation guide than as binding dates. TIT. This is Thailand.
Since we do not share a minivan with any other people due to the pandemic, we booked the exclusive shuttle service for just the two of us for a small extra charge. Ron himself took over the tour. So far, we only know the relaxed and very defensive driving of Thai drivers, like our favorite driver Yo. Now, for the first time, we experienced how it feels with a driver who has been on the road all over the world and also in Europe on developed highways and now transfers this experience to the roads and traffic of Thailand. Anyway, we immediately checked the fit of our seatbelts and hoped for the best for everyone involved, especially the numerous Thai people on the road. Anyway, we were the speediest ones.
Ron has two boats, the Red Dragon and the Blue Dragon. They are anchored in an interesting place. Many tourists know the very famous Fisherman's Village on Ko Samui. Hardly anyone knows the real Fisherman's Village of Samui. It is located at the mouth of the Sa Ket near Lipa Noi and it is a commercial port. Here you will find countless fishermen offering their catch for sale after spending the night at sea. All this is literally at your feet. This can't really be called beautiful, but it is highly interesting and olfactory quite stunning. You definitely don't want to fall into the river.
Boarding the Blue Dragon is quite an experience. It is rather a breakneck climb over an improvised and not particularly reliable construction of interconnected ladder elements, which entering in Europe would be warned against in all seriousness. But as I said, we know the drill. TIT. And it worked out great.
The Blue Dragon has three decks. Downstairs you'll find the Galley, the Chef's domain. There it was sizzling and bubbling promisingly, and our mouths began to water. Over a steep staircase you reach the covered upper deck with cushions and benches and in front of there you also reach the front deck with a small Jacuzzi. All in all, very cozy and comfortable. And off we went.
Compared to a speed boat you are traveling much calmer and more relaxed and compared to a longtail boat you can enjoy the trip much more comfortable and with all amenities. Such a big Teak Boat is a good choice.
Riding the Blue Dragon is more like leisurely cruising. You look out to sea, watching fish jumping and letting your thoughts run their wide course inspired by the seeming endlessness of the horizon.
Upon reaching the National Park, everyone stood expectantly lined up at the railing, watching for a very special sight indeed. By now, word has spread that Ang Thong is home to a family consisting of six whales. They are so called Brydewhales, a smaller species of whale that grow up to fourteen meters long and weigh around twenty-five tons. Everyone was very excited and hoping that this trip would eventually turn out to be a whale watching tour. And indeed, it did. Whale! There he is blowing!
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We had the great fortune to be able to watch a whale having breakfast. It is very impressive how he makes the fish swim into his with wide-open mouth, which we observe as a “V” rising from the water, then flipping backwards when closing the huge mouth and diving away in a fluke displaying turn. We followed the whale at an appropriate distance so not to interfere and couldn't get enough of it. A spectacle of enduring remembrance.
Everyone was completely thrilled, still excited and in the best of moods. The trip had already paid off and Ron relaxed. Whatever might happen today - the encounter with the whale was the absolute highlight.
I had my personal highlight still to come. Alexandra had expressed the desire to participate in the Kayak Tour. Awesome. I hate kayaks. Not only can I not sit in it. It causes me pain and despite my graceful appearance I have difficulties with stability in these toys. I also don't understand why kayaks only come in one size. You would buy clothes made to fit and not too small. How can a kayak come in one size fits all for a person who is rather small and lightweight, as well as for someone who weighs over one hundred kilograms and is about 1.90 m tall? Hasn't anyone but me thought about this?
The entering alone for me is just gambling, which I only managed by a hair's breadth. There I was sitting now, with pain in my back and listening to the well-intentioned advice of my beloved wife to relax and stretch out my legs. Stretch out my legs while sitting. I have been working on this for a year and a half with our fitness coach. It's slowly getting better, and my suppleness has come a long way.
But it's not enough to relax in a shaky kayak with my legs stretched out. My wife should really know that. With the unwieldy paddle in my hand, it didn't get any better. On the contrary. Alexandra assured me she could paddle alone for the two of us. I should just do nothing. Nothing at all. As if trying not to capsize was nothing.
I was fully busy trying to somehow stay balanced. Within minutes I was completely cramped and hoping for this stupid action to come to an end soon. As I was on the edge of collapsing and thinking about dropping a mayday signal, the encouraging message arrived that we were about to hit the halfway point. I was close to falling into a deep depression.
The rest of the tour I was only half conscious as if in a fog and when we finally reached the Blue Dragon again and I was at the end of my strength and finished with my nerves and the saving stairs were close - we capsized. The highlight was the accusatory look of my dream girl, when she came back up snorting and asked me indignantly, what I had done now. Survived!
The following high diving contest from the railing of the Blue Dragon was won by Alexandra with top ratings in posture. I was once again very proud of my wife and enjoyed the envious stares of some fellow travelers.
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On the way to the snorkel spot the not fully unexpected rain front hit us. The intensity, however, was surprising. This is the moment of revelation that these boats are built for sunshine. You don't need constant sunshine. But it should be dry. When the water rushes torrent-like down the stairs toward the galley and the teak floor turns into a slide, prudent movement is required. Actually, it's best not to move at all.
The stupid thing about snorkeling in the rain is that the fish also shelter, and the rays of the sun are missing. So, you see - nothing. Therefore, it is better to wait until the big rain has moved on. That should not take very long. Usually.
The final stop took us to Ko Mae Ko to the Blue Lagoon with Emerald Lake. Just transferring with the dinghy was a lot of fun. Superbly we have been told that we would have to wear life jackets during the ride for the rangers. However, we wouldn't have to close them. Overthrowing them would be okay. That was good, I couldn't get the thing closed anyway. Apparently, again, one size fits all. Seems life vests and kayaks have something in common.
Around eight o'clock in the evening we returned. It was a great, eventful, varied and in every respect absolutely successful day. Ron and his Thai team are highly dedicated and focused on making their guests happy and satisfied. They succeed in this quite brilliantly. We can highly recommend Ron and Ko Samui Boat Charter.
Have fun!
