Island Hopping
Island Hopping
/ ˈīləndˌhäping/
1: Traveling from one island to another, especially as a tourist in an area of small islands.
2: Cathy’s favorite weekend activity, especially if it includes snorkeling, sun-bathing, and icy cold watermelon.
The waters around Phuket Island are dotted with hundreds of islands, unique limestone rock formations, sea caves, lagoons, and coral reefs. There’s so much to see beyond our own shores, and we couldn’t resist making the trip.
We spent three weekends island hopping around Thailand. Two of the excursions were booked through tour groups, and one was arranged by our AKA buddy and a local friend.
Hop #1: Phi Phi Islands
Many consider this to be a must-hop from Phuket or Krabi, and we whole-heartedly agree!
The six Phi Phi Islands are nestled between Phuket and the Straits of Malacca. These islands were formed as seismic activity and lowering sea levels pushed coral reefs to the surface. Eroded by rain, wind, and surf, these reefs formed into distinctive limestone islands. This area within the Andaman sea is famous for its shallow turquoise waters, coral reefs, and abundance of seafood (Allen ate Andaman blue crab for his bday dinner).
My greatest delight in Phi Phi island hopping was the snorkeling. Our boat made numerous snorkel stops around coves, beaches, and in the middle of the sea. Every time, we were blown away by the life teeming under the surface. The entire cast of Finding Nemo could be found here, and we even saw a baby (reef) shark!
As a close second, the Phi Phi beaches aren’t bad either :) Fewer people come here relative to Phuket because it requires a boat and a national park pass, so the atmosphere is less claustrophobic.
Protips:
Go easy on the dramamine (seasickness pills)!! Allen accidentally doubled the dosage and was in a comatose high for most of this trip :( It’s serious stuff, best to stick with ONE pill a day, and it usually kicks in within 30min.
Pleaseee use physical rather than chemical sunscreen, since chemical sunscreens kill coral reefs (which grows at 2cm per year). The whiter, chunkier, and streakier the better ;)
Beach shoes are worth the investment for water activities, since the edge of most Phi Phi beaches have small rocks and coral. Try to buy them inland at a night market or beach store, since you’ll get gouged at the docks.
Hop #2: Local Islands in Chalong Bay
Hands down our most memorable weekend, and we don’t even remember the names of the islands we visited. But we definitely will never forget the island lifestyle we tasted, with friends we will never forget.
We are indebted to our AKA mate, who rounded up a group to go island hopping. During her daily walks to and from the gym, she befriended a local who was willing to take us around on his boat. No further details were given. Luckily, we were open to adventure, so off we went!
Our local guide’s name is Captain Picard. (OK not actually. But he was our captain just like Picard in Star Trek.) The man is nearly 60, and has the energy of someone half his age. His family grew up on Koh Lon, a tiny island next to Chalong Pier Phuket. Picard worked as a fisherman; now in retirement, he gives tours, raises fighting roosters, and smokes weed. Picard lives 10min away from us, and docks his boat just down the block from our apartment.
Picard and his grandson took our gaggle of friends out to sea. We followed the tide, docking at islands around our local Chalong Bay. Along the way, he introduced us to his friends/ family and demonstrated some impressive know-how:
Climbing a coconut tree
Chopping open a coconut and scoop its flesh with a shell wedge
Smoking weed out of a sugarcane bong
Returning puffer-fish to the ocean
Removing the stinger from a stingray
Making a fire with coconut husks
Grilling whole fish and lobster over said fire
Having a damn good time
We experienced some once-in-a-lifetime’s aboard with our group of AKA friends. We barbeque’d an all-you-can-eat bonanza on the beach with fresh-caught lobster, fish, prawns, crabs, and veggies. We swam halfway across the ocean (not really, but it felt that way to me) following heavy techno bass to climb aboard a Russian party boat, drink Mai Tais, and ride their 3-story waterslide. We negotiated hardball with the bartenders and successfully doubled the number of shots in our cocktail buckets.
F, S, H, V, F, B, R, P, or Picard if you’re reading this, thank you for an incredible trip! We still think of you!
Hop #3: Phang Nga Bay
Phang Nga Bay national park is a shallow bay dotted with limestone islands and forested wetlands. It is home to some truly unique and incredible sights amongst the sea-caves, forests, and rocks.
We picked a tour for the truly dedicated, with a 4:15am pickup to catch the sunrise and beat the crowds. It also worked out that our boat was mostly Russian (with their own Russian tour guide), so we monopolized the attention of the one English-speaking guide.
Here’s a rundown of sights we saw:
The sunrise peeking through the misty islands from the middle of the bay
A dense mangrove forest at the end of trekking a dark sea-cave tunnel
The unique rock formation of James Bond island
Kayaking right up to (and underneath) the sea-caves to see all the rock formations: we saw fish, turtles, Buddhas, and some pretty phallic stalagmites
Rock-climbed to the top of an island (this trek was featured on Survivor) for an “above the world” panorama of Phang Nga Bay
Fell asleep under a coconut tree on a beach at Koh Yao Yai, a laidback and non-touristy island that resembles Phuket from the ‘70s
Marine life! We saw many mudskipper fish, white egrets, and hawks enjoying the island life along with us
