Koh Rok & Koh Haa: The Best Snorkeling Trip from Koh Lanta
Koh Rok and Koh Haa are two small islands hidden in the Andaman Sea, offering two quite different experiences. Koh Rok is home to some of the most pristine beaches in Thailand, while Koh Haa is a snorkelers paradise. They are often combined together on speedboat tours from Koh Lanta.
We didn’t know anything about these islands until one of Kat’s friends recommended we go snorkeling in Koh Haa. Seeing we were going to be in Koh Lanta anyway, as part of our island hopping trip, we decided to check them out. The highlight for us was Koh Rok - a place so beautiful that we can’t believe it hasn’t gone viral yet (long may that continue).
Koh Rok is nestled within Mu Ko Lanta National Park, and is made up of two tiny islands called Koh Rok Noi and Koh Rok Yai. Koh Haa, on the other hand, consists of five limestone islets surrounded by a turquoise lagoon - giving it the name “Five Islands”. Koh Haa is well known within diving circles, but it still remains a hidden gem for the average traveler/tourist.
Koh Rok
Koh Rok
Koh Haa
How to Book a Tour to Koh Rok & Koh Haa
Koh Lanta is definitely the best base from which to visit Koh Rok and Koh Haa. You can simply show up and book a tour at a travel shop in the Klong Dao, Long Beach or Klong Nin areas. Or book online via GetYourGuide - a safe option if you’re traveling in the busy Christmas or Songkran season. We actually booked our trip through our hotel, at Andawa Lanta Resort, who arranged everything for us including hotel pick-up/drop-off.
You can expect to pay around 1,600 THB for a small group tour, with lower prices offered for kids (800 THB). This may or may not include the national park fee - an additional 400 THB. The fee contributes toward protecting the ecosystem of Koh Rok and Koh Haa, so you know it’s money well spent.
In our opinion, this is great value for money, much cheaper than other boat tours in Thailand. You get speedboat transport, lunch on Koh Rok, and fruit and drinks throughout the day. Getting to this island duo is easy by speedboat, you’ll arrive at Koh Haa in 45 minutes and from there it takes a further 30 minutes to reach Koh Rok - much quicker than a longtail boat.
The tour usually runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and includes multiple snorkeling stops as well as a decent amount of beach time. It’s a full day but you’ll still be back in Koh Lanta ready for dinner. The travel time and overall journey is much less stressful than other boat tours in Thailand, like the trip we took to the Surin Islands which took four hours each way.
Koh Rok
Koh Haa
Koh Haa
Koh Rok
The Snorkeling Paradise of Koh Haa
We’ve snorkeled at some incredible places in Thailand and Koh Haa would be right up there as one of the best. It’s not the biggest, in terms of size, but it packs a punch. The reef is healthy and full of life - allowing you to see fluorescent purple corals, colorful fish, and turtles (if you get lucky) from 20 or 30 meters underwater. The lagoon is also calm, which made it ideal for casual snorkelers such as ourselves. We spent an hour or so snorkeling, and then swam to the tiny beach nestled under jagged limestone cliffs.
Koh Haa
Koh Haa
Koh Rok’s Pristine Beaches
As we pulled up to Koh Rok Yai Beach, which made our list of the 15 Best Beaches in Thailand by the way, we were stunned. The water was even clearer than Koh Haa’s lagoon and it had this magnificent light emerald color that sparkled in the sun. The sand was like flour and massive pieces of driftwood turned the beach into an artistic masterpiece, made by nature.
We had lunch here, a simple buffet of Thai food, and then had free time to relax on the beach, go for a swim, take photos and soak up the scenery. A few other boats arrived but Koh Rok still felt uncrowded and completely untouched - a place that honestly looks better than the brochures.
After lunch, we were taken snorkeling again and it was similar to Koh Haa in terms of quality (but the area is larger). We saw schools of fish, branching corals, and bright blue star fish. At one point, we had a little scare when we saw a sea snake appear from out of nowhere. Kat yelled out “Nguu” (snake) in Thai and our tour guide told us to swim to the side. Sea snakes can be venomous in Thailand but they are docile and rarely bite unless provoked. Apart from that, we had a wonderful time snorkeling in Koh Rok.
Koh Rok
Koh Rok
Koh Rok
Koh Rok
FAQs for Koh Rok & Koh Haa
Can you visit from Phuket or Ao Nang?
Koh Rok and Koh Haa are best visited from Koh Lanta, because of the closer proximity, but you can also go on a tour from Phuket or Ao Nang. Just know though that the travel times are much longer on the speedboat (up to two hours each way), and earlier pick-ups and later drop-offs are required. We’ve also heard that due to the time pressure, the snorkeling stops can be rushed which might leave you feeling short-changed.
How hot do the islands get in the dry season?
We went in February and Koh Rok in particular was boiling after lunch. You can find shade under trees anywhere along the beach but you’ll still need to bring things like a hat, reef-friendly sunscreen and sunglasses. Drinking plenty of water throughout the day should also be top priority.
Can you stay overnight on Koh Rok?
Koh Rok isn’t a resort island, it’s a protected marine park, but you can still stay overnight with accommodation being offered in wooden bungalows and tents. To arrange this experience, it’s best to ask around the local travel agencies on Koh Lanta as they can organise your stay through the national park authorities. It would be amazing to go camping here, and have the island all to yourself when the day-trip boats depart for the afternoon.
Koh Rok
Koh Rok
