We wait at the airport for those coming in on the morning flight. For others, we meet you at the meeting point, which is a local café near the ferry pier. Here we gather over a drink while our local rep organises the ferry, tickets and luggage for our transfer from Koh Samui to Koh Tao.

We collect our boxed lunch and make our way to the midday ferry. Once we arrive in Koh Tao, we are taken to the hotel for check-in before a well-earned acclimatisation swim down at the beach.

Afterwards we reunite for a welcome meeting and group dinner at the hotel restaurant, where our guides will take you through the plan for the week.

Today, we rise for breakfast before our first full day of swimming and exploring what Koh Tao has to offer. We start at Mango Bay; a stunning beach with clear waters coral reefs either side. We make our way around the headland towards Lighthouse Beach. The morning swim is followed by a tasty lunch on the boat. You will have a chance to enjoy the offerings of lighthouse Bay, another snorkel spot before continuing our adventures around the island with a second swim. We start from our morning finish point at the lighthouse and continue along the East coast. Later, we return as a group back to the hotel with a chance for you to relax on your first evening off.

This morning after breakfast we continue to explore Koh Tao with the morning reef swim from the more remote and barely visited Mao Bay towards Tanote Bay. Mao means ‘drunk’ in Thai and the local rumor is that a drunken fisherman once fell overboard and drowned here leaving many local Thais to believe that Mao Bay is haunted! Due to the nature of the bay, recently local initiatives have recently started to assist with ocean clean up, which we can also partake in should we need. Lunch is taken onboard the boat and we have a chance to relax in the sun before setting off for our afternoon swim continuing our way around the coast from Tanote Bay towards the wide sandy beach of Ao Leuk.

This is our final full day on the island. We venture out to the south to the well known Shark Island. Against assumptions, isn’t named for its predatory sea creatures but rather for its shark fin-like appearance when viewed from certain angles. The Thai locals refer to it as “Gong Sai Daeng”. “Gong” meaning pinnacle and “Sai Daeng” being the name of the beach opposite the island. We swim ourselves out to the island and circumnavigate before returning back to shore. We rest and take lunch on the boat and head round to Shark Bay.

Shark Bay does however serve as a nursery area for young sharks as well as the local green turtle, allowing us to admire the marine life at a safe distance as we swim out of Shark Bay and towards Chalok Bay. We return to the hotel for you to relax by the pool or enjoy the final afternoon Koh Tao has to offer before we move on the next day.

After breakfast, we join our boats for the final time. We have a busy morning swim with a slightly longer route before lunch. We start at the sleepy village of Chalok Bay and make our way to the a firm favourite with many Koh Tao locals, Sai Nuan Beach. It is often a contender for Koh Toa’s best beach as it is lined with palm trees on its shoreline; falling away from a lush tropical garden.

Then we return to the ferry port where we hop on the ferry to Koh Samui. This is a great chance for you to reflect on the beauty of Koh Tao – the much-loved ‘Turtle Island’.

Once we arrive in Koh Samui, you will be escorted to your accommodation for check-in. We will then re-group for dinner at the hotel.

Our last full day is the perfect opportunity to take a private boat to see the wonders of Ang Thong National Park. We wake with an early breakfast and then venture out to the snorkelling haven of Koh Wao, known for its multi-coloured fauna below water. For lunch, we have a delicious local Thai meal before we drop anchor in Koh Mai – an inland lagoon of saltwater, circled by mountains. Locally, it is known as Talay Nai (the ‘Emerald Lake’). The island itself featured in Danny Boyle’s 2000 film: ‘The Beach’.

In the afternoon, you are free to wander the beaches of white sand and swim the lagoon, soaking up your island surrounds. We take the boat back to Koh Samui later, where the night markets and local restaurants will no doubt be calling for us.

We wake and join a short transfer for our farewell swim before returning for breakfast. This is a chance to say your goodbyes before leaving the resort. The final transfer to the airport is included as well.

We have given this trip a ‘Moderate’ grading. Most swimmers comfortable in the open water will be able to take part and enjoy one of these trips.

Swimming Distances

*Please note that these swims are an example of what may take place during your trip and should be used as a guide only. Actual swim locations and distances will vary according to local weather and swim conditions.

Swimming Conditions

Swimming in the sea is a fantastic experience, however you should be aware that certain marine life such as sea lice, jellyfish, sea urchins and coral could be present during the swims. In all cases we will work on reducing your contact with these creatures, however if you suffer from anaphylaxis, please consult the office prior to booking. Please also be aware that there can be strong currents around the islands we swim, whilst our guides and boat safety crew will do our best to select the route to swim with the current, it may change a points during the swim, so ensure you listen to the instructions given.

Walking Conditions

There will be short walk on Ang Thong National Park to the view point (depending on conditions) but it is guided and paved. Any other walks that we do undertake will take place on recognised paths and tracks, however there may be cases where we walk along trails or other unsealed surfaces and care should be taken in these areas.

Temperatures

*Please note that these temperatures are indicative and should be used as a guide only.

Weather Caveat

For safety reasons, we rely on decent weather conditions when carrying out our swims. Therefore, open water swimming holidays require a certain degree of on-trip flexibility which can result in changes to the planned itinerary. These changes often add a touch of uniqueness to your trip and will be communicated to you by your SwimTrek guides as quickly as possible.

Group Size

This trip has a maximum group size of 15. The group will be split into a maximum of three groups, based on speed, with each group being accompanied by their own safety vessel/escort. 

Boat Support

Boat support on this trip varies each day depending on the type of swim but includes one large local boat and two long tail support vessels piloted by local crew and supported from a kayak. Please note that this boat support is subject to change without notice and cannot be guaranteed.

Equipment Checklist

In line with the requests of the National Park, please note the importance of wearing rash vests for sun protection and using only reef safe sun block where required. Please also note this trip includes two long ferry riders so we strongly advise bringing sea sickness precautions if you are prone to travel sickness.

For your essential packing list, please visit our Packing List page on the website.

As SwimTrekkers come from all over the world, and join our swimming holidays in numerous destinations, we don’t currently offer flights as part of our SwimTrek packages. We do however want to do as much as we can to ensure that our guests get the best deals when travelling to one of our trips so check out SwimTrek's tips to help you get the best deals for your flights page on the website.

The easiest way to travel to Koh Samui is to fly via one of many connecting airports to Koh Samui (USM).

Flights to Samui Airport (USM)

If you are flying from the UK or US, the most common and fastest route is via Bangkok (BKK) where you can take a connecting flight to Koh Samui on one of their daily flights. Some airlines code share via Bangkok providing convenient connections.

You could also consider flying to the domestic airport of Surat Thani (URT) and taking a connecting ferry but you would still have to connect through an international airport beforehand.

You will be asked to share your flight details prior with our customer team to ensure our suppliers know when to expect you on the island.

Transfers from the Samui Airport

A group transfer is included in your package, either from the airport if you are flying in on day 1 or from a meeting location near Mae Haad Pier.

If you want to join the group transfer from the airport on Day 1, you will need to arrive at Samui Airport no later than the PG125 flight landing at 1010am. From here you will be collected and transferred to the meeting location near the ferry terminal, where you will meet up with any other joining swimmers.

Meeting location

If you arrive in Koh Samui before Day 1 then your meeting location for the group will be Roastery Village Café in Koh Samui at 1130am. You will be reminded of the location in your pre trip email. You will be asked to provide your flight details to our customer team who will liaise with our suppliers locally to ensure you do not miss the transfer.

Travelling independently

If you do not wish to join the group transfer, you can arrange your own transfer at your own cost. Please speak to our suppliers at Easia Active who will be able to assist sales@easia-active.com.

Return transport

For those returning on the day of the trip, a return group transfer is included in your package if travelling before 3pm on the final day. If you are staying longer, our partners will be able to assist sales@easia-active.com.

Food and Drink

Breakfast: All breakfasts are included in your package and will be taken at the hotels.

Lunches: All lunches are included in your package and will be taken on the boat except for the lunch on Day 1 which will be a packed box lunch. Please note, supplies may be limited and may not be able to cater for all dietary requirements so please consider bringing any personal items you wish for your trip.

Dinners: Dinner on Day 1 at the hotel in Ko Tao and Day 5 at the hotel in Koh Samui are included in your package. The remaining dinners are at your own expense but our team on the ground will be able to give you recommendations and assist with bookings if required.

For more information, please visit our food and drink page on the website.

For more information on any of the following sections please visit the Travel Advice page of our website.

Money, Extra Expenses and Tipping

The local currency in Thailand is Thai BAHT. Whilst many large establishments do accept card payment, there may be a charge and we recommend bring cash with you for smaller payments.

There are ATMS on Ko Tao however we are located just outside of the main town so we advise bringing cash with you in advance.

In some countries, tipping (gratuities) is not part of the culture - in others it has become an expected norm. We believe that tipping is done entirely at your own discretion. If you have been provided with excellent service it may be something you wish to do. Your SwimTrek Guides can advise on local norms for service providers like boat crew, waiters or taxis. Nothing is expected for your SwimTrek Guides but many groups like to present something to the Guides at the end of the trip. The resort will also present you with an envelope at the end of your stay should you wish to share a tip with the staff.

Responsible Travel

SwimTrek is conscious of the importance of protecting the world’s natural wonders. We are acutely aware of our responsibility to not only take care of the natural environments which we are lucky enough to explore, but also to educate our guests about the importance of conservation efforts and responsible tourism. It’s for this reason that we have worked so closely with our partners to ensure that our trips are conducted in the most responsible and sustainable way possible, working tirelessly to minimise the impact of our presence on local marine life and the natural habitat.

For more information, please visit our Responsible Travel page on the website.

Passports and Visas

Thailand has visa exemptions for those with a full passport with an ‘expiry date’ at least 6 months after the date you arrive and have at least 1 blank page for over 90 countries including UK, USA, Australia and most of Europe. Visitors under this scheme will be allowed to stay for tourism purposes for a period not exceeding 60 days.

Upon arrival all non-Thai nationals will need to complete a Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC). You can register for the TDAC from three days prior to arrival or it can be completed on arrival. There is no charge associated with this.

For more information please go to https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and it is important that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

Please note that visa regulations are subject to change and it is important that you check your own visa requirements prior to travel.

Travel Insurance

We consider comprehensive travel insurance to be essential, and we strongly recommend that you purchase insurance which includes, but is not limited to, cover for illness, accident, emergency repatriation, ambulance, air ambulance, helicopter rescue services, cancellation, lost luggage and delays. Your travel insurance should also cover you for open water swimming and any other activity listed in your trip itinerary (including races and competitions, where applicable). Please read your policy details carefully and remember to take them with you on your trip for your own reference.

For further information, please visit our Travel Insurance page on the website.

Health Information and Recommended Vaccinations

Here at SwimTrek, we pride ourselves on our focus on safety and the well-being of all our guests. As we operate in some beautiful and remote locations medical facilities are not always easily accessible. SwimTrek Guides, and many staff working for our local partners, are first aid trained. However, we ask that you read our Travel Health page to ensure that you are informed about general Travel and Swim Health precautions.

Travel Plugs & Electricity

There is free Wi-Fi throughout the hotels.

For a useful source of information on the different electrical outlets, electrical plugs, and electric sockets, please visit www.worldstandards.eu.