Maiton Island is a small island located in the southeast part of Thailand, forming part of the Chumphon Archipelago. It attracts travelers from around the world with its unusual and memorable history.
What is Koh Maiton famous for?
Maiton Island was once a private island owned by Korean businessmen. They bought the island and built a luxurious hotel on it, imposing a strict prohibition on excursions to Maiton Island. Only celebrities such as stars, politicians, athletes, businessmen, and other celebrities could access the island. The island retains several helipads and berths for private yachts, which global celebrities have utilized for years to reside in one of the numerous bungalows dotting the coastline.
Everything changed in 2004 when a major earthquake in the Indian Ocean destroyed the hotel, and its owners decided to cease business operations. Since then, Maiton has been open for excursions but strives to maintain its familiar privacy and originality. Firstly, due to its late opening, Maiton has not developed compared to other major tourist islands. This makes it attractive to those seeking a laid-back and natural holiday. Secondly, Maiton is a protected area of marine wildlife due to the prevalence of dolphins, sea turtles, and various fish species in its waters. In order to safeguard the island's nature and beaches, there is a restriction on the simultaneous number of tourists. Let's delve into how to secure a spot within that limit.
Programs and prices for excursions to Maiton Island:
- Trip to Racha, Coral, and Maiton Islands is a speedboat tour with several stops in the Andaman Sea. The first location for snorkeling and beach relaxation is going to be on Coral Island. After that, we have a buffet lunch on Racha Yai Beach and finally get to snorkeling swimming off the shores of Maiton.
- Trip to Maiton, Khai Nai, and Khai Nok Islands is a speedboat tour with snorkeling off the shores of Maiton without going ashore. Additionally, the boat will stop at Khai Nai for beach relaxation and lunch, as well as at Khai Nok for another snorkeling session.
- Maiton Island day trip is the only tour entirely dedicated to exploring Maiton Island. The cruise program includes snorkeling in the waters of the Andaman Gulf, swimming in the sea and a freshwater pool, a guided tour of the island's main locations, a visit to an observation deck overlooking the coastline, beach volleyball, and time for relaxation on the beach.
Maiton Island tour includes departure from Phuket Island, transfer from the hotel to the departure pier and back, the presence of an English-speaking guide, and the rental of necessary snorkeling equipment.
Moreover, you can try an alternative form of transfer, similar to the format of a private Maiton island tour to the once-closed paradise place such as chartering a boat, catamaran, or yacht. Distinguished by its departure from conventional group tours, this cruise offers a unique sense of freedom — you have full control over the tour program, enabling you to personally organize the list of on-board activities and stops.
What Tourists Should Know?
We have compiled basic recommendations that will make your trip to the islands of Thailand much more enjoyable and comfortable:
- Make sure you have a small bag with sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hatgear. Each cruise includes swimming or diving in open seas, so don't forget to bring a swimsuit, towel, and a change of clothes. There's no need to bring a mask, snorkel, flippers, armbands, or life jacket as they are all included in the cost and provided during the tour.
- When choosing clothes, pay attention to the specifics of the local climate. To feel comfortable, wear light and breathable clothing in light colors. You can also bring additional footwear such as light flip-flops for swimming and soft, lightweight shoes for walks on the beaches and unusual terrains of Thai islands.
- All water activities on the tour are designed for both adults and children. However, swimming skills are required to participate. If you do not have this skill, do not hesitate to ask for a life jacket, which is available on every boat. Like that you can confidently participate in water activities.
- Plan your free time on the stopover island in advance. If you want to visit specific locations, inquire about the time it takes for the round trip. When departing, inform the guide about your plans and exchange contacts to be able to notify them in case of unforeseen circumstances leading to delays.
- Thailand's ecosystem is both diverse and unique, particularly on Maiton Island. To preserve and respect its delicate balance, it's crucial to exercise extreme care and consideration in our behavior. During snorkeling and diving, do not get too close to the animals, do not try to catch them, and do not pull them ashore. Be especially careful with coral reefs and do not try to pull soft corals or break off pieces of hard corals. During your time on the beach, clean up all small and large litter.
