Ko Rok Islands

The Ko Rok islands, about 25 km south of Ko Lanta, are the best snorkelling destination in the area — arguably among the best in the Andaman Sea. Two small islands enclose a lagoon of startlingly clear turquoise water over a pristine coral reef. Day trips run from Ko Lanta from November to April; the islands are off-limits to overnight stays, which keeps them largely undamaged.

Most day trips include two snorkelling stops, a beach lunch on Ko Rok Noi, and the return journey — around 6-7 hours all in. The coral starts immediately below the surface. Manta rays and whale sharks visit the deeper water around the islands, though sightings are never guaranteed. Book through any dive or snorkel operator on the island's main beach road.

things to do sight
A story
Ko Rok Noi and Ko Rok Nai are twin islands connected by a shallow reef that you can walk across at low tide. The water between them is so clear that the coral is visible from the surface even at high tide — a concentration of hard and soft coral that rivals anything in the Similan Islands further north.