A lot of coral and marine diversity, not very touristy, but this snorkel spot is suited to a more advanced snorkeler, as there is a current and the snorkel area isn’t marked out. A fantasic trip when paired with a snorkel at the neighbouring Koh Rok.
Pros
Cons
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Highlights
Coral
2-4 Meters Average Depth
Good Visibility
Easy to Medium Difficulty
No Cafe’s
Tours $40-$60 USD
Sea Urchins Present
Jellyfish unlikely
When:
Who:
Tour Cost:
Star Rating:
Cost:
When visiting Koh Lanta, one of the most popular tours you’ll come across is Koh Rok & Koh Haa. I would say this is one of the more premium tours and a costly than the 5 island trip, although you do get your money’s worth and can have a memorable experience. There are two main islands that you’ll visit in the Koh Lanta National Park, Koh Rok and Koh Haa.
They are uninhabited islands that are about a 1.5 hour speedboat journey off the East coast of Koh Lanta. I booked a tour running from Saladan Pier the North of Koh Lanta, the tour was for a full day (09:00 am-16:00 pm) and included three snorkel spots in total, at Koh Rok and Koh Haa lunch, and beach time included. This tour cost approximately ฿2,100 Baht including the ฿400 national park fee of $70, which I booked through Klook. There were 20 people on the speedboat.
Koh Haa
Paradise remote island a short boat ride from Koh Rok
Following lunch, we got back on the boat and set off to Koh Rok, which was about a 45-minute boat journey from Koh Rok. You can see whales, dolphins, and even whale sharks on the trip across to the islands, so keep an eye out! When you see the Koh Haa islands, it looks like you’re entering Jurassic Park, they’re in the middle of the ocean. We docked in the main bay of one of the islands for snorkeling. There were another couple of boats in the water.
The bay wasn’t massive so you can find yourself bumping into others, you can swim up to the beach and have a look around. Be careful of the coral which stretches almost all the way to the beach. This was some of the healthiest coral reefs I’ve seen in my snorkels around Thailand with a lot of fish and larger fish as you swim around the roped snorkel section. I saw larger Titan triggerfish, Giant Moray Eel, and large schools of fish grazing in the shaded waters. It was then an hour or so boat ride back to Koh Lanta.
Snorkel Spot
Top Tip:
When booking the snorkel trip, double check the boat numbers. I personally would look for a tour with 20 people or less. Otherwise the snorkel spot will be crowded and this can scare off marine life.
Coral Reef
Safety Tip:
The sea bed is shallow at 1-1.5 meters deep, so I would wear something to cover your feet, preferable flippers as there is a current.
The sea bed was jam-packed with coral which covered the sea bed for a good 50 meters from the beach in the cove. There were many different marine species I spotted during my 45-minute snorkel, including both the Blue Sea Star and Common Comet Star, which I spotted sitting awkwardly within the coral reef.
There were also Parrotfish, Giant Clams, Moorish Idol’s, Damselfish, and Sweeper fish that I spotted throughout the cove. When I was swimming towards the outer reef I did spot a Titan Triggerfish, Rabbitfish feeding on the algae off of the ropes, and a Giant Moray Eel in a small rock formation. However, in my opinion, this snorkel spot is more focussed on the incredibly healthy, diverse coral reef.
Tour Guide Options
To get to Koh Rok and Koh Haa from the neighboring Koh Lanta island, you’ll need to get a speed boat tour to the islands, as they are about 2 hours to get to the islands. It is not possible to reach the island by Longtail Boat or another mode of transport, but in my opinion, this reduces the tourist levels and makes for a more authentic experience.
I booked a tour running from Saladan Pier at the North of Koh Lanta, the tour was for a full day (09:00 am-16:00 pm) and included two snorkel spots at Koh Rok and Koh Ha, and lunch and beach time included. This tour cost approximately $70, which I booked through Klook.
Best Snorkel Spot
The best snorkel spot at Koh Haa was in the center of the bay, about 20 metres from the beach. Another great spot was snorkeling along the right hand side (as shown in the image below). There was a plethora of healthy coral, just be careful not to go too close to the rock face, and the coral can get shallow and close to your waist. I also spotted a large Massive Boulder coral formation which is always cool to see.
Best Time Of Year
If you are visiting Thailand, the dry season will give you the best weather for snorkeling which is from October-May.
What We Saw
(Seen on March, 2023)
| Giant Moray Eel | Titan Triggerfish |
| Singular Bannerfish | Schwenk’s Rabbitfish |
| Golden Gregory Damselfish | Christmas Tree Worm |
| Greenthroat Parrotfish | Sergeant Major Damselfish |
| Java Rabbitfish | Common Comet Star |
| Chinese Demoiselle | Bluespot Damsel |
| Blue Sea Star | Moorish Idol |
| Redlip Parrotfish | Giant Clam |
| Boulder Coral | Lettuce Coral |
| Honeycomb Coral | Massive Boulder Coral |
Popular Marine Life
Parrotfish
Moorish Idol
Christmas Tree Worm
Sergeant Major Damselfish
Giant Clam
Blue Sea Star
Rare Marine Life
Giant Moray Eel
Titan Triggerfish
Nosestripe Anemonefish
Coral Reef
Boulder Coral
Lettuce Coral
Where is Koh Haa, Thailand?
Koh Haa is located off the South West coast of the popular tourist island of Koh Lanta. From Saladan Pier Koh Lanta, it takes about 1.5 hours to get to Koh Rok Noi and Koh Rok Yai, and then a further 45 minutes to Koh Haa.
Frequently Asked Questions
The best way to get to Koh Haa is by a speedboat snorkel trip running from Saladan Pier, Koh Lanta. Most snorkel trips will depart to Koh Rok, stopping off for a snorkel at Koh Rok Noi. Then travelling 10 minutes to the neighboring Koh Rok Yai for lunch and time to relax on the beach. Then travelling a further 45 minutes to Koh Haa.
Snorkel trips from Koh Lanta to Koh Rok & Koh Haa costs from £40-£80 for a 6 hour speedboat trip, including a snorkel at Koh Rok and Koh Haa, as well as lunch.
I went on an organised snorkel tour which ran from Saladan Pier, Koh Lanta. It was a 6 hour speedboat trip with approximately 20x people onboard.
Luke
FOUNDER
Luke is a passionate snorkeler who started Snorkelverse to live his dream of combining his passions for snorkeling, marine life, protecting marine ecosystems, and helping others.
Koh Lanta Snorkel Reviews
