Andaman Discoveries
Andaman Discoveries
5
Cultural ToursBoat ToursPrivate ToursKayaking & CanoeingDay Trips
Monday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Tuesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Wednesday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Friday
8:30 AM - 5:30 PM
Full view
About
ANDAMAN DISCOVERIES is committed to growing our company in a sustainable manner. We work towards addressing global issues such as climate change, human rights, nature conservation and sustainability through community-based tourism. Our programs are created in collaboration with the communities in which we work and use local resources to have a positive human, environmental and financial impact. We pledge to always take into consideration the impact on both the environment and culture, and aim to provide a better quality of life for our communities, guests and partners. Experience local life with Andaman Discoveries, the villages tucked away in a serene location in the south of Ranong, Phang Nga, Krabi, Phuket, Surat Thani, Trang and Satun province. Our communities invite you to experience their traditional way of life in villages are home to a community which is a model for responsible tourism and sustainability and a visit here is a wonderful way to culturally enrich your trips.
Khura Buri, Thailand
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Andaman Discoveries
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
35 reviews
Excellent
33
Very good
1
Average
0
Poor
1
Terrible
0
Ankie J
1 contribution
Feb 2023
Andaman Discoveries organised a very special trip for our students! It was very well organised, our guides were simply amazing and I felt like we really got to know Thailand. Our guides, Tui and Pibi, really did their best to make our students try new things (culture and food wise). We stayed in great places and undertook some really nice activities.
Thank you very much Andaman Discoveries! I would highly recommend using their services
Thank you very much Andaman Discoveries! I would highly recommend using their services
Written March 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie V
Gustavus, AK17 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
I did the 4 day "Beach Village & Moken Experience" Tour.
These tours are a great way to experience and get to know the local communities while also supporting them financially. It seemed to me that the organization really cares about helping the local people and gives them a very fair amount of money (this is often not the case with other organizations offering similar experiences).
The whole trip was very well organized by Tui. She also came along as my translator along with an intern named Earn. It was great to have both of them along the whole time because they helped me engage with the locals by acting as translators.
It was really interesting learning about the Moken way of life and visiting their village. However, I wish I knew how crowded this area would be. There are boat loads of people coming to visit them every day. However, if you want to visit them, Andaman discoveries definitely seems the most authentic way to do so because we actually can engage with them. If you spend the night, you must camp in tents at the national park headquarters. There were probably 100 tents all very close together and you all eat at the same dining area (like an outdoor cafeteria). This part of the trip was a bit less enjoyable for me because I like to get off the beaten path more. There is an area nearby where you can rent little cabins.. this would be a bit more expensive, but perhaps a nicer experience.
Staying with the Muslim family in the village was the highlight of the trip for me. I got to visit several different homes in the village and do several different activities. This felt much more authentic and unique.
If you are looking for a tour with a homestay, I highly recommend this company.
These tours are a great way to experience and get to know the local communities while also supporting them financially. It seemed to me that the organization really cares about helping the local people and gives them a very fair amount of money (this is often not the case with other organizations offering similar experiences).
The whole trip was very well organized by Tui. She also came along as my translator along with an intern named Earn. It was great to have both of them along the whole time because they helped me engage with the locals by acting as translators.
It was really interesting learning about the Moken way of life and visiting their village. However, I wish I knew how crowded this area would be. There are boat loads of people coming to visit them every day. However, if you want to visit them, Andaman discoveries definitely seems the most authentic way to do so because we actually can engage with them. If you spend the night, you must camp in tents at the national park headquarters. There were probably 100 tents all very close together and you all eat at the same dining area (like an outdoor cafeteria). This part of the trip was a bit less enjoyable for me because I like to get off the beaten path more. There is an area nearby where you can rent little cabins.. this would be a bit more expensive, but perhaps a nicer experience.
Staying with the Muslim family in the village was the highlight of the trip for me. I got to visit several different homes in the village and do several different activities. This felt much more authentic and unique.
If you are looking for a tour with a homestay, I highly recommend this company.
Written January 12, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abi G
1 contribution
Feb 2023
This was my 4th Andaman tour on my 4th visit to Thailand. I have done homestays at 2 of the villages and Moken day trip 3 or 4 times now. I love these experiences. This is the difference between being a tourist and actually sharing experiences and time with the people and the place in which you are traveling. The planned activities are fun, things that I probably would never do otherwise. The hosts and guides are really welcoming in sharing their worlds and interacting with us. I always learn something and come away with a new perspective. The Andaman staff are committed to serving both the visitors and the communities and families they are partnering with, which is the main reason why I choose Andaman Discoveries. I highly recommend!
Written March 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vicky S
London, UK74 contributions
Oct 2019 • Solo
I spent 2 days and 1 night with Andaman Discoveries program in community Ban Talae Nok & it exceeded my expectations.
I was reviewing for my site Earth-Changers.com & don't doubt they have their values & priorities in the right place, very focused on community positive impact & social benefits.
Plus it was a wonderful customer experience. I was interested in their post-Tsunami community support & found a community very positive, proactive & empowered. The homestays were prettier, spotlessly clean & much more relaxed than I expected. It was a joy to spend time with the Ladies cooperative & try my hand at various crafts. They were all lovely, as was Andaman Discoveries fluent Thai tour manager, a vital interface & bridge to cross cultural learning & sharing.
I was reviewing for my site Earth-Changers.com & don't doubt they have their values & priorities in the right place, very focused on community positive impact & social benefits.
Plus it was a wonderful customer experience. I was interested in their post-Tsunami community support & found a community very positive, proactive & empowered. The homestays were prettier, spotlessly clean & much more relaxed than I expected. It was a joy to spend time with the Ladies cooperative & try my hand at various crafts. They were all lovely, as was Andaman Discoveries fluent Thai tour manager, a vital interface & bridge to cross cultural learning & sharing.
Written October 30, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind feedback Vicky. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us and we hope that we will be able to welcome you again at Andaman Discoveries and in the beautiful area of Southern Thailand in the near future.
Written November 6, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
fcoya
san francisco304 contributions
Jan 2016
I took a tour with this organization and although well organized, it left me uninspired. They put you in a speed boat with a dozen other people and drop you off on a beautiful island. Trouble is they also drop off another 500 people and it turns into a zoo. You eat lunch in a mass dining area, tool around some of the nearby islands. The best part was the snorkeling, but even this was hard to find an area that wasn't crowded with people. I would gladly pay more next time and avoid mass crowded areas.
Written August 2, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear fcoya,
Thank you for joining our trip to Koh Surin National Park and taking your time to write this feedback for us. We are glad that you enjoyed snorkeling and the magnificent marine life around the islands.
Regards the amount of people on our Koh Surin Tour we would like to clarify that we are currently selling two different programs for Koh Surin; the Koh Surin Group Tour and the Koh Surin Private Tour as displayed on our website.
As you chose our group tour the trip is indeed shared with other visitors.
We are very sorry that our tour did not match your expectations, but we would love to welcome you back on one of our private tours with your personal local guide and bilingual translator exploring Koh Surin or emerging yourself into the Thai culture on one of our homestay trips on the North Andaman Coast.
Thank you again for your honest feedback and we do hope you have some good memories of snorkeling and swimming around Koh Surin National Park.
Best Regards from the Andaman Discoveries Team
Written August 8, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Cole A
Utrecht, The Netherlands16 contributions
Feb 2018 • Family
I couldn't be happier with Andaman Discoveries and how they led and organised our community focused school trip from the Netherlands. We spent around 8 days in Thailand mostly based around Khuraburi taking part in homestays, teaching English to Thai students, visiting Buddhist temples, improving schools, while also getting a chance to visit perfect, pristine and beautiful beaches. It was a memorable and meaningful experience. What I loved about the trip was how well our itinerary was planned for the trip, but also how our guides were helpful, patient and adaptable to whatever needs that our group had. I would definitely recommend using them for an eco-focused holiday and would hope to get a chance to go back sometime.
Written April 12, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us and we hope that we will be able to welcome you again at Andaman Discoveries and in the beautiful area of Southern Thailand in the near future.
Written May 18, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Philip D
Shanghai, China6 contributions
Jan 2017 • Family
We had a wonderful time staying with a local family in a small fishing village on the coast thanks to Andaman discoveries. We've been to this part of Thailand a number of times before and already knew it as a beautiful part of the world, but this trip really opened our eyes up to new things. The crafts and other activities we participated in were great fun for adults and kids, but more than anything what made an impression was just being there in the village for three days and adapting ourselves in a totally different rhythm. If you're up for something different and want to truly experience real local culture then this is for you.
Written February 8, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us and we hope that we will be able to welcome you again at Andaman Discoveries and in the beautiful area of Southern Thailand in the near future.
Written January 22, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mark S
Hereford, UK584 contributions
Dec 2016 • Family
My family spent 3 days at a homestay organised by Andaman Discoveries. Our guide was 'Bee' - a local to the Kuraburi area and with a wealth of relevant experience - and our homestay 'host' was Penai. We stayed in a Moken village on the island of Phra Thong. We loved every minute. It was amazing. A wonderful balance was struck - a mix of really interesting 'activities', such as fishing for our supper in the Mangrove, driving through the Savannah on a homemade tractor, learning to build squid traps, swimming on a deserted beach, learning to cook local cuisine, learning about local wildlife, and best of all, spending time with the Moken Village people - who were so warm, welcoming and friendly. Our host was a truly amazing cook - we ate like kings - most of the food we caught or saw caught the same day! Enhanced by fresh coconuts (cut down in front of us), fresh watermelon and pineapple, rice, noodles and specialities created by our host. Accommodation was in an occupied house - clean, comfortable, welcoming - we loved it. My children cried when we had to leave and would have stayed on for much longer! A great experience, that respects the local culture, everyone wins! Cannot recommend enough - a brilliant experience.
Written December 24, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us and we hope that we will be able to welcome you again at Andaman Discoveries and in the beautiful area of Southern Thailand in the near future.
Written May 25, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
BJCF_13
Seattle, WA28 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
What a fantastic experience and organization. I can't say enough about our 3 day - two night excursion to the island just across the river from Krabi town. My 19 year-old daugher and I traveled together and it was everything their website said it would be.
The accommodations were great. We had our own bungalow in a small compound shared by several families on the waterfront. Not a great beach for swimming, but beautiful for crabbing and clamming and for sunsets. They took care of the swimming portion with Day 2. Our bungalow had futons on the floor, a fan, and a bathroom with shower and European style toilet. Remember this is a rural homestead, not a luxury resort. You're essentially staying at villagers' homes. The stay was quite comfortable. They provide safe water to drink and coffee, tea and hot chocolate when desired.
The excursions were wonderful and gave us a real feel for local culture and lifestyles. During the course of the three days we did batik textile painting, saw a local kite competition, saw how local rice was processed, were given a demonstration by a local boat-maker, saw how they catch fish and clams, and attended a local Muslim primary school celebration / carnival / dance recital one evening. In addition to that we spent one whole day traveling via long tail boat to several of the neighboring islands to see a national park, go snorkeling, and swim at one of the resort beaches. Lots to do, but they also gave us plenty of relaxing "down-time" back at the house. It did not feel rushed at all.
The food was out-of-this-world. Breakfasts were simple: Thai doughnuts, waffles, sticky rice with custard, and fruit. But the lunches and dinners were spectacular, homemade, and primarily seafood focused - caught by the hosts in the waters right off shore. Curries, soups, stir-frys, and whole, grilled, seafood made with prawns, fish and squid and local vegetables. Fresh, flavorful, and plentiful. Hands down the best Thai food we'd ever had.
But best of all were our home stay hosts and the Andaman Discoveries guides / translators. We had two for our trip: Tui (leading) and Bee (in training). Everyone was so helpful, knowledgeable, and completely passionate about the mission of the company and the sustainability of these communities. They were also very open about all topics to help us better understand village life specifically and Thai culture in general. Joyful, welcoming, and accommodating, they made this a lifetime experience we will never forget. We can't thank them enough.
We highly recommend this trip and this organization.
The accommodations were great. We had our own bungalow in a small compound shared by several families on the waterfront. Not a great beach for swimming, but beautiful for crabbing and clamming and for sunsets. They took care of the swimming portion with Day 2. Our bungalow had futons on the floor, a fan, and a bathroom with shower and European style toilet. Remember this is a rural homestead, not a luxury resort. You're essentially staying at villagers' homes. The stay was quite comfortable. They provide safe water to drink and coffee, tea and hot chocolate when desired.
The excursions were wonderful and gave us a real feel for local culture and lifestyles. During the course of the three days we did batik textile painting, saw a local kite competition, saw how local rice was processed, were given a demonstration by a local boat-maker, saw how they catch fish and clams, and attended a local Muslim primary school celebration / carnival / dance recital one evening. In addition to that we spent one whole day traveling via long tail boat to several of the neighboring islands to see a national park, go snorkeling, and swim at one of the resort beaches. Lots to do, but they also gave us plenty of relaxing "down-time" back at the house. It did not feel rushed at all.
The food was out-of-this-world. Breakfasts were simple: Thai doughnuts, waffles, sticky rice with custard, and fruit. But the lunches and dinners were spectacular, homemade, and primarily seafood focused - caught by the hosts in the waters right off shore. Curries, soups, stir-frys, and whole, grilled, seafood made with prawns, fish and squid and local vegetables. Fresh, flavorful, and plentiful. Hands down the best Thai food we'd ever had.
But best of all were our home stay hosts and the Andaman Discoveries guides / translators. We had two for our trip: Tui (leading) and Bee (in training). Everyone was so helpful, knowledgeable, and completely passionate about the mission of the company and the sustainability of these communities. They were also very open about all topics to help us better understand village life specifically and Thai culture in general. Joyful, welcoming, and accommodating, they made this a lifetime experience we will never forget. We can't thank them enough.
We highly recommend this trip and this organization.
Written April 1, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your kind feedback. We are pleased to hear that you had a fantastic experience with us and we hope that we will be able to welcome you again at Andaman Discoveries and in the beautiful area of Southern Thailand in the near future.
Greetings,
The Andaman Discoveries Team
Written April 19, 2016
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
h-y
Osaka2 contributions
Mar 2023
Whilst I have ever visited Thailand many times as a tourist, the homestay experience in Ban Thale Nok village was totally different from my experiences in Thailand so far, it was really fascinating!
I could understand deeply about how local villagers make a living, how they overcome from tsunami disaster in 2003, and I could receive their hospitality.
I could enjoy soap making, traditional snack making, fishing, and so on.
Andaman Discoveries is a well-organized tour operator, who attach much value on community based and responsible tourism.
I think using their services means to contribute on villagers' life.
I could understand deeply about how local villagers make a living, how they overcome from tsunami disaster in 2003, and I could receive their hospitality.
I could enjoy soap making, traditional snack making, fishing, and so on.
Andaman Discoveries is a well-organized tour operator, who attach much value on community based and responsible tourism.
I think using their services means to contribute on villagers' life.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, how much is it for a half day elephant sanctuary experience? Thanks
Written November 25, 2018
Hi Sara,
Thank you for your interest in the elephant sanctuary experience cost 5200 THB base on 2 person
we look forward to hearing from you soon.
Best regards,
Tui
Written November 28, 2018
Showing results 1-1 of 1