I highly recommend the Blue World Safari Tour of the island. They have an incredible staff, and we only had ten people on our trip accompanied by a total of six crew. They saw to our every need. The company also includes transportation to and from your hotel to the harbor which is a fun way to see parts of Phuket if you don't want to rent a car while you're here. On the return trip, Jenny saw elephants from the road, so even the trip to the boat can be eventful.
The boats itself is a high speed catamaran that is clearly well-cared for. It had room for four times the number of passengers, so there was plenty of room for us to spread out. The boat ride itself was an amazing experience, and the food provided was quite delicious.
Anyway, on to the trip, we left the harbor around 10:00 a.m. with a stop at a lagoon off the coast of Honeymoon Island to spot dolphins. We were blessed with sighting a small pod (15-20) of bottle nose dolphins. We watched these majestic animals play around the boat, including hearing them vocalize at several points, for twenty minutes or so. This was a wonderful start to the trip considering our guide said there was no guarantee they would be there.
Next, we went on to Phi Phi Island's Monkey Beach. This is exactly what it sounds like and after a snorkel trip through waters filled with colorful fish, we arrived on a beach filled with playful monkeys surrounded by jungle, cliffs, and blue-green water. It was a magical, surreal experience. I would love to bottle up the feelings and take them back with me.
After this stop, we were off to the smaller Phi Phi Islands. We passed by Viking Cave where the locals harvest swallow bird's nests because they are a local delicacy that when eaten is supposed to keep you youthful. I'm an adventurous eater, but I'm not sure about trying that particular dish. After a brief pause to take pictures, the boat stopped near a particular small island where some of us went snorkeling again, and I was able to see several black tipped reef sharks. I was able to catch one on camera, but the experience itself was indescribable.
Our last stop was at the Maya Bay, the beach made famous by the movie mentioned earlier. Unfortunately, the currents were a little stronger than the crew was comfortable with, so they brought us to a lagoon on the opposite side of the bay, and we had to climb up a cargo net over some rocks to then walk through the jungle to get to the beach. I think the moment I was most excited about was the fact that my wife with her busted elbow and fear of heights braved this part of the trip. For her bravery, we were rewarded with a swim at one of the most picturesque beaches I have ever seen. It was no surprise why this particular beach has become a popular destination.
The return trip was relaxing, and we managed to see some flying fish on the way back. Overall, I cannot recommend this particular excursion enough. And now pictures...
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