Tachai Island A Tourist’s Paradise

The 11th of the Similan Islands, Tachai Island is a new gem of the Andaman we shall explore today. Its beauty is up there with the best, so join us today as we take a tour around this new fascinating island.

At Tab Lamu Pier in Phang-Nga province, we were greeted by our guide who cheerfully led our team aboard the boat and gave preliminary safety instructions us we took our seats. She mentioned that if we were lucky, we would be greeted by a school of dolphins that inhabit the area. But on this day, there were no dolphins, which was ok, as the hour and a half speedboat ride itself was very pleasant.

As we approached the island, the blond tourist sitting next to us exclaimed in admiration at the beauty that spread before him. We, too, were awe-stricken at the white, powdery sand and the clear sparkling water that surrounded the isle.

Our guide informed us that the sands on Tachai were actually a mixture of seaweed and corals that had died and had eventually transformed into this fine white powder. This is truly a miraculous creation of Mother Nature kindly bestowed upon us.

On the beach, there are many corners ideal for picture-taking or just relaxing. Many visitors spread their towels and settled down for sun-bathing, some took a stroll on the soft sands while others took a swim in the ocean.

There are several great viewpoints on the island where you could see The Surin Islands out in the distance. Today, we were lucky to come face-to-face with a small, harmless black-tip shark who swam by to check us out.

One other activity we can’t miss is trekking around the island to look at hairy-legged mountain crabs that hide in the damp bushes. By nature, these crabs only come out at night; but here on Tachai Island, they crawl out in broad day light to show-off their big claws all the way down to the beach.

Venturing up the mountains, we continued our hike through the woods lined with all kinds of trees and bushes, all competing for sunlight. As we reached the other end of the forest, we were rewarded with great view of the other side of the island.

The sight of towering cliffs surrounding the island and waves crashing against the rocks was quite spectacular. It made us feel refreshed and appreciative of rich nature on Tachai Island which of course, we didn’t forget to capture every impressive moment on the heavy cameras that the team painstakingly carried up with them.

It’s time for a little fun under the sea so our attentive guide arranged our team a snorkeling tour to a wonderful sight abundant with all kinds of fish and marine species, large and small. We eagerly put on our masks, fins and snorkels then dove right into the inviting water. What an incredible sight lay in front of us!  Colorful corals and amazing fishes were everywhere and we enjoyed every single moment of it.

The atmosphere at Tachai Island during our trip was impeccable. The sky was bright blue, the sand powdery soft and the water sparking clear against the sunlight. We were happy to see how rich nature still is here and felt thankful to be able to experience such pureness.

Dos and Don’ts when visiting Tachai Island:

1. Don't touch or harm natural resources such as corals and plants.
2. Don't feed the fishes or other marine species as this could interfere with their ability to find food (Tachai Island is closed 6 months a year).
3. Do bring necessary accessories such as large-brimmed hat, sunglasses, sun block, etc.

This fun trip was arranged by Sea Star Tour, a travel agent with attentive staffs who prepared all the guests with a choice of delicious food, snacks and ice cream throughout the trip.  The guide was sweet and informative, and we came home with new knowledge and fond memories to last till next time.

For more information on travels to Tachai Island, please contact Sea Star Tour at Tel. 076 350144 and 086 2762112 or log go to www.seastarandaman.com  /  e-mail. info@seastarandaman.com.