Sea Canoes - Worth the Trip?
Aug 15th, 2004, 09:14 AM
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Sea Canoes - Worth the Trip?
Just saw a Canadian travel show which featured John Gray's Sea Canoes. Look like a great day trip. Concerned the trip is being made look better than is by clever production. Can any offer comments and make recommendation?
Aug 15th, 2004, 12:35 PM
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booked on arrival- not particularly cheap but unique. They take you by canoe into the limestone caves. Necessitates lying down and inching your way through at some points - but each canoe has a guide.
Aug 17th, 2004, 05:41 PM
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I joined the day trip by Sea Canoes several years ago. It is the highlight of my trip. Unlike other operators which go to 1-2 caves in the morning and leave you at the beach in the whole afternoon, Sea Canoes visited 3-4 caves. Also, the lunch provided is not bad. So, it's worth for extra dollar.
We booked the trip at our hotel 1-2 days ahead. And the counter told us the pickup time.
We booked the trip at our hotel 1-2 days ahead. And the counter told us the pickup time.
Oct 7th, 2004, 01:46 PM
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We're thinking about doing the starlight tour. The tours herding large crowds of people to Phi-Phi for snorkeling are sounding less and less appealing. We will only choose one tour. Please offer your opinion.
Oct 7th, 2004, 03:30 PM
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After feedback from this site and exchanging a few emails with John Gray's staff, we booked this tour. We will be going in early November. Depending on when you are going, we can let you know how it was. Let me know if the timing will still be good for you.
Oct 11th, 2004, 07:15 AM
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john44 -- it is a bit more expensive than some of the island tours. 3,450B for the starlight tour. it does include both lunch and dinner, and the reviews i've seen sat it's well worth the price. there is a day trip for a little less.
Oct 11th, 2004, 05:01 PM
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I've been told you might be able to negotiate a slightly better price upon arrival but you run the risk of not getting in. They have been featured on a number of travel shows and have been getting busy. In fact, that is how I learned of them. I didn't want to take chance so have prebooked. Rate includes pickup/dropoff from hotel.
Will update when we return.
Will update when we return.
Nov 14th, 2004, 11:47 AM
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Just back from Thailand and Hong Kong and WOW!
As promised, here is my review of the John Gray Sea Canoe - GO! GO! GO!
We went on the Starlight tour and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The guides were excellent - fun and extremely knowledgeable. I was impressed at their concern about the environment to the point of picking up garbage left by other tour groups ahead of us.
There were two meals included and the food was excellent and plentiful. They had a great supply of soft drinks, water, tea and coffee with fruit snack as well.
Scenery was phenomenal and at no time were we rushed. We had lots of time to soak in the surroundings and found the sights to be beautiful, serene and tranquil. We had the wonderful opportunity to observe from very close up about 14 Macque monkeys in their natural habitat.
If I am in the area again, I will definitely do this tour a second time.
A real don't-miss!
As promised, here is my review of the John Gray Sea Canoe - GO! GO! GO!
We went on the Starlight tour and it was one of the highlights of our trip. The guides were excellent - fun and extremely knowledgeable. I was impressed at their concern about the environment to the point of picking up garbage left by other tour groups ahead of us.
There were two meals included and the food was excellent and plentiful. They had a great supply of soft drinks, water, tea and coffee with fruit snack as well.
Scenery was phenomenal and at no time were we rushed. We had lots of time to soak in the surroundings and found the sights to be beautiful, serene and tranquil. We had the wonderful opportunity to observe from very close up about 14 Macque monkeys in their natural habitat.
If I am in the area again, I will definitely do this tour a second time.
A real don't-miss!
Nov 15th, 2004, 07:47 AM
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dj -- thanks so much for posting back. i just sent my enquiry to john gray yesterday for the starlight tour. i'm happy to hear it was fantastic! did you make it over to phi-phi as well? not sure we'll make time, although i'd love to do some good snorkeling.
Nov 15th, 2004, 04:03 PM
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We also did a day tour to Phi Phi Island with Phuket Adventures. This tour was by, what they called a speedboat, but was more like a fast cabin cruiser. The first half of the day was the best with a stop in Maya Bay (Phi Phi Ley). It was my first time snorkelling so I cannot comment on quality but I did like it alot. The water was very clear, good coral on bottom and plenty of colourful fish. Lunch at a private restaurant owned by tour group on a private beach and an afternoon stop at another private beach also managed by tour group proved to be a little disappointing. Although the tour delivered what they claimed, I would not recommend this tour.
Phi Phi Islands and area is very pretty and worth seeing, in my opinion. Next time we would likely do a private hire and head out very early in the day to get ahead of the crowd. If you do want to do the tour, pick one that stops in a village on the island not just at privately managed beaches. That way, at least you can walk around and see something after you eat.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Thailand was a wonderful place. I'm sure you will love both the country and its people.
Phi Phi Islands and area is very pretty and worth seeing, in my opinion. Next time we would likely do a private hire and head out very early in the day to get ahead of the crowd. If you do want to do the tour, pick one that stops in a village on the island not just at privately managed beaches. That way, at least you can walk around and see something after you eat.
Let me know if you have any other questions. Thailand was a wonderful place. I'm sure you will love both the country and its people.
Nov 16th, 2004, 07:25 AM
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dj -- thanks for the info on phi-phi. we may try to do a private hire for 1/2 day depending on the cost. this is one tour i think i will wait to book until we get there. maybe we'll meet a couple friends to share the price of a private boat, or find one that includes your recommendations. what else did you do in thailand and other highlights of your trip?
Nov 17th, 2004, 09:10 PM
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An alternative to Sea Canoe is a Riverrover trip,much smaller groups and paddle your own kayak,the one day trip however does not go to the caves and hongs,but is a lot of fun.
There liveaboard trip max 6 sleeping,for as many days as you want will take you to many caves and hongs and out of the way places,
There liveaboard trip max 6 sleeping,for as many days as you want will take you to many caves and hongs and out of the way places,
