Mermaid Cruises

Welcome to Mermaid Cruises

Explore the Gulf of Thailand from Hua Hin
Welcome to the home page of Mermaid Cruises. Come and explore with us the beauty of the Gulf of Thailand from our base close to Hua Hin. In these pages you can discover secret places only accessible from the water to make your holiday a magical memory.

Our flagship, the "Peacock", is a newly refitted and comprehensively equipped, 70 foot traditional teak-built Thai pleasure boat. It is the biggest and best equipped tour boat in the Hua Hin area.

Relax or party in the large enclosed salon with bar for up to 40 passengers with DVD, stereo and karaoke systems.

There is a spacious covered seating area on the upper deck, in addition there are sun and fishing decks as well as two double cabins.

Kingfisher

Thailand’s first and only electrically powered tour boat, built to Mermaid  Cruises’ own concept and pecifications.

Enjoy relaxing tours to the Mangroves and along the Pranburi River in total silence, admiring the local flora and fauna, such as 2-metre long Monitor Lizards and exquisite Kingfishers, Egrets, Bee Eaters, and much, much more.

Sea Cruises

Evening Squid Fishing

The tour starts by admiring the panoramic view of the area from a hilltop temple. Watch the sun set as we cruise down to  Hat Sai Yai with the Golden Buddha on the hill. Fish for squid in the bay, bar-b-cue your catch on board, delicious Thai buffet,  fresh fruit, music, DVD, bar, karaoke, transport to and from  hotel.  SPECIAL TOUR: Once a week, we depart a little later and turn the Squid Fishing Trip into a combination Party Night with great music and wonderful food.  6p.m. - 10p.m.

6p.m. - 10p.m. 

Monkey Island

Full day of fun for the whole family.  The tour starts by admiring the panoramic view of the area from a hilltop temple. Cruise through the picturesque fishing village of Pak Nam Pran and out to the open sea. Set sail to Monkey Island, ferry ashore to feed the monkeys (bananas provided), try some fishing (rods and bait provided) or maybe just enjoy a relaxing swim in the clean, calm, warm, safe waters of the Gulf or try some kayaking. Delicious Thai buffet lunch on board, fresh fruit, music, DVD, bar, karaoke, transport to and from hotel.

9a.m. – 4.30p.m.

All Day Fishing Trip

Fishing at various locations around the bay, bar-b-cue your  catch on board, transport to and from hotel. Thai buffet, Music, DVD, Bar, Karaoke.

9a.m. – 5p.m.

Khao Sam Roi Yod

Full-day trip to Thailand’s first marine national park.  The tour starts by admiring the panoramic view of the area from a hilltop temple. Cruise through the picturesque fishing village of Pak Nam Pran and out to the open sea. Set sail to Kao Sam Roi Yod, ferry to beach (entrance fee extra), climb to and explore cave, relax on beach or on board. Delicious Thai buffet, music, DVD, bar, karaoke, transport to and from hotel.

9 a.m. – 4.30 p.m.

** On our full day trips there's always a chance to  catch a glimpse of the endangered Irrawaddy dophins.

River Cruises

Eco river trip, as already featured on Thai TV  Enjoy the beauty of the local scenery on Thailand’s first ever electric tour boat

Sit back and admire the magnificent flora and fauna of the Pak Nam Pran/Pran Buri area in complete silence while cruising on our brand- new luxury river boat.

Pick-up from hotel approx. 8.30 a.m., see the fantastic view from a local hilltop temple. Travel to Mermaid Pier and board the Kingfisher electric boat. Cruise to the Forest Park Mangrove Swamp. Guided tour through one of the few intact mangrove areas with its various species of crab and other fauna and visit the forest park right on the beach. Return to Mermaid Pier approx. 12 noon.

Lunch

Enjoy an exquisite barbecue lunch of delicious locally caught seafood: white/red snapper barbecued in banana leaf with yellow curry and coconut, spring onions, garlic and white wine, fresh barbecued prawns and squid, egg-fried rice, fresh  papaya salad, fresh fruit (3 types according to availability chosen from pineapple, water melon, honeydew melon, mango, dragon fruit, etc.). Other food can be provided on request for those who do not eat fish.

Afternoon section (leave 1.30 p.m.)

Board the Kingfisher and travel up the beautiful Pran Buri river. See a fantastic array of flora and fauna, including Kingfishers (of course), Egrets, Sea eagles and many others, plus the magnificent monitor lizards up to over 2 meters long.

Watch the local river fishermen at their work and feed the fish at a local fish reserve. Tour ends at Pran Buri railway bridge at approx. 4 p.m., return to hotel approx. 4.30 p.m.

** Half-day tours also available on request 

Boat details

Built July 2006
8 meters long, 1.65 m wide fibre-glass hull, interactive seating for up to 12 passengers plus 2 crew.

4.5 HP electric direct-drive long-tail motor, 6 x 6 volt deep-cycle batteries

Maximum speed fully loaded: 10-12 knotsDraught fully loaded: 30 cm
Range: 7 hours at 6-7 knots

Kayaks

We have just the thing for those who are a bit more energetic and wish to explore the river and surrounding area under their own “steam”. Our new 2 and 3 man kayaks are ideal for families and small groups to discover the smaller tributaries and difficult to access areas where our larger craft cannot go. With miles and miles of waterway available, you can be sure of a full day’s healthy and invigorating activity.

Charters

Why not charter “The Peacock” for your special day cruise. Ideal for family parties, business groups, seminars, team-building, etc.

Already featured in a movie on Thai TV.

The "Peacock" is licensed by the Thai Marine Authority and incorporates extensive safety features including life-jackets, life-belts, GPS, VHF, ship-to-shore radio, depth sounder, fish-finder, fire extinguishers, first aid kit. We also have our own dinghy for transport to and from the boat. The "Peacock" is operated by a fully qualified permanent crew and is available for day cruises, fishing trips and private charters.

A one day charter includes:

Hire of boat with qualified and licensed skipper plus two additional crew.

Sufficient fuel for a 7-hour cruise.

Full use of onboard equipment - DVD, Karaoke system, fish finder, etc.

We also have our own dinghy for transport to and from the boat.

Fully stocked bar with drinks at very reasonable prices.

Fishing equipment included.

Food of just about any type can be provided on request at very reasonable prices. Mermaid Cruises has its own chef and kitchen staff, ensuring that all food is prepared fresh on site directly before departure.

Boat details

Built in 1987 from takian timber (stronger than teak)
Weight: approx. 40 tons
20 metres long, 5 metres wide
Draught: 1.8 m
Licensed for 40 passengers
Drive engine: 330 HP in-line 6 cylinder diesel Hino with hydraulic
transmission
Auxiliary engine: 85 HP 4-cylinder diesel Isuzu driving a 10 KW
generator
Dual 240 v/12 v electrical system
2000 litres of fresh water
2000 litres of diesel fuel
Maximum speed: 12 knots
Cruising speed 7-8 knots

Places of Interest Around Hua Hin

Here's just a taste of places to visit while you're in Hua Hin, together with a bit of history of this famous royal resort.

Khao Sam Roy Yod

Thailand's Marine Park The name Khao Sam Roi Yod officially means Mountain of 300 Peaks though some locals claim that long ago a boat ran aground here and there were 300 fatalities. This version ties with the legend that long ago the area was populated by
pirates and highwaymen who preyed on boats and travelers when not hiding in the many caves. Perhaps there's still some hidden treasure? If so, maybe we'll find it on one of our trips.

Hua Hin Town

More than just beautiful beaches Hua Hin is unlike any other beach resort in Thailand. If you're looking for bright lights and the frantic all-night action of cabarets and discos, you may be disappointed here. However, if you enjoy walks through the quiet winding streets of a friendly coastal village, sampling delicious seafood in restaurants overlooking the brightly lit fishing boats on the Gulf of Thailand or a round of golf on one of the several international standard links, Hua Hin could very well be what you're looking for; Hua Hin has a special character all its own.

History

A little bit of background... Hua Hin became popular as a rainy season retreat in the 1920's with the construction of the railway line from Bangkok. The beautiful, colonial style Railway Hotel was built near Hua Hin's famous rocks in 1923 by the State Railway Authority, which also built Thailand's first public golf course in Hua Hin in 1924.

In 1926, King Rama VII built the Klai Kangwon (Far From  Worries) Palace on the beach a few km north of the Railway Hotel and this palace is still frequently used by the Royal Family. This set the stage for Hua Hin's popularity and unique ambiance which remains to this day.

Food

Some of the best food in Thailand The active fishing port guarantees fresh seafood and Hua Hin has it all, including dishes not found in other parts of Thailand. There are many styles of restaurant, from a row of large, brightly lit establishments with extensive menus along the beach near the pier to small stalls at the lively night market specializing in only a tasty dish or two.

While Thai and Chinese seafood reign here, there are also many restaurants offering everything from pizza and pasta to tandoori chicken and meat pies and other popular international dishes.

Paknampran / Pranburi

Home to the Pranburi Forest Park and the home base of Mermaid Cruises. Only 25 km south of Hua Hin, the fishing village of Pak Nam Pran is a vibrant fishing port known all over Thailand for its squid specialities. The area is fast becoming theThai Riviera, where top-class resorts blend with the beauty of the unspoilt local scenery.

Pranburi is the only settlement on the Pranburi River, which flows 130 km from Kaeng Krachan National Park before entering the Gulf of Thailand at Paknampran. The river and local area is filled with wildlife, including Kingfishers, Egrets, Wild Peacock and over 2 metre long amphibious Monitor Lizards.There are also two 18-hole golf courses in the immediate vicinity.