Starting from 1 October, 2021, the ‘Amazing Khao Lak-Ko Yao Sandbox’ programme allows fully vaccinated visitors to stay in Khao Lak and Ko Yao in Phang-Nga province just north of Phuket for 7 nights, after which they will be able to continue their journey to other parts of Thailand.
Subsequently from 1 November, 2021, visitors will be able to stay in any areas in Phang-Nga for 7 days before continuing their journey to other Thai destinations.
Pre-Arrival
Preparing for Travel
Kindly note that in order to be eligible to enter Thailand under the ‘Sandbox’ programme, fully vaccinated international travellers still need to have all of their advance arrangements in good order for arrival and entry.
These include:
- A passport with at least 6 months validity.
- A certificate of vaccination against COVID-19 with a vaccine approved by Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health or the World Health Organisation (WHO) no less than 14 days before their travel date. Travellers who have recovered from COVID-19 also need to be fully vaccinated at least 14 days before travel. Children under the age of 18 travelling with their parents/guardians do not require proof of vaccination.
- A confirmed return flight ticket. A confirmed return flight ticket. (Currently, Cathay Pacific, HK Express, El Al Israel Airlines, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, Jetstar Asia, Scoot Tiger Airlines, Condor Airlines and Thai Airways International are operating direct international flights to Phuket. Transit/transfer flights from Bangkok are also available. Please check flight schedules on the respective airlines’ websites or agencies.)
- Payment confirmation for no less than seven nights stay at SHA Plus-certified hotel/s.
- Payment confirmation for RT-PCR COVID-19 tests that cover the whole duration of stay in Thailand via www.thailandpsas.com.
- Copy of an insurance policy in English covering healthcare and treatment expenses for COVID-19 per applicant for the whole duration in Thailand with coverage clearly identified as no less than US$100,000. (TAT recommends that travellers make sure to check the small print of any COVID-19 insurance policy before purchasing. Ultimately, the policy should cover the cost of treatment and other medical expenses associated with being infected with COVID-19, including in-patient hospitalisation. The policy should also cover the whole duration that travellers are planning to stay in Thailand.)
Providing that you meet all the above points, you can go to https://coethailand.mfa.go.th/ to apply for a Certificate of Entry (COE). Interested vaccinated foreign tourists are recommended to enquire at the Royal Thai Embassy or Consulate in their home country for more details.
Day of Travel
Bring along printed documentation – which must be in English – that was required for the COE, along with a negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travel. Travellers may need to be able to present all the required documentation upon request during flight check-in.
Travellers under 18 years of age, travelling with their parents or guardians, must have a negative RT-PCR test result (COVID-19 not detected) issued no more than 72 hours before travel.
Please note that failing to comply with your respective airline’s guidelines can result in denied boarding.
Arrival
Entry Screening
Travellers on direct international flights to Phuket International Airport are subject to health screening, including a COVID-19 nasal swab RT-PCR testing and Immigration procedures at the point of entry. Children under 6 years of age will receive a COVID-19 saliva RT-PCR testing.
Travellers on transit/transfer flights from Bangkok are subject to health and Immigration procedures at the first point of entry into Thailand, and undergo steps as required at Phuket International Airport.
Day 0-1
Travellers must download and install an alert application, as well as set the application on at all times for the whole duration in Thailand.
Travellers to Khao Lak (Natai – Khao Lak – Nam Khem)
Then, proceed directly to the reserved SHA Plus-certified hotel by the SHA Plus-certified transport via the Tha Chatchai Checkpoint, and await the first RT-PCR COVID-19 test result in their hotel room only.
- If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go travel around the Blue Zone Khao Lak area.
- If testing positive for COVID-19, travellers will be referred to a healthcare facility for medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance.
Travellers to Ko Yao
Must do so from a specified marina/pier in a SHA Plus-certified transportation establishment in Phuket. These are Ao Po Pier, Rassada Pier, Visit Panwa Pier, Cholong Bay Pier, Ao Po Grand Marina, Phuket Boat Lagoon Marina, Phuket Yacht Haven Marina and Roya Phuket Marina.
- If testing negative for COVID-19, travellers can go travel around the Blue Zone Ko Yao area.
- If testing positive for COVID-19, travellers will be referred to a healthcare facility for medical treatment, for which the expenses must be covered by the required insurance.
During the Stay
Day 1-7
Travellers are welcome to stay less than 7 nights in Phang-Nga. However, they can only travel back to Phuket International Airport and must leave Phuket immediately on an international flight to another country.
Travellers who intended to stay more than 7 nights can go anywhere within the ‘Blue Zone Free Travel’ areas in Khao Lak and Ko Yao. However, they must undergo the second COVID-19 RT-PCR test on Day 6-7. After receiving a negative test result on Day 7, travellers can obtain a ‘Release Form’, and from Day 8 continue their journey to other destinations in Thailand.
For the second RT-PCR test, visitors must present their prepaid voucher for this to their hotel in Phang-Nga ahead of time and make a booking for the test at a choice of local assigned hospitals. Kindly note that when the swab testing is done before 12.00 Hrs. (noon) the result will come within the same day; if after 12.00 Hrs. (noon), the result will come the following day.
The assigned hospitals are Andaman Hub Medical, Takuapa Hospital, Takuathung Hospital, Thaimuang Hospital, Koh Yao Hospital, and Phu-nui Hospital Health Centre.
Health & Safety Precautions
Protect yourself and others from COVID-19
While in Thailand, travellers are advised to continue with the D-M-H-T-T-A precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19: D – Distancing, M – Mask wearing, H – Handwashing, T – Temperature check, T – Testing for COVID-19, and A – alert application. Masks must be worn at all times in public areas and in any vehicle with 2 or more people.
Tourist safety
The Royal Thai Government places the highest priority on the safety and well-being of every visitor to Thailand. And as the main government agency responsible for the promotion and marketing of Thailand as a preferred destination, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is working closely with all concerned public and private organisations to ensure the utmost efforts to prevent any unfortunate incidents occurring on tourists and the local Thai people.
Departure
International Departure
For travelling Phang-Nga via Phuket to other countries, travellers are advised to follow the guidelines and measures announced by the respective country of their destination.
Domestic Departure
For travelling from Phang-Nga via Phuket to other Thai destinations, travellers are required to show proof that they have completed a 7-night stay in Phang-Nga together with the negative results of their 2 RT-PCR COVID-19 tests along with other required documentation per the guidelines and measures announced by the respective destinations.
We wish all visitors an enjoyable, safe, and rewarding holiday in Thailand during this exciting time in which we are able again to welcome travellers from around the world.
Kindly note the information is subject to change without prior notice.
