This shore excursion aims to provide an immersive and educational experience — raising awareness of the threats facing Phuket’s marine life and wildlife, highlighting local conservation projects, and offering a hands-on contribution to these efforts.

We wanted to highlight two key organisations deserving of recognition:

The Sireetarn Marine Endangered Animals Rescue Centre, part of the Marine and Coastal Resources Research Centre (Upper Andaman Sea), is dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of sick or injured marine animals, including sea turtles and marine mammals. As well, the centre is committed to community outreach, organising beach cleans and educating the public on ocean conservation.

At Sireetarn, guests learn from marine biologists about the threats facing sea turtles, such as plastic pollution and bycatch. In 2025, we funded three durable, bilingual educational signs installed on site. These signs cover marine life threats, rescue operations, and how visitors can help. The signage (104 x 65.7 cm each) is made from eco-friendly materials and is permanently displayed in the rescue centre’s public learning area.

Guests then participate in a beach clean-up, collecting litter that endangers marine ecosystems, and engage in ethical turtle feeding under close supervision.

The Phuket Gibbon Rehabilitation Project has been operating since 1992 to rescue, rehabilitate, and reintroduce gibbons to the wild, as well as to educate the public. Gibbons were poached to extinction in Phuket’s last remaining rainforest over 40 years ago. The organisation aims to raise awareness of the challenges faced by captive gibbons and to highlight the role tourism plays in driving demand for baby gibbons.

Guests explore the forested enclosure and learn about the illegal wildlife trade. We follow strict no-touch policies, focusing on observation, education, and support. The foundation rescues as many gibbons as possible, rehabilitates them, and eventually releases them into a national park. To reduce contact with the gibbons, visitor numbers are restricted, and visits are available only through pre-booked learning sessions.

We developed this idea with sustainability and animal welfare in mind, designing it in collaboration with our local partners.

Key goals include:
• Raising awareness of endangered species through engagement with conservation professionals
• Inspiring ocean conservation and action through a beach clean-up
• Promoting responsible tourism and ethical, non-intrusive wildlife interaction

Transport logistics have been adjusted to minimise emissions, and all materials used -including clean-up kits, are plastic-free and reusable.

Launched in 2024, this tour has already been enjoyed by hundreds of guests and has become a commercial success, proving that sustainability and education can work hand in hand.

We believe the excursion has achieved the goals we set out to accomplish:
• Over 100 kilograms of marine debris removed through guest-led beach clean-up activities.
• The majority of guests reported increased awareness of marine and wildlife threats, and a stronger intention to reduce single-use plastic.
• Both projects have seen increased online support and donations following exposure from cruise guest visits and shared experiences.
• Staff training programmes were supported to enhance their capacity to deliver conservation education in both Thai and English.

Through our long-term partnerships with local projects, incorporating meaningful interactions with local experts and hands-on activities for the guests, this tour proves that conservation and tourism can thrive side by side. This excursion is more than just a visit as it is also an active conservation effort, co-created with Phuket’s local heroes and supported by action, funding, and ongoing collaboration.

This tour was shortlisted for Best Excursion at the Wave Awards 2025, and we are proud to receive this recognition from such a respected industry panel, especially in such a competitive category.

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