Similan Islands

Similan Day Trips and Scuba Diving Trips

The Similan Islands are considered one of the most spectacular areas for scuba diving in Thailand and one of the top ten dive sites in the world.

This group of islands lie approximately 100 Kilometres northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.

The area is a marine nature park featuring some of the most beautiful beaches and marine life in Thailand.

Initially made up of a chain of nine granite islands, surrounded by clear tropical waters, breathtaking coral reefs and beautiful white beaches.

In 1982, the area was declared a marine national park, and so named Mu Koh Similan National Marine Park.

In 1998, the park boundary was extended to cover two more islands, Koh Tachai and Koh Bon. These two islands are located further north of the other nine islands.

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The Mu Ko Similan National Park authority maintains a residential centre for Park Rangers and support staff on two of the islands, those being Ko Similan, which is the largest island, and Ko Miang, which lies midway through the chain of islands.

Today, this group of small islands has become one of the leading attractions for visitors to southern Thailand and a favorite destination not only for scuba divers, but for yachts and catamaran tours as well.

While the Islands are an ideal destination for scuba divers, no holiday to Thailand feels complete without exploring the Similan Islands.

The tropical beauty of these unspoiled islands will fascinate non-divers as well, with the fine white sandy beaches and the unusual granite formations that are as spectacular as the waters that surround them.

The nine Islands are named from South to North; however, scuba divers more often refer to them by numbers.

Ko Hu Yong (Island 1) is the southernmost island and the closest island to Phuket, known for its rocky granite boulders and the island with the longest sandy beach.

Ko Payang (Island 2) is full of rocky mountains with cliffs and rock formations around the island.

Ko Payan (Island 3) is also quite rocky with cliffs; there are no beaches.

Ko Meang (Island 4) is the second largest Island and the headquarters of the park. There are two stunning beaches: a large beach and a smaller beach on the other side of the Island, which is about a twenty-minute walk through the forest.

This is the best area to see wildlife or to stay overnight. The channel between Meang and Payu Islands is one of the best spots to go snorkeling.

Beautiful clear waters at Ko Meang in the Similan Islands.

Ko Ha (Island 5) is only very small, but it is full of soft and stony coral.

Ko Payu (Island 6) has very good snorkeling and scuba diving sites on the eastern shore. Many divers prefer this site to any other because there are both hard and soft corals, sea fans, and many species of fish. There is no beach.

Ko Hin Pousar (Island 7) has an elephant head-shaped rock outcrop. Beneath this rocky outcrop are caves, swim-throughs and unique underwater formations.

Ko Similan (Island 8) is the largest Island in the chain and an excellent location for hiking and snorkeling. Ko Similan has a very small bay on the western side; there is a huge rock formation, and a hike to the top that offers sweeping views of the clear waters below.

View from the top of Sailing Rock at Koh Similan

Ko Ba ngu (Island 9) is known for good scuba diving at the north-western tip between some rocky outcrops known to local divers as Christmas point. The water depth is between 10 and 35 meters, where you can find lots of fish amongst the rock formations.

Bon or Talu Island has a beautiful white powdery beach, the waters around the island are also ideal for scuba diving, and whale sharks are often seen in the area.

Ko Tachai is located at the northernmost tip of the National Park. There is a beautiful white powdered beach, but no accommodation. The waters around the island are ideal for scuba diving, and whale sharks and manta rays are often found here.

Things to do at the Similan Islands

There are ample things to do while visiting the Similan Islands; obviously, the main activities are scuba diving and snorkeling.

However, Koh Similan and Koh Meang are both excellent spots for hiking and bird watching.

When you have had enough of doing all the physical activities, relax and enjoy the beautiful beaches and picturesque scenery.

Accommodation at the Similan Islands

There are limited places to stay on the Similan Islands as there are no hotels, resorts or bars.

However, the National Park authority has a few bungalows, campsites and tents available for overnight accommodation from November through to April.

If you are interested in booking accommodation at the Similan Islands, you can visit the Mu Ko Similan National Park website or call + 66 2562 0760.

Alternatively, you can organise your accommodation with tour operators in Phuket or Khao Lak.

There is a visitor’s centre, restaurant, showers and toilets located at each campground.

Day Trips to the Similan Islands by Speedboat

If you don't want to stay overnight, and you're not into diving, the best way to explore the Similan Islands is to take a day trip from Khao Lak or Phuket.

Over the years, we have done a couple of tours to the Similan Islands from both Khao Lak and Phuket.

The journey from Phuket takes much longer than if you're staying in Khao Lak; however, if staying a couple of nights in Khao Lak is not an option, the tour from Phuket is totally worth the longer journey.

If you're staying in Khao Lak, you will still have an early start, but with a lot less travel.

This is the speedboat tour that we booked and can highly recommend, the tour is available from either Phuket or Khao Lak.

Scuba Diving at the Similan Islands

If you want to explore the underwater world of the Similan Islands, the best way is to take a live-aboard dive trip from Phuket or Khao Lak.

There are many diving companies throughout Phuket that have this service, as well as a variety of boats that range in price to suit most budgets.

If you're a certified diver and are short on time, you can take a scuba diving day trip to the Similan Islands from Phuket.

The Similan Islands National Park is closed from May 1st to 31st October each year, and it is not possible to visit the park or the surrounding waters during this time.