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Similan Islands

Thailand's underwater paradise

The Similan Islands in Thailand’s Andaman Sea are a group of ten tropical islands known for clear turquoise waters and white sandy beaches. The area is part of a marine national park, protecting coral reefs and diverse sea life. Visitors can swim, snorkel or dive to see colorful fish and turtles. Many resorts operate on some islands, providing basic accommodations and boat tours. The islands are accessible by ferry from Phuket during the dry season. Weather patterns affect travel plans throughout the year.

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National Park in Thailand

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$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

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Safety: 4.6

General Safety:	6
Health & medical:	3
Accessibility:	2
Tap water:	2

Read details

3/5

English proficiency varies among tour guides and park rangers, with most having basic to intermediate skills. Communication about simple matters is generally smooth, but complex conversations might require patience and simple language. Key tourist informa

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Similan Islands Summary

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World-class for diving and clear waters. Explore vibrant coral reefs, snorkel tropical fish habitats, relax on white sand beaches and enjoy island boat trips.

Place score

7.1

Best at:

Sea

Diving

Islands

Natural sites

Beaches

Personal score

Suited for

👶 2

Families

🧓 2

Seniors

❤️ 8

Couples

🌈 7

LGBTQ+

Thailand – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Thai Baht (THB) £1 ≈ THB 44.95
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Thailand, especially in major cities. Mobile payments such as Line Pay, GrabPay, and Apple Pay are common. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Thailand, but it is appreciated. In restaurants, leaving 10% is common. Taxi fares are rounded up, and small tips for hotel staff are encouraged.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Thailand, though alcohol is available in licensed venues like bars and restaurants. Laws around drinking in public can be strictly enforced in some areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, including shopping centres and restaurants, but designated smoking areas are common.

Songkran (13–15 April)	Thai New Year celebrated with water fights
Father's Day (King Bhumibol Memorial Day) (5 December)	Honours the late King Bhumibol, with ceremonies across the country

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 191 (Police), 1155 (Tourist Police), 1669 (Ambulance), 199 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab, Bolt
Other:	Thailand is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and rich history. Popular activities include visiting temples, experiencing the vibrant nightlife, and enjoying the country’s diverse cuisine.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Similan Islands, Thailand

🌦️

Jan

🔥

Feb

🌦️

Mar

🌦️

Apr

🌦️

May

⛈️

Jun

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Jul

🌦️

Aug

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Sep

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Oct

🌦️

Nov

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Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, Dec.
Shoulder season:	April, Nov.
Crowdedness:	7 (Many tourists)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Park closed mid-May to mid-October: no day trips, no liveaboards, no overnight stays

Daily visitor quotas apply, book day trips and liveaboards well ahead December to February

Don't miss

🤿 Dive among colorful coral reefs and tropical fish
🏖️ Relax on the white sand of Donald Duck Bay
🌄 Climb Sail Rock for panoramic island views
🐠 Snorkel in crystal-clear waters teeming with marine life
🚤 Take a boat trip through the nine-island archipelago

You've been here?

Why travel to Similan Islands?

The Similan Islands offer one of Thailand's most authentic natural experiences, where you can escape the crowds of more popular destinations and immerse yourself in truly pristine surroundings. The underwater visibility here is exceptional, often exceeding 30 meters, revealing an aquatic paradise of colorful coral gardens, fascinating rock formations and an abundance of marine life from tiny reef fish to majestic sea turtles. For many visitors, swimming alongside these gentle creatures becomes a highlight of their entire Thailand trip. What makes the Similans special is their limited accessibility – with a cap of only 3,325 visitors per day (including 525 divers), the islands maintain their unspoiled beauty and avoid the overtourism affecting other Thai destinations. The national park is only open from November to mid-May, closing during monsoon season to allow the natural environment to recover. This preservation effort means that when you do visit, you're experiencing one of Thailand's most carefully protected ecosystems. Just be aware that this paradise comes with some limitations – you can only visit via guided tours and the experience tends to be focused on natural beauty rather than amenities or nightlife.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Ao Kuerk

🎡Places for activities

1 Elephant Head Rock Island
2 Shark Fin Reef

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Ao Kuerk

🛍️Shopping

1 Roumjai Market Khao Lak

🎈Events

National Park Opening Day (November)
Marine Conservation Week
Thailand Dive Expo
Songkran Water Festival
Loy Krathong
Similan Islands Marathon Swim
Underwater Photography Competition
Andaman Sea Festival
Thai New Year Celebrations
Marine Life Awareness Day

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Visit in the open season; closures protect reefs and beaches.
Most trips leave early from Thap Lamu Pier near Khao Lak; expect a fast, bumpy ride.
Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a dry bag and sturdy water shoes for boat landings and coral.
Choose reputable operators over cheapest speedboats – more space, better timing and calmer snorkeling stops improve the day.

How to travel to Similan Islands

The Similan Islands can only be visited via guided tours, typically departing from either Khao Lak or Phuket. Most visitors opt for speedboat day trips, which take about 1-1.5 hours from the mainland departure points of Tap Lamu Pier or Baan Nam Kem Pier near Khao Lak. Alternatively, more luxurious catamaran tours are available at higher prices. Early bird tours are recommended to beat the crowds and enjoy the beaches more peacefully. All tours must be booked in advance, especially during peak season, as the national park limits daily visitors to 3,325 people (including 525 divers).

Access summary

From Phuket Airport (HKT): Drive to Khao Lak pier about 1–1.5 hours; speedboat.
From Phuket town/patong: Transfer to Khao Lak or Phuket pier, then 2–3 hour speedboat.
From Khao Lak: Direct speedboats to Similan Islands, usually 1.5–2 hours each way.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Similan Islands

Accommodation options on the Similan Islands themselves are extremely limited, with only basic tents and a few simple bungalows available through the National Park service. Most visitors experience the islands as a day trip from Khao Lak or Phuket. For those wanting to maximize their time in the Similans, liveaboard diving boats offer multi-day trips with accommodation on board. These range from budget to luxury options and allow divers to reach the best sites at optimal times while avoiding the day-trip crowds.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

We couldn't find any nearby hotels for now.

How to get around Similan Islands

Getting around the Similan Islands is primarily done by the tour boat that brings you there. Most tours visit 2-3 islands during a day trip, with the boat moving between snorkeling spots and beaches. On the islands themselves, there are only simple walking paths through the forest and along beaches. No public transportation exists on the islands and there are no roads or vehicles. For those staying overnight on the islands (which is limited), movement between islands would require arrangement with park rangers or tour operators.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-47 %

Daily expenses in the region are around 47% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to THB) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs (Data for Phuket, Thailand - 110 km away)

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£42	£89	£229
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£19	£45	£105
🍝 Food per day	£19	£38	£108
🚕 Transportation per day	£5	£6	£17

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£18
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£5
🍟 Fast food combo	£7
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£6
☕ Cappuccino	£2.50
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.70

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£1.15
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£9.50
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£6.50
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£22
🤧 Cold medication	£2.60
💇 Basic haircut	£4.20

Safety information overview

General safety

The Similan Islands are generally very safe for tourists. The main concerns are water safety and sun exposure. Always follow guide instructions when snorkeling or diving. The park rangers maintain a visible presence on the islands to ensure rules are followed and visitors remain safe.

Health & Medical

Medical facilities on the islands are extremely limited to basic first aid only. For any significant medical issues, you would need to return to the mainland. Bring any necessary medications and be aware that evacuation in case of emergency could take several hours depending on weather conditions.

Accessibility

The Similan Islands present significant challenges for visitors with mobility issues. Boats require climbing in and out, beaches are not developed with accessibility infrastructure and paths on islands can be uneven and steep. Those with limited mobility should inquire specifically with tour operators about accessibility options.

Tap water

There is no tap water system on the Similan Islands. Visitors should bring their own drinking water or purchase bottled water from the limited facilities on the main islands. Tour operators typically provide drinking water during day trips. Staying hydrated is essential in the tropical climate.