Similan Islands from Phuket: Complete Guide 2026
The Similan Islands are a place worth flying to Thailand for. I've been here 8 times, and each time I leave feeling like I've visited another dimension. Turquoise water so clear you can see the bottom at 30 meters, pristine white sand, giant boulders, and sea turtles swimming right beside you. This is the best snorkeling in Thailand, and I'm not exaggerating.
What Are the Similan Islands
The Similans are an archipelago of 9 islands in the Andaman Sea, roughly 70 km northwest of Phuket. Since 1982 it has been a national park (Mu Ko Similan National Park). The islands are numbered 1-9: tourists usually visit islands 4 (Koh Miang), 8 (Koh Similan), and 9 (Koh Ba Ngu). Each island is a separate universe with unique coral reefs and marine life.
The name "Similan" comes from the Malay word "sembilan" -- nine. Simple and precise: nine islands, nine reasons to fall in love.
Season: When You Can Visit
This is a crucial point many overlook: the Similan Islands are open only from October 15 to May 15. The rest of the time the park is closed -- monsoons, strong waves, dangerous currents. No exceptions.
Best time to visit: December through April. Maximum calm seas, underwater visibility reaches 30+ meters, almost no rain. I've been in both November and April -- both were spectacular.
Tip: book your tour in advance, especially for December-January. The park limits visitors to 3,850 per day, and in peak season slots fill up a week ahead.
Tour Types
One-Day Tour (Most Popular)
Pickup from hotel at 5:30-6:00 AM, drive to Tab Lamu Pier (about 1.5 hours from Phuket). Speedboat about 1 hour 15 minutes to the islands. You visit 3-4 islands with snorkeling and beach stops. Return to hotel by 18:00-19:00.
Price: 2,600-4,500 baht. Included: transfer, speedboat, mask and snorkel, lunch on the island, fruit, water, park entry (400 baht).
Two-Day Tour with Overnight
For those who want to see the Similans properly. You sleep in tents on Koh Miang (island 4) -- yes, right on the white sand beach, under the stars. A completely different level of experience: in the evening the beach empties, you swim in warm water alone, at night -- a starry sky without light pollution.
Price: 5,500-8,000 baht. Includes everything above plus tent, dinner, breakfast, and additional snorkeling spots that day-trippers don't visit.
I've spent three nights on the Similans and count those among the best nights of my life. If you can -- take the two-day tour without hesitation.
What You'll See
Donald Duck Bay (Island 8)
The Similans' calling card -- a bay with a giant boulder resembling Donald Duck's head. Here you'll also find the Sail Rock viewpoint -- a 15-20 minute hike up a trail, but the view from the top is worth it.
Coral Reefs and Snorkeling
The main reason to visit. Visibility 20-30 meters, coral is alive and colorful, hundreds of fish species. I'm not exaggerating: neither Phi Phi, nor Ko Lan, nor even the Maldives offer snorkeling this good on the surface. You simply dip your face in the water and find yourself in an aquarium.
Sea Turtles
Green and hawksbill turtles are regularly spotted. I saw turtles on 6 out of 8 trips, usually near islands 7 and 8. They're completely unafraid of people and swim within a meter of you.
National Park Rules
- Entry fee: 400 baht for foreigners (usually included in tour price)
- Prohibited: touching coral, feeding fish, collecting shells or rocks, using sunscreen with oxybenzone (reef-safe only)
- Fins: allowed only for snorkeling, not for walking in shallows
- Trash: zero tolerance. Everything you bring, you take back
- Drones: prohibited without special permission
- Smoking: banned on beaches
Want to visit the Similans? I'll help with booking!
I'll find the best tour for your budget, verified operator, no markups. Been 8 times -- I know all the nuances.
Message usWhat to Bring
- Reef-safe sunscreen -- regular sunscreen is banned, checked at boarding
- Rash guard or swim shirt -- back burns instantly, even with sunscreen
- Underwater camera or phone case -- without it you'll regret it. Seriously
- Motion sickness tablets -- the speedboat bounces on waves, Dramamine 30 min before departure solves it
- Dry bag -- for phone, documents, money. Spray on the speedboat is real
- Cash -- no ATMs on the islands. 500-1,000 baht for fins, extra drinks, tips
- Towel -- not all operators provide one
Price Comparison 2026
| Tour Type | Price (baht) | What's Included | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 day, speedboat | 2,600-3,500 | Transfer, boat, lunch, snorkeling, entry | Most tourists |
| 1 day, premium | 3,500-4,500 | + small group, better food, extra stops | Comfort seekers |
| 2 days, tent | 5,500-7,000 | Everything + overnight, dinner, breakfast | Maximum experience |
| 2 days, bungalow | 7,000-8,000 | Everything + bungalow instead of tent | Comfort + nature |
My Personal Experience: 8 Trips Over 4 Years
My first trip to the Similans was 2 months after moving to Phuket -- and I was stunned. I've traveled a lot, seen the Maldives, Seychelles, Bora Bora, but the Similans are different. There's no luxury feeling, no overwater bungalows, but there's real, living, wild beauty. The kind of beauty the ocean had before mass tourism.
I now go 1-2 times per season and take guests each time. Not a single person has ever said "it wasn't worth it." Not one.