The Similan Islands are nine main islands in the Andaman Sea and part of Mu Ko Similan National Park. They sit off the Phang Nga coast, not off Patong or Kata. That is why every Similan Islands Tour from Phuket starts so early.
Unlike many islands around Phuket, there are no beach hotels, bars or jet skis. Granite boulders, pale quartz sand and reefs set the scene. You do not come for one photo stop. You come for the whole picture, above and below the water.
The Similan Islands are nine main islands in the Andaman Sea and part of Mu Ko Similan National Park. They sit off the Phang Nga coast, not off Patong or Kata. That is why every Similan Islands Tour from Phuket starts so early.
Unlike many islands around Phuket, there are no beach hotels, bars or jet skis. Granite boulders, pale quartz sand and reefs set the scene. You do not come for one photo stop. You come for the whole picture, above and below the water.
The honest answer: yes, but not for everyone.
The Similans are much farther than Racha Yai or Coral Island. The day starts very early and often ends in the evening. Add the van to the pier and an open-sea crossing.
If you like snorkeling, can give a full day to a national park, and want white beaches, granite and several water stops, the trip is worth it. If you want as little time in a van and on a boat as possible, you will be happier closer to Phuket – for example a catamaran around Phuket.
For us the Similan Islands still earn the long day because of the snorkeling and the park landscape. We do not dress that up, and we do not sell it as a “short island day”.
On a day trip you do not see all nine islands. The programme focuses on snorkeling, a beach stop and Sail Rock. Weather, current and park rules can swap stops. Always read the itinerary on the tour you book.
Koh Similan is Island No. 8 and the best-known island in the group. This is where Sail Rock (Hin Pousar) sits above Donald Duck Bay. White sand, turquoise water, big boulders. If you are steady on your feet, do the short climb. The path is uneven and rocky – shoes or water shoes help. It is not mountaineering, and it is not a promenade either.
Koh Miang is Island No. 4 and features on almost every day trip. You go ashore, there are paths through the vegetation and park facilities. Princess Bay is the known beach. Lunch is often served here, with time to swim or walk. After the early start and the first snorkel, this is the slowest part of the day. That is the point.
Koh Ba Ngu is Island No. 9. Many tours snorkel from the boat here, around Christmas Point or Namchai Bay. You usually do not land. Visibility that day is not something anyone can promise. Wind, swell and current decide. That is why you should not plan a Similan day around a fixed number of metres of vis.
Koh Payu (No. 7) and islands 5 and 6 are typical boat-snorkel sites. Coral, reef fish, turtles if you are lucky. Some programmes call at Payu, others stay with 5 and 6. If a specific island matters to you, check before you book.
| Island | Known for | Typical visit |
|---|---|---|
| No. 4 – Koh Miang | Beaches, Princess Bay, lunch stop | Ashore |
| No. 5 | Coral and underwater scenery | Snorkeling |
| No. 6 | Coral and rock formations | Snorkeling |
| No. 7 – Koh Payu | Coral reefs and marine life | Snorkeling |
| No. 8 – Koh Similan | Sail Rock, Donald Duck Bay | Ashore & viewpoint |
| No. 9 – Koh Ba Ngu | Coral reefs, Christmas Point | Snorkeling |
For most guests, snorkeling is the real reason to book a Similan Islands Tour. Reefs and rocky underwater terrain sit around the islands. Gear is provided, guides brief you before each stop. You do not need dive experience. The two tours we recommend are snorkeling trips – not scuba diving.
If short transfers and snorkeling off a beach matter more, Racha Yai is the easier day. For a wider look at water trips, see snorkeling in Phuket.
Sail Rock is the postcard of the group. From the top you see the bay, the sand and open sea. The path is short, but not comfortable for everyone. If you are unsure on rock, stay on the beach – that is still a good stop. Underwater the rock is mainly a current dive site. That is not part of the snorkeling day trip.
If you are reasonably sure-footed, do the climb anyway. On a clear day the view from the top is one of the moments that justify the long haul from Phuket.
The day starts early. After hotel pickup you go by minivan to Thap Lamu in Phang Nga. The boat leaves from there. Times below are a guide. Weather, swell and the park can shift them.
Block a full day. The boat programme is about 8–9 hours. With the van, check-in and return you are out of Phuket for 10–13 hours. The crossing Thap Lamu–islands is roughly 75 to 90 minutes each way.
The Similans are not a trip you squeeze between brunch and sunset. If you book it, keep the day clear.
The price depends on the boat. We run two versions: the classic speedboat and the more comfortable speed catamaran. The islands and snorkel stops are essentially the same.
| Speedboat | Speed catamaran | |
|---|---|---|
| Adults | from ฿3,890 | from ฿4,190 |
| Children 4–10 | ฿2,690 | ฿2,890 |
| Under 4 | free | free |
| Boat | classic, faster, tighter | two decks, more shade, calmer |
| Islands and snorkeling | Koh Miang, 9, 8 plus reefs | the same stops |
| Included | Transfer (standard areas), lunch, snorkel set, park fee, water and snacks | |
Prices can change with date and season. The product page is always the one that counts.
Both boat types take you to the same islands, the same snorkel sites and the same viewpoint. The difference is comfort and ride quality.
One important detail: the national park is not open all year. The season usually runs from 15 October to 15 May. From mid-May to mid-October the park closes for monsoon and recovery. There is no regular Similan Islands Tour in that window.
Inside the open months, December to March are often the most interesting. The sea is calmer more often, visibility better. Weather can still turn in high season. October/November at the start and May at the end can be more changeable – or simply very hot.
| Period | Take | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| 15 October – November | Season opening | Open; the sea can still be unsettled |
| December – March | Best window | Often calmer sea, better visibility |
| April – 15 May | Good | Warm and sunny, hot towards the end |
| 16 May – 14 October | Not possible | National park closed |
These are three different days. A Similan Islands Tour is snorkeling and a granite national park. Phi Phi is Maya Bay, Pileh Lagoon and limestone – spectacular, and busier. Racha sits much closer to Phuket if you do not want a 12-hour day.
| Similan Islands | Phi Phi | Racha Yai | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Character | National park, granite, reefs | Bays, Maya Bay, famous spots | Closer to Phuket, beaches |
| Snorkeling | Several stops, often very clear | Possible, plus sightseeing | Good, often from the beach |
| Travel time | Long via Thap Lamu | Full day, closer than Similan | Much shorter |
| Best for | Snorkel and nature | Photo spots and classics | An easier island day |
If snorkeling and natural landscape come first, I would take the Similans. If you want as many famous bays as possible in one day, Phi Phi is the more varied choice. For the shorter island day, stay with Racha.
Farther out, and often even clearer water: Koh Rok and Koh Haa. For limestone and longtail boats, James Bond Island / Phang Nga.
Families can go. For older children who like swimming and snorkeling, it can be a great day. With small children I would think twice. The alarm is very early, the transfer is long, and the open Andaman Sea can be hard work in a swell.
Shorter, quieter island days: family-friendly tours and the Khai Islands.
On a long day on boat and islands: as little as possible, as much as you need. Snorkel gear and food are included.
On our Similan days we always took a small backpack for shoes – the Sail Rock path is rocky, barefoot is unpleasant.
What makes the day easier: sleep early the night before. If you do not travel well on an empty stomach, plan breakfast – pickup is early. Most people underestimate the sun on the boat. Leave valuables behind. Stay flexible on weather and the order of stops. Do not touch coral or animals. Leave nothing behind.
The most important tip from our side: give the Similans a full day and do not rush it. The islands are far. That is exactly why you should not stack a second big tour on the same day.
If you ask me personally: I would take the Similan Islands Tour from Phuket when snorkeling and nature matter more to you than a short transfer.
The islands are a long way from Phuket, and the day starts early. There is no point pretending otherwise. What you get is a landscape that is clearly different from the nearer islands: big granite, white beaches, clear water and several snorkel stops inside a protected park.
If you prefer a shorter island day, look at Racha Yai. If you want famous bays like Maya Bay plus snorkeling, Phi Phi is the other direction. More options: snorkeling in Phuket and island and beach tours.
© Montakarn Longsoh (Lee) – Your Travel Companion in Phuket· TAT-Lizenz Nr. 33/11345
Unique granite formations (one of a kind in the Andaman Sea), visibility of up to 30 meters, intact hard corals protected as a national park since 1982, and a species diversity that regularly puts the Similans in the top 10 dive sites in the world. Add whale shark sightings, eagle rays and reef sharks – all in a single day.
Yes. The Similan Islands are one of the most reliable whale shark spots in Southeast Asia, with the highest chances between January and March, especially around Christmas Point (Island 9). There is no guarantee – but the rate is noticeably higher than at most other Asian dive destinations.
Sail Rock (Hin Pousar) on Island 8 is a prominent granite boulder that rises straight from the sea and resembles a ship’s sail. From the viewing platform at the top, you get a 360-degree panorama over the entire archipelago. Under water it is a top dive site with granite arches and current channels.
Absolutely. The clear, calm water of the dry season and reefs starting at just 2–3 meters depth is ideal for first-time snorkelers. Guides stay with you in the water, life jackets included. Scuba diving requires a valid certification.
November to April only. Mu Ko Similan National Park is officially closed from May to October due to the monsoon. January to March is high season – please book several weeks ahead in those months.
Around 10–11 hours including hotel transfers. The boat ride from Tub Lamu Pier to the archipelago is about 75–90 minutes each way. You are usually back at your hotel between 17:30 and 18:30.
The classic speedboat is flatter, more maneuverable and cheaper. The speed catamaran has two decks, more space and shade, and a smoother ride. Both visit the same islands and snorkel sites. The upgrade is only ฿300.
Yes. In both our rates (speedboat and speed catamaran), the national park fee is included from the start. There are no hidden extra charges at the pier.
Yes, children from around age 4 are welcome. Children’s life jackets and small-size snorkel gear are on board. For families we recommend the speed catamaran because of its extra shade and smoother ride. Children aged 4–10 pay the child price; infants under 4 travel free.
We pick up free of charge in the main Phuket areas: Patong, Kata, Karon, Karon Beach, Tri Trang, Chalong, Phuket Town, Rawai, Nai Harn, Cape Panwa, Siray Bay, Kamala, Naka Lay, Ao Por, Bangtao, Surin, Layan, Naithon, Naiyang, Airport, Laguna and Mai Khao. Pickup is between 05:30 and 06:40.
There are no conventional hotels on the Similan Islands. National Park campsites and tents have existed in the past but are not always available and are very basic. We recommend the day tour from Phuket with return in the evening – more comfortable and more flexible.
If the sea is too rough on the day or the national park issues warnings, we offer a free rebooking or a full refund. Your safety comes first.