If you are looking for the most beautiful islands in Thailand, the Similan Islands may be it! They are known for their vibrant blue waters, unique rock formations, and diverse marine life. So many things about Similan will make you say, “wow,” which is why the Similan Islands are very popular with tourists.
However, please be aware that you can not visit Similan all year round. That’s why in this blog, we’ll cover everything you would need to know to plan your trip to Similan including an overview of the islands, the best time to visit, the potential costs, and where to stay when you come.
Similan Island Overview
The Similan Islands are located in the Andaman Sea on the West Coast of Southern Thailand. There are a total of 11 islands, all numbered for easy identification.
Although there are 11 islands, you will not get to visit them all. Islands 1-3 are just for sea turtle conservation so tours do not go there. Islands 10-11 are just for scuba divers and have some of the top-ranking diving in the world if you are an avid scuba diver. However, for most travelers taking an island-hopping day-trip where you can explore islands 4-9 will be the best option. These boat tours make it easy to take in the views of the beautiful blue water and see the fascinating marine life under the sea.
It is also possible to stay on three of the eleven islands in a bungalow or a campsite. If you are interested in camping out on these islands, more information can be found here!
Similan Island #4 – Miang Island
Ko Miang or Miang Island is one of the popular boat tour stops because the waters here are so brilliantly blue that you might not believe that they are real. The view is surreal!
This island also has accommodations and facilities to have lunch.
Similan Island #8 – Similan Island
The most famous and biggest island of the eleven is named Similan Island. This island is best known for this unique rock formation. This top rock is the symbol of the Similan Islands, and makes for a great viewpoint of the island. Climbing to the top of this hill only takes ten minutes and offers gorgeous views of both sides of the island. A must-do activity when you come to Similan!
Similan Island #8 also has accommodations available if you would like to stay on the island.
When to Visit the Similan Islands
The Similan Islands are a protected national park that focuses on the conservation and preservation of the wildlife there. In order to prevent damaging the coral reef from mass tourism, the Thai government closes these islands to tourists for 6 months out of the year from May-October. You can only visit the islands during the high season between November and April. This limited travel season truly makes going to Similan a special occasion, so be sure to plan your dates accordingly so as not to miss your chance to go.
How to Book a Similan Boat Tour
There are two companies that travel to Similan and both have similar itineraries. Sea Star and Love Andaman are the most popular tour companies going to Similan. We booked with Sea Star and can highly recommend them! We paid ฿1890 Baht ($60 USD) per person when we booked through Klook. The link to this boat tour is here!
If you would like to see what the boat tour is like, check out the video below!
Where to Stay
We took a Similan boat tour from Khao Lak. Khao Lak is a coastal city in Phang Nga province and has the closest pier to the Similan islands. You can also arrange a transfer from Phuket, but the pick-up time from Phuket is 5:30 am. If you prefer a much more reasonable 7:30 am pick-up time, we recommend staying in Khao Lak, so you can be closer to the pier.
We stayed in Beyond Resort Khao Lak and had a perfect stay! We loved having a beachfront hotel with a gorgeous pool and garden. The food and service were also excellent. Another place that we can highly recommend!
What to Bring to Similan
One good thing about taking a boat tour is that the tour company will provide all of the food and water that you will need. They also provide snorkel equipment, towels, and flippers by request.
Your tour company really will take care of most things, but the most important things to bring on this tour included sunscreen, an underwater camera, beach bag, sunglasses, and power bank or extra batteries for your phone or camera.
You will be snorkeling and laying on the beach the majority of the day so sunscreen is a must for sun protection.
You will snorkel two times and you are going to want to capture the fish and the coral that you will see with an underwater camera. We have a Go Pro and really enjoy the high quality of the video and its underwater capabilities are truly amazing!
There is so much that you will want to document about your trip, but your battery will not last the whole day if you are constantly taking pictures, and believe me, you will be taking pictures constantly! This is why we recommend a battery pack to recharge your phone and an extra Go Pro battery so you can film as many fish as you like.
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Have Questions?
Feel free to ask any questions or share your thoughts in the comments below! We’re happy to help!
And don’t forget to bookmark or pin this article for future planning! We wish you success with your travel planning. Hope you enjoy the journey!
Want to explore even more Thai islands? Check out these options as well!
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