What you will see on the Similans
From Khao Lak the tour covers the same islands as from Phuket. The Similan Islands (Mu Ko Similan) are a national park off the Phang Nga coast, 70 km offshore by DNP. Tours stop at three or four of the nine numbered islands. On Love Andaman’s programme these are Ko Similan (Island 8) with Donald Duck Bay and Sail Rock, Ko Bangu (9) for snorkelling, Ko Miang (4) with Princess and Honeymoon beaches and Ko Payu (7), where turtles are often seen. More about the islands themselves is on the Similan Islands page.
Thailand Divers arranges the day differently: first snorkelling at islands 5 and 6, then Ko Miang with lunch, a second snorkel at island 9 and Island 8 last. The order changes with the sea and the tide, which is normal.
Khao Lak or Phuket: what changes
The boat leaves Thap Lamu pier around 9:00 either way. The difference is the road, and it is noticeable:
| From Khao Lak | From Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Hotel pickup | around 7:00-7:30 (Thailand Divers, Love Andaman) | 5:30-6:40 (Thailand Divers), around 6:00 (Phuket Tour) |
| Road to the pier | 13 minutes from Nang Thong, 15 from Bang Niang, 29 from Cape Pakarang | 67 minutes from the airport, 90 from Old Town, 95 from Patong |
| Boat leaves | 9:00 | 9:00 |
| Boat back at the pier | 17:00-17:30 | 16:45-17:30 |
| Road to the hotel | another 13-30 minutes | another 67-95 minutes by our calculation |
Distances are OSRM calculations on OpenStreetMap data, without traffic. From Khao Lak you get up 20-90 minutes later and are back at your hotel by about 18:00, and from Patong around 19:00. The boat ride itself is the same. If you live in Phuket, your option is the same tour with a hotel transfer, described on the Similan Islands page. For the resort itself and other trips from it see the Khao Lak guide.
How long it takes and when to go
The day takes about 10 hours: Love Andaman says “about 10 hours including transfers”, and you are at the pier around 17:00-17:30. The 2026 season began on 15 October: DNP reported 1,409 visitors on day one, 1,359 day-trippers and 50 divers. The official open season is 15 October to 15 May, and the press gives 15 May 2027 as the end.
| Period | What to expect |
|---|---|
| 15-31 October | the park is open, but the mainland still gets 529 mm for the month and 24 rainy days |
| November | 232 mm and 17 rainy days, the sea can still be uneven |
| December-March | the driest stretch: 78, 62, 45 and 145 mm by month |
| April | 222 mm, hot, park still open |
| 16 May-14 October | park closed because of the southwest monsoon (DNP) |
The Takua Pa station is on the mainland in the Khao Lak resort zone, not on the islands: it shows the course of the season, not the weather at the Similans.
How to get there and how far it is
Thap Lamu pier is in Thap Lamu village, Thai Mueang district. Tours collect you at your hotel; if you drive yourself, OSRM gives:
| From → to | Distance | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Nang Thong beach → Thap Lamu pier | 13.7 km | about 13 min |
| Bang Niang (boat 813 memorial) → pier | 15.3 km | about 15 min |
| Cape Pakarang → pier | 26.1 km | about 29 min |
| Ban Nam Khem (memorial) → pier | 39.0 km | about 36 min |
| Phuket airport → pier | 71.3 km | about 67 min |
DNP describes the road from Phuket airport like this: highway 402 for about 24 km, highway 4 for about 15 km, right at the Thai Mueang market for about 24 km to the Ban Lam Kaen junction, then left for about 5 km to the pier. That is about 68 km, matching OSRM. From the pier it is about 70 km to Ko Miang by DNP.
Park fee and what it covers
By the DNP table (edition of 02.06.2023, checked 18.10.2026) a foreign adult pays THB 500, a child THB 250, and Thai citizens THB 100 and 50. Thailand Divers includes park entry in the tour; ask Love Andaman and Phuket Tour what the price covers before paying. Keep the ticket with you: DNP asks visitors to show it on inspection.
Options: boat, catamaran, on your own
| Option | Time | Best for | Downside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group speedboat from Thap Lamu | about 10 hours | most people staying in Khao Lak | about 1 hour 15 minutes of open sea, rough in swell |
| Speed or double-deck catamaran (Phuket Tour) | 9-10 hours | people who want a gentler ride | Phuket Tour’s programme is built around Phuket hotels, so ask about Khao Lak pickup times |
| Earliest departure (Phuket Tour) | boat at 6:30, back at the pier at 16:00 | people who want to reach the islands before the groups | hotel pickup from Phuket from 4:00, ask about terms for Khao Lak |
| Scheduled boat run by private operators | from Thap Lamu at 8:30, back at 15:00 | independent travellers | one trip a day, per DNP book 3 days ahead, and the park page prices are not updated |
| Private boat | by arrangement | groups and families with their own schedule | Love Andaman takes requests, terms on request |
What to do in rain and rough sea
The park opens on the threshold of the dry season, so a trip can be shifted in late October and November. Thailand Divers says the order of stops and timings depend on weather, tides and park operations, and if it cancels for safety it offers another date or refunds everything. Check other sellers’ terms before paying. If the Similans are cancelled, a land route to beaches and memorials nearby does not depend on the sea.
Safety
- Seasickness. About an hour of open sea each way: take a tablet before you board
- Life jackets and masks. Ask the operator whether a snorkelling vest is provided, including a child size
- Coral. Do not stand on coral and do not touch turtles. At the 2026/27 opening DNP reminded visitors about sunscreen free of coral-damaging chemicals and about giving up single-use plastic
- Sail Rock. The climb is on foot (Love Andaman calls it hiking): bring shoes with a non-slip sole
- Insurance. Check that your policy covers boat trips and snorkelling
Who it suits and who should skip it
- People staying in Khao Lak. The road to the pier is 13-15 minutes instead of 67-95 from Phuket
- People who want a long day without a 5 am start. Pickup is around 7:00
- Skip it if you are pregnant. The speedboat slams on the swell
- Skip it with children under 4. The operators’ child fare starts at 4 and the day is long
- Skip it if you get badly seasick. This is open sea
- Skip it if you arrive from 16 May to 14 October. The park is closed
What is confirmed as of 18.10.2026
| Confirmed | Not confirmed |
|---|---|
| The season is open from 15 October 2026, 1,409 visitors on day one (DNP, 16.10.2026) | The exact end of the season: the press says 15 May 2027, and we found no DNP order for the season |
| Fee of THB 500 and 250 (DNP table, edition of 02.06.2023) | The daily visitor cap and number of boats for 2026/27: the figure of 3,850 a day is from a 2021 DNP news item |
| The boat leaves Thap Lamu around 9:00 and Khao Lak pickup is around 7:00 (Love Andaman, Thailand Divers) | Khao Lak pickup times at Phuket Tour |
| DNP’s closed list includes Fantasy Reef, Hin Muan Diao, Ruean Kluaimai, Ao Nguang Chang, Ao Fai Waep and Ko Tachai with its reefs | Ko Tachai status: DNP lists it as closed, while Naewna of 14.10.2026 writes about rangers at the Ko Tachai dive site |
FAQ
Is it better to go to the Similans from Khao Lak or from Phuket?
The boat leaves Thap Lamu pier around 9:00 either way, so the difference is the road. From Khao Lak the pier is 13-15 minutes away, from Phuket 67 minutes from the airport and 95 from Patong by OSRM. By Thailand Divers, Khao Lak guests are collected around 7:00 and Phuket guests at 5:30-6:40.
Where is Thap Lamu pier and how do I get there?
The pier is in Thap Lamu village, Lam Kaen subdistrict, Thai Mueang district, Phang Nga, 13.7 km from Nang Thong beach. DNP describes the road: highway 4 to the Ban Lam Kaen junction, then about 5 km to the pier. On a tour the hotel transfer is part of the programme, and independently a taxi or your own car is simplest.
How long is the boat ride from Thap Lamu pier to the Similans?
Love Andaman quotes about 1 hour 15 minutes by speedboat to the first island, and DNP says about 1.5 hours to Ko Miang. DNP gives the distance as about 70 km. By DNP's description the private operators' scheduled boats all leave the pier together at 8:30, while tours leave later, around 9:00.
When do the Similans open in 2026 and how busy are they?
The season opened on 15 October 2026, and by DNP the park took 1,409 people on day one: 1,359 day-trippers and 50 divers. The press gives 15 May 2027 as the end of the season. We could not find the daily cap or the number of boats for 2026/27: the figure of 3,850 a day was given by DNP in 2021.
Can I stay overnight on the Similans if I live in Khao Lak?
No. DNP cancelled overnight stays on the islands from 4 October 2018, and the former bungalows house park staff (DNP statement of 10.08.2026). You can sleep in Khao Lak and go for the day; the boat leaves early, so a hotel near the pier saves the morning.
Do I need to book ahead, and can I go on my own?
DNP describes scheduled boats run by private operators from Thap Lamu at 8:30, back at 15:00, one trip a day, and advises booking 3 days ahead; the prices on the park page are not updated. Many places were booked ahead for day one of the season, 80% of them foreigners (Check-In Andaman, Naewna 14.10.2026), and the park itself caps visitor numbers.
What is the weather in Khao Lak in October and November?
The season starts at the tail of the rains: by TMD's 1991-2020 normals, the Takua Pa station gets 529 mm and 24 rainy days in October, 232 mm and 17 days in November, 78 mm and 9 days in December. The driest months are January and February, with 62 and 45 mm.
Sources
- DNP news. Mu Ko Similan National Park opens the season: 1,409 visitors on day one (16.10.2026, in Thai)
- DNP. Mu Ko Similan National Park: description, season, how to get there from Thap Lamu pier
- DNP. National park opening and closure status
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals (dataset, CSV, edition of 02.06.2023)
- DNP news. Statement on the cancellation of overnight stays in Mu Ko Similan National Park from 4 Oct 2018 (10.08.2026)
- Naewna. Similan and Surin open, first day of the season (15.10.2026, in Thai)
- Love Andaman. Similan Islands tour from Phuket and Khao Lak: itinerary
- Thailand Divers. Similan Islands snorkelling day trip from Phuket and Khao Lak: schedule
- Phuket Tour (TAT licence 34/03743). Similan Islands by speed catamaran: itinerary
- Phuket Tour. Similan Islands by speedboat, earliest departure: itinerary
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), Takua Pa station (PDF p. 87)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Nang Thong beach → Thap Lamu pier
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: HKT airport → Thap Lamu pier
Found an error or outdated fact? Tell the editors, we will fix it and update the check date.
