What you will see on the Similans
The Similan Islands (Mu Ko Similan) are a national park in the Andaman Sea off the coast of Phang Nga province, north-west of Phuket. The park covers 87,500 rai, about 140 km² including sea. The islands are granite: steep slopes, huge boulders at the waterline and white sand. Locals call them by number, and tours from Phuket usually stop at four.
Ko Similan (Island 8). The best-known island, which gives the whole archipelago its name. Donald Duck Bay has a beach, and above it sits the granite Sail Rock, where you climb to a viewpoint. There is a ranger post; mobile signal is True-dtac only.
Ko Bangu (Island 9). A snorkelling stop: Love Andaman calls its bay the best place to see fish.
Ko Miang (Island 4). Home to the park headquarters and a ranger post. Tours land at Princess Bay and Honeymoon Bay.
Ko Payu (Island 7) and Ko Hok (Island 6). Snorkelling from the boat. Love Andaman and Phuket Tour say sea turtles and clownfish are often seen here.
The DNP also lists Ko Ha (5), Ko Tachai, Ko Bon, Hin Pusar and Ao Kueak among the park’s sites. Ko Tachai and its reefs are closed as of 17 October 2026.
The tour step by step
This is how the day runs in the Phuket Tour and Love Andaman itineraries for the 2026-2027 season. The order depends on the operator and on which sites the DNP has closed on the day.
- Around 6:00 hotel pickup in Phuket and transfer to Thap Lamu pier in Phang Nga
- Light breakfast at the pier, briefing, masks and life jackets
- Around 9:00 departure: 1-1.5 hours by speedboat to the islands
- Ko Bangu (Island 9): snorkelling
- Ko Similan (Island 8): beach at Donald Duck Bay and the climb to Sail Rock
- 12:15-12:30 lunch on the island
- Snorkelling at Ko Payu (Island 7) or Ko Hok (Island 6)
- Around 14:00 Ko Miang (Island 4): Princess and Honeymoon beaches
- 15:15 head back, at the pier 16:45-17:30, then over an hour to your hotel
If you travel independently, the DNP describes scheduled boats run by private operators: departing Thap Lamu at 8:30 and leaving the islands at 15:00, one trip a day each way. There have been no overnight stays on the islands since 4 October 2018, so the trip there and back is one day.
How long it takes and when to go
With the drive from a Phuket hotel the day lasts 10-12 hours. Love Andaman says “about 10 hours including transfers” and picks up from hotels in Phuket and in Khao Lak, which is closer to the pier. From Patong to Thap Lamu is 99.6 km and about 95 minutes without traffic, and longer still from southern Phuket.
| Leg | Distance | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phuket airport → Thap Lamu pier | 71.3 km by road | about 67 min | OSRM route |
| Patong → Thap Lamu pier | 99.6 km by road | about 95 min | OSRM route |
| Thap Lamu pier → Ko Miang | about 70 km | about 1 h 30 min | DNP |
The season is fixed: the DNP closes the park every year from 16 May to 14 October and opens it from 15 October to 15 May. Within the season it closes individual sites so the coral can recover. As of 17 October 2026 these are closed:
| Site | Name in the DNP list | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Fantasy Reef (Kong Hin Fantasy) | กองหินแฟนตาซี | underwater pinnacle |
| Hin Muan Diao | หินม้วนเดียว | underwater pinnacle |
| Ruean Kluaimai | เรือนกล้วยไม้ | snorkel and dive site |
| Ao Nguang Chang | อ่าวงวงช้าง | bay |
| Ao Fai Waep | อ่าวไฟแว๊บ | bay |
| Ko Tachai and its reefs | เกาะตาชัย | island |
The list changes, so check the latest on the DNP portal the day you book. The sea is calmest from December to March; in October and November there can still be swell after the monsoon.
What to bring
- Passport or a copy
- Money for the electronic park ticket if it is not included in the tour price
- Seasickness medication taken before you board
- Sunscreen, a cap and a T-shirt to snorkel in
- Water shoes and dry clothes for the ride back
- A warm top: the speedboat is chilly early in the morning
Who should skip it
- Pregnant women. An hour and a half of open sea each way, with the speedboat slamming on the swell
- Children under 4. Operators’ child fares start at 4, and the day runs from dawn to evening
- People prone to seasickness. This is open sea even in season, not a sheltered bay
- Visitors from 16 May to 14 October. The park is closed. Closer options open all year are the Racha Islands and Coral Island, but skip those too in rough weather
National park fee
| Who | Fee |
|---|---|
| Foreign adult | THB 500 |
| Foreign child | THB 250 |
| Thai citizen | THB 100 / 50 |
Source: DNP table, revision of 02.06.2023, checked 17.10.2026. In 2019 TAT gave the child fee as THB 300; the current DNP table says THB 250.
- DNP national parks use electronic tickets: book online in advance through the QueQ app (e-ticket.dnp.go.th); on a tour the operator usually handles it. Keep the QR code with you after paying: the DNP asks visitors to show it at checks
- Only boats with a DNP permit may enter the park (TAT, 2019)
- Visitor numbers are capped. In 2019 the limit was 1,625 people a day on one direction of the route, 1,700 on the other and 525 divers; current figures are unconfirmed
How to choose a Similan tour
- Speedboat or catamaran. A speedboat is faster; a double-deck catamaran rides the swell more gently and has more room, and Phuket Tour runs the same itinerary on it
- Which islands. Compare the list with the sites the DNP has closed on your date. If Ko Tachai is on the programme, ask what replaces it
- Where you start. Khao Lak is closer to Thap Lamu than Phuket, and Love Andaman picks up there too
- What is included. Transfer, breakfast at the pier, lunch, masks and the park fee. Phuket Tour lists park tickets in the price; ask others before paying
- Dates. The DNP caps daily visitors, so book December to February dates in advance
Closer islands and trips on land are collected in the guide to excursions from Phuket.
FAQ
When do the Similan Islands open?
Every year on 15 October. The DNP closes the park from 16 May to 14 October because the southwest monsoon brings big swell to the open sea and trips are unsafe. As of 17 October 2026 the park is open, but several snorkelling and diving sites remain closed; the DNP keeps the list.
How long is the boat ride from Phuket to the Similan Islands?
Boats do not usually go to the Similans from Phuket itself: tours drive you to Thap Lamu pier in Phang Nga, 71 km and about 67 minutes from the airport. From there the DNP gives about 1.5 hours by speedboat to Ko Miang, and Love Andaman says 1 hour 15 minutes to the first island. Expect an early pickup and an evening return.
Which islands does the tour visit?
Usually 3-4 of the nine numbered Similan islands (Ko Bon and Ko Tachai are not part of that numbering). Almost always Ko Similan (Island 8) with Sail Rock and Donald Duck Bay, Ko Bangu (Island 9) for snorkelling and Ko Miang (Island 4) with its beaches and the park office. The fourth stop is snorkelling at Ko Payu (7) or Ko Hok (6), where turtles are often seen.
Similan Islands or Phi Phi: which should I choose?
The Similans are about the water and snorkelling: granite boulders, white sand and the clearest water near Phuket, but the trip is longer and the park is only open from mid-October to mid-May. Phi Phi is about cliffs, lagoons and Maya Bay, with a shorter ride and tours all year. The park fee is THB 500 against THB 400.
Can you stay overnight on the Similan Islands?
No. The Department of National Parks (DNP) cancelled overnight stays on the islands from 4 October 2018: trips are day trips only, and the former bungalows house park staff (DNP statement of 10 August 2026). You can sleep on the mainland, for example in Khao Lak, and visit for the day. Check the conditions for your date with the park: +66 76 453 272.
Can I take a small child to the Similans?
You can: the child park fee is THB 250 and operators' child fares start at 4. But the day is very long: up at 5 am, over an hour by car and 1-1.5 hours of open sea each way. For pre-school children, Coral Island or Racha is the easier day.
Is there a daily visitor limit?
Yes, the DNP caps daily visitors. In 2019 the limit was 1,625 people on the route from Ko Si to Ko Paet, 1,700 on the return route and 525 divers. We have not found the figures for the 2026-2027 season, so book December to February dates in advance.
Sources
- DNP. Statement on the cancellation of overnight stays in Mu Ko Similan National Park from 4 Oct 2018 (10 Aug 2026)
- Thai PBS. Mu Ko Similan National Park tickets via E-Ticket and the QueQ app from 7 Jan 2023 (10 Jan 2023)
- DNP. Mu Ko Similan National Park: description, season, how to get there
- DNP. National park opening and closure status
- DNP. National park entrance fees for individuals (dataset, CSV)
- TAT Newsroom. Mu Ko Similan National Park entry fee payment points and one-day advance notice (26.03.2019)
- Phuket Tour (TAT licence 34/03743). Similan Islands by speedboat: itinerary
- Phuket Tour. Similan Islands by double-deck catamaran: itinerary
- Love Andaman. Similan Islands day trip itinerary
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: HKT airport → Thap Lamu pier
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Patong beach → Thap Lamu pier
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