A similan islands tour from Phuket is a day trip by road and by boat. Guests ride to a pier in the Khao Lak area, then cross to the islands in the Andaman Sea. The day holds a hike, snorkel stops and lunch.
The islands lie off Phang Nga Province and form a national park.
The sections below cover the route, piers, islands, park rules, snorkelling, tour types, weather, safety, GetYourGuide listings and common questions. To plan trips elsewhere in the country, start from the Thailand Tours homepage.
What does a similan islands tour from Phuket cover?
A similan islands tour from Phuket is a day trip by road and by boat. Guests ride from their hotel to a pier in the Khao Lak area, then cross to the islands. The day holds a hike, snorkel stops and lunch before the ride back.
The Similan Islands lie in the Andaman Sea, off Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. The name Similan is a Yawi word that means nine, and the park began with nine islands. A similan islands tour from Phuket heads out to this group.
Operators set their own routes. The list below follows one operator’s similan islands tour from Phuket, from pickup to return. Each line is one stop. One other itinerary also lists breakfast and a briefing at the pier.
- Hotel pickup: guests are collected from the Phuket hotel lobby.
- Road transfer: the ride goes to Tablamu Pier in the Khao Lak area.
- Pier: check-in, a light breakfast and a briefing from the tour guide.
- Boat ride: a speedboat heads out to the Similan Islands.
- Island No. 8: a hike to Sail Rock.
- Island No. 9: the first snorkel stop.
- Lunch: a Thai lunch with fresh fruit on the island.
- Island No. 4: Honeymoon Bay and Princess Bay.
- Island No. 7: the second snorkel stop.
- Return cruise: the boat heads back to the pier.
- Hotel transfer: a van takes guests to the hotel.
This operator’s day has four parts. The road comes first, with a pickup and a ride to the pier. The boat ride comes next. The island stops follow, with a hike, snorkelling and lunch. The return is by boat and by van.
Other operators change the order. On another similan islands tour from Phuket, a double-deck catamaran serves a buffet lunch onboard. Its two snorkel stops come after the meal, at Island No. 9 and Island No. 7. That day ends with a light dinner at the pier.
Two early-bird itineraries run in a different order. They go from Donald Duck Bay to the viewpoint, then to a snorkel stop. A picnic lunch at Honeymoon Bay follows, then Princess Bay.
The order of stops shapes an island day. A hong islands tour Krabi reaches a lagoon among limestone cliffs; its guide runs from pickup to return. For whether children and older travellers can join, see the James Bond Island tour guide.
Four operator itineraries share the same frame. Each similan islands tour from Phuket in them starts with a Phuket hotel pickup. Island No. 8 is the first island stop on all four. On three of them, that stop holds a walk or hike up to a viewpoint. Each day ends with a hotel transfer.
Those four itineraries list two or three snorkel stops. One early-bird day has three, and the other three have two. Pick a similan islands tour from Phuket by its route, then browse all our Thailand tours for other day trips.
How does a similan islands tour from Phuket reach the islands?
A similan islands tour from Phuket drives to Thap Lamu pier near Khao Lak, about 90 minutes from Patong. A speedboat then crosses in 60 to 90 minutes. Every day boat leaves the mainland, not Phuket.
Day boats do not sail from Phuket. They leave from the mainland, because the park lies far up the Andaman coast. There is no public ferry to the islands. The main departure point is Thap Lamu pier. It lies about 20 km south of Khao Lak. Two operators leave from Nam Khem instead, about 22 km north of Khao Lak.
A similan islands tour from Phuket adds a road transfer before the boat. One guide gives about 90 minutes from Patong to the pier. Another gives 2 to 2.5 hours from Phuket Town and 1.5 hours from northern Phuket. From central Khao Lak, the pier is about 15 to 20 minutes away.
By public bus, the trip from Phuket to Phang Nga takes 4 to 5 hours. A tuk-tuk or taxi then covers the last 10 to 15 minutes to Thap Lamu pier.
Pickup times depend on your hotel’s location. One guide suggests staying around Bang Tao or the airport to shorten the transfer by 30 to 40 minutes. One operator collects guests from their hotel or any other location in Phuket, and lists these pickup times by zone:
- 5:30 am: Rawai Beach
- 5:40 am: Phuket Town and Kata-Karon
- 6:00 am: Ao Chalong and Patong
- 6:20 am: Kamala Beach
- 6:30 am: Surin Beach, Bang Tao, Layan Beach, Nai Yang and the airport
- 6:40 am: Laguna and Mai Khao
- 7:00 am: Khok Kloi, Natai and Khao Lak
On a similan islands tour from Phuket by speedboat, the crossing from Thap Lamu takes 60 to 90 minutes. One operator lists 1 hour 15 minutes to the first island. One guide gives about 90 minutes on a large multi-engine speedboat.
A catamaran rides more smoothly but moves slower. One guide lists 1.5 to 2 hours for it from Khao Lak. The same guide lists Khao Lak catamaran departures from 6:40 to 8:30 am.
One guide advises planning for about three hours of travel in each direction, counting the road and the boat.
Two operators schedule a 9:00 am pier departure for a similan islands tour from Phuket. One opens check-in at 8:00 am, the other at 8:30 am.
Pier times shape the day. The Phi Phi island tour from Phuket guide checks for a sunset departure. Groups weighing a private Phi Phi boat tour will find the practical questions travellers ask answered in its guide.
Check the pier before you book a similan islands tour from Phuket. One guide advises confirming that the departure is from Thap Lamu, not a Phuket marina. Operators spell the pier Thap Lamu, Tablamu or Tab Lamu.
Which islands does a similan islands tour from Phuket visit?
A similan islands tour from Phuket lands on two islands. Ko Similan is Island 8 and the largest island in the park. Ko Miang is Island 4 and holds the park headquarters. Both islands have restaurants.
The Thai Department of National Parks gave each island a number. The numbers run from south to north, starting with Ko Huyong as Island 1. Ko Bon and Ko Tachai joined the park later and took numbers 10 and 11. The first nine numbers belong to these islands:
- Island 1: Ko Huyong
- Island 2: Ko Payang
- Island 3: Ko Payan
- Island 4: Ko Miang
- Island 5: Ko Ha
- Island 6: Ko Payu
- Island 7: Ko Hin Pousar
- Island 8: Ko Similan
- Island 9: Ko Ba-ngu
Wikivoyage describes the nine granite islands as covered in tropical jungle, with beaches of chalk-white sand. A similan islands tour from Phuket cannot visit every island.
Ko Similan has Donald Duck Bay, a crescent beach. One guide says the bay holds hundreds of visitors at once in high season, between 11 am and 2 pm. A small souvenir shop on the island sells gift items.
Sail Rock is a giant boulder above Donald Duck Bay. A climb of about fifteen minutes leads to the viewpoint over the beach, granite rocks and turquoise water. Wikivoyage says tours of the area always visit this beach and viewpoint. A similan islands tour from Phuket by catamaran offers a choice of beach time or the climb.
Ko Miang is the second largest island in the park. It has the park office, two beaches and a short forest trail. A nature trail of 15 minutes leads to Princess Bay on the same island.
On a similan islands tour from Phuket, one operator lists lunch and beach time at Honeymoon Bay on Ko Miang. The lunch is a picnic. A second operator pairs Honeymoon Bay with Princess Bay for photos and relaxing time.
Time ashore on a similan islands tour from Phuket depends on the operator. One guide says groups get about an hour on Ko Similan. The same guide gives an hour on the beach at Ko Miang after lunch. One speedboat itinerary lists Donald Duck Bay at 10:15 and the next stop at 11:15.
That speedboat itinerary adds relaxing, swimming and sunbathing on the white sand beach after the hike. It also lists Honeymoon Bay and Princess Bay at 1 pm and the next stop at 2 pm.
A second guide counts one or two beaches on a speedboat day trip, plus lunch. On a similan islands tour from Phuket, one catamaran itinerary calls its snorkelling stops offshore, not extra island landings. It snorkels near Islands 9 and 7 with equipment provided.
Which park rules apply on a similan islands tour from Phuket?
Every similan islands tour from Phuket sails into Mu Ko Similan National Park. The park is closed every year from the 16th day of the fifth month to mid-October. Every visitor needs an admission ticket before boarding.
Thailand’s Department of National Parks (DNP) manages the Similan Islands, balancing tourism with conservation. A similan islands tour from Phuket visits this park. The forestry department assessed the area for one year. The park was set up in nineteen eighty-two.
Not every national park in Thailand is a sea park. Walkers in the north can learn what the Pha Dok Siew trail is in the Doi Inthanon park tour guide.
The park covers 140 square kilometres, of which 26 are land. In nineteen ninety-eight it expanded to take in two more remote islands.
The two thousand and four Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami severely damaged the Similan Islands. As part of the rehabilitation work, overnight accommodation on the islands was removed.
The park closes every year for the rainy season, from the 16th day of the fifth month to mid-October. Regular boats serve the islands from 15 October until the 15th day of the fifth month. Pick a similan islands tour from Phuket that sails inside the open window.
The yearly closure gives the reefs time to recover. Tour operators who go to the islands in the closed period are breaking the law. Ko Tachai is closed to tourists for an indefinite period, since two thousand and sixteen. Day-trip speedboats had overwhelmed its beach.
All visitors must buy a national park admission ticket before boarding a tourist boat. An entry fee applies, and Thai nationals pay a lower rate than other visitors. The park uses an e-ticket from the DNP system, and foreign visitors give a passport number. Every visitor on a similan islands tour from Phuket needs this ticket.
Park hours for visitors start at 8:00 am and end at 4:00 pm. Nobody can arrive before 8:00 am, and everybody must leave by 4:00 pm. The park also sets a daily limit on visitors, to reduce harm to the environment. The same hours and limit apply to every similan islands tour from Phuket.
Touching coral, standing on coral, feeding fish and disturbing marine animals are not permitted. Fishing, shell collecting and removing natural materials are banned. Single-use plastic is also prohibited in the park.
Anyone who goes below the surface sees why the reef rules matter. Divers can find out which dive sites suit a Phi Phi tour from Krabi in its guide.
Islands 1, 2 and 3 have been closed to visitors since two thousand and eighteen. The area is a turtle conservation zone. Tourists cannot land on Ko Huyong, because its beach is where turtles come to lay their eggs. A similan islands tour from Phuket cannot stop at these closed islands.
What is snorkelling like on a similan islands tour from Phuket?
A similan islands tour from Phuket is a snorkelling day over hard and soft coral reefs. One park guide names snorkelling and diving as the two main activities in the islands. Operator pages list snorkel gear as included.
On a similan islands tour from Phuket, the reefs are hard coral and soft coral, says one park guide. At Ko Ba-Ngu (Island 9), the Breakfast Bend reef is scattered boulders on a sandy seabed. Staghorn coral is the dominant species there. Cabbage, brain, table and plate corals grow beside it.
At Ko Similan, the guide lists granite boulders over a large area, with great variety in marine life. Wikipedia says the rock formations and coral reefs there take shapes that resemble deer, leaves, brains and mushrooms. The guide’s dive notes give 10 to 30 metres of visibility at Ko Similan and at Breakfast Bend.
A similan islands tour from Phuket shares the water with animals that one national park guide names. Hawksbill turtles can be seen feeding on sponges around the reefs. Green sea turtles are a common sight in the park. The guide also names these animals:
- Blacktip reef sharks: seen in shallow water, and called harmless to humans.
- Clownfish: they dart among the tentacles of sea anemones.
- Moray eels: they hide in crevices in the coral reefs.
- Napoleon wrasse: one of the largest reef fish in the park.
- Blue-spotted stingrays: they glide over sandy areas and coral beds.
- Sea cucumbers: the guide calls them abundant in the park.
Whale sharks and manta rays are rare sightings, says one park guide. They show up occasionally, around March and April. At Breakfast Bend, the same guide calls green and hawksbill turtles quite common. Yellowtail barracudas, ghost pipefishes, spotted garden eels, blue ring angelfish and milkfishes are quite common there too. Larger open-water fish are less common.
On a similan islands tour from Phuket, one operator lists a full snorkel set. It holds a mask, snorkel, fins, a sanitised mouthpiece and a towel. A second operator describes a boat equipped with masks and fins. A third lists snorkel gear in its inclusions.
On a similan islands tour from Phuket, diving shares the islands with snorkelling, says the guide. It pairs day trips with day trip dive boats and snorkelling speed boats. At Breakfast Bend, diving suits experienced divers, beginners and snorkellers.
At Ko Bon, the guide says the two main dive spots are not ideal for snorkelling. Much of the beauty is hidden deeper down. The shallow bay on the west side can be snorkelled. The guide rates sites differently for snorkellers, so check the stops of your similan islands tour from Phuket.
Which types of similan islands tour from Phuket can I book?
A similan islands tour from Phuket runs on a speedboat, catamaran, large boat, yacht or private charter. On one operator’s early-bird schedule, hotel pickup in Phuket is at 4:00 AM. The speedboat leaves the pier around 7:00 AM.
Why leave so early? The same operator says an early departure reaches its first bay while it is undisturbed by the crowds. It admits there is a bit of a crowd during lunch hours. Pick a similan islands tour from Phuket with early boarding if crowds bother you.
A GetYourGuide listing called Lazy Bird offers a late hotel pickup instead, so you start relaxed and well-rested.
Boat type changes the ride. One operator describes its speedboat as fast and agile. It describes its speed catamaran as having more space and more stability, and calls that boat family friendly. Choose a similan islands tour from Phuket by speed catamaran if you want that extra room.
A large boat is a third choice. One GetYourGuide listing offers a comfortable large boat from a private pier with ample parking. A fourth choice is a catamaran yacht, which one listing sells with a lounge check-in and on-board dining.
Boat type is only one way that listings differ from each other. Readers comparing listings can see what a GetYourGuide package includes on a Koh Rok tour from Koh Lanta.
Group size matters too. One operator limits its three-engine speedboat to 32 guests, though the boat holds up to 45. It limits its twin-engine speedboat to 20 guests, though that boat has 25 seats. A small-group similan islands tour from Phuket also exists on GetYourGuide, on a catamaran. Another listing states a maximum of 30 people in its title.
One operator describes its Similan charter as your own private boat. It offers a speedboat or speed catamaran, each for 32 people. Ask about a private similan islands tour from Phuket if your group wants a boat to itself. A second operator says private charters are available on request. At least two GetYourGuide listings carry a private option label.
Boats also leave from Khao Lak. One operator says Khao Lak piers are closer to the islands, so the crossing is shorter. It says leaving from Phuket is more convenient if you stay in town. On its early-bird schedule, the Khao Lak pickup is at 5:00 AM, an hour after Phuket.
The main early-bird listing on GetYourGuide is a similan islands tour from Phuket and Khao Lak. Its label says pickup is available. The site also lists Khao Lak day trips by luxury catamaran and by premium speed catamaran.
No overnight stays are allowed on the islands, but liveaboard dive boats run multi-day trips in the diving season.
What is the weather like on a similan islands tour from Phuket?
A similan islands tour from Phuket sees minimal wind from December to April, according to a park guide. The southwest monsoon brings strong winds, waves and storm-like conditions to the Khao Lak area. Check the season before you book.
Rain on this coast comes with the southwest monsoon. A park guide gives the fifth month to October as the rainy period. June to September is the wettest stretch. Wikipedia places the rainfall peak for the southern west coast in September. The same guide reports very little rain from December to March.
Wikipedia calls the dry season, from November to April, the main tourist season in Khao Lak. The weather is more settled then, and the wind generally blows from the east. The town sits on the western side of the mountains, which shelter it. Pick the dry season for a similan islands tour from Phuket.
The monsoon reverses this pattern. The wind changes direction and comes from the west. Wikipedia says it reflects off the mountains and creates the rough conditions in the area.
Timing around the monsoon matters for any boat trip. The time and season that suit a private longtail boat tour Krabi are listed in its guide.
One operator says the sea is calmest in the morning, so its boats leave early. Another operator warns that sea conditions can still make the crossing bumpy, even on a double-deck catamaran. Conditions vary, so a similan islands tour from Phuket can still bring a bumpy crossing.
Underwater visibility changes from site to site. The park guide lists about 20 metres of visibility over the coral gardens at Ko Miang’s Chinese Wall. It notes a risk of strong currents there. Snorkellers are told to stay in the bay close to the island. One operator ties peak underwater visibility to calm weather.
Tides in the Andaman Sea are semidiurnal, which means two high and two low tides each day. One operator lists tides next to weather and sea conditions as reasons to adjust the programme. Another says the route and snorkelling spots can change with sea conditions on a similan islands tour from Phuket.
Safety comes first, says one operator. If conditions are not suitable, its team contacts guests to cancel or adjust the tour. A second operator follows marine department guidance. If the department declares the weather unsafe, the tour is cancelled with a full refund. Guests can also reschedule at no extra cost.
In a year of poor weather, the park guide says the park can close before its usual date. Early closure notices go on that guide’s page. Operators differ on cancellation, so read the booking terms before paying for a similan islands tour from Phuket.
Who can join a similan islands tour from Phuket, and what do they pack?
A similan islands tour from Phuket comes with age and health limits. Pregnant guests cannot join. Operators provide life jackets on board. Pack swimwear, a hat and a mineral sunscreen.
Pack for a beach day. One operator lists swimwear, sunglasses, a hat, sunscreen, an extra t-shirt, a towel and cash. Another adds personal medication and optional beach shoes. On a similan islands tour from Phuket by catamaran, one listing supplies a mask and snorkel but rents fins separately.
Thailand bans sunscreen with four chemicals inside its national parks. Four chemicals are on the list: oxybenzone, octinoxate, butylparaben and 4-methylbenzylidene camphor. Thailand’s national parks department announced the ban, and the government gazette published the notice. It covers bringing the product in as well as using it.
The crossing is open sea. If you are prone to seasickness on a similan islands tour from Phuket, one operator advises taking something before boarding. It adds that the middle of the boat is where the motion is least noticeable.
Life jackets are on board. At one operator, guests can request a complimentary jacket. Another puts a jacket on every seat before departure. One reviewer wrote that the guide made sure everyone wore a life jacket before the boat started.
Other Phuket days raise their own questions about who joins. Guests with allergies can learn from the elephant sanctuary in Phuket guide whether the kitchen caters for them. A separate guide lists what Muay Thai tickets in Patong cover on a fight night.
A second reviewer on that page called life vests obligatory on the boat and while snorkelling. None of the four operator pages we read sets a swimming test. One catamaran listing asks guests to follow guide and crew instructions. One operator states that its insurance covers incidents directly related to the tour.
Children have set limits. One operator counts children as ages 4 to 11 and not over 120 cm tall. Another lists babies under one year old as unsuitable. One catamaran listing calls a similan islands tour from Phuket suitable for families. It means families who can accept an early start and a full-day sea route.
Older travellers meet an upper age limit of 75 at one operator. Back injuries, heart conditions and serious medical issues are on its not-recommended list. Another lists recent surgery and limited mobility as unsuitable. On a similan islands tour from Phuket, one catamaran requires guests to board, disembark and walk on the beach independently.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand recommends mineral sunscreen such as zinc oxide. Water-resistant sunscreen, hats and long-sleeved swimwear are also on its list, and they cut the amount of sunscreen needed. Guests on a similan islands tour from Phuket carry reef-safe sunscreen and a dry bag, says one operator.
What does a similan islands tour from Phuket include on GetYourGuide?
On GetYourGuide, a similan islands tour from Phuket runs 9 to 13 hours where the listing gives hours. All eight listings below share two labels: Pickup available and Free cancellation. The review leader holds 4.7 stars from 4,530 reviews.
The listing with the highest review count is tour 176829, “Similan Islands Early-Bird Tour From Phuket and Khao Lak”. It lasts 10 to 13 hours and has a Bestseller label. Its card names snorkelling at three locations and a picnic lunch. Tours run in English, German, Italian, Spanish or Thai. It must be booked at least 15 hours ahead.
Tour 540886 is titled “From Phuket: Similan Islands Snorkeling Trip by Speedboat”. This similan islands tour from Phuket lasts 12 hours. It holds 4.5 stars from 1,814 reviews and a Skip the line label. Its card lists hotel pickup, speedboat transfers, a buffet lunch and a snorkelling tour.
Tour 191459 is titled “From Phuket or Khao Lak: Similan Islands Day Trip”. It lasts 10 to 13 hours with 4.6 stars from 937 reviews. Its card names a Thai buffet lunch.
Tour 434486 is titled “Phuket: Similan Islands Trip by Speedboat”. It lasts 9 hours with 4.6 stars from 454 reviews. Its card includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus hotel pickup and drop-off in Phuket. Tour 868855 is titled “Phuket/Khao Lak: Similan Islands Speedboat Tour with Lunch”. It lasts 10 hours with 4 stars from 72 reviews.
Two titles put a catamaran on a similan islands tour from Phuket. Tour 836448 is titled “Phuket/Khao Lak: Similan Islands Luxury Catamaran Experience”. It shows 1 day, 4.1 stars and 362 reviews. Its card names meals, beach socks, two snorkelling sessions, a professional photographer and all snorkelling gear.
Tour 922191 is titled “Phuket: Similan Islands Tour by Premium Speed Catamaran”. It shows 4.5 stars from 95 reviews. Tour 835160 is titled “Phuket/Khao Lak: Similan Island Adventure Tour”. It lasts 12 hours with 4.6 stars from 73 reviews and a Skip the line label. Its card says two snorkelling stops and meals.
Read the cards for what they leave out. No card names a park fee, so open the full listing before you book a similan islands tour from Phuket. Only the luxury catamaran card states that snorkel gear is provided. Only tour 434486 names breakfast.
Compare cut-off times too. Booking must happen at least 8 hours ahead for tours 922191 and 868855. The Early-Bird listing needs at least 15 hours. The widget shows the words Free cancellation but not the refund window. Match a similan islands tour from Phuket to the meals and hours you want.
Which other questions come up before booking a similan islands tour from Phuket?
The islands lie 70 km off the coast of Phang Nga Province. On a similan islands tour from Phuket, mobile reception is limited to three networks and drones are banned. Vegetarian meals are requested at booking.
How far are the islands from the coast?
Wikipedia says the Similans lie 70 kilometres off the coast of Phang Nga Province.
Will my phone work during a similan islands tour from Phuket?
The same information site says mobile reception is limited to AIS, TrueMove and DTAC. A hotel travel guide gives the same three networks. One operator’s premium tier adds on-board WiFi, so read the listing before you rely on it.
Are there toilets on the boat for a similan islands tour from Phuket?
One operator’s FAQ says toilets are on board the boat during the day trip. A reviewer on another operator’s page wrote that sanitary facilities were available at every island stop.
Is a drone allowed on a similan islands tour from Phuket?
No. A Phuket guide to flying drones lists the Similan Islands as a park with a drone ban. The hotel travel guide adds that drones are prohibited unless special permission is obtained in advance.
Can vegetarians join a similan islands tour from Phuket?
Yes. One operator serves vegetarian and gluten-free food if you ask during booking. Another asks guests to state vegetarian meals or food allergies when they book. A third says all its tours with meals offer vegetarian options, and that its meals are halal-certified.
Which language do the guides speak?
It differs by operator. One lists guides in Thai, English, Italian, French, German and Spanish. Another says its guide runs the day in English. Read the listing for the guide’s language first when you pick a similan islands tour from Phuket.
Do I need tips or cash on a similan islands tour from Phuket?
Two operator pages list tips under what is not included. One operator says a little Thai baht is handy for optional purchases.
What do I carry for photos?
One Phuket blog recommends a waterproof phone pouch over a bulky camera for a snorkelling day. A second guide also says to bring a waterproof phone pouch. One operator’s packing list names a camera.
Can I bring a large bag?
One operator says a transfer charge applies to each bag above its size limit on the hotel transfer. It asks guests to tell it in advance about a large bag. The Phuket blog says to pack light but pack smart.