Similan Islands or Similans – this stunning beauty Islands, which are located in Andaman Sea and are among ten most beautiful places on planet. Most tourists go on a tour to Similan Islands is from Phuket – this tour is one of most popular tours of nearby Islands from Phuket.
General Information
Similan Islands are snow-white beaches with fine sand and crystal clear turquoise water, as well as a variety of underwater life.
They are located 70 km from Phang-nga and 100 km from Phuket.
They stretch for about 20 km highest point rises to 244 meters above sea level.
The name of islands – Similan Islands – is derived from word “Similan” and means “nine”, equal to number of islands. Nowadays, number of Similan Islands is 11, since in 1998 two more islands were added to them – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai. word “Koh” in Thai translates as “island”.
At moment, Similan includes following islands:
- Ko Huyong
- Ko Payang
- Ko Payan
- Ko Miang
- Ko Ha
- Ko Hok
- Ko Payu
- Ko Similan
- Ko Bangu
- Koh Bon
- Koh Tachai
The Similan Islands were formed 65 million years ago by eruption of underwater volcanoes, and since 1982 Similans are a National Park and are planned to be included in UNESCO. Many islands are closed to tourists in order to preserve pristine nature and underwater world.
According to UNESCO rankings Similan Islands are among ten most beautiful islands in world. They attract tourists with their immaculate cleanliness, azure sea, snow-white beaches, groves of palm trees and exotic animals. Many come here for snorkeling. And divers from all over world consider underwater landscapes near islands one of most popular places for an exciting dive.
In tours that are conducted from Phuket and other islands, mainly offer to visit two islands – islands 4 and 8 – Ko Ming and Ko Similan. You can not buy a standard tour with accommodation on these islands, as there is almost no infrastructure. Tourists usually come here as part of tour groups from nearby Islands for 1 day or stay overnight for 1-3 nights..
Beaches
Most tourists come to island archipelago for a beach vacation. Although there are nine Islands, only two of them, Miang (No. 4) and Similan (No. 8), are open to travelers. other islands are closed to visitors to national park, so people do not disturb animals and birds.
The most popular beach Donald Duck Beach is located on largest island of archipelago Similan (No. 8). Many boats with tourists arrive here. Typically, all travelers go to climb picturesque Sail Rock, which is located near beach, because it is one of recognizable symbols of Similan Islands. To top of sail-like rock in 5-10 minutes is not difficult to reach on foot. For convenience, ascent is equipped with wooden stairs. From observation point there is a beautiful view of almost entire island archipelago.
On other side of Similan Island (#8) there is another popular beach – Beacon Beach. It is smaller in size, but also clean and covered with fine white sand.
On island of Miang (#4), there are two beaches. large in size Hat Yai, also called Honeymoon Beach, and small but very picturesque beach Hat Lek, named Princess Beach. This island has its own observation point at an altitude of 130 m and several hiking trails for jungle travel.
When are Similan Islands open for visitors?
Similan Islands are open to tourist season from November to April. It is at this time of year in Similan is good sunny weather, calm and clear sea, in which you can do snorkeling and diving.
Between May and October, Similan Islands are closed to tourists due to deterioration of weather – there are often strong winds and storms. sea is rough and that is why Similan is closed for safety of tourists at this time of year.
Tour to Similan Islands from Phuket
As I wrote above, in Phuket, one of most popular excursions to islands is an excursion to Similan. This tour is offered in different versions – from 1 to 3 days.
In tour usually included transfer from your hotel to pier and back, speedboat to islands, tour around islands with a guide, disembarkation at islands 4 and 8, swimming, snorkeling and diving around Similan Islands, breakfast, lunch and dinner in islands, as well as snacks on speedboat, including fruit and drinks, insurance, as well as overnight stays in bungalows or cabins, if tour is longer than 1 day.
We chose 1 day tour because we decided to spend remaining money on another excursion to Phi Phi Islands. And we had enough time to enjoy Similan and its underwater world.
Description of our trip to Similan
We were supposed to go to Similan Islands for 1 day on April 1, but it just so happened that they forgot about us and driver didn’t pick us up at our hotel. It was very frustrating, we purposely got up very early, packed our bags and yay… They forgot about us! A real April Fool’s joke. We ended up walking around whole island of Phuket, visiting southernmost point – Promthep cape, and then northernmost point – Sarasin bridge. Next day we still went on a tour of Similan, followed by us to hotel Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa driver stopped by, put us in mini-bus, and we set off on 3-hour trip to pier, from which speedboat sails tourists to Similan.
The marina has restrooms, you can change your clothes, and you can sit and drink tea or coffee with cookies. You can also buy things like head bandanas, hats, shorts, goggles, and rent flippers here. Masks are usually included in price of tour. We rented flippers, by way, highly recommended, so you can swim much farther and get less tired. We listened to a mini-instruction before tour, then all took off shoes (they remain on land and are issued on arrival back to pier) and already barefoot we went to speedboat. We were offered motion sickness pills, and there was drinking water on speedboat. If you get carsick I recommend to sit near middle instead of on bow, even if it has beautiful Island views, but it gets carsick very strongly, and you can get burnt in sun..
Snorkeling
2 hours on water and here we are at our first stop – snorkeling near one of islands! Snorkeling time is 40 minutes, we put on our masks, flippers, take our action camera and go ahead to explore underwater world of Similan Islands!
We swim near huge boulders, trying not to get close to them, as wave can nail to stones. Underwater is very beautiful, but deep. Here, if you are lucky, you can see turtles, various fish and other inhabitants of underwater world. We only saw big colorful fish.
Visit to Island of Koh Similan
Then we sail to most famous island of Similan Islands – Ko Similan. Already from afar you can see its calling card and main attraction – rock “Sail” 25 meters high.
We were dropped off at Donald Duck Bay and had an hour and a half to explore island or swim. First thing tourists do is go to observation deck on Sail Rock – climb is not very high and not difficult. Although, if there are a lot of people, and here, imagine, there are queues, ascent can take a large amount of time, and in heat is difficult enough to walk, it is better to take water, a hat and something to put on your shoulders so as not to burn.
There are a lot of people, but believe me, ascent to rock “Sail” is definitely worth it – views from observation deck are fantastic!
At top we spent about 20 minutes, we had to squeeze moment when no one interferes with photos and make beautiful pictures to remember.
When you look at rock from below, it seems that stone can slip down, and in order to strengthen it, locals have a belief that stick, attached to base of rock will strengthen it even more, and help you and to stand in a difficult situation. Many people take any stick, even smallest one, and place it at base of rock, while making a wish. I also did my part to help rock.
Most of time we spent on rock, and very little time to swim in turquoise water, and take pictures with large boulders on beach.
I haven’t seen such huge boulders anywhere else, so I ran around them and just enjoyed views.
Unfortunately, time ran out quickly and we went to another Island, no less popular – Island number 4. There we planned to fully enjoy our beach vacation on some of most beautiful Islands in world..
Visiting Island number 4
We didn’t just come to Island 4 to swim and sunbathe, but also to eat lunch. There is a special place on Island – dining room, where they bring tourists for lunch. There is a buffet – food is simple, but varied and everyone will find a meal to his liking.
There are also equipped toilets and places with benches where you can relax in shade of trees. We ate quickly and went to enjoy clearest Andaman Sea.
Yes, Similan Islands – this is a paradise in Thailand, it can only be compared with also beautiful Islands in El Nido in Philippines. But it has its own atmosphere, its own natural beauty. Sea is very warm, sand is white, views around are amazing!
It would be great to come here for a whole day, but “there is no harm in dreaming”.
On island we stayed about 1.5-2 hours. It was very hot, and to hide from sun on beach is almost nowhere, all seats under trees and bushes were taken. After this Island we had another 40 minute snorkeling and headed back to pier. On way back a lot of people fell asleep, on arriving at pier we were given our shoes and put on bus, and after another 3 hours we were at our hotel Phuket Graceland Resort and Spa.
In conclusion, although road to Similan Islands takes a significant amount of time on tour, but it is definitely worth it – you will see some of most beautiful Islands in world!