The Similan Islands sit off Thailand’s west coast in the Andaman Sea, in Phang Nga province. Granite boulders, forested islands and bright sandy bays give the archipelago a very different feel from a beach resort. It is a protected area visited by boat, with access shaped by the season and park rules.
A visit works in two quite different ways: a mainland stay with a day excursion, or nights aboard a diving liveaboard. There are no visitor bungalows or camping stays to book on the islands. Popular landing beaches can be busy, so “remote” does not necessarily mean having a bay to yourself.
In this page you will find practical information to plan a scuba diving trip to Similan Islands:
Table of contents
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Similan Islands as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
The island camping and bungalow advice found in older guides is obsolete. The Department of National Parks reaffirmed in August 2026 that overnight stays on land had been closed since October 2018. Former accommodation buildings should not be mistaken for bookable tourist lodging.
Khao Lak is a practical mainland base for many departures from the Thap Lamu area. Phuket can work too, particularly as an arrival gateway, but a day tour may begin with a substantial road transfer. A hotel inside the operator’s pickup zone can make an early start easier.
A liveaboard provides accommodation at sea and a different diving schedule. Cabin category, route and park fees need to be compared together; it is not a way to book a campsite ashore.
Department of National Parks: August 2026 clarification
Activities and excursions in Similan Islands
The Similans are not exclusively a scuba-diving destination. Dedicated snorkelling day trips combine shallow-water stops with authorised beach visits. Seastar’s published example travels from its Thap Lamu pier to the islands 5–6 area, Koh Miang (island 4), Koh Ba Ngu (island 9) and Koh Similan (island 8), before returning to the mainland. Stops and order can change with conditions.
Beach time, swimming and the viewpoint on island 8 are different activities from joining a dive boat. A family or non-diving companion may prefer a dedicated excursion with an appropriate pace, shade, lifejackets and supervision. Suitability depends on the actual crossing and participants, rather than a blanket rule about children.
Seastar’s published day-trip programme
Best time to visit Similan Islands
Similan National Park reopened on 15 October 2026 after its annual closure. The visitor season normally spans roughly mid-October to mid-May, with the exact access arrangements governed by park announcements. A seasonal opening does not override a weather-related cancellation.
The Andaman dry season often becomes more settled from December. Early-season crossings can still be lively, and no month guarantees visibility or flat seas. For a fixed liveaboard departure, arriving on the mainland the day before leaves room for travel delays.
Official reopening information
Health and Safety
The crossing is open sea, and conditions can be uncomfortable even when the beaches look calm. Sun exposure, hydration and a suitable lifejacket deserve attention. Anyone concerned about motion sickness, pregnancy, mobility or an existing medical condition needs individual advice and the operator’s current participation requirements.
Offshore diving insurance should match the intended activities and include appropriate emergency treatment and evacuation cover. A planned non-diving day before flying is a useful buffer after a multi-day dive trip; the national travel guide explains DAN’s minimum intervals and their limitations.
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Similan Islands, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Where is Similan Islands located in the world?
The islands lie offshore from Phang Nga, west of the Thai mainland and south of the Surin Islands. Khao Lak is the mainland town most closely associated with Similan trips; the actual departure pier is specified by the operator.
How to get to Similan Islands?
Phuket airport is a useful arrival point for a road transfer north towards Khao Lak. A tour marketed “from Phuket” may include that road journey before the boat crossing, rather than sailing directly from Phuket itself.
Day excursions and liveaboards use different boats and boarding schedules. The key details are the named pier, hotel pickup area, check-in deadline, baggage arrangements and confirmed return time. Flight connections immediately after an offshore trip leave little margin for a delayed crossing; divers also need their flying-after-diving interval.
Do I need a visa for Similan Islands?
Thai entry requirements depend on nationality and passport type. The Thailand travel guide covers the current visa-exemption changes and the Thailand Digital Arrival Card.
Park admission is separate from immigration. Electronic tickets are used for Similan entry, and passport details may be needed in advance. The operator should explain how the ticket is arranged and whether it is included in the fare. Personal passport information belongs in the operator’s secure booking process, not in a public review.
Getting Around
Movement between the islands is part of an organised boat programme. A landing at one island does not provide an independent ferry network or permission to explore every island. Beach access, snorkelling areas and scuba sites can have different restrictions.
For a mixed group, the useful question is what the non-divers will actually do during each dive. A liveaboard itinerary naming the Similan Islands does not, by itself, promise beach landings or supervised snorkelling.
Similan travel questions
Can I sleep on the islands?
No visitor camping or bungalow stays are currently available. The alternatives are mainland accommodation or a liveaboard cabin at sea.
Are the islands worth visiting without scuba diving?
Yes, a dedicated snorkelling excursion can be a better fit than a dive boat. The published programme should explain the beach stops, supervision and crossing arrangements.
Are park fees included?
That depends on the product. A foreign-adult scuba day trip commonly lists 500 THB admission plus 200 THB diving fee, but the operator must confirm the applicable total, category and inclusions for your booking. Multi-day routes entering another park need their own calculation.
Fee reference: Go2Similan’s published day-trip fees (checked 12 November 2026).
Similan Islands Photos
Scuba diving
You will find all information about sea life, best time to visit, top dive spots, etc. in our review: Similan Islands Diving
Diving Reviews for this region
Similan Islands
Granite boulder dives, reef photography and northern Andaman liveaboards. Day boats also visit the Similans; route choice, current and park access determine the right trip.
Liveaboard Reviews in Similan Islands
MV Pawara
Pawara photo gallery: operator imagery supplied through LiveAboard.com. Photos are undated; the confirmed cabin allocation governs your booking.
MV Oktavia
Historical Oktavia images supplied through LiveAboard.com. They do not depict a verified current Orca Oktavia configuration.
South Siam 3
The 30 meters South Siam 3, also called Somboon 3, is a liveaboard operating in Thailand. Indeed, the dive boat offers flexible itineraries including the best dive sites of Thailand such as the Similan Islands, Koh Bon, Tachai, Surin and Richelieu Rock
South Siam 4
Thailand · Similan Islands & Richelieu Rock · Updated 9 November 2026
Gentle Giant
Gentle Giant makes room for both halves of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. Her four-night cruises concentrate on the Similans and northern pinnacles; selected six-night journeys continue south to Koh Haa and Hin Daeng–Hin Muang. That longer trip is the interes
The Junk
Three masts, a wooden hull and a history that began with charcoal rather than scuba tanks: The Junk brings a little romance to a Thai diving holiday. The appeal goes well beyond a photogenic silhouette. Eighteen guests share six ensuite cabins, and the
Sawasdee Fasai
Sawasdee Fasai is a good boat for divers who like a full day underwater and room to spread out afterwards. Four nights carry the trip from the Similans’ granite scenery to the northern pinnacles, with Richelieu Rock given a full day in the sample progr
MV Smiling Seahorse
Photos: Smiling Seahorse operator gallery via LiveAboard.com.
Thailand Master (The Phinisi)
Photos: Thailand Master operator gallery via LiveAboard.com.
Andaman Tritan
Andaman Tritan images from Sunrise Divers’ identified boat gallery. Undated photographs of the documented configuration.
If you have been to Similan Islands before, please share your experiences, ideas and feedback (Hotel, Excursions, General Feeling,…) in the comments section below, by doing so you will help fellow travellers to plan their next trip