The Similan Islands is an archipelago in the Andaman Sea off the coast of, and part of, Phang Nga Province, in southern Thailand. It is a national park area of interest. Access to the Similan Islands is easiest from, just south of Khao Lak from the Tab Lamu Port which is also the parks main headquarters and is a small fishing village some 13 to 15 kms from khao lak. Phuket is also able to cover the Similan islands when it comes to tours.
How to get to Similan Islands
Fastest way is by speedboat at just over an hour or approximately 3 hours by ferry. The Similan national marine park is where the action starts if you are into diving. Which is one of the major attractions. 11 islands make up the island chart. However, the word Similan is from Yawi and means 9, originally only 9 islands made up the archipelago and two more were added in 1998 Kp Bon and Tachai which now makes up the 11. The full list is: Koh Bangu, Koh Bon, Koh Ha, Koh Hin Pousar, Koh Huyong, Koh Meang, Koh Payan, Koh Payang, Koh Payu, Koh Similan and Koh Tachai. (Koh means 'island' in Thai).
The season for these islands are generally October to May. After this from June to mid-October much of the activity closes down unlike Bangkok which tends to retain a much higher off season following. Koh Similan is the largest of the islands and maybe a good place to start your southern adventure. All the islands have large rock formations as well as reefs for diving and clean clear waters which have shallows making snorkeling easy. The marine life thrives here and attracts divers from all over the world.
In fact, National Geographic rated it as one of the world’s top 10 diving destinations, with both manta rays and whale sharks able to be seen when conditions are right. Restrictions by the Thai government are in place due to the fragility of the coral and so the islands close down with tourism restrictions on numbers often in place, some of the islands may have year-round bans as the reefs are given some time to recuperate.
Some sport and commercial fishing are banned in many parts and even barracudas take up residence around the islands. Places like Koh huyong do not allow beach landings as although it has the widest beach, it is home to turtles laying eggs.
As far as accommodation not all islands allow overnight stays and those that do are simplistic by nature with mainly campsites or bungalow accommodation or sleep aboard boat tours, called liveaboards departing for 3 to 4-day trips. Overnighting on the islands is not so easy with places often booked in advance and with no hotels in operation accommodation is basic and costly for what you get.
Other closed to tourist islands are, Koh Payang and koh Payan. Koh Payan incidentally is owned by a Thai princess. Lots of illegal fishing occurs in the Similan’s and often tourists are unaware of the damage caused to the reefs here. It is estimated some five to six thousand tourists a day are in the national park in high season.
Click here to see tours and ferries with Khanom to the Simian islands from both Phuket and Khao lak.
Author: Gary C.
Photo credits: Unsplah, Envato elements and Twenty 20
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