Similan Islands

The word “Similan” means “nine” in the Malay language, and the Similan Islands—a group of islets located about 100 km northwest of Phuket—are nine beautiful tropical islands that offer a variety of excellent diving sites.

A national park was established here in 1982. The park covers approximately 140 square kilometers, with the islands and rocks accounting for about one-ninth of that area. The national park consists mainly of weathered granite, and the individual islands are heavily overgrown.

There is a stark contrast between the relatively flat eastern side, dotted with beaches, and the western side, which is fully exposed to the monsoon and where the cliffs drop steeply into the sea.

Ko Similan, with an area of about 5 square kilometers and a maximum elevation of 224 meters, is the largest of the Similan Islands. There is a small lighthouse here that was built by the Royal Thai Navy but is no longer in use.

On Ko Meang, there is a small lake and a palace belonging to the Princess of Thailand. The National Park Office is located on Ko Meang.

Overnight stays are also possible on Ko Similan and Ko Meang, either in tents or in small bungalows, which can be reserved through the National Park Office.

The islands of Ko Payang, Ko Payan, and Ko Huyong are restricted military zones. Sea turtles lay their eggs on these islands, and the Royal Thai Navy operates a turtle hatchery there, which is why the islands are also closed to tourism.