The Similan Islands are white sand beaches and a wonderful turquoise sea. Every year, the islands are visited by numerous tourists in search of relaxation in a tropical paradise. Indeed, advertising booklets of travel companies promise an opportunity not only to soak up the rays of the warm sun, but also to have an interesting time.
Location
Where are the Similan Islands? They are scattered in the Andaman Sea, just 70 kilometers from the province of Phang Nga, of which they are part. Translated, the name of the archipelago means nothing more than "nine" (according to the number of islands).
What is Similan?
Similan - islands in Thailand, which are a national park. In total, there are nine islands, which in 1982 were declared a national treasure. Amazingly beautiful places are among the top ten in the world. The islands are known as an ideal place for diving. A diverse underwater world, palm groves, jungles, impeccable beaches and transparent sea - all this is Similan.
You can visit the islands during the dry season, which lasts from October to May. I must say that the islands are uninhabited. During the season, numerous tourists come to them during excursions. The rest of the time, the region is completely deserted.
I must say that there are no hotels, airports, land transport and other infrastructure on the Similan Islands. Therefore, it is simply pointless to look for options for booking apartments on the maps. And there are no ferries to the islands either. You will be surprised, but there is not even a single pier here. The islands can only be reached by tourist boats. By the way, travelers are allowed to visit only two of them. Near others, you can only swim, dive and enjoy nature.
All Similan Islands have their own name and serial number. So, island number 8 is Similan, number 4 is Miang, number 6 is Nok. However, the locals simply call them by their numbers. Only islands 4 and 8 can be visited.
The granite islands of Similan are of volcanic origin, in this they are similar to the Seychelles. They are covered with lush vegetation and beautiful white sands off the coast. Of the living creatures on the islands, there are large crabs and fruit bats, which are called flying foxes, hermit crabs.
How to get to the islands?
As we mentioned earlier, you can only get to the Similan Islands in Thailand during the dry season. The national park is open to the public only at this time - from October 16 to May 15.
The easiest way to get to the Similan Islands from Phuket is by purchasing a sightseeing tour. The cost of a day trip to the Similans withPhuket is approximately $70 (from 4,700 rubles) for adults and $54 (from 3,600 rubles) for children.
To get there, you need to overcome 53 kilometers to the port of Khao Lak, after which you need to rush another hour on a speedboat to the Similans. Please note that the trip is not close, and the boat shakes a lot. Therefore, it is worth preparing in advance and taking a pill from pitching.
You can get to Similan Island on your own. To do this, you need to get to Khao Lak by taxi or bus, and then go to the main port - Taplamu. It is from here that boats leave for the National Park. The first one comes out at 8:30. By the way, the boat belongs to the park, it can take you to islands 4 and 8. The fare in both directions is more than five thousand rubles. As you can see, it is easier to go on a trip in a group, because it is much more convenient, and the cost is the same. So why make life difficult for yourself?
Of course, many of us usually prefer independent travel. But in this case, a group tour is the most convenient option. The cost of the tour includes a transfer to the islands, as well as an interesting travel program to the most beautiful beaches and picturesque bays:
- Transfer from the hotel to Khao Lak and back.
- Three island tour with stops for swimming and diving.
- Lunch with refreshing drinks.
Where to stay?
Spend the night on the Similan Islands (Thailand)banned since 2018. Alternatively, you can go with an overnight stay for 2-3 days to Surin. You can also visit the island for one day. However, you can not hope for comfortable rooms in Surin. Living conditions are close to Spartan. It offers tents and bungalows. There are no hotels on the Similans in the usual sense for us. And yet here you can find rooms with air conditioning and fans. The bungalow even has electricity, a shower and a toilet. And for those living in tents, only a shared shower with fresh water is available.
On islands 4 and 8 there are several cafes with a meager selection of food. If you don't risk eating a local lunch, bring some food with you.
Preparing for the trip
What do you need to take with you to the Similan Islands, photos of which are shown in the article? Experienced travelers recommend taking:
- Towels and swimsuit.
- Waterproof sunscreen.
- Sunglasses.
- Headdress.
- Mosquito repellent (insects in the shade bite even during the day).
- Pills for motion sickness.
Since the Similans (Thailand) are interesting from the point of view of scuba diving, it does not hurt to take a snorkel, fins and a mask with you if you want to admire the beauties of the underwater world. If you do not have your own equipment, you can rent it in Khao Lak. For those guests who cannot swim, swimming vests are provided on the boats.
On the Similan Islands in Thailand (see photo in the review) the sun is very bright, so it is very highrisk of severe burns. Unfortunately, having just one sunscreen is not enough. Protective clothing should be taken care of. Experienced hikers strongly recommend carrying a few light-coloured natural shirts or long-sleeved T-shirts. One of them will come in handy for walking along the coast and for a trip in a boat, and the second must be worn for swimming. This will keep you safe from sunburn. Don't be fooled if the sun hides behind clouds. This does not mean that you are safe. In cloudy weather, the chance of getting burned is even higher as people lose their vigilance.
When leaving the boat on the shore, be sure to take your shoes with you. The journey to the viewing platforms will take place along paths dotted with stones and branches. Of course, it is forbidden to walk in shoes on the islands, but no one enforces the rules in tropical thickets.
Beaches
The beaches are of the greatest interest to tourists. After all, for the sake of them, they come not only to Thailand, but also to the Similans. The most famous of them is Dopald Dak beach on Koh Similan (island number 8). No less attractive are two beaches on the island of Koh Miang.
Beautiful coast on island number 1, it is considered the longest in the archipelago. However, access is closed to tourists because large sea turtles nest on the beach. Coast closed for conservation reasons.
Weather conditions
The Similan Islands are not that far from Phuket. However, the weather conditions on them differ significantly for the better.side. The weather on the islands is sunnier than on the mainland. This phenomenon is connected with the fact that ascending air currents over land masses lead to the formation of clouds, which often hide the sun over resorts.
But such clouds do not form over the Similans, because the islands are too small.
If you see colorful flyers that depict islands, it's not Photoshop magic at all. The sun on the Similans is incredibly bright and dazzling. The weather on the islands is always beautiful. By the way, the islands of Surin and Tachai can also boast of a bright sun. The best time to visit the region is during the dry season.
Diving & Snorkeling
Any Similan excursion includes several snorkeling stops. Usually the organizers provide all the equipment. If you are more interested in diving, then the islands have all the conditions for this. There are an incredible number of diving centers in Khao Lak and Phuket, so you can use the services of any of them. According to tourists, there are much more diving schools in resorts than vacationers themselves. Even if you settle somewhere on the outskirts of the resort, finding a diving center is not difficult. Any of them organize diving trips anywhere in the Andaman Sea.
To dive you will need an appropriate certificate and money. As you know, diving is not cheap. There are a lot of Russian diving centers in Thailand. If your English is far from perfect, then it will not be difficult to buy a tour from compatriots.
The cost of diving tours to the Similan Islands ranges from 4500-5000 baht (9-10 thousand rubles). If you want to devote several days to diving, then this price will have to be paid for each of them. Experienced travelers believe that it is worth going to the Similans for a few days. The fact is that there are at least a dozen dive points in the area of \u200b\u200bthe islands. All of them are very different and worthy of close attention of travelers. A multi-day trip will allow you to watch Similanmi at sunrise and sunset, an amazing sight to see with your own eyes.
Turtles
Large turtles, reaching a meter in length, live in southern Thailand, including the Similan Islands. Many believe that these creatures are very slow. But actually it is not. Sea turtles are very good swimmers and are very graceful in the water.
The phlegm of turtles is more superstition than truth. Animals are confident in their armor, and therefore can allow themselves to be slow in the presence of a person. Turtles are very curious and playful. They are very fond of bananas. Therefore, you will have the opportunity to hand feed a large animal.
Turtles weigh up to 50 kilograms, which is far from the limit. Adults weigh 60-80 kg. The largest animals reach a length of a meter and weigh up to 100 kg. The probability of meeting turtles on the Similans is quite high, because island number 1 was given to them.
Animal world
The islands are known not only for their rich underwater world. On them alsoThere are 16 species of bats and flying foxes. Of the birds on the Similans, you can find Nicobar pigeons and fruit pigeons. In total, more than 39 species of birds live on the islands.
Ko Similan
Ko Similan is the largest island in the archipelago. It was he who gave the name to the entire island group. The dimensions of Koh Similan reach a length of 1.4 kilometers and a width of 4.3 kilometers. The island is the most visited of all in the archipelago. It has a campsite for tourists. In addition to beautiful beaches, Koh Similan has picturesque cliffs. Seil Rock is the symbol of Similan.
Other islands of the archipelago
Koh Miang Island is another inhabited island of the archipelago. Its main attraction is a beautiful beach. The island also has a jungle trail. You can spend the night and have lunch on it.
Island 1 is the southernmost point of the archipelago. It is known not only for the longest beach, but also for diving points located around it. Access to the island itself is closed.
One of the islands of the archipelago is a rock, a significant part of which is under water. But the surface part is very similar to the head of an elephant. The rock is considered the best dive point of the archipelago, because it is here that you can meet large underwater inhabitants.
Reviews of tourists
Many tourists vacationing in Thailand are wondering what is better to visit: Surin Island or Similan? Experienced travelers recommend choosing Similans. The archipelago is interesting in terms of beautiful beaches and diving. Underwater world off the coastThe islands are very beautiful and interesting. Here you can see rare inhabitants and real corals. Real luck is meeting sea turtles.
To complete the experience, it is best to go to the islands for a few days. This will allow you to admire the natural beauties not during the influx of tourists. You can stay on the islands in wooden bungalows or in tents. Local rooms cannot boast the same comfort as apartments in hotels on the mainland. However, this does not prevent you from having a great time in the bosom of nature. Experienced travelers recommend refraining from visiting the islands with small children. The fact is that the road to them by boat is not so close. Even adults often get sick along the way. Well, it can be difficult for children. In addition, very bright sunlight can adversely affect the delicate skin of babies. And the abundance of insects is not conducive to rest with the kids.
