Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Similan Islands

Last visited Nov 2014

Best beach inward Thailand? - Donald Duck Bay at Similans island#8 would become close. This is a overnice shot to expand past times clicking.

Outlook from the viewpoint on Similans National Park Headquarters Island#4

I'd visited the Similans twice before but never stayed on the islands so inward Apr 2012 I decided to pass some fourth dimension at both campsite grounds.

The Similans national commons islands are located about 70 km off the northern Phang Nga Province coast, around 90/100km due north of Phuket. Khao Lak is the nearest tourist town, Takua Pa the nearest administrative town.

There are ix islands (# 1 to ix progressively north) inward the principal chain although alone vi are of appreciable size. Ko Tachai s also percentage of the Similans national commons although it is some distance to the due north (47km from isle #9), genuinely closer to the Surin islands. Ko Bon, a pop dive location is betwixt the principal islands as well as Ko Tachi.

A closer await at the principal islands as well as the nearby mainland coast. Note that Google Earth's resolution of the Similans is so hapless I can't practise the common detailed GE based map. Click map to expand for detail.

ISLAND #4 – Ko Miang Park Headquarters.

This isle contains the principal camping ground area, all the bungalows as well as is the most pop daytrip location.

The principal arrivals beach (Front Beach) is at the due north of the island. All the National Park buildings, bungalows as well as the camping ground expanse are here. Walking tracks Pb to a dorsum beach (Small Beach) in the north-east which has a steep offshoot to the View Point - as well as to Sunset Point as well as Little Beach to the west. This shot should expand past times clicking or double clicking alongside most browsers.

BEACHES

This is the Front Beach at Ko Miang. I’d charge per unit of measurement this as 1 of Thailand’s nicer beaches, especially early on morn or at fourth dimension of shot – belatedly afternoon after the daytripper crowds receive got left. I think it is amend than Ko Surins best camping ground beach, Ao Mai Ngam inward that it does non endure the depression tide blues – H2O is deep closed to shore at all tides. However Mai Ngam does non instruct many daytrippers. The best percentage of this beach for fewest daytrippers is the shaded expanse nigh photographic television receiver camera which gets plenty of Sun before inward the 24-hour interval but has some overnice vegetation for shade.

The National Park camping ground expanse is behind the trees inward the nigh one-half of the beach. Bungalows are industrial plant life dorsum from the beach on the far headland as well as to left of camera. The picnic expanse is behind those people landing from the boat upwards the beach - you lot accomplish the National Park office, amenities blocks as well as Restaurant behind there.

This is a overnice beach for swimming - the protected fish are curious as well as tend to follow you lot inward the water.

The azure H2O off the principal beach genuinely impressed me. Those are overnighting dive boats. Some divers slumber on board – others come upwards inward to remain inward tents or bungalows. Some okay snorkelling around rocks closed to photographic television receiver camera as well as nigh boats for non-fanatics.

The dorsum beach at HQ isle – this is reached from the principal beach on an slowly jungle rail inward most 10 minutes. It is also pop alongside daytripping boats alongside a similar picnic expanse inward dorsum of the trees. It seemed to me that at that spot was appreciably to a greater extent than sand on this beach when I visited alongside the Poseidon Bungalows' overnight snorkelling trip several years agone – facing W it woud instruct the brunt of moisture flavor tempest erosion as well as I think the final few moisture seasons receive got been pretty proficient ones storm-wise. At the fourth dimension of my latest see at that spot was lilliputian beach at fullest tide.

Small beach. This is alone most 100m due north of the principal arrivals beach as well as reached past times a brusk diversion off the Sunset Point rail inside v minutes of leaving the picnic area/northern bungalows.

This was shot at the peak of the daytripping menstruum – few visitors industrial plant life this beach.

WALKS

SUNSET POINT

The rail takes off nigh the lower bungalows at the northern terminate of the principal beach picnic expanse - follow the signs.

This is a existent overnice rainforest walk – signposted at 420m but seems longer, most xv minutes. Has some slopes but no heartbreakers – could exactly live done inward flip-flop sandals. Actually many daytrippers practise it inward bare feet.

Sunset Point but appreciably before sunset as well as hither looking S to isle #3 instead of west. Note the showers – the moisture flavor south-westerlies had already kicked inward during this belatedly Apr visit, although at that spot was plenty of sunshine around.

You don’t bespeak to become to Sunset Point for some cracking sunsets – this is all reflected sunlight at the principal beach, looking NORTH-EAST, non west.

VIEWPONT

This is a 10-15 infinitesimal climb, non for the unfit because it has several genuinely steep sections although National Parks has spot upwards helper ropes. Note the focal-length of my elcheapo betoken as well as shoot photographic television receiver camera makes slopes appear less steep than actual. At 1 phase you lot receive got to become nether a large overhanging boulder.

View is worth the climb. I already exhibit the outlook inward the opening shot up-page so I borrowed this painting cocodrilo sent to me from her trip written report of her Similans snorkelling trip. That’s the dorsum beach below. On my before Poseidon trip I snorkeled the far islet from the boat – non bad but pretty deep for surface snorkelers to encounter much as well as besides far offshore for most non-boat based people.

NATIONAL PARK HEADQUARTERS

Main entrance from the beach. Administrative percentage ahead, eating theatre out of shot background centre-left. Main picnic expanse instantly right, camping ground expanse instantly left. Bungalows far left as well as correct on/near headlands. 2 can blocks inland from camping ground area.

Administrative percentage – typical rude, unco-operative National Park staff.

National Park store following percentage – real rudimentary attain of things to purchase. Try to convey necessities from mainland.

Restaurant – got real crowded at tiffin fourth dimension alongside laid bill of fare for some of the daytrip operations. Purchasable nutrient for campers as well as bungalow people similar to Surins – mainly overpriced greasy rubbish. Staff were at to the lowest degree pleasant. Bring a proficient provide of munchies from the mainland.

There is also a nearby cafeteria alongside cheaper noodles, some other snacks, coffee, tea as well as soft drinks.

Note all National Parks receive got been booze costless for the past times distich of years – convey plenty of Sang Som similar this happy camper. Accounts for photographic television receiver camera milk shiver inward sunset shot upwards page.

The cafeteria as well as the eating theatre were the alone areas alongside proficient lighting after black but the mosquitos were feral as well as despite long trousers as well as plenty of repellent I was forced to retreat to my tent – 7pm to 6am makes for a looong night. Bring mozzie spray to clear entrance to tent before unzipping.

Mozzies inward the toilet/shower blocks were pretty feral early on level as well as around morn shower time. Daytrippers tended to brand a combat of a mess at that spot too.

National Park bungalows. These exceptional ones are on the far southern headland as well as at 2000+ baht for a fan bungalow are hapless value. Despite spot virtually all had beach/ocean views blocked past times vegetation.

There are also longhouse fan rooms alongside exterior toilets at chiliad – hapless value for 1 or 2 people but I think they tin slumber iv to vi so pop alongside weekending Thai groups.

Part of the camping ground expanse – inward total most iii times the size inward shot. Located nether trees exactly behind the beach but different the Surins, no beachfront positions. Pretty closed together but way less crammed inward than Surins #1 camping ground area. I thought the full general layout superior to Surins #1 camping ground expanse but less attractive than Surins #2 at Ao Mai Ngam.

Tezza’s tent. At 570 baht a 24-hour interval including a sparse camping ground mat, sleeping handbag as well as tiny pillow (the rip-off NP entry fee is included inward your expensive boat ticket), extremely hapless value.

There is exactly plenty room for 2 people as well as their gear.

Dumb blueprint – non high enouth to stand upwards up inward as well as side/back windows could alone live zipped upwards from exterior which way if a nighttime strom hits you lot receive got to instruct moisture to forbid wind-blown pelting coming in. Not that that stopped my tent from leaking.

Looks similar other tents leaked too.

Some fundamental trees had a colony of bats(dark blobs inward pic) who liked to receive got a screaming competition around 0530. Surprisingly bat droppings didn’t seem a large occupation although NP had no tents straight nether the most highly inhabited trees. Maybe the lilliputian darling salve their ablutions to when they are on their dracular flights at night.

DAYTRIPPERS

Around 1030 every 24-hour interval over a dozen large speedboats as well as a few bigger tiresome boats would brand it packed alongside daytrippers. Even from Khao Lak this is a hell of a trip – at to the lowest degree thirty minutes to the pier at Thap Lamu as well as over an hr inward the faster boats. But a lot of these people were Phuket based. Phuket to Thap Lamu inward a van is at to the lowest degree xc minutes. Note that the bulk of the daytrippers were Russian although Thais increased inward numbers on the weekend - Thais also similar camping ground as well as bungalowing on weekends.

I did a daytrip from Khao Lak dorsum inward 1997 – I judged the fourth dimension taken to accomplish the islands non worth the endeavour (and the coral was way amend then), so my afterward Poseidon live-aboard snorkelling cruise as well as this latest iii nighttime camping ground trip.

The principal beach at isle #4 tended to instruct pretty crowded until around 1500. At times at that spot were iii or iv boats backed in. Once unloaded they moored offshore. Note that boats were arriving throughout the 24-hour interval - some daytrippers practise the to a greater extent than northern Similan areas before coming downward here.

FIRST IMAGE REMOVED ON DIRECTION OF GOOGLE. GOOD GRIEF, WHAT SORT OF WORLD DO WE LIVE IN WHEN READER WOWSERS CAN DICTATE WHAT WE POST AND VIEW?

Russian daytrippers are proficient value. Many of the men are large beefy blokes alongside tiny speedos or those dizzy things which await similar racing cyclists ‘skin’ shorts. The girls tend to live pretty hot as well as article of apparel outrageous swim-wear, although I keep alone an outstanding bum tin instruct away alongside a thong-bikini (see babe pes of this page – forget the tramp-stamps, she has the fundamental downward pat).

Russian girs must wanna-be Playboy models because they all practise the glamour poses as above. I estimate that beats the star natural springtime or the v-sign so pop alongside western tourists, although the old fashioned stand upwards as well as grin as seen at the pes of the page here seems okay to me.

ISLAND #8 Ko Similan

My master intention was to campsite for a distich of nights on Ko Similan after my remain at the National Park HQ at isle #4 but my see was so belatedly inward the flavor that the camping ground expanse at #8 had already been closed down. Nevertheless my carry dorsum to the mainland spot inward hither for a few hours as percentage of its daytrip itinerary so I was able to refresh my impression from 2 previous visits.

As nosotros cruised into Donald Duck Bay what struck me was the large number of viewers high on the viewpoint - click (double?) to expand shot, there's gotta live a hundred people upwards there.

Fortunately past times the fourth dimension I got at that spot the masses had thinned a bit. Viewpoint path takes off inward the picnic expanse exactly behind the beach as well as is good sign-posted. It is non a especially hard climb although the sharply dimpled granite is a combat tough on soft bare feet. Try to convey some sandals or joggers onto the beach from the boat.

The persuasion is non shabby 1 time you lot instruct upwards there. I regard the beach at Donald Duck Bay 1 of Thailand’s best. Sure gets crowded when the daytrippers hit it (and this is at the terminate of the season) – for a shot of it after the daytrippers leave, cheque the 1 instantly below taken on my Similans live-aboard snorkelling trip (although being exactly post-tsunami, at that spot were no campers either – different the principal camping ground beach at #4 this 1 has a westerly aspect as well as was devastated past times the wave).

Water tends to live crystal clear as well as all those rocks off the beach attract a proficient array of fishies. Note that when the tide drops the boats can’t instruct all the way into the beach. On instruct out my grouping had to wade out over those rocks – predictably I went caput over turkey – but as I had predicted that I had my photographic television receiver camera inward a sealed double plastic handbag so at that spot was no impairment apart from a banged large toe.

This is the camping ground expanse at #8. Considerably smaller than at Park HQ. Apart from the 1 far background National Parks has packed upwards all the tents which is a proficient thought how moisture as well as windy the coming months tin be.

Similarly the National Park eating theatre had already closed down. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 lot of the daytrip boats genuinely come upwards to #8 before they see Park HQ but it seems none receive got laid meals arranged alongside this eating theatre – at that spot is a fair sized picnic expanse to left of shot. I retrieve having a pretty overnice luncheon at that spot on my offset see – a daytrip inward 1997.

SNORKELING

The Similans are known for some of the best snorkeling inward Thailand. I was fairly impressed when I did my liveaboard snorkelling trip on Poseidon Bungalow’s boat a few years ago. However global warming has genuinely knocked the coral most as well as on my latest trip the iii areas I snorkeled from the daytrip boat I used for carry were real ordinary alongside lots of dead or bleached coral as well as non a large array of fish. Very similar to the Surins possibly 60km farther due north when I visited the same fourth dimension final year.

One thing most the Similans is that the “best” materials is non accessible from the beach – a boat is needed. National Parks puts on a 150baht snorkeling trip from Headquarters but seeing I had already snorkelled iii of the locations this latest visit, I didn’t bother. I’m certain the underwhelming sense of a similar NP snorkelling excursion inward the Surins final yr contributed to my lack of interest.

But novice snorkelers volition in all probability taste the Similans fifty-fifty inward electrical current conditions. The turtles at isle #7 (see painting below) produced appropriate excitement inside my grouping as well as fifty-fifty I was impressed alongside the numbers, size as well as curiosity of the fish exactly off the principal Headquarters beach. That clear H2O was gorgeous too.

To encounter some overnice underwater pix of Similans coral as well as fish inward proficient times cheque out the TRIP REPORT cocodrilo did for me here. Below is 1 of her shots:

Snorkellers laid to cheque the scene off isle #7

Even though the coral is currently crap at this one-time proficient department of fringing reef, isle #7 is known for turtles. I think they hang around for handouts because several appeared shortly after our boat arrived. One at bottom left is non existent clear - below is a much amend shot from the same location taken on my Poseidon tour.

GETTING THERE

It is non inexpensive accessing the Similans. National Park supposedly has a tiresome boat which runs from Thap Lamu S of Khao Lak (3 hours 1 way, 1500baht render inward 2012) but inward reality this stays tied upwards inward less busy times. This way you lot receive got to conform transfers alongside 1 of the daytrip companies. Actually they tin conform the whole lot - very pop are 1 nighttime visits where you lot basically practise the daytrip as well as are left overnight on the isle alongside a selection betwixt tents or to a greater extent than expensive bungalows.

I didn’t conform the whole packet alongside my transfer speedboat outfit because I originally wanted to pass 2 nights at HQ as well as 2 nights at isle #8, using the National Park’s longtail transfer betwixt the 2 islands. So I exactly arranged transfers out as well as dorsum – but beingness a daytrip boat I got to see the same places as the daytrippers although spread over 2 days.

Costing is interesting – my outfit belatedly inward the flavor was charging daytrippers 1750 (I think some large fourth dimension discounting was going on, some other companionship was charging 2200 so store around especially belatedly or early on inward the season) but they quoted me 2400. The reasoning hither is that I select a spot away from a potential client on 2 days (out as well as so when I’m coming back) as well as should pay more.

Fair enough, but I’m a large 1 for the bargain so I flashed 2000 (I believe inward that old adage: SHOW ‘EM THE MONEY!) which was accepted. That 2000 was non supposed to instruct me whatever of the tasty luncheon on either 24-hour interval but the National Park canteen nutrient was so bad that on my instruct out 24-hour interval I hung around my outfit’s picnic tables similar a hungry puppy after everyone else had been fed as well as they invited me to raid the buffet. Medsye has genuinely tasty grub.

Note that this belatedly inward the flavor (the commons closed a calendar week after I left) the offset speedboat operator I approached was reluctant to select me on – the declaration beingness that alongside fewer customers they mightiness non come upwards out the 24-hour interval I wanted to return. They suggested I become await for 1 of the bigger multi-boat operators. So it was exactly a affair of finding a go agent who dealt alongside a multi-boat company. Medseye were running iii boats each 24-hour interval I so used them.

Note that a surprisingly large amount of the daytrippers genuinely originated inward Phuket so it is quite possible for isle stayers to conform the whole thing from there. One German linguistic communication guy I talked to said he got a 1 nighttime camping ground packet for himself as well as his daughter for around 6000 baht. I suppose that is non bad value seeing the pop Phuket beaches are such a haul from Thap Lamu. But what fourth dimension inward the morn does the shuttle to Thap Lamu leave?

One house which books Medseye is Khao Lak William tour service inward fundamental Khao Lak township (ocean side of principal route exactly nigh the jitney stop).

All the speedboats used these days are large fast multi-engine jobs. These tin spot around twoscore passengers. Note the bow seating expanse is non a comfortable house on rough, choppy days. Plus the Sun tin crisp you lot upwards pretty nicely.

Operators volition pick you lot upwards from your Khao Lak expanse hotel around 0730-0800 as well as transfer you lot to the pier expanse at Thap Lamu most 15km S of Khao Lak township. There they receive got a basic breakfast of toast as well as java at their percentage as well as number snorkelling gear. The trip each way takes most xc minutes.

Some boats select inward Island #7 as well as HQ at #4 offset as well as so snorkel isle ix as well as see Donald Duck Bay at isle #8 – others practise the contrary itinerary. Just as good – if they all arrived at the same house at the same time, chaos would reign.

Water, soft drink, fruit as well as sweets tend to live offered after each snorkelling session as well as on the long trip from/back to the mainland.

Seasick tablets are available for the queasy as well as at that spot is a reasonable offset assistance kit on board. There is an on-board can as well as plenty of life jackets. Poor swimmers select them when snorkeling.

ARE THE SIMILANS WORTH IT?

Staying on the Similans didn’t overwhelm me – transfers are long as well as expensive, the National Park staff are offensive, the tents, bungalows as well as the nutrient outrageously overpriced as well as a lot of the latter was rubbish. Currently the snorkelling is disappointing. There is non a large diversity of walks or activities. But I am an isle freak whose ambition is to remain on every Thai isle inside my budget as well as I was aware before I went that the coral was yet inward bad condition.

So YES, they are worth visiting if you lot are an isle freak similar me, a novice snorkeler and/ or similar gorgeous beaches as well as clear water.

NO if you lot are a snorkelling enthusiast who is used to real proficient locations – hold off a few years until the acquaint warming/bleaching session passes. And I think snorkelers instruct much amend value from Poseidon's alive aboard trip.
And NO if hapless value for money, rude staff, poorly designed tents etc upsets you.

I genuinely think the best way to see alongside on-island accommodation would live to organise an overnight remain on the isle alongside 1 of the daytrip operators. Or possibly 1 nighttime on Headquarters isle as well as some other at #8.

WHICH IS THE BETTER – THE SIMILANS OR THE SURINS?

Coral as well as fish weather condition seemed most the same although I don’t retrieve lots of medium sized fish nigh the beach at the Surins’ Ao Mai Ngam. I did encounter a overnice babe shark.

When the coral recovers it volition live possible to snorkel a pretty proficient reef drop-off at Ao Mai Ngam. You bespeak a boat trip for the same type of materials inward the Similans.

Ao Mai Ngam is a sweetness beach, 1 of Thailand’s amend ones, but the principal beach at the Similans HQ isle is some other footstep upwards – no depression tide blues for a start as well as the H2O seemed clearer as well as bluer. Donald Duck Bay at Similans isle #8 is amend again.

EXCEPT – both Similans beaches instruct heaps to a greater extent than daytrippers. For people-watchers similar me this is a plus, but possibly non for you.

The Surin's Ao Mai Ngam is a course of didactics beach but can't fit either Front Beach at Similan's#4 or Donald Duck Bay at Similan's#8

Landscape/seascape at both Surins as well as Similans are as attractive.

I think the Surins’ camping ground expanse at Ao Mai Ngam is amend than at HQ Beach inward the Similans (although the option Surins’ arrivals beach camping ground expanse at Ao Chong Kaad is genuinely cramped as well as crammed). Ao Mai Ngam is divided into neat lilliputian sections, has a greater number of can blocks which ever seemed create clean as well as has the possibility of beachfront camping ground sites although alone for a express %. Then over again it had to a greater extent than pains inward the bum long-term campers who thought they owned the house when I visited.

I didn’t think the bungalows were superior at either site but the Similans has more. I think camping ground enthusiasts volition taste the Surins' Ao Mai Ngam more.

Restaurants were dire at both locations but the Similans’ HQ beach 1 was slightly better.

National Park staff were as rude.

The Similans has considerably amend walks as well as viewpoints..

Overall I’d give it to the Similans.

WHEN ARE THE SIMILANS OPEN?
I got this from Wicked Divers' website. I lost the url - Google volition abide by it:
" The "official" dates were Nov 15th until May 15th of each year. During the menstruum when the commons was closed, dive operators as well as fisherman were able to pay a "fine" equivalent to the commons fee, but alone inward cash as well as alone to the commons rangers. This yr things receive got changed. With a novel manager of the commons as well as staff who seem to care, it looks similar the commons volition live closed until Nov 1st."

I'd advise you lot cheque the Thai National Parks website to encounter when it is opening/closing at the fourth dimension of your visit.
-----------------------------
If you lot are interested inward the Similans you lot mightiness also consider:
THE SURINS
KHAO LAK

Nearby Phang Nga islands from where you lot tin practise a Similans boat daytrip such as:
KO PHRA THONG
KO KHO KHAO

And Similan Trip Reports such as:
MV'S STAY ON KO TACHAI as well as COCODRILO'S POSEIDON LIVE-ABOARD (SCROLL DOWN)

There is also:
MY LIVE-ABOARD SIMILANS ADVENTURE WITH POSEIDON

PEOPLE CONSIDERING DAY TRIPS TO THE SIMILANS - I did a 24-hour interval trip out of Phuket inward Nov 2014 - at that spot is a written report HERE

-------------------------
IF YOU SEE MISTAKES OR HAVE EXTRA INFORMATION PLEASE POST BELOW.
IF YOU HAVE Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 QUESTION, PLEASE POST information technology IN THE FORUM - I DON'T CHECK THESE INDIVIDUAL ISLAND PAGES VERY OFTEN BUT I TRY TO CHECK THE FORUM MOST DAYS WHEN I AM NOT TRAVELING.

BACK TI BEACHES AND ISLANDS INDEX

Sumber http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/

Bali Attractions

Bangkok Thailand Place should to visiting: Similan Islands

BACA JUGA LAINNYA: