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Khao Lak & Phuket · Open Oct–May

Swim With Turtles in the Similan Islands, Thailand

The Similan Islands, a national park in the Andaman Sea off Khao Lak and Phuket, are some of Thailand's finest snorkeling waters, with granite boulders, coral gardens and green and hawksbill turtles on the reefs. Speedboat day trips run to several snorkel sites where turtles cruise the coral among schools of fish. The park closes for the monsoon, so trips run from about October to May, and the water is at its clearest in the dry months.

Green & hawksbill turtles National park reefs Andaman Sea From $105 Open Oct–May

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3 snorkel tours
$105 starting price
Oct–May park season
Andaman clear-water reefs

Swim With Turtles in Similan Islands

Similan Islands: Early-Bird Snorkeling Day Trip from Phuket & Khao Lak, swim with turtles in Similan IslandsTop Pickfrom $123

Similan Islands: Early-Bird Snorkeling Day Trip from Phuket & Khao Lak

★★★★★4.7(4372 reviews)·Full day
  • Early-bird speedboat to beat the crowds
  • Snorkel Similan's reefs with green and hawksbill turtles
  • Several snorkel stops and beach time
  • The most-booked Similan day trip
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Similan Islands: Snorkeling Day Trip from Phuket or Khao Lak, swim with turtles in Similan Islandsfrom $105

Similan Islands: Snorkeling Day Trip from Phuket or Khao Lak

★★★★★4.5(892 reviews)·Full day
  • Full-day Similan snorkeling from Phuket or Khao Lak
  • Turtles, coral and crystal-clear reefs
  • Lunch and snorkel gear included
  • Great-value shared speedboat trip
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From Khao Lak & Phuket: Similan Islands Snorkeling Day Trip, swim with turtles in Similan Islandsfrom $126

From Khao Lak & Phuket: Similan Islands Snorkeling Day Trip

★★★★★4.2(9 reviews)·Full day
  • Similan Islands snorkeling day trip
  • Snorkel reefs with turtles and tropical fish
  • Beach time on the national park islands
  • Transport, lunch and gear included
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How Much Does a Similan Islands Snorkel Trip Cost?

Similan day trips from Phuket and Khao Lak include the speedboat, national park fees, lunch and gear. All include free cancellation.

Full day
Similan snorkel day trip
$105 – $126

A speedboat day trip from Khao Lak or Phuket to the Similan Islands, snorkeling several reef sites where turtles and fish gather, with beach time and lunch.

What affects the price?

Early bird or standard

An early-bird speedboat reaches the reefs before the crowds and costs a little more than a standard departure.

Where you leave from

Khao Lak is closer to the Similans than Phuket, so Phuket trips involve a longer transfer.

Park fees

The Similan national park charges an entry fee, usually built into the tour price.

Bottom line: The early-bird trip is worth the small extra to snorkel the reefs before the day boats arrive. If price matters more, the standard day trip from $105 covers the same islands.

Which Similan Islands Tour Is Right for You?

Tour Duration Group size Best for Rating From
Early-bird speedboat day trip Full day Group Beating the crowds, top-rated 4.7★ $123 Check →
Standard snorkel day trip Full day Group Best value 4.5★ $105 Check →
Khao Lak & Phuket day trip Full day Group Pickup from either base 4.2★ $126 Check →

Sea Turtle Species & Best Months in Similan Islands

Species January–March April–June July–September October–December Likelihood
Green Sea Turtle Regular Regular Closed Regular On the reef
Hawksbill Turtle Regular Regular Closed Regular On the reef
The Similan reefs are home to green and hawksbill turtles, which feed and rest on the coral among the granite boulders. This is a national-park reef snorkel, so turtles are a regular sight rather than a certainty, alongside reef fish, rays and, on lucky days, a manta or whale shark. The park is protected, so keep your distance, stay off the coral, and never touch or chase the turtles.

What to Expect on the Day

1

Early pickup on the mainland

Tours pick you up from Khao Lak or Phuket before dawn and drive to the Khao Lak pier for the speedboat.

Choose an early-bird trip to reach the reefs before the main crowd of boats.
2

Speedboat to the Similans

Cross the Andaman Sea by speedboat to the national park islands, about an hour from Khao Lak.

3

Snorkel the reefs

Snorkel several sites among the coral and granite boulders, where turtles, reef fish and rays gather.

4

Beach and lunch

Land on a white-sand island for lunch and a swim before more snorkeling and the ride back.

No turtle sighted? The Similan reefs have resident turtles, so sightings are common on a snorkel day, though this is a reef trip rather than a dedicated turtle swim. Remember the park closes for the monsoon from about mid-May to mid-October, so plan your trip for the open season.

Sea Turtle Behaviors to Watch For

Cruising the Coral

Green and hawksbill turtles move between the coral heads and granite boulders of the Similan reefs, feeding and resting where snorkelers watch from the surface.

On the reef
Resting Under Ledges

Turtles tuck under coral ledges and boulders to rest. A resting turtle should be left alone, watched from a distance rather than followed.

Midday
Surfacing to Breathe

Turtles rise for air every few minutes to about an hour. Give them a clear path to the surface and never crowd the space above one.

On every snorkel

What to Bring (and What to Leave at Home)

✓ Bring

  • Reef-safe (oxybenzone-free) sunscreen
  • Swimsuit worn under your clothes
  • Towel and a change of clothes
  • Waterproof phone case or GoPro
  • Motion-sickness tablet for the speedboat
  • Cash in baht for park fees and tips
  • Your booking voucher (printed or phone)

✗ Leave at home

  • Regular sunscreen (banned in the national park)
  • Anything you would touch a turtle or the coral with
  • Single-use plastics (restricted in the park)
  • Fins if you cannot control them over shallow coral
Seasickness tip: The speedboat crossing to the Similans can be bumpy early or late in the season. Take a tablet the night before if you are prone, and sit low and central on the boat.

Where Tours Depart From

Port / AreaDetailsBest for
Khao Lak The closest mainland base to the Similans, with the shortest speedboat crossing. Shorter transfer to the reefs
Phuket A longer road transfer to the Khao Lak pier, but easy if you are based in Phuket. Travelers staying in Phuket
The Similan Islands lie in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga province. Day trips leave from the Khao Lak coast by speedboat, about an hour out. Khao Lak is the closest base; Phuket trips add a road transfer of one to two hours to the pier.

How to Choose an Ethical Tour

What ethical operators do

  • Brief a strict no-touch, no-chase policy
  • Keep a respectful distance from turtles
  • Never block a turtle’s path to the surface
  • Require reef-safe sunscreen from all guests
  • Cap group sizes for calmer encounters
  • Support reef and sea-turtle conservation

Red flags to avoid

  • Let guests touch, ride, or chase turtles
  • Feed turtles to lure them in
  • Crowd or corner a turtle in the water
  • Stand on coral or trample seagrass
  • Oversized groups with no guide in the water
  • Any “hold a turtle” photo op

Best Shore Spots to See Turtles in Similan Islands

These shore and reef spots let snorkelers and beachgoers find sea turtles in Similan Islands without a boat. Keep your distance and never touch a resting turtle.

Koh Miang (Island 4)

Reef & beach

A national park island with two beaches and a fringing reef where turtles, fish and coral gather. A common snorkel and lunch stop.

💡 Snorkel the reef off the main beach on a calm morning.

Koh Similan (Island 8)

Granite & coral

The largest island, famous for Donald Duck Bay and Sail Rock, with boulder reefs, coral and turtles on the snorkel sites.

💡 The bay is sheltered and good for easier snorkeling.

Koh Bangu (Island 9)

Clear water

The northernmost island with some of the clearest water and healthy reef, a favorite for snorkeling and turtle sightings.

💡 Best visited early before the day boats gather.

Christmas Point

Coral bommies

A reef site with coral bommies and swim-throughs near Island 9, home to reef fish and passing turtles.

💡 For confident snorkelers; go with a guide who reads the current.

Similan Islands Turtle Snorkeling Map

FAQ: Swimming With Turtles in Similan Islands

What is the price of a Similan Islands snorkeling trip?

⌄
A Similan Islands speedboat day trip from Phuket or Khao Lak starts at about $105, rising to around $126 for an early-bird or premium departure. The price includes transport, the national park fee, lunch and snorkel gear, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

When are the Similan Islands open?

⌄
The Similan Islands national park is open from about mid-October to mid-May and closes for the monsoon the rest of the year. The best conditions, with the calmest seas and clearest water, are from December to April. No boats run during the closed season, so plan your trip for the open months.

Will I see turtles in the Similans?

⌄
Green and hawksbill turtles live on the Similan reefs and are a regular sight on a snorkel day, feeding and resting among the coral and granite boulders. This is a reef snorkel rather than a dedicated turtle swim, so turtles are one of many things you see, alongside reef fish, rays and the occasional manta.

Where do the Similan tours leave from?

⌄
Trips leave by speedboat from the Khao Lak coast, the closest mainland base, about an hour from the islands. Tours also pick up in Phuket, adding a road transfer of one to two hours to the pier. Early-bird trips leave before dawn to reach the reefs ahead of the crowds.

Is the snorkeling good for beginners?

⌄
Yes. Many Similan sites are shallow and sheltered, and tours carry life vests with a guide in the water, so beginners and children manage well. Some sites like Christmas Point have current and suit stronger swimmers, so stick to the calmer bays if you are new to snorkeling.

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