Similan Islands by Private Yacht from Phuket

Horizon Cruises Phuket plans the Similan Islands as a charter of two days or more, not a one-day trip: the park is about 119 km from Chalong Pier and opens only in the dry season, 15 October to mid-May. Nights are aboard, the run is quoted for the boat and the days you choose, and the park fee is paid on arrival, per person, at the figure we confirm with your quote, unless the yacht's page lists it in the rate. Write to us on WhatsApp with your dates and we will check the park calendar.

Similan island

The complex consists of several islands, for tourists are open 2: Ko Similan and Ko Miang.

The mesmerizing underwater realm attracts not only experienced divers who have been coming here for many years, but also ordinary tourists, snorkeling enthusiasts. You will be amazed by the underwater biodiversity, and you may even get the chance to swim alongside a huge sea turtle. Divers from all over the world look forward to seeing the stunning whale shark, the largest fish on Earth. There’s no need to be afraid of it – it’s quite harmless. Some people even manage to ride this fish.

Advantages of visiting the location:

• Snow-white beaches and turquoise water.
• Here is one of the most recognizable symbols of Thailand Sail Rock.
• Rich fauna. There are whales, dolphins, and large turtles.
• Pleasant places for diving attracted Jacques-Yves Cousteau himself. Under water there are canyons, corals, caves, grottos.
• Night diving opportunities. During dives you can see crabs, crayfish, lobsters.
• Interesting color of the sea: the islands are located between the Indian and Andaman Seas.
• Pristine nature, untouched by civilization. It is forbidden by law to build tourist facilities here. But there is an opportunity to spend the night right on the shore in a tent.

What to know before a Similan trip

The Similan Islands Park is the most crowded Thai national park. During the open season from mid-October to mid-May, five to six thousand people a day visit the islands. The park is closed during the rainy season from May 16 to October 15 annually.

It is mandatory to go barefoot during the tour.

The best time to visit is from January through April: not as hot and humid.

Day on a private yacht: Phuket to the Similan Islands and back

Embark on a serene and revitalizing journey around the islands on a luxury yacht – the perfect complement to the thrill of exploring Phuket. This trip is the epitome of a luxury island vacation: a short trip that allows you to enjoy the beauty of the island from a distance. By including this trip in your traveler’s schedule, you can further immerse yourself in the enchanting atmosphere of Thailand.

How far are the Similan Islands from Phuket?

In a straight line it is about 119 km (64 nautical miles) from Chalong Pier to the Similan Islands. This is an approximate straight-line distance, not an exact navigational figure — the actual route on the water is always somewhat longer.

The crossing time depends on the particular yacht, the weather and the state of the sea — boats run differently, which is why the trip is planned over several days rather than one. The departure pier is also chosen to suit the route and the vessel, so we confirm the exact timing and departure point when planning your trip. Given the distance, this is not a standard one-day round trip: the schedule and format are agreed individually when booking.

When planning a longer day on the water, this trip is often combined with the Surin Islands or Phi Phi and Bamboo Island.

Where does this route depart from? Chalong Pier and the island's marinas are compared in where yachts depart from in Phuket.

How to get to the Similan Islands from Phuket

There are three ways, and they are not close to equivalent.

By private yacht. About 119 km from Phuket — which is why this is a two-day trip rather than a day trip. You keep the boat, the route and the schedule, and you sleep aboard at anchor — which in practice means you are at the islands at first light, before anything else arrives.

By scheduled ferry or speedboat. Possible, and much cheaper per person. It also means fixed departure times, a fixed number of hours ashore, and arriving at exactly the same moment as every other boat. For the Similan Islands this usually involves an early road transfer to a mainland pier north of Phuket — check current schedules, they change with the season.

By day trip from Phuket. Not realistic at this distance. 119 km each way leaves almost no time at the islands, and we do not run it as a single day.

Which boat suits the run is a separate question — the shortlist is further down this page. Piers, cabins, park access and what the quotation has to cover are set out in how to choose and book your charter.

Park season and fees

These islands lie inside Mu Ko Similan National Park, which closes for part of the low season each year. Dates are set by the Thai Department of National Parks and shift from year to year — the current season runs 15 October to 15 May. Entry fees are paid separately on arrival, per person, with children at a reduced rate, and are not included in the charter price; the park revises its rates from time to time, so we confirm the current figure with your quote.

Outside the open season the route is not available at any price, so a trip here is planned around the park calendar first and everything else second.

What a Similan charter costs

Multi-day charters are priced per boat for the whole trip, as listed on each yacht's page, not as a day rate multiplied by the days. Park fees are added where they apply, unless the yacht's page lists them in the rate, and so is a fuel fee where the page lists one for the distance. Season moves the base rate by roughly a quarter: low season runs May to October, high season November to April, and the peak dates differ by boat and are shown on each yacht's page.

Full tables by format and season are on the yacht charter prices page.

Recommended yachts for a Similan Islands charter

Ready to explore the Similan Islands in comfort and style? Here are two of our yachts perfectly suited for this trip:

• Technema 89 “Say Yes” — a spacious luxury yacht ideal for families and groups.
• Beluga 88 — a comfortable and stylish yacht for a memorable day on the water.

Browse our full yacht fleet or contact us to plan your private Similan Islands charter.

Other multi-day routes from Phuket

• Koh Ha and Koh Rok — 106 km, two days, the closest of the overnight routes
• Surin Islands — 183 km, three days, quieter than the Similans
• Koh Lipe — 184 km, three days, the furthest we go

Frequently asked questions

Can we visit the Similan Islands in one day from Phuket?

Not with Horizon Cruises Phuket. The distance from Phuket would leave hardly any time at the islands in a single day, so the trip is run only as a two-day or longer charter with the night on board. Day visits exist by scheduled speedboat, but they start with an early road transfer to a mainland pier north of Phuket and run to fixed hours, arriving with every other boat.

How much does a two-day Similan charter cost?

A Similan charter is quoted for the boat and the number of days: the overnight rate on the yacht's page is the base, the fuel for this distance is quoted with it, and the Jawsss motor yacht publishes the Similans outright as a four-day charter from ฿459,900. Park fees are paid on arrival for everyone aboard unless the yacht's page lists them in the rate, and peak dates differ by boat and sit on each yacht's page; the overnight tables are on the prices page.

Which boats can sleep guests on board for a Similan trip?

Boats with cabins. In the catalogue Horizon Cruises Phuket offers, the Jawsss from Royal Phuket Marina sleeps 6 and names the Similans on its price list, the Shangani 70 Ft power catamaran sleeps 12 in 6 cabins, 24 hours from ฿180,000, and the Beluga 88, renovated in 2026, sleeps 8 in 4 cabins, two days and one night from ฿428,000 in low season; day guest counts are higher. Each card shows the overnight headcount, and the right boat for the run is confirmed before booking.

Is the Similan trip only for divers?

No. The islands draw snorkellers as much as divers: white beaches, turquoise water, the granite boulders, Sail Rock and the chance to swim alongside a sea turtle. Only Ko Similan and Ko Miang are open to visitors, and going barefoot during the tour is mandatory. Divers get the underwater canyons, caves and grottos, night dives, and the whale shark, the largest fish on Earth and harmless, is the sighting they come for.

Can we continue from the Similans to the Surin Islands?

Yes, on a longer charter. The Similans are often combined with the Surin Islands, which this page lists as a three-day route farther north and quieter than the Similans. The format, the days and the boat are agreed individually when booking, since the schedule depends on the yacht and the sea. Details of the northern park, its mooring buoys and the Moken village are on the Surin Islands page.