The Similan Islands, located about 50 Kilometers west of Khao Lak, Thailand and are composed of nine granite islands washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with some of the world’s finest beaches.
“Similan” is a Yawi or Malay word, which means nine or a group of nine islands. In 1982, this 128 square kilometres area was declared a marine national park, and in recent years this group of nine small islands has become one of the leading attractions for visitors to Southern Thailand. Listed as among the very best beaches in Thailand. While we are certain o have some bias – why not read about Thailand’s Islands & Beaches (Regional Guide)
With the establishment of stations by the Royal Forestry Department on Koh Miang and Koh Similan, fishing within the national park boundaries was banned and the unwanted visitors were substituted by tourists, especially after 1987, when leisure boats and dive operators started coming out on a regular basis.