The Similan islands
Similan Islands is a group of nine small islands, Similan is derived from
the Malay sembilan and means 9. They lie approximately 100
kilometres northwest of Phuket in the Andaman Sea.
In 1982, this 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.
The islands have some wonderful beaches with fine white sand like
powder.
It can be reached in about 1 ½ hours by powerboat or 3-4 hours with
a conventionally boat from Thap Lamu, but the existing daily tour of 3-4
hours one way transportation, make the trip is extremely long.

The islands have never been inhabited and for many generations, the only human visitors were the so called
“Sea Gypsies” who came for fishing on the teeming reefs. They were followed by dynamite fishermen who
destroyed hundreds of years of coral growth with one bomb, collecting the dead and stunned fish before moving
to new grounds, but now and in the future (I hope it), the National Park on sea in Phang-Nga province known as
“Sims” is the famous attraction among tourist both domestic and foreign because of it is uncontaminated water
and abundant marine life. It is a perfect place for both scuba diving and snorkeling there are extensive surrounding
coral gardens with a wonderful underwater scenery (once I saw already a water turtle).
This island is notably one of the top 10 island destinations in the world, possessing fantastic white-sand beaches,
incredible rock formations and shapes, ever-green rainforests and an extraordinary marine life.

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