Guide
Similan Day Trip or Liveaboard
TL;DRSnorkel and want beaches? Pick a day tour (from about ฿2,500, home the same evening). Dive, and want Koh Bon, Koh Tachai or Richelieu Rock? Pick a Similan liveaboard (2–7 nights, from about ฿13,900).
Similan day trip or liveaboard? Mostly it comes down to one question: do you dive? A day tour gets you out to the islands and home again the same evening for about ฿2,500–4,100, with three or four islands, snorkelling, beaches and Sail Rock. A Similan liveaboard keeps you at sea for 2 to 7 nights, from about ฿13,900, with three or four dives a day and the remote northern sites day boats rarely reach.
Day trip or liveaboard at a glance
| Similan Islands day tour | Similan liveaboard | |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 10–12 hours, hotel to hotel | 2 days / 1 night to about 7 nights |
| Price | about ฿2,500–4,100 (snorkel); ฿4,900–5,600 + ฿700 fee (2 dives) | from about ฿13,900; mid-range boats about USD 150–190 per day |
| Activities | Snorkelling, beaches, Sail Rock viewpoint | 3–4 dives a day, night dives, courses on board |
| Where | Islands No. 4, 7, 8, 9 (sometimes 5 and 6) | All Similan sites plus Koh Bon, Koh Tachai, Richelieu Rock |
| Sleep | Your hotel in Khao Lak or Phuket | A cabin on board, anchored in the park |
| Best for | Snorkellers, families, first-timers | Certified divers and underwater photographers |
Which one is right for you?
- You don't dive: take a day tour. Liveaboards are built around diving, and snorkellers spend a lot of time on board.
- You dive and have one free day: a dive day trip with two dives is a good taster.
- You dive and have three days or more: book a short liveaboard. It's better value per dive and reaches Koh Bon and Richelieu Rock.
- You want a night in the park: only a liveaboard can do that. Island bungalows and camping have closed.
Both only run in the open season, 15 October 2026 – 15 May 2027. Pick the guide that fits you:
Guides in this section
Similan Islands day tourThe standard one-day trip: inclusions, a typical itinerary, prices and how to pick an operator.
Similan liveaboardSleep on the boat: 2-day to 7-night dive trips, boats, prices and the Koh Bon, Tachai and Richelieu Rock route.Sources checked October 2026: Khao Lak Land Discovery: Similan snorkelling tour, Khao Lak Explorer: Similan liveaboards, Thai National Parks: Mu Ko Similan. Prices change; confirm with the operator before you pay.
