Similan Islands Snorkeling from Phuket: Three Islands, One Day

Three islands, three snorkel sites, one speedboat ride from Phuket

A full-day snorkeling trip from Phuket to Similan Islands National Park with an English-speaking guide, speedboat transport, snorkeling gear and hotel pickup. You snorkel at the Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Turtle Nursery, Bangu Island and Similan Island, then climb the viewpoint at Sailing Rock. The tour runs 10 to 11 hours and includes breakfast, lunch, drinks and fruit; children from age 4 are welcome, and travel accident insurance is covered.

Step-by-step itinerary

Similan Islands Snorkeling Day Trip

• Hotel pick-up in Phuket
• Check in at Love Andaman private pier
• Receive briefing with tea and coffee
• Walk or snorkel at Royal Thai Navy Turtle Nursery
• Snorkeling and swimming
• Snorkeling and swimming at Bangu Island
• Swim, snorkel, relax at Similan Island
• Climb viewpoint at Sailing Rock

The Experience

Hotel pickup in Phuket starts the day, followed by check-in at Love Andaman's private pier at Tablamu, where you'll have warm bread, tea and coffee before a briefing from your guide. The speedboat then carries you out to the Turtle Nursery, where you can walk the island or get in the water to snorkel alongside the turtles in their natural habitat. This is not a viewing platform—you're in the water with them, mask and fins on.

From there, the boat moves to Bangu Island (Koh 9) for another snorkel session, then to Similan Island (Koh 8), where the reef is deeper and the fish more varied. You'll have time to swim, snorkel and relax on the beach. Lunch, soft drinks, fruit and snacks arrive on the boat between stops. The final stop is Sailing Rock, a viewpoint you climb on foot for a view back across the islands before the return ride to Phuket.

Your guide speaks English and leads with an ecotourism focus, so the stops emphasize what's living in the water rather than just the scenery. Snorkeling gear—mask, snorkel and life jacket—is provided. The national park fee (400 THB per adult, 200 THB per child) is separate from the tour price and is collected after you book; you'll need to send a copy of your passport or ID to the operator so they can buy your park ticket in advance.

What’s included

• English-speaking guide with ecotourism training.
• snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, life jacket).
• speedboat transport to and from the islands.
• hotel pickup and return in Phuket.
• breakfast (warm bread, tea, coffee), lunch, soft drinks, fresh fruit and snacks throughout the day.
• travel accident insurance covering 1,000,000 THB.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to enter the water at three snorkel sites with a guide rather than observe from the boat, and prefer a structured day with meals included over arranging your own transport and lunch.

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Top questions

What's the Turtle Nursery like when you snorkel there?

The Royal Thai Navy Third Fleet Turtle Nursery is an active breeding and rehabilitation site on an island in the Similan group. You snorkel in the water around the island rather than observe from a platform, so you're in the same environment as the turtles, though the nursery itself is protected. It's a working facility, not a tourist tank.

How much time do you actually spend snorkeling versus traveling between islands?

The tour runs 10 to 11 hours total from hotel pickup to return. Most of that time is split between the speedboat ride out and back, the three snorkel stops (Turtle Nursery, Bangu Island and Similan Island), and the climb to Sailing Rock viewpoint. Snorkel time at each site varies depending on conditions and the group, but you're in the water at three separate locations.

What's included in the meals on the boat?

Breakfast is warm bread, tea and coffee at the pier before departure. During the day, the boat provides lunch, soft drinks, fresh fruit and snacks between the snorkel stops.

Can children go on this snorkeling trip?

Children from age 4 are welcome. Life jackets are provided as part of the snorkeling gear, and the guide can adjust the pace and depth of snorkel sites to suit younger swimmers. Children under 12 pay a reduced ticket price for national park entry.

What do you need to bring or arrange before the tour?

Bring a copy of your passport or ID card (printed or as a photo on your phone) for check-in at the pier. After booking, send a copy of your passport to the operator so they can purchase your national park entry ticket in advance—this is required by Similan Islands National Park policy. Hotel pickup is included, so arrange to meet your driver at your hotel lobby at least 10 minutes before the scheduled time.

What happens if the weather is bad or the tour is cancelled?

If the operator needs to cancel, they will inform you in advance and offer a different tour date, an alternative tour, or a full refund.