Similan Islands Snorkeling Day Tour From Phuket

Spent the day exploring 4 islands with this company. The granite and blue sea were so stunning. We saw monitor lizards roaming around on a couple of the islands. Lunch was good. Snorkeling was very good on our day. Sea was not too choppy. The tour staff help you in / out of the boat. It can get a little hairy with all the companies coming and going at the same time, yelling out numbers and names. Not a problem, just an observation. You are sharing this beautiful place with hundreds of other people. A bit of rain on our return but the boat hands jumped to it to get the boat covered and secure. The transfer up was 90 min and back was over 2 hours to our hotel in kata beach (southwest on island) Something to keep in mind. All told, our day was over 12 hours. The driver did just that so was not a guide. Something to keep in mind as other tours you are hosted from the start.

The scenery was beautiful, the water was crystal clear, and the snorkeling was one of the highlights of the day. Everything was well organized from hotel pickup to the boat trip. The crew were friendly and helpful, and there were drinks and refreshments available during the journey. Lunch in the National Park was simple but tasty. A long day, but absolutely worth it. One of the best trips we did from Phuket.

We were picked up from our hotel in Phuket by minibus and taken to the pier, where we had a light breakfast. The speed catamaran was very comfortable, with drinks, wter and fresh fruit on board. There’s also a second deck, and during the snorkeling stop you can jump into the water from there really fun! The lunch was at simple restaurant in the national park, but the food was actually quite tasty. We went in January 2026 and had a great time. Definitely recommend this tour!

Beautiful nature BUT limited fish and sun burnt coral - clean ocean and white sand beaches - however drive takes 2-3 hours at 06:00 start from Phuket and 4 hours back in nightmare traffic where 8 hours are spent travelling - however best white sand beach experience and wonderful crew on board - take your own fins where fine hire plus photos taken are expensive add ons …

We went as a couple and absolutely loved it.The snorkeling was incredible, super clear water and lots of marine life. Everything was well organized, the crew was friendly, and the whole trip felt easy and fun

If this is not heaven then I don't know what is. My tour operator Mario did a wonderful job for the whole trip. The whole team were respectful and made our trip enjoyable. Snorkeling in 2 places was the highlight of the trip. This is one of the best place do snorkeling.

Be prepared for a long transfer journey. Unfortunately there was a big group of people on this journey that was really loud and disrespectful that made it uncomfortable. The host was nice but the food wasn’t good that was served. “Thai food” that was cold and included pasta bolognese?

Not worth the LONG journey from Phuket. Few fish to see

Although the majority of guests were Russian- the tour operators did very well in explaining everything in both Russian and English for everyone to understand which was very much appreciated. The sights were incredible, jaw droppingly beautiful. There was unfortunately a bit of plastic in the waters of the drop off points on the islands but this was due to no fault of the tour operators.

Did the Similan Islands speedboat tour from Phuket as a couple and really enjoyed it. Water was very clear and snorkeling was amazing, lots of fishes and nice coral. Beaches are beautiful with super white sand. Long day but totally worth it.Everything was well organised and staff was friendly.

Similan Islands was just amazing! The boat trip is a bit long but once you arrive you understand why everyone say it’s must visit. Water is super clear, beaches look like postcard and snorkeling was really nice with many fish. Everything was organized good and staff were friendly all the time. Definitely worth the trip from Phuket - recomend!

I purchased through an agent at Surin Beach then found the prices online booking.com and Trip Advisor were at least 700 baht cheaper. Really long day from pick at 5:45 to drop off at 18:45. You will spend more time in transit than enjoying the experiences. Snorkelling stops were too short and the lunch stop too long. Would trade a shorter lunch for more time Snorkelling. The crew were fantastic. Tequila was a great host. Lunch was good, breakfast a bit hectic but fruit snacks and drinks distributed liberally throughout the day. Boats were new and fast. Great colour coded wrist band scheme for allocation to each vessel. Saw a Sea Turtle, parrot fish and loads of other small fish and beautiful corals. Soo many people. All in all great experience while on the islands and snorkelling though maybe 3 hours of good times and 10 hours in transit

Similan islands by speedboat . The journey was fast and exciting, and once we arrived the islands were absolutely stunning white sand,crystal-clear turquoise water, and great snorkeling with lots of fish. Everything was well organized and the crew was friendly and helpful throughout the day.It’s a long trip, but totally worth it for such beautiful scenery. One of the highlights of our time in Phuket - recommended!

The day was well organised with the smallest of details taken care of, food was on point and everything explained beautifully by our guide Jenny. Highly recommend booking with these people - it will not disappoint.

Really great day on the Similan Islands speed catamaran tour. The ride is long but the catamaran is comfortable and stable, so it wasn’t too bad. Crew were friendly, relaxed and kept things running smoothly. The islands are seriously beautiful - white sand,super clear water, and good snorkeling with plenty of fish. We had enough time at each stop to swim,chill and take photos without feeling rushed.Lunch was simple but good. Overall, a very solid day trip and definitely worth doing if you’re in Phuket

Great Similan islands tour by catamaran! Very comfortable boat, beautiful islands and clear water. Crew was friendly and everything well organized.One of the best trips in Thailand,really recommend!

Such an amazing day on the Similan Islands tour! Everything run smooth from pickup till the end, crew was super friendly and always checking if everyone was ok. The boat ride was long but worth it — water was insane blue and super clear. Snorkeling was awsome, lots of fish and really nice spots 😄 Didn’t feel rushed and had enough time on each island to swim, chill and take photos. One of the best days of my Phuket trip for sure — would totaly recomend it!

Similan island was absolutely beautiful. Well recommend this trip. Jenny our guide was brilliant. Even got to swim with the turtles.

Absolutely amazing experience from start to finish! Everything was perfectly organized — smooth hotel pickup, friendly and professional crew, and a very comfortable speedboat. The Similan Islands are truly breathtaking: crystal-clear turquoise water, white sandy beaches, and incredible snorkeling with colorful fish and coral. The staff took great care of everyone, explained each stop clearly, and made sure we felt safe and relaxed throughout the day. Lunch was tasty, and the timing at each island was just right, never rushed. One of the best tours I’ve done in Thailand and a must-do when visiting Phuket. Highly recommended!

The seats on the boat make your shorts smell bad. The speedboat is open so alot wind for two hours. Friendly hosts and softdrinks food was very good! The snorkling was not good because i forgot my diving glassed and we had alot of trash in the sea. The biggest island was very beutiful!

I don't normally do reviews but need to air my views to hopefully saving readers of this excursion some hard earned cash. I was disappointed- Firstly, in my opinion this trip should not be offered to people on vacation in Pa Tong (which is central of Phuket) and here is why. What is not mentioned for those staying in Pa Tong it is a 14 hour round trip. Got picked up at 5:30 am and dropped off at 19:30 pm. Far to much travelling. It was 120 minute minibus ride to excursion start point then 90 minute ride on the speedy boat/Catamaran to The Similan Islands and then same on the return journey. That is a total of 7 hours travelling ! I chose this trip because on a previous trip to Thailand I was told by a local The Similan Islands are a must visit. Regarding The Similan Islands they are beautiful but not outstanding, maybe I've been spoiled visiting other beautiful destinations A free breakfast was available at the pier before sailing . The trip had 4 drop off points (I can't remember the name of each individual island, First island - 45 mins to 1 hour, disembark the boat to see a nice beach & walk the path to the other side of the island (use footwear) and back again to see nice views. Back on boat, travel to second island for snorkelling. It was nice but again not outstanding, maybe I've been spoiled with doing a little scuba diving in the past. Third drop off was Sail Rock & also lunch. You've got to be fairly agile to climb to the highest viewpoint, (which is outstanding) once again - footwear is a must. Regarding lunch 3 out of 10 ( enough said) I have to add here that Sail Rock was the best of the 4 drop offs but If the weather is poor the excusion company may contact you the day before letting you know that they are unable to fulfil the Sail Rock drop off for safety reasons. It was ok for me on the day. 4th Island drop  off was for snorkelling. There was a plentiful supply of drinks & ice creams while on the boat & a free bite to eat at the pier after leaving the boat while waiting for your minibus. I hope this review will be shown & can be translated for the various cultures that booked this trip. Make up your own mind

I’ve done probably about a dozen day trips across SEA during different holidays and I have to say that these guys were the best tour guides I’ve had, extremely personable and fun to be around, very informative, accomodating and attentive. The day trip itself was also unreal, I’ve done the phi phi islands as well but they didn’t compare to how beautiful the water was at the Similan islands, crystal clear aqua water, photos just don’t do it justice. Thank you for an amazing day! Can’t recommend you enough!

Only for ppl that can dive. The islands are beautiful, the tour guide was very nice. But as I said this trip is for ppl that want to dive

My rating for this tour depends on different factors: • Breakfast upon arrival: 4/5 • Lunch (options & quality): 3/5 • Hydration & snacks: 2/5 – No fruit, only water in cups and a local soda. If you needed a zero-calorie option, only water was available. They did offer packaged cakes. • Coffee, tea & cookies at the pier upon return: 5/5 – A nice touch. • Bag with towel, beach mat & snorkeling mask: A thoughtful detail, but the mask’s mouthpiece was used. A new one cost $7. • Minivan driver: 1/5 – Unprofessional, reckless, and slow. Now the review: First, nowhere does it mention that the transfer from Phuket hotels to the pier takes 1.5 hours. On the way back, it took over 2.5 hours due to traffic. This is essential information for planning. Had I known, I would have stayed near the airport the night before instead of wasting nearly 4 exhausting hours on transfers—especially since the airport is halfway to the pier from my hotel. Upon arrival at the pier, breakfast is provided, and groups are divided by color. Each person receives a bag matching their assigned group. The boat ride takes another 1.5 hours, which is also not mentioned anywhere. Each boat carries 66 passengers plus crew, and only two people know the scripted tour information. No one else speaks proper English, and if you ask anything beyond the script, they simply don’t understand. There were two snorkeling sessions, but all four boats from the company—plus other boats—arrived at the same time. That meant around 300 people in the water simultaneously, turning it into a chaotic and unsafe experience. I decided to get out and sit at the front of the boat to dry off. Surprise: this was the crew’s smoking area. They were putting cigarette butts in cups of water while continuing to smoke, without considering whether it bothered passengers. The Driver – A Nightmare End to the Tour The worst part of my experience was the minivan ride back. The driver had a terrible attitude and was completely distracted. For the last 30 minutes of my ride, he was on the phone the entire time, laughing and slowing down, clearly more focused on his conversation than on driving. After 2.5 hours in the van, I asked him how much longer it would take to reach my hotel. His answer? “30 more minutes.” Are you kidding me? My hotel was only 2 km away at that point, yet he was still driving so badly and slowly that I had no choice but to get out and call a Bolt (local Uber). That decision saved me unnecessary frustration and another half hour trapped in that minivan. Final Thoughts On the way back, I reflected on the experience. Maybe, as a solo traveler who values high-quality service, I was more critical. Perhaps groups, families, or couples would enjoy it differently. If service quality isn’t a concern for you, this tour might work. For me, it wasn’t a great experience. Before arriving back at the pier, the English-speaking staff announced a tip collection. The issue? They passed the tip box around like in a church, making people feel pressured to give, even if they weren’t satisfied with the service. I fully respect the logistical challenge of handling so many people and the hard work of the staff. However, if all this information had been disclosed upfront, I could have made an informed decision about whether this tour was right for me—and avoided writing this review.

Awful. 2 hours on a speed boat both ways. One island missed out because one nation 2432 didn't want to go. Crowded when you get there and the food was awful

Guide was relly good she spotted turtle when we snorled and had relly fun time. We were among your first groups so we avoided the worst crowds.

It was a lovely day, but I was the only English speaker on my boat, this was a bit awkward, also you only get 30mins per island. I would recommend booking a night on one of the islands, this can be organised by Trip Advisor

Amazing experience. Staffs are very friendly. Very beautiful island. Worth it. We had a break for a luch and everything was good.

The guide made us do snorkelling in a spot having of jellyfish, got bite like many others They have no medication or cream Very long road/boat for the time actually spent on site

Lots of energy with this passionate team. Their enthusiasm and attention to detail provided an exceptional experience. Loved being all the stops. Snorkeling was great. Food was good. Highly recommended tour.

The real tour was in RUSSIAN language. There were only 5 english but the explanation weren’t in deepth as the russian guys. The lady was nice but i understand that the tour was not in english as texted in viator. I’ll ask for a reimbursment.

Amazing island to visit and the tour lead O and his team were exceptional. The included lunch was really good aswell.. Thanks guys for the day a memory that wont be forgotten.

Thank you for the incredible views and emotions. The group that accompanied us is great. Special thanks to Jacob, a Russian-speaking guide🙏😍

A very long day. We didn’t realise that the drive from Phuket to the port would take 2 hours each way!!!!! Then 75 mins over on the boat begins first stop. Gorgeous islands and snorkelling was fab but not sure trip was worth the money. Food was awful too. Flies everywhere. Crew were friendly and animated. Would we book again, probably not but nice experience x

Pretty islands with beautiful sea but 7 hours travelling there and back was a bit too much from Patong.

A very good experience, you can enjoy the views and relax. I loved it and I really recommend it is a must to be done if you are travelling

The buses for hotel pickups were very comfortable and luxurious. The initial check was very smooth. The meals had limited vegetarian options but were good enough. Love the fact that they give bands which allowed us to find our guide and group easily . The boat was clean and comfortable enough. There was some crowd at the islands but our tour guide managed it very well. Philips was very helpful and also fluent in English which helped ensure we understand the instructions well. Love the fact that they had people supporting those passengers who are not good with swimming for the snorkelling bits. Lunch was also served separately for the vegetarians. Overall a great experience and something I would recommend to anyone going to phuket

Similan island beat to see , staff warm . Everything perfect , i recommend for similan island visit .

Absolutely splendid! The crew were friendly and courteous. It was, for us, a thrilling experience and excellent customer service. I'd highly recommend booking the tour. Venus is a star!

This is a perfect example of how mass tourism can destroy an amazing place on earth. Hundreds of tourists arrive at the beach at the same moment, snorkeling takes place near dead corals. It's a pity that Thailand does not limit the number of tourists in such places, because in a few years there will be nowhere to go and nothing will be left here except a stone on the beach.

Stephanie and his team were great, most beautiful beaches I've ever seen, memorable experience and very convinient as you are picked up and returned to the hotel

Took over three and a half hours to get to the port in the morning and four to get back in the evening. I went twenty five years ago so I was excited to go again. Back then it was a slow boat ride from a jetty close to Patong. Now it’s a nightmare journey stuck in traffic to get there and back. Twenty five years ago we were the only ones there. Today there was twenty speed boats all racing round. Probably about a thousand people on the same small beach. It’s noisy, crowded and the coral has all been damaged. There’s only a few isolated bits remaining at each site. It’s very sad. You’re cattle herded round. Lunch is like a school canteen. Rushed through with no real finesse or style. You’re literally just one in a crowd of hundreds. You can’t get any decent photos of the rock headland that looks spectacular as there’s probably about fifty people all stood around it The authorities would probably be better just stopping people going up there. There’s no reason to. All you do is get the view of a crowded beach. Be better to stop people going up so at least you can get the view and photo from the bottom. They are pretty organised though. You’re given lunch cards and coloured tags. It’s all very rehearsed. It’s not realistic to offer this from Patong. I got picked up at 6am and we got to the islands at 11:30am. Coming back we left at 3:20pm and I got back to the hotel at 8pm. The traffic is a nightmare. And at the end of the day they’ve damaged the reef terribly. Don’t waste your time and money.

Long drive from Patong Beach (2.5 hrs) plus long jet boat ride (1.25 hrs) to Similan Island. Boat had 60 people sitting tightly and they hung life jackets on the chairs which made it more cramped. Two snorkeling sights (40 min each) was actually good clear with many fishes and corals. Lunch was soooo bad. Warm (not hot) Tom Yum soup. Chicken was cold and hard. Only rice was edible. All the customers complained. It’s not the company Phuket Top Tour fault. All the customers from different tour company eat the same lousy food. I hope Phuket Top Tour will tell them to cook better. Also tell them to store the life jackets somewhere else not on seats.

The island is beautiful, although staying on the island is only for a short time, if it would be at least 5-6 hours it would be worth it. Speedboat made a lot of people get sick, so unfortunately we couldn't enjoy the experience fully as we were unwell. Staff is nice. Food is not.

The islands are gorgeous, however it takes 8h in total to there and back. The crew was profesional and helpful. They provide us with sea sick pills, snorkeling kit, snacks, free drinks and fruit. The speed boat was a bit uncomfortable. The snorkeling are is amazing, you can see a lot of beautiful animals (fish, turtles etc). The only downside remains the long distance from Phuket to the location.

Took the Seastar catamaran day trip to Similan islands; overall a great day which was excellent experience and value for money; note - paid 7,000Baht for couple. +ve - well organised, effective day, snorkelling very good, fish and variance to see, the island beaches sand and water colour beautiful. -ve - long drive from Phuket to port facility and same for boat journey. Take ear plugs as it's very noisy. Overall very enjoyable and I'd go back with Seastar. Personal note- Don't abuse coral and fish, some people have no respect, learn to snorkel properly

Wow great service we direct booked from Phuket friendly peoples mo hassel no stress but I can recommend if you are in khaolak best way book here

A nice and friendly crew, the food was far above and beyond expectations with locals treats and surprises along the way. Could not have asked for a better time!

Beautiful island and reserves, tried their accommodate a person dietary needs. Unfortunately the English tour guide was not interactive like his colleague the Russian tour guide.