A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Petra vs. Similan Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Petra or Similan Islands?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Petra and Similan Islands can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Petra or Similan Islands?

Petra

Whether you're checking off the Seven Wonders of the World, or you're just a huge Indiana Jones fan, the city of Petra must be on your bucket list. The "rose red city, half as old as time," was the capital of the Nabataean kingdom in the 6th century BC. It was the center for trade and commerce until an earthquake took out buildings and destroyed their water management system. After this destruction, the city of Petra seemed to be lost to western civilization.

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Historical Tours in Jordan, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Jordan, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Petra and Similan Islands, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Petra much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Petra is in Middle East and Similan Islands is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Petra would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Petra and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Petra.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Petra Expensive? and Is Similan Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Petra or Similan Islands?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.

Should I visit Petra or Similan Islands in the Summer?

Both Similan Islands and Petra during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Petra because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round.

June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Petra usually gets less rain in July than Similan Islands. Petra gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Petra. In the summer, Petra often gets more sunshine than Similan Islands. Petra gets 384 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 206 hours of full sun.

Petra can become quite hot in the summer. In July, Petra is generally a little warmer than Similan Islands. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 33°C (91°F), and Similan Islands fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Petra or Similan Islands in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Petra and Similan Islands. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Petra year-round. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Petra usually receives less rain than Similan Islands. Petra gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

In Petra, it's very sunny this time of the year. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Similan Islands during autumn. Petra gets 295 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Petra is around the same temperature as Similan Islands in the autumn. The daily temperature in Petra averages around 27°C (80°F) in October, and Similan Islands fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Petra or Similan Islands in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Petra as well as Similan Islands. Petra attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year.

Petra usually gets more rain in January than Similan Islands. Petra gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Petra this time of the year. In the winter, Petra often gets less sunshine than Similan Islands. Petra gets 234 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Similan Islands receives 287 hours of full sun.

In the winter, Petra is much colder than Similan Islands. Typically, the winter temperatures in Petra in January average around 15°C (59°F), and Similan Islands averages at about 27°C (80°F).

Should I visit Petra or Similan Islands in the Spring?

Both Similan Islands and Petra are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Petra throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. The rainy season in Similan Islands is June to September. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. In April, Petra usually receives less rain than Similan Islands. Petra gets 12 mm (0.5 in) of rain, while Similan Islands receives 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain each month for the spring.

It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Petra. Petra usually receives more sunshine than Similan Islands during spring. Petra gets 282 hours of sunny skies, while Similan Islands receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Petra is generally cooler than Similan Islands. Daily temperatures in Petra average around 25°C (76°F), and Similan Islands fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).

Typical Weather for Similan Islands and Petra