A Travel Price Comparison for Thailand Similan Islands vs. Koh Samet for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Koh Samet?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Koh Samet can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Similan Islands or Koh Samet?

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.

Koh Samet

The country of Thailand is full of some of the world's most stunning beauty and peaceful settings. So it begs the question, where the Thai people go to get away from it all? They go to Ko Samet on the eastern gulf coast. Located just outside of Bangkok, Ko Samet provides visitors an easily accessible and desirable weekend getaway spot. With white beaches and coral of every other color, this island has steadily developed over the last few years without an intense construction increase like many other Thai beaches. Once thought to be the home of pirates, this island provides plenty to wonder about including, are there hidden treasures under that gorgeous white sand?

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Chiang Mai, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Bangkok.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Koh Samet, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Koh Samet much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Samet would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Samet 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 Koh Samet.

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

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Koh Samet?

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 Similan Islands or Koh Samet in the Summer?

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

June to September in Similan Islands is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Samet. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the summer. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in July than Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Similan Islands this time of the year. In the summer, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 195 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Koh Samet in the summer. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koh Samet fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Koh Samet in the Autumn?

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

The dry season in Similan Islands is October to May. It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Samet. It's quite rainy in Similan Islands. In October, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Koh Samet during autumn. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 167 hours of full sun in the autumn.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Koh Samet. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Samet averages at about 27°C (81°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Koh Samet in the Winter?

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

Similan Islands usually gets less rain in January than Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Koh Samet, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the winter, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Samet receives 255 hours of full sun.

In January, Similan Islands is generally around the same temperature as Koh Samet. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Koh Samet fluctuates around 25°C (77°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Koh Samet in the Spring?

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

October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Koh Samet. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Koh Samet receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain each month for the spring.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Samet this time of the year. In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Samet during spring. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Samet receives 239 hours of full sun in the spring.

Similan Islands is around the same temperature as Koh Samet in the spring. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 29°C (83°F) in April, and Koh Samet fluctuates around 29°C (84°F).

Typical Weather for Koh Samet and Similan Islands