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

Should you visit Similan Islands or Koh Tao?

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 Tao 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 Tao?

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 Tao

With a name that literally means, "Turtle Island," Koh Tao, Thailand is the type of vacation spot divers dream of. There is the faintest current and a buffet of dive sites and shops.

This tiny island hosts hundreds of thousands of visitors a year, but take not that there are no garbage disposal facilities. Everything that can't be burnt needs to be taken from the island. Avoid plastic bags, and don't dump your trash in the open landscape (then again, why would you?) because there are no departments for road clean up. Water and electricity on the island are scarce, so use them wisely.

Keep in mind that monsoon season from November to January so you may be faced with constant rain for days at a time in those months.

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

Both destinations experience a tropical climate with warm weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Koh Tao in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Koh Tao. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.

Koh Tao receives a lot of rain in the summer. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 174 mm (6.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 195 hours of full sun in the summer.

Similan Islands is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the summer. The temperature in Similan Islands is usually 28°C (82°F) in July, and Koh Tao stays around 24°C (76°F).

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

The autumn brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Koh Tao. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Tao because of the warm tropical climate that lasts throughout the year.

October and November in Koh Tao is the rainy season. It's quite rainy in Koh Tao. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 276 mm (10.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 167 hours of full sun.

In the autumn, Similan Islands is a little warmer than Koh Tao. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Similan Islands in October are around 27°C (81°F), and Koh Tao is about 24°C (76°F).

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

Both Koh Tao and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate. Koh Tao attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and tropical climate.

The dry season in Koh Tao is February to June. In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 94 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Koh Tao. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Koh Tao during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Tao receives 255 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Similan Islands is generally a little warmer than Koh Tao. Temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (80°F), and Koh Tao stays around 22°C (72°F).

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

Both Koh Tao and Similan Islands during the spring are popular places to visit. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. The warm tropical climate attracts visitors to Koh Tao throughout the year.

February to June is the dry season in Koh Tao. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in April than Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Koh Tao receives 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Koh Tao, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Koh Tao. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Tao receives 239 hours of full sun.

Similan Islands is a little warmer than Koh Tao in the spring. The temperature in Similan Islands is usually 29°C (83°F) in April, and Koh Tao stays around 25°C (77°F).

Typical Weather for Koh Tao and Similan Islands