Mu Ko Similan and its granite islands in the Andaman Sea

Mu Ko Similan in Phang Nga is a granite archipelago in the Andaman Sea, where nine islands shape a protected marine landscape.

Mu Ko Similan is an archipelago of granite islands in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga. It is part of Mu Ko Similan National Park, established in 1982, and its name is tied to the number nine.

Granite islands in the Andaman Sea

The islands rise from clear water as dark rock, pale sand and coral-fringed shorelines. Ko Similan is the largest island, and the group includes Ko Bon, Ko Tachai and the better-known central islands of the park.archipelago in the Andaman Sea

The park was declared Thailand’s 43rd national park in 1982. Its area is given as about 140 square kilometres, with roughly 26 square kilometres of land, and the rock is granite of great age.Thailand’s 43rd national park

Names, islands and protected waters

The name Mu Ko Similan comes from a Yawi or Malay word meaning nine. That makes sense for an archipelago long associated with nine principal islands, even though the park later expanded beyond the original group.word meaning nine

Ko Miang has the park headquarters, and the islands sit within a marine landscape shaped by reef, rock and open sea. The protected area extends through waters that lie off the west coast of Phang Nga and form part of the Andaman Sea.park headquarters

Mu Ko Similan as a seascape

Mu Ko Similan is most striking as a line of islands rather than a single viewpoint. The main forms are exposed granite, low vegetation, bays and reefs, with the sea defining the edges of every island.

Ko Huyong is known for a long beach, while other islands show steeper rock and more broken shorelines. The result is a landscape that reads as a sequence of separate landforms linked by the same sea and the same rock type.steep granite hills

Visiting Mu Ko Similan: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• Mu Ko Similan is reached by boat from Thap Lamu Pier in Thai Mueang District, and also from Hat Patong Pier in Phuket Province. The park office is on the mainland near Lam Kaen.Thap Lamu Pier
• The islands are a marine park, so the experience is centred on sea crossings, beaches and rock. Ko Miang and Ko Similan have ranger stations, and the archipelago is spread across open water rather than one compact island.
• The terrain is granite, with steep hills on some islands and sandy shores on others. That mix of rock, reef and beach is the place’s defining physical setting.
• The official language is Thai and the currency is the Thai baht.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Mu Ko Similan

Where is Mu Ko Similan?

Mu Ko Similan lies in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga Province in southern Thailand. It is a protected island group in Mu Ko Similan National Park.

What does a visit involve?

It involves sea travel, island landings and a landscape of granite, sand and reef. The park is spread across several islands, with the mainland access point near Thap Lamu Pier.

What makes Mu Ko Similan distinctive?

The combination of granite islands, coral waters and a name linked to nine gives the place its identity. Ko Similan, Ko Miang and the wider archipelago form a marine landscape rather than a single site.