Similan National Park

Similan National Park was founded in 1982. Initially it included nine islands of the Similan archipelago. Later two more islands were added to the Park (Ko Tachai and Ko Bon). Similan National Park is located in Phang Nga province 33 miles from the mainland. The area of the national park is 70 square kilometers. The islands of the Park are commonly referred to by number: (1) Ko Huyong, (2) Ko Payang, (3) Ko Payan, (4) Ko Miang, (5) Ko Ha, (6) Ko Hok, (7) Ko Hin Pousar, (8) Ko Similan, (9) Ko Bangu, Ko Tachai and Ko Bon. The headquarters of the National Park is located on Miang Island (No. 4).

The park is open to visitors from October to May. The exact dates are specified each year. The entrance fee to the park is 500 THB for foreigners (children 300 THB) and 100 THB for local tourists (children 50 THB).

The rich marine life consisting of a great variety of hard and soft coral reefs, fish and other sea creatures, crystal clear waters and white beaches make Similan one of the best diving spots in the world. Yachtsmen also do not ignore the islands of the National Park - there are several anchorages mooring buoys where you can leave your yacht and go snorkeling, diving or hiking in the islands when you ride from the boat to the shore by dinghy.

The islands of the archipelago are formed by granite rocks and surrounded by breakdowns of huge boulders, which continue in the water and to deep more than 40 meters forming passages, caves and gorges, forming a unique underwater landscape.

The underwater world of Similan National Park is primarily reefs - a complex and fragile ecosystem. The main creators of the reef are corals and their close relatives sea anemones. Corals and sea anemones exist most often in the form of colonies.

Many other sea creatures live on the coral reefs: various species of soft coral Sea Gorgonian, several species of crabs, spiny colored lobsters, squids, sponges, sea cucumbers and giant clams. Large fish are not often found in the waters of the park, but with some luck you can see a leopard shark and even a whale shark. There is a good chance of encountering a giant sea turtle.

The flora of the Similan Islands represented by a rare forest in the coastal strip (trees up to 15 meters tall and large bushes up to 10 meters tall. 

As you go deeper into the islands the forest growing along the beach becomes a classic tropical forest.  On the islands there are several species of cacti and orchids.

The fauna of the Similan Islands. According to 1992 data, the archipelago is home for 39 species of birds, including swallows, white horned herons, roseate terns, pacific white reef herons, nicobar pigeons, spotted imperial pigeons, white-headed sea eagles, and coral kingfishers.

Because the islands natural freshwater supply is low many species of mammals cannot exist here. The national park is home for about 27 species of small mammals, including 16 species of bats: black-bearded bat, grazer, vampire, and bald bat. On the islands of the archipelago there are 3 varieties of squirrels, including the checkered gray flying squirrel; 4 varieties of rats: the yellow rat Raja, the field rat, and the noisy rat.

Some of the larger mammals are spotted porcupines, common palm civets, lemurs, and dolphins.

The park is home to about 22 species of reptiles and amphibians, including the banded krait, reticulated python, white and common viper, blue lizard, various species of turtles including leatherback turtle, Bengal lizards, common water lizards, ornamental frogs, common Asian frogs, marsh frogs, common shrub frogs.

But the most interesting animal living in Similan is hairy crab.