Many people come to the Khao Lak area for the relaxed atmosphere, the beach side resorts and its distance from the neon lights and late night partying of Phuket. This time of year the Similan islands marine national park is at its busiest with around 100 boats servicing the 9 islands daily. There are many different tours to suit various durations and budgets ranging from day tips to longer live-aboard trips all departing from the Khao Lak area.
Despite some damage from the 2004 tsunami the Similan archipelago is still rated as one of the top 20 places to dive on the planet. Unsurprisingly snorkelers and divers alike are spoilt with a huge variety of corals and reef fish along with regular sightings of manta rays, whale sharks, reef shark and turtles. 
The Similan’s are over 65 million years old, and as we see them today are huge granite boulder outcrops sheltering untouched white sand beaches where it is still possible to have the whole beach to yourself for the afternoon. The interior of the islands are lush green tropical jungle where you can find huge monitor lizards, deadly snakes and giant hairy legged land crabs.
