Here is the question we get more than any other from guests who booked Old Town instead of a beach resort: can I still do the islands?
Yes. And the two best island trips in the Andaman — the Similans and the Surins — do not leave from a Phuket beach anyway. They leave from piers north of the island, which means staying in Phuket Old Town costs you almost nothing in travel time and gives you a far better evening when you get back.
Here is how the day actually works, what it costs, and which of the two to pick.
First: the season
Both parks are closed for five months a year. This is not weather-dependent or negotiable — the Department of National Parks shuts them completely for the southwest monsoon.
- Open: 15 October 2026 to around 15 May 2027
- Closed: 16 May to 14 October, every year
- Best conditions: December to April — calmest seas, clearest water, and barely any rain from December to March
If you are visiting outside that window, these two are off the table entirely and no operator can get you there legally. Our guide to Phuket in green season covers what to do instead.
Similan or Surin?
People treat these as interchangeable. They are not.
The Similans — the postcard
Nine granite islands with white sand and boulders stacked like something arranged on purpose. The famous viewpoint on Island 8 and the bay below it are what you have seen in photographs. Snorkelling is good, the beaches are extraordinary, and it is busier.
Boats leave from Thap Lamu Pier in Phang Nga, roughly two hours by road from Old Town.
The Surins — the reef
Further north, less developed, and in most people’s honest opinion the better snorkelling of the two. Shallow coral gardens you can float over for an hour without getting bored. There is also a Moken sea-gypsy community at Ao Bon — visited respectfully, it is the most interesting thing you will see all day.
Boats leave from Khuraburi Pier, which is a longer drive — closer to three hours each way. It makes for a long day, and it is worth it if reefs are what you came for.
Short version: go to the Similans for the landscape and the beaches. Go to the Surins for the water and the coral. If you only have one day and want the photographs, pick the Similans.
What the day looks like from Old Town
It starts early. Most operators collect from Phuket Town between 5:30 and 6:30am, which is earlier than beach pickups because you are driving north off the island.
- Early morning: hotel pickup, minivan north across Sarasin Bridge
- Mid-morning: arrive at the pier, briefing, speedboat out
- Through the day: two to four snorkel stops, a beach landing, lunch on board or on an island
- Late afternoon: speedboat back, drive south
- Evening: dropped back in Old Town, usually between 6 and 8pm
And this is where staying in Old Town quietly wins. You step out of the van, shower, and walk two minutes to dinner. Guests staying on the west-coast beaches finish the same long day and then have nowhere to go but their own resort restaurant.
What it costs
Two separate things, and operators handle them differently.
- National park fee: 500 baht per foreign adult, 250 baht for children aged 3–14, for either park. Divers pay an extra 200 baht per day.
- The tour itself: roughly 2,500–4,100 baht per adult for a join-in speedboat day, usually including lunch and snorkel gear.
Check whether the park fee is included before you compare prices. Some operators build it in, some collect it on the boat, and 500 baht a head is enough to flip which tour is actually cheaper.
Booking: three things that catch people out
1. There is a daily cap. The Similans admit 3,850 visitors a day and boats fill from the first week of the season. In December and January, booking the day before is optimistic.
2. Your name has to match your passport. The parks moved to an electronic ticket system, and operators must register passenger details that match park records. Give your name exactly as printed, and carry your passport on the day.
3. You cannot stay overnight. Sleeping on the islands has not been permitted since 2018. The only way to wake up out there is a liveaboard boat.
Rules worth knowing before you go
- Do not touch or stand on coral. Enforced, and fair enough — this is exactly why the five-month closure exists.
- No single-use plastic. Bring a refillable bottle; you may be asked to leave packaging on the boat.
- Do not feed the fish. Whatever you see other people doing.
- Drones need a permit. Flying one inside a national park without one is an offence.
- Reef-safe sunscreen, or a rash guard instead. A long-sleeved top is better for your shoulders anyway on a boat all day.
Practical tips from guests who have done it
- Take something for seasickness if you are at all prone. Speedboats slam, and the run out is over an hour.
- Bring a dry bag. Everything on a speedboat gets wet, including the bag you were sure would stay dry.
- Eat before pickup. At 6am nothing is open yet — ask us the night before and we will sort you out.
- Do not book anything for that evening. You will be sunburnt, salty and happily useless by 8pm.
- Arriving the same week? Our guide to getting from the airport to Old Town will get you here cheaply.
Base yourself in the middle
The best version of this trip is one long day on the water and an evening somewhere with character to come back to.
The Tint sits in the heart of Phuket Old Town, on the right side of the island for the drive north, and a short walk from dinner when you get back.
Book direct and save up to 60% with code LOVETINT for stays through 31 March 2027 — or up to 65% with EARLYTINT when you book at least 15 days ahead. At thetintphuket.com.
