Thailand's Similan Islands Reopen on October 15 After Five-Month Monsoon Closure; New Season Runs to May 15, 2027
Bangkok — Thailand's Similan Islands National Park (Mu Koh Similan), in the Andaman Sea off Phang Nga province, reopened to visitors on October 15, 2026, for the 2026-27 tourism season, according to the official announcement by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation as reported by the Bangkok Post. The new season is scheduled to run until May 15, 2027, when the park will close again for its annual recovery period.
The park closes for five months each monsoon season to give the marine and natural environment time to recover; this year's closure ran from May 15 to October 15, 2026. The protected marine archipelago comprises 11 islands. The name Similan comes from the Yawi language and refers to nine, reflecting the original group of islands that gave the park its name; Koh Bon and Koh Tachai were later incorporated into the national park, which also includes Koh Miang and Koh Similan.
Most visitors approach from the Phang Nga mainland, with Thap Lamu Pier identified as the main departure point and a speedboat crossing of approximately 90 minutes. Visitor access to the park as a whole has resumed, though individual areas remain subject to the park's protection rules.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：泰国斯米兰群岛海滩资料照片。照片：Electrostatico，CC BY-SA 2.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。Photo: a beach in Thailand's Similan Islands. Photo by Electrostatico, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
