Mu Ko Similan National Park in Phang Nga reopened to visitors on 15 October 2026 after its five-month monsoon closure. The Tourism Authority of Thailand reported more than 1,300 arrivals on opening day, while the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation recorded 1,409: 1,359 day visitors and 50 scuba divers.
Those opening-day figures are a dated snapshot, not a daily quota or a forecast for the season. Neither of the current official reports reviewed by Modern Expat Magazine gives a closing date for the 2026–27 season, so travellers should not treat the widely repeated 15 May date as confirmed for this cycle without checking directly with the park.
What the reopening means from Phuket
The Similan Islands sit off the Phang Nga coast rather than Phuket itself. TAT's suggested Andaman route uses Khao Lak as the base for a Similan day trip or dive, then continues through Phang Nga and Krabi. From Phuket, the practical decision is therefore not just which boat to book, but where the operator departs and how much road travel sits around the sea journey.
October and early November can still bring rain and rougher sea conditions. TAT advises building flexibility into an Andaman trip because boat operators may delay or cancel departures when conditions are unsuitable. A confirmed booking does not overrule a same-day safety decision by the operator or park.
Electronic tickets and passport checks
TAT says six Andaman marine national parks, including Similan and Surin, have used electronic tickets since October 2025. Its current advice is to buy in advance and have your passport ready. Before paying an operator, ask whether the park ticket is included, who issues the electronic ticket and which passenger details must be supplied.
The official pages reviewed for this update do not publish a complete foreign-resident fee table or a universal booking process for every tour company. Check the park's current service page and require an itemised operator price rather than assuming a social-media fare includes national-park entry.
Conservation rules are part of the visit
The DNP's reopening report says visitors are being briefed on conservation zones, reef-safe sunscreen and reducing single-use plastic. It also says visitor numbers will be managed against the park's carrying capacity and that marine patrols will operate through the season.
For travellers, the sensible checklist is short: confirm the departure pier and transfer time, verify that the park ticket is covered, carry the passport requested for the electronic ticket, use reef-safe sunscreen and keep the day flexible enough for a weather cancellation. Check the DNP and the operator again immediately before travel because access and marine conditions can change.