Notes

Mu Ko Similan National Park

- Map :

- Directions :
Car :: From Bangkok untill takurpar on the road number 4. From takurpar to ban Lumkan will can tern rigth go to ablanu peir th distance about 50 kilomate will have similan national park on your left.
Airplane :: Go to Phuket .From Phuket, take a bus or van (we have van transfer from airport Phuket to Thap Lamu Pier price is 300 bath for one person for one way, Phang Nga province then take a ferry to Mu Ko Similan National Park.
Ship :: Thap Lamu Peir to Mu Ko Similan National Park , you can take a private tour boat which controlled by the national park and serves tourists everyday ( 1 sep - 30 may ) . This tour boat departs from Thap Lamu Port at 08.30 am and return boat from Mu Ko Similan National Park to Thap Lamu Port departs at 15.00 pm in everyday. However, this service would be closed at May 16 every year because entering of raining season. Once reached Ko Similan, motorboats are available for tourist to get to different islands per the following fare

- Plant :
Sapodilla, Nguang Chang Talay, Manilkara sp, Toumefotia argentia, Bouea oppositifolio, Lepisanthes rubiginosa, Diospyros wallichii, Neang and Copparis micracantha. (ละมุดป่า และงวงช้างทะเล ละมุดป่า มะปริง มะหวด เนียง ผักหวาน และชิงชี่ เป็นต้น)
Corals and sea anemones

- Animal : ค้างคาวแม่ไก่เกาะ(Island Flying-Fox) ค้างคาวปีกถุงเคราดำ(Black-bearded Tomb Bat) พญากระรอกดำ(Black giant squirrel) โลมาหัวขวด(Bottlenose dolphin) เต่ามะเฟือง(Leatherback turtle) เต่ากระ(Hawksbill sea turtle) เหยี่ยวแดง(Brahminy kite) นกกวัก(White-breasted Waterhen) นกนางแอ่นบ้าน(Barn Swallow) นกยางควาย(Cattle egret) นกอีลุ้ม(Watercock) และนกนางนวลแกลบสีกุหลาบ(Roseate Tern) ปลาฉลาม(Shark) ปลากระโทงแทง(Swordfish) ปลากระเบน(Stingray) ปลาบิน(Flying Fish) ปักเป้าทะเล(Puffer fish) ปลาผีเสื้อ(Butterflyfish) ปลานางฟ้า(Angel fish)

- Climate :
closed :: 1 may - 31 october
opened :: 1 november - 30 april
December - February
More tourists began. The atmosphere was lively. Most tourists are foreigners. Weather is nice and clear sea.
March - April
Thailand's seaside vacation during this month. Hot, but you will have the freshness of the sea.

- History :
. Mu Ko Similan is the largest island. There are a total of 9 islands. The sea in the area has an average depth of 60 feet. Underwater it is full of rock formations and coral reefs. It is a national park which was established in 1982.
. Islands 1, 2, and 3 are closed for public due for turtle hatching protection program and reef conservation efforts. Fishing is banned in Similan and Surin National Park. However, fishing boats are constantly seen in and around the park. When diving, one can often find nets stuck to reefs and illegal fishing traps. Park rangers are posted on several islands, but seem little interested in anything beyond collecting national park fees, which must be paid in cash. In mid-November 2007 the park increased the Surin National Park fee from 400 baht to 600 baht per person with no prior announcement and posted a patrol boat at Richelieu Rock to collect the fees.
. In recent years many illegal fishing traps have been found outside the most common dive sites. They have contained among others giant trevallies, batfish, barracuda, golden pilot jacks, and giant triggerfish. Fishing traps seem to be overly abundant around Ko Bon and Ko Ta Chai.
. The area has deteriorated to the point that the most famous dive sites are mostly broken and dead coral with few reef fish.

- Activities :
Scuba diving
Nature trail study
beach activities
Snorkeling
sightseeing

- Threats to the park :
Human actions that are causing the park damage such as garbage dumps, Illegal fishing, reef destroy. We can protect the park by a campaign such as no garbage dumps on the beach and no fishing illegally. Open and close the island are help restore the natural for the island.

http://www.medsyetour.com/static.php?mode=preview&keyword=similanislands
http://th.wikipedia.org/wiki/อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะสิมิลัน
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Similan_Islands
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp?npid=212&lg=2
http://www.dnp.go.th/parkreserve/asp/style1/default.asp