A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Similan Islands vs. Vang Vieng for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Similan Islands and Vang Vieng can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Similan Islands or Vang Vieng?

Similan Islands

There are places divers like, and there are places divers love. One of the most popular spots to visit the underwater world is at the national park of the Similan Islands in southern Thailand. With 140 square kilometers of land and nine islands, this area is a paradise for those ready to get their feet wet.

The park is made up of nine islands: Ko Bon, Ko Bayu, Ko Similan, Ko Payu, Ko Miang, Ko Payan, Ko Paying and Ko Huyong. If these names are a bit too similar for you to easily differentiate, don't worry. Most refer to each island with a number from 1 to 9. Two more islands were added to the park – Koh Bon and Koh Tachai – in 1998.

Even though the park was only established in 1982, the islands have been around for approximately 65 million years. They are the product of swells of hot magma during the Cretaceous period and smoothed over by glacial ice and water erosion. The reefs beneath the surface are approximately 5,000 years and therefor the oldest in Thailand. Luckily, because of its deep waters, the islands' underwater landscapes were essentially unharmed during the 2004 tsunami.

Each island is covered in lush, tropical jungle and white, sandy coastlines. There is fish of every shape, color and size – including the famous "Nemo" clownfish, batfish, barracudas, whale sharks and manta rays.

You'll want to plan your visit around monsoon season. So book a trip sometime between December and April. March is a particularly good time to visit as the winds have died down and the water is crystal clear. The park is closed from May to November.

There are a few tents and bungalows on some of the islands. They are government run, and you'll need to reserve them in advance. Many divers will simply take day trips, or sleep on board boats. There are several organized tour and boat options available out of Phuket, Khao Lak and Ranong. Both areas will likely offer day trips and live-aboard cruises. These cruises typically start at four days and 4 nights, but shorter trips are available. There is an entry fee to the park, along with a daily usage fee for those spending multiple days in the park. This fee is paid to your driver before the trip.

Vang Vieng

Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Bangkok, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Phuket, The Best Adventure Tours to Laos, and The Best Budget Tours to Laos.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Similan Islands and Vang Vieng, we can see that Similan Islands is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Similan Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Similan Islands than you might in Vang Vieng.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Similan Islands Expensive? and Is Vang Vieng Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng?

Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Similan Islands and Vang Vieng. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Similan Islands year-round. Vang Vieng attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

Also, June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Similan Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Similan Islands usually receives more rain than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 284 mm (11.2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 47 mm (1.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.

In Similan Islands, it's very sunny this time of the year. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during summer. Similan Islands gets 206 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 141 hours of full sun in the summer.

In the summer, Similan Islands is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the summer temperatures in Similan Islands in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 22°C (72°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Similan Islands as well as Vang Vieng. Similan Islands attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Vang Vieng throughout the year.

Also, October to May in Similan Islands is the dry season. Similan Islands receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Similan Islands usually gets more rain in October than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 351 mm (13.8 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 63 mm (2.5 in) of rain this time of the year.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Vang Vieng. In the autumn, Similan Islands often gets less sunshine than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 181 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 222 hours of full sun.

In October, Similan Islands is generally a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Daily temperatures in Similan Islands average around 27°C (81°F), and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng in the Winter?

Both Vang Vieng and Similan Islands are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Similan Islands throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Vang Vieng because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In January, Similan Islands usually receives less rain than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 42 mm (1.7 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 57 mm (2.2 in) of rain each month for the winter.

It's quite sunny in Vang Vieng. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually receives more sunshine than Vang Vieng during winter. Similan Islands gets 287 hours of sunny skies, while Vang Vieng receives 254 hours of full sun in the winter.

Similan Islands is a little warmer than Vang Vieng in the winter. The daily temperature in Similan Islands averages around 27°C (80°F) in January, and Vang Vieng fluctuates around 24°C (75°F).

Should I visit Similan Islands or Vang Vieng in the Spring?

Both Vang Vieng and Similan Islands during the spring are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Similan Islands because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Vang Vieng year-round.

October to May is the dry season in Similan Islands. June to September is the rainy season in Similan Islands. Vang Vieng gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Similan Islands. Similan Islands usually gets less rain in April than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 157 mm (6.2 in) of rain, while Vang Vieng receives 188 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

In Vang Vieng, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Similan Islands. In the spring, Similan Islands often gets more sunshine than Vang Vieng. Similan Islands gets 249 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vang Vieng receives 230 hours of full sun.

In the spring, Similan Islands is a little warmer than Vang Vieng. Typically, the spring temperatures in Similan Islands in April average around 29°C (83°F), and Vang Vieng averages at about 23°C (73°F).

Typical Weather for Vang Vieng and Similan Islands