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Explore the 42 limestone islands of Ang Thong National Marine Park by speedboat, yacht, or traditional big boat. Spend your day snorkeling shallow reefs, kayaking through hidden lagoons, and hiking to breathtaking viewpoints.
Free Cancellation Snorkel, kayak, and hike the Emerald Lagoon in Angthong Marine Park with a strict 12-adult limit on the boat.
Free Cancellation Sail to Ang Thong’s lagoons on a yacht with a splash pool, staying in the park for sunset after the crowds leave.
Free Cancellation This 20-year-old family tour provides direct booking support and the area's lowest rates.
Free Cancellation Reach reefs faster and land right on the beach with this speedboat tour including kayaking and island lunch.
Free Cancellation Speedboats from Koh Phangan reach the beaches directly, skipping slow ferry transfers for more time kayaking.
Free Cancellation Snorkel coral reefs and explore the stalactites of Lotus Cave on a big boat trip from Koh Samui to Angthong.
Free Cancellation Visit the Emerald Lagoon and climb Koh Wua Ta Lap’s peak on this day-long cruise through Ang Thong Marine Park.
Free Cancellation Hike, kayak, and snorkel through Angthong National Park on a nine-hour tour aboard Samui’s largest wooden boat.
Free Cancellation Speedboat through 42 islands to snorkel Koh Wao and hike to the Talay Nai saltwater lake in Angthong Marine Park.
Free Cancellation Speedboat across 42 islands to climb the Emerald Lagoon viewpoint, snorkel, and kayak through sea caves.
Read what travelers share about their experience visiting Ang Thong National Marine Park — from practical tips to personal highlights.
Forty-two limestone islands rise out of the Gulf of Thailand, covering 102 square kilometers of protected water. You reach them by boat from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, spending the day hiking steep karst trails, kayaking through shallow channels, and swimming off white-sand beaches.
Climb 500 meters up a steep, rocky trail using ropes for balance. The 40-minute hike gains roughly 400 meters in elevation, ending at a ridge looking down on dozens of jungle-topped islands scattered across the sea. Wear real shoes.
A 20-minute walk up wooden stairs on Ko Mae Ko leads to a saltwater lake trapped inside a collapsed cavern. Limestone walls ring the jade-green water, which connects to the ocean through underwater tunnels.
Paddle a double kayak through calm, sheltered channels between the islands. Guides steer groups close to the sheer rock faces and into shallow caves. It is safe for kids as young as five.
Walk a kilometer inland from the main visitor center to find this cavern. Inside, stalagmites and stalactites form shapes resembling lotus flowers. The trail gets slippery after rain.
Jump off the boat into 10-meter-deep water near Koh Wao to look for green sea turtles and yellow-spotted trevally. Visibility heavily depends on sediment from the Tapi River. Book in March or April for the clearest water.
Access to Ang Thong is strictly regulated, meaning you have to book a licensed tour or private charter to enter. There are no public ferries.
Speedboats take 45 to 60 minutes to cross the 30 kilometers from Koh Samui and land directly on the sand. Big wooden boats take up to two hours but offer a much smoother ride. Families with young children or anyone prone to seasickness should pick the big boat.
Tour prices almost never cover the national park entrance fee. You hand 300 Baht in cash (150 Baht for kids) to the park rangers when you arrive. Bring small bills.
The park shuts down completely from November 1 to mid-December due to monsoon winds and rough seas. Tours stop running entirely during this window. Check the exact reopening date if you travel in December.
High winds outside the dry season can force operators to cancel trips or skip specific islands. Most companies offer a full refund or a rescheduled date if the boat cannot safely leave the pier.
Shared tours provide lunch, usually a Thai buffet served on the boat or at the park headquarters. You cannot bring single-use plastic bottles into the park.
Leave your drone at the hotel. Flying one requires written permission from the Department of National Parks, and rangers strictly enforce the ban with fines up to 100,000 Baht.
A few tours offer semi-private yacht trips that stay in the park until sunset, long after the day-trippers leave. You can also book a basic park bungalow on Ko Wua Ta Lap, though the government reservation site frequently crashes.
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| VIP Speedboat Tour | Standard Speedboat Tour | Big Boat Tour | Semi-Private Yacht | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vessel Type | Small speedboat (max 12-14 pax) | Large speedboat (30+ pax) | Wooden cruiser | 68-78 ft yacht |
| Transit Time (from Samui) | 45-60 minutes | 45-60 minutes | 90-120 minutes | 90+ minutes |
| Best For | Maximizing park time, avoiding crowds | Budget travelers wanting fast transit | Families, seniors, seasick-prone | Sunset views, late departures |
| Price Estimate | ~$185 | ~$60 | ~$35-$40 | ~$130 |
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Ang Thong National Marine Park is open daily from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
The entire park closes annually from November 1 to roughly December 15 due to monsoon weather. The exact reopening date depends on sea conditions, usually falling between December 10 and 20.
The single restaurant near the visitor center on Ko Wua Ta Lap operates from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm, and opens again from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm for overnight guests.
You cannot take a public ferry to Ang Thong. Access requires booking a licensed day tour or a private charter.
Most tours include hotel pickup and drop-off at the pier.
January to April offers the calmest seas, clearest skies, and best snorkeling visibility. This is the peak season for tours.
May to September serves as a reliable shoulder season. Crowds thin out, and sea conditions remain generally stable, though afternoon rain showers happen frequently.
Avoid October, which brings rougher seas and a high risk of tour cancellations. The park is entirely closed in November and the first half of December.
The park is not wheelchair accessible. Reaching the islands requires boat transfers, often involving smaller tender boats or wading directly onto the sand.
The Wua Ta Lap viewpoint hike is strenuous. It gains 400 meters in elevation over a steep, rocky 500-meter trail that requires pulling yourself up with ropes. It is unsafe for visitors with mobility issues, heart conditions, or young children.
The 20-minute walk to the Thale Nai lagoon viewpoint uses wooden stairs and is manageable for moderately fit seniors. Elderly visitors and young children can easily participate in the big boat cruises, beach swimming, and guided double-kayaking.
Park infrastructure is minimal and concentrated on Ko Wua Ta Lap. There are no ATMs anywhere in the archipelago.
Booking overnight stays requires navigating the often-broken DNP reservation website or calling the park office directly.
Foreign adults pay a 300 Baht entrance fee. Foreign children aged 3 to 14 pay 150 Baht. This is collected in cash by rangers and is rarely included in your tour price.
Single-use plastics are banned. Tour guides will ask you to leave plastic water bottles on the boat.
Drones are strictly prohibited without prior written permission from the Department of National Parks. Rangers enforce this rule heavily, issuing fines up to 100,000 Baht and confiscating equipment.
Chemical sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate are banned to protect the coral reefs. Pack a mineral-based alternative.
No. There are no public ferries to the islands. You must book a licensed group tour or hire a private charter to enter the park.
Foreign adults pay 300 Baht, and children aged 3 to 14 pay 150 Baht. You pay this fee in cash directly to the park rangers, as it is almost never included in the tour price.
Speedboats from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan take 45 to 60 minutes. Large wooden boats take 90 to 120 minutes to make the same crossing.
Yes. The trail on Ko Wua Ta Lap is steep and rocky, gaining about 400 meters of elevation over a 500-meter distance. You have to use ropes to pull yourself up the final sections.
Yes. Kids as young as four or five can safely ride in a double kayak with an adult. Tour operators provide child-sized life jackets and stick to calm, sheltered water.
No. Flying a drone requires a written permit from the Department of National Parks. Unauthorized flights carry a fine of up to 100,000 Baht and equipment confiscation.
The park inspired Alex Garland's novel, but the movie was not filmed here. The famous beach scenes were shot in the Phi Phi Islands, and the waterfall jump was filmed in Khao Yai National Park.
Yes. You can rent a basic bungalow or a tent at the park headquarters on Ko Wua Ta Lap. You have to book through the Department of National Parks.
Tours still run in light rain. If high winds or rough seas make the crossing dangerous, operators will cancel the trip and offer a refund or a different date.
Wear sneakers or closed-toe shoes with good grip. Flip-flops are dangerous on the steep, jagged rocks of the viewpoint trails.
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This speedboat trip to Angthong National Marine Park caps groups at 12 adults to keep things manageable. You'll snorkel, kayak, and hike to the Emerald Lagoon with English-speaking guides who stay with you in the water and on the trails. It's a small boat. That means less time waiting for forty people to board and more time at the islands. The crew-to-guest ratio is high, so there's always someone to help with gear or directions. You can spend the afternoon climbing the steep limestone stairs to the lagoon viewpoint or sleeping under trees on the beach. Everything's included in the upfront price, so you won't need cash for park entrance fees or equipment rentals. If children aged 4 to 12 join, the boat capacity increases to 14 total guests. Groups larger than four should email ahead to check availability on a single vessel. Wear shoes with good grip for the lagoon hike—the steps are narrow and get slippery after the morning swim.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Thai, English
Most tours leave Ang Thong by mid-afternoon, but this yacht stays in the park until sunset. You'll kayak into a limestone lagoon and hike to the Blue Lagoon viewpoint after the day-trip crowds have headed back to Samui. The route stops at Paradise Beach and a snorkeling site chosen for its distance from the main speedboat clusters. If the Gulf of Thailand gets choppy, the crew shifts to more sheltered bays. That's the trade-off for a smoother ride. The Red and Blue Dragon are 20-meter yachts with a sun deck, a lounge, and a small splash pool. They're built to international safety specs and run by a local Thai crew. Lunch is a Thai fusion menu made with ingredients from local markets. Grab a spot on the sun deck for the return leg. It's the best place to watch the sky change colors over the islands.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
German, Thai, English, French, Hebrew
This operation has run these specific routes for 22 years. The schedule avoids steep climbs and long transit gaps, which works for both toddlers and seniors. Prices stay below the local average because the company owns its entire transport fleet. It's the most practical choice for large groups. One coordinator manages your reservation from the first email until the final drop-off at your hotel. If heavy rain cancels the trip, the office issues a full refund within 24 hours. Request car seats during the checkout process so the driver can install them before pickup. Bring a hat for the van's open-top sections.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Speedboats cut hours off the round-trip commute compared to slow-moving ferries. Because these boats have a shallow draft, the pilot pulls right onto the sand so you can walk off the bow. This skips the wait for a transfer shuttle to move people from a mooring to the shore. It's the right choice if you hate waiting. Small groups allow for stops at multiple reef sites that larger vessels skip. You'll get more time in the water and free use of sea kayaks once you reach the island. Lunch is served at tables on the island sand. Expect a bumpier ride if the wind picks up—it's a trade-off for the speed. If you're prone to motion sickness, sit toward the back of the boat where the bounce is less intense.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
Speedboats land directly on the sand, so you don't have to wait for a shuttle boat to ferry you from a larger vessel. This saves about two hours of travel time compared to the standard ferries. Pickup is free for most hotels on Koh Phangan, but guests in Thong Nai Pan must arrange their own transport. It's a fast, bumpy ride. Lunch is a buffet served on the island, and sea kayaks are available for use. You'll spend the majority of the day in the water rather than sitting on a deck. Pack a dry bag for your phone because the spray over the bow is frequent. This is the one to book if you want more time on the sand than on a boat.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
A large boat departs Koh Samui’s north coast for the 42 islands of Angthong National Marine Park. You’ll snorkel over soft corals and through underwater caves or kayak along the limestone cliffs. The boat is stable in open water. It's the better choice if you're prone to seasickness. Lotus Cave, or Bua Boke, has rows of stalagmite and stalactite formations reached by a short trek. An English-speaking guide leads the group through the cave to see the rock structures. Lunch is a buffet served on the boat between stops. If the tide is low, you'll transfer to the islands via a smaller dinghy. The price includes hotel transfers and the guide. Bring a waterproof bag for the kayaking leg. Wear sandals with a good grip for the cave hike.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
The boat takes an hour and 45 minutes to reach the Ang Thong archipelago from the pier. You'll switch to a longtail boat to reach Koh Mae Koh, where a staircase leads to the Emerald Green Lagoon. This saltwater lake sits inside a hollow mountain. It’s a quick stop before heading to the larger island of Koh Wua Ta Lap. Koh Wua Ta Lap has a trail leading to a viewpoint overlooking all 42 islands in the park. It’s a rugged hike. If you don't want to climb, you can snorkel from the beach or rent a kayak to paddle around the limestone cliffs. Shore snorkeling is limited to shallow water; travelers wanting better visibility should choose a speedboat tour instead. The crew serves a light breakfast at departure and a Thai buffet lunch on board between island stops. Coffee, snacks, and soft drinks are available throughout the day. Pack a dry bag for the longtail boat transfers to keep your phone and camera dry.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
The boat leaves Samui for a nine-hour trip to Angthong National Park. It's the largest wooden vessel on this route, providing more deck space and a steadier ride than the standard speedboats. You'll spend the day moving between the park's 42 islands to hike, snorkel, and kayak. It's a slow pace. Families with children or those prone to sea sickness should book this boat over a speedboat. The itinerary includes the climb to the Emerald Lagoon viewpoint and time for paddling kayaks along the limestone cliffs. Snorkeling happens in the shallower bays where the water is clearest. Licensed guides manage the gear and the park entry process so you don't have to queue at the kiosks. Bring shoes with rubber soles for the island trails—the limestone rocks are sharp and can be slippery after a rain. If the Gulf of Thailand gets choppy, the lower deck stays the driest. The trip includes a full day of sightseeing without the pressure of a ticking clock. It's the right choice for travelers who prefer a lounge on a deck to a cramped plastic seat.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Thai, English
Speedboats reach the 42 islands of Angthong National Marine Park in 45 minutes from the pier. Your first stop is Koh Wao, also called Koh Tay Plow, where the reef is shallow enough for easy snorkeling. The water stays clear unless there's been a heavy storm the night before. If you're prone to motion sickness, sit toward the back of the boat where the engine weight keeps the hull steadier against the Gulf's chop. On Koh Mae Ko, a series of wooden stairs leads to a view of Talay Nai, a bright green saltwater lake encased by limestone cliffs. This pool connects to the open sea through a system of submerged caves. At midday, the crew serves a Thai buffet lunch on the beach. It's basic but filling. Use the hour after lunch to find a patch of shade or swim near the shore before the afternoon crowds arrive. The final stop focuses on the park's larger islands for kayaking or a second hike. You can paddle through sea caves and past jagged rock formations that look like melting wax. If you choose the mountain climb instead, be ready for a steep scramble to see the whole archipelago at once. The trail is rough. Wear actual shoes rather than flip-flops if you plan to reach the highest viewpoint.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English
The tour covers the 42 islands of Angthong National Marine Park by speedboat. Most people come for Talay Nai. It's a saltwater lake inside a collapsed cavern, surrounded by limestone walls that keep the water a flat, bright green. The view is the main event. You'll climb steep wooden stairs for about 15 minutes to reach the top. Wear shoes with grip because the metal steps get slippery. You'll kayak through narrow channels and under limestone overhangs near the smaller islands. The water stays calm in the morning, but it gets choppy after lunch if the wind picks up. Snorkeling happens directly from the boat over the shallower reefs. Don't expect perfect visibility—the silt around these islands often clouds the water—but the coral is healthy. Speedboats cut the travel time from Koh Samui to 45 minutes. Book the kayak option if you want to see the sea caves; otherwise, you'll spend that hour waiting on the beach. Sit at the back of the boat for a steadier ride if you're prone to seasickness. It's a long day in the sun with little shade on the boat, so bring a hat that won't blow off.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
English