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Ang Thong National Marine Park, Koh Samui

View from Ko Wua Talap over green limestone islands and turquoise water in Ang Thong park, a boat in the bay
Photo: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

The essentials in 10 seconds

Entry
park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Hours
All-day tours, usually 8:00 to 17:00–18:00
Time on site
A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes.
4 h
With kids
Fine with kids
Park fee
Foreigners ≈ 300 baht, children ≈ 150
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Access
Tours only — big boat or speedboat
Viewpoint
Ko Wua Talap — about 500 steep steps
verifyingFrom reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Lake
Thale Nai on Ko Mae Ko — saltwater, ringed by cliffs
From Samui
≈ 28 km; about an hour by speedboat, longer by boat
Area
≈ 102 km², 42 islands
Coordinates
9.62278, 99.67500YesGo MapGoogleApple

Key facts

42 islandsmake up Ang Thong marine park
Sourceen.wikipedia
1980the year the national park was founded
Sourceen.wikipedia
≈ 102 km²park area, about half of it land
Sourceen.wikipedia
'Golden bowl'the meaning of the name Ang Thong
Sourceen.wikipedia
396 mthe highest point, on Ko Phaluai
Sourceen.wikipedia
Ramsarsince 2002 a wetland of international importance
Sourceen.wikipedia
≈ 28 kmfrom Koh Samui to the park
Sourceen.wikipedia
≈ 300 bahtpark fee for foreign adults
Sourcetravel guides

What is Ang Thong National Marine Park?

Ang Thong ('golden bowl') is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand, about 28 km west of Koh Samui. Founded in 1980, it takes in 42 islands — sheer jungle-clad limestone cliffs, caves and white-sand coves. The park covers about 102 km², roughly half of it land.

Almost all the islands are uninhabited. The park headquarters and a beach with bungalows are on Ko Wua Talap, where the viewpoint trail starts. On Ko Mae Ko lies the hidden saltwater lake of Thale Nai, ringed by cliffs and joined to the sea only by underwater tunnels. Since 2002 the park has been a wetland of international importance.

How the trip works

Tours leave Samui's piers in the morning — usually Nathon or Bophut — and return by evening. A typical programme: landing on Ko Wua Talap, the climb to the viewpoint — according to guides, about 500 steep steps — then beach and lunch; next Ko Mae Ko, with stairs up to a lookout over Thale Nai lake, kayaking along the cliffs and snorkelling.

A big boat is cheaper and steadier in waves but slower. A speedboat gets there in about an hour and fits in more stops. You can't swim in Thale Nai — it's viewed from above.

What to see and do

  • The Ko Wua Talap viewpoint — a view over the whole archipelago.
  • Thale Nai lake on Ko Mae Ko — emerald water among cliffs.
  • Kayaking along limestone cliffs and caves.
  • Snorkelling over coral reefs.
  • The beach on Ko Wua Talap — lunch and a swim.
  • Forty-two islands from the deck.

How to get to Ang Thong Marine Park

Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.

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Where are you starting from?

We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.

More tips

  1. Big-boat tour — from Nathon or Bophut pier, all day, with hotel pick-up.
  2. Speedboat tour — about an hour each way, more stops.
  3. Private yacht or speedboat — your own route, at a higher price.
  4. Park fee — check whether it's included.
  5. You can't visit independently without a tour.

Big boat or speedboat

Big boatyou are hereLongerLowerSteadierFewer
SpeedboatAbout an hourHigherBumpyMore

How long do you need?

Ang Thong takes a full day: tours leave around 7:00–8:00 and return by 17:00–18:00. The journey, two viewpoints, kayaking and the beach leave little free time, so don't plan anything else that day.

Bring water, sunscreen, a hat and shoes for climbing — the Ko Wua Talap trail is long and steep. On the way back you may catch the sunset from the deck.

Is Ang Thong worth visiting?

Yes: it's the best sea trip from Samui — dozens of islands, the view from the top and a lake among the cliffs.

The YesGo take: it's a long day, and the Ko Wua Talap climb is tough in the heat. If you get seasick, the big boat is steadier; check whether the park fee is in the price.

Before you go: checklist

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Koh Samui nature: compare and choose

Beaches, waterfalls and islands on Koh Samui rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Chaweng Beach333 hFree43.6 km
Na Muang Waterfalls281 h 30 minNa Muang 1 free; Na Muang 2 ≈ 30–50 baht40.7 km
Ang Thong National Marine Parkyou are here164 hpark fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra—

Samui in two days: sea and shore

Day one: a tour of Ang Thong Marine Park; day two: Chaweng Beach and an evening in Fisherman's Village. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.

  1. Ang Thong National Marine Parkyou are here4 h · park fee ≈ 300 baht; tour extra
  2. 756 min walk from the previous stopChaweng Beach3 h · free
  3. 87 min walk from the previous stopFisherman's Village, Bophut2 h · free

3 places · about 23 h 3 min with walks · 843 min on foot in total

Go · my route

How to do it right

  • Prone to seasickness? Take the big boat.
  • Wear shoes for the Ko Wua Talap climb.
  • Pay the park fee in cash if it's not included.
  • No swimming in Thale Nai lake.
  • In the evening: Fisherman's Village.

Questions

How do I get to Ang Thong Marine Park?

Only on a tour — by big boat or speedboat from Samui's piers.

How much is entry?

The park fee is about 300 baht per foreign adult and 150 per child.

How many islands are in the park?

42.

Can you swim in the emerald lake?

No, Thale Nai is viewed from above.

Is the viewpoint climb hard?

Yes, about 500 steep steps — wear proper shoes.

How long does the trip take?

A full day, roughly 8:00 to 17:00–18:00.

Speedboat or big boat?

Speedboats are faster; big boats are cheaper and steadier.

When is the best time to go?

On a clear day; tours are cancelled in storms.

Have you been? Was it worth your time?

1 — no, 5 — absolutely

Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.

Sources and fact-check

  • English Wikipedia: Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park — islands, area, year, name, elevation, Ramsar, distance
  • Travel guides and tour operators (It's Better in Thailand, Thaiest, Click2Go Thailand and others) — fee, viewpoint, lake, boats (unofficial)
  • Wikidata Q1255783 — coordinates
  • YesGo general facts for Thailand — payment, transport
YesGo editorial team · facts checked 08.11.2026 ·
How we checkedThe park has no publicly available official website. The number of islands, area, year, name, elevation and Ramsar status are from Wikipedia; it also says 'east of Ko Samui', but the coordinates put the park to the west, so we say west. Fee: most often 300 baht for foreigners (150 for children), 200 in one source under the 2022 rate — we give 300 and mark it unconfirmed. The figure of about 500 steps comes from one guide. A November–December seasonal closure wasn't confirmed by sources, so we say tours are cancelled in bad weather. Speedboat journey time is from tour operators.

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