Debora Capone
It was beautiful, thank you!
Big Boat Tour
Koh Samui · Surat Thaniหมู่เกาะอ่างทอง
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park
42 limestone islands in the Gulf of Thailand, 28 km west of Koh Samui: a saltwater lake hidden inside an island, a viewpoint over the whole archipelago, coral reefs, langurs and empty beaches. Everything you need to plan the day, and the tours that take you there.
42Islands
28 kmWest of Koh Samui
102 km²Protected area
฿300Park fee, adult
Jan–SepCalm sea season
01 — The park
A bowl of gold in the Gulf of Thailand
Ang Thong means "bowl of gold". The park protects 42 islands of limestone, coral and jungle, a national park since 1980. Only two islands are inhabited, and there is no public ferry: you come on a day tour from Koh Samui.
- Location
- Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani province; 28 km west of Koh Samui, 32 km from Koh Phangan
- Islands
- 42 islands with beaches, limestone cliffs, coral reefs and young mangroves; inhabited: Koh Wua Ta Lap and Koh Phaluai
- Area
- About 102 km², average water depth around 10 m
- Established
- National park since 12 November 1980; the name Ang Thong means "bowl of gold"
- Entrance fee
- ฿300 per adult, ฿150 per child, paid at the park (already included in the VIP speedboat and Red Baron prices)
- How to get there
- No public ferry: only by tour boat, speedboat, sailing cruise or private charter from Koh Samui
- Best time
- January to September; October to December is the rainy season with rougher sea
- Weather
- Warm all year, average air temperature around 28 °C
Facts and prices checked:
02 — The islands
Five islands you will see
Most tours visit three or four of them. Pick an island to see what is there and which tours stop.
Koh Mae Ko and the Emerald Lake
"mother island"
Mae Ko means "mother island". Its limestone walls hide Thale Nai, the Emerald Lake: a green saltwater lagoon that is connected to the sea only through underground tunnels, so it rises and falls with the tide but you never see the opening.
A stairway with handrails climbs through the rocks to a viewing platform above the lake. The climb is short but steep in places. Swimming in the lake is not allowed. A local legend says the lake sits in the mouth of a sleeping volcano.
ClimbShort, steep stairway with handrails
SwimmingNot allowed in the lake
On toursEvery tour stops here
Koh Wua Ta Lap, the park headquarters
"sleeping cow"
Wua Ta Lap ("sleeping cow") is the second largest island and the park headquarters, with a ranger station, a restaurant, bungalows and a campsite. It has a long white beach where dusky langurs come down from the trees.
A steep trail of about 500 meters climbs to the top viewpoint: the most photographed view of Ang Thong, with the whole archipelago below. Behind the beach a path leads to Bua Bok, a cave with stalactites shaped like lotus flowers.
ClimbAbout 500 m steep trail to the top
StayPark bungalows and campsite
WildlifeDusky langurs near the beach
Koh Sam Sao
the stone arch
Almost in the center of the park, Sam Sao is known for its natural stone arch, a shaded white beach and clear water over coral. A hidden path leads to a small viewpoint facing Koh Mae Ko. The coast around it is a favourite kayaking route.
Known forNatural rock arch
Best forKayaking along the cliffs
BeachShaded white sand
Koh Wao and the reefs
the northern reefs
The rocky islands in the north of the park have shallow reefs and small grottoes full of fish, the best snorkeling spots of Ang Thong. Most tours stop at Koh Wao. Green turtles and the rare hawksbill turtle live in the coral gardens.
WaterShallow reef, small grottoes
Look forGreen and hawksbill turtles
On toursMost tours snorkel here
Koh Phaluai
the largest island
The largest island of the archipelago and one of the two inhabited ones, with a small fishing village. The VIP and private tours stop here for lunch at the island restaurant.
SizeLargest in the park
PeopleSmall fishing village
On toursVIP and private tours
A typical day in the park
Speedboat tour · the order can change with the tide- Hotel pickup on Koh Samui
- About 40 minutes across the open sea
- Snorkeling on a coral reef
- Stairway to the Emerald Lake on Mae Ko
- Buffet lunch and kayaks on Tamarin Beach
- Viewpoint or beach on Wua Ta Lap
- Back on Koh Samui, drop-off at your hotel
03 — Plan your visit
What to know before you book
Getting there
There is no public ferry
The regular boats between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and the mainland do not stop at the park. You visit Ang Thong on a day tour or a private boat from Koh Samui, and every tour includes hotel pickup. The options differ in speed, group size and price:
- Speedboat (about 40 minutes): The fastest group option and the most popular: four stops, lunch and kayaks, daily.
- VIP speedboat (max 16 people): A small group, six stops, park fee, breakfast and lunch included. Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
- Big tourist boat (about 1.5 hours): The cheapest and smoothest ride, with breakfast and lunch on board, daily.
- Red Baron sailing junk: A full day under sail with meals on board and the park fee included, Wednesday and Saturday.
- Private speedboat: Your own boat for 8 hours with a captain and guide, any day, up to 15 guests.
Best time to visit
The park is open all year
Calm seaRainy season
FebruaryDry season: calm sea, clear water and the most sunshine. All tours run on schedule, book a few days ahead.
Entrance fee
฿300adult
฿150child
Paid in cash at the park on the day. Already included in the price of the VIP speedboat tour and the Red Baron cruise; on the other tours you pay it separately.
What to bring
Operators ask for your passport number for the insurance, so keep a photo of it on your phone.
Viewpoints
Emerald Lake stairwayMae Ko · short but steep, with handrails
Wua Ta Lap summit trailAbout 500 m · steep rocks, take water
Both climbs are optional: you can stay on the beach instead. Wear shoes with grip, not flip-flops.
04 — Wildlife
Who lives in the park
16mammals
14reptiles
5amphibians
~50birds
Dusky langur
Wua Ta LapThe park's best-known residents live in families of 4 to 30 around the headquarters on Wua Ta Lap. Dark grey fur with white rings around the eyes; babies are born golden orange.
Oriental pied hornbill
Forest canopyHornbills pair for life and spread the seeds of hundreds of fruit trees through the forest. About 50 bird species are recorded in the park, including white-bellied sea eagles and kingfishers.
Bryde's whale
Open sea · rareRegular visitors to the Gulf of Thailand, 12-14 meters long and 16-25 tons. They feed on sardines and mackerel and are sometimes seen from the boats on the way to the park.
Ang Thong lady's slipper
Only here · Apr–AugAn orchid found only here: white petals with dark dots, growing on limestone around Wua Ta Lap, Phaluai, Mae Ko and Sam Sao. It flowers from April to August.
Long-tailed macaques, otters, leopard cats, white-bellied sea eagles and kingfishers live here too. Please do not feed the monkeys and take your rubbish back to the boat.
05 — Ways to go
Five ways to Ang Thong
Every tour includes hotel pickup on Koh Samui. Prices are per person unless stated otherwise.
What matters most?
Speedboat Tour Most islands in one day
- Days
- Daily
- Time
- 07:40-16:30
- Boat
- Shared speedboat
- Park fee
- ฿300 extra
฿1,890 / adult
VIP Speedboat Tour Small group, park fee included
- Days
- Tue, Thu, Sat
- Time
- 07:00-17:30
- Boat
- Small group, max 16
- Park fee
- Included
฿3,890 / adult
Big Boat Tour Lowest price, relaxed pace
- Days
- Daily
- Time
- 07:30-17:00
- Boat
- Large tourist boat
- Park fee
- ฿300 extra
฿1,100 / adult
Red Baron Sailing Cruise Sailing under red sails
- Days
- Wed, Sat
- Time
- 07:30-19:00
- Boat
- Traditional sailing junk
- Park fee
- Included
฿3,700 / adult
Private Speedboat Charter Your own boat and route
- Days
- Any day
- Time
- 8 hours
- Boat
- Your group only, max 15
- Park fee
- ฿300 extra
฿39,000 / boat
Side-by-side comparison
| Tour | Price | Days | Boat | Park fee | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Speedboat Tour | ฿1890 / adult | Daily | Shared speedboat | ฿300 extra | Most islands in one day |
| VIP Speedboat Tour | ฿3890 / adult | Tue, Thu, Sat | Small group, max 16 | Included | Small group, park fee included |
| Big Boat Tour | ฿1100 / adult | Daily | Large tourist boat | ฿300 extra | Lowest price, relaxed pace |
| Red Baron Sailing Cruise | ฿3700 / adult | Wed, Sat | Traditional sailing junk | Included | Sailing under red sails |
| Private Speedboat Charter | ฿39,000 / boat | Any day | Your group only, max 15 | ฿300 extra | Your own boat and route |
Reviews
Reviews of our Ang Thong tours
5.0
84 reviews, rating out of 5
84 reviews, rating out of 5
Alex Litov
Everything went perfectly. Thank you! 👍
Speedboat Tour
Irene Lisit
The tour was perfectly organized, everything ran smoothly without any issues. The scenery was absolutely breathtaking! The emerald lake surrounded by towering cliffs looked unreal, and the panoramic view from the viewpoint was definitely worth the challenging hike.
Speedboat Tour Tina Burmiston
The Red Baron Sunset Cruise was simply incredible! The crew was absolutely amazing. Everyone was constantly working, always attentive and making sure every guest had a great experience. The food was delicious, and the ice cream was a wonderful surprise. Thank you for such a fantastic evening and unforgettable memories!
Red Baron Sailing Cruise
Lydia
The Ang Thong tour was definitely the highlight of our trip. It was absolutely incredible! We had an amazing guide, and the snorkeling was unforgettable. Swimming through a cave felt like a real adventure, and we were as excited as kids. We visited some truly beautiful places, and the atmosphere was fantastic thanks to the guides. We even spotted a monkey on the way to the viewpoint! The next day we joined the Koh Tao & Nang Yuan tour, and everyone absolutely loved it. We snorkeled three or four times, and it was amazing. We even saw little sharks! 😁 The viewpoint overlooking the islands was breathtaking. 😍 The guides really go above and beyond. They take photos of everyone, help whenever needed, and genuinely take care of you as if you were family. Huge respect to the whole team! 👍🏻
Speedboat Tour
Vadi Kiranov
Everything went great 👌🏼 We enjoyed the party on the boat the most 🙌🏼 The highlight was the sunset 🌅 Unexpected places, like the mountain in the sea from the short film Lava 🏝️
Red Baron Sailing Cruise
Ksenia
Everything went great, thank you very much, we really enjoyed the tour. I especially loved the snorkeling, and the guides did a great job, very responsible and with a good sense of humor 🙌🏽 The lunch was also wonderful, a very pleasant surprise in terms of variety and quantity. It’s the first time I’ve seen such a tasty and generous meal with so many options. Overall, I’m very satisfied, thank you very much)
Speedboat Tour
Maria Mokhova
The tour was amazing, especially the kayaking trip. The views in the national park were absolutely stunning. We even managed to film a whale.
Speedboat Tour
Eliza
Everything went great, we were lucky enough to snorkel in the rain. Then, in the second half of the tour, the sun came out and we enjoyed the views from the top of the mountain on the last island.
VIP Speedboat Tour
Dari Bel
I want to say a huge thank you for this excursion I'm still impressed and absolutely thrilled! Everything was incredibly well-organized, and I felt like the guys truly cared about everyone. I'll start by saying that the driver arrived on time, exactly at 7:30. After a quick snack, we headed to the boat, where we met the guide. These guys were fantastic! Everyone was so welcoming, enthusiastic, cheerful, and good-natured. Throughout the entire trip, they constantly encouraged us and offered us refreshments—it was a wonderful experience. We stopped at a bunch of locations. First, we went snorkeling in a gorgeous bay with crystal-clear, incredibly colorful water. Then we stopped at the lagoon, and afterward, a wonderful lunch awaited us: the guys organized everything, fed us, and cleaned everything up no hassle at all. I'd also like to mention the climb to the observation deck. The trail was quite challenging, especially in the heat, and only a few of the group dared to climb it. I went, and it was worth it! The view of the bays and islands that opened up was simply incomparable. But the most important thing was the guide. He climbed with me, supported me the whole way, offered me water, accompanied me, and took tons of photos and videos. For me, this was a huge plus I don't think every guide would be so attentive on such a challenging climb. This was the most exciting and memorable trip. I had a wonderful experience and am still deeply impressed. You guys are great! Thank you for this day.
Speedboat Tour
Maria
Ang Thong: we especially enjoyed the kayaking. The views were amazing.
Speedboat Tour
George
The tour went well, we really liked the Ang Thong viewpoint and the bays.
Speedboat Tour
06 — Questions
Ang Thong: questions and answers
Not answered here? Write to us on WhatsApp, we reply within the day.
Ask on WhatsAppHow much is the entrance fee to Ang Thong National Marine Park?
฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child. It is paid in cash at the park and is already included in the VIP speedboat tour and the Red Baron cruise; on the other tours you pay it separately.
How do I get to Ang Thong from Koh Samui?
There is no public ferry. You go on a day tour: speedboat (about 40 minutes each way), big tourist boat (about 1.5 hours), the Red Baron sailing cruise or a private speedboat. All tours include hotel pickup on Koh Samui.
How far is Ang Thong from Koh Samui?
About 28 km west of Koh Samui and 32 km from Koh Phangan.
Which Ang Thong tour is best?
For most people the speedboat tour (฿1890): fast, daily, four stops with lunch and kayaks. For a small group with everything included, the VIP tour (฿3890). On a budget or with small children, the big boat (from ฿1100). For your own schedule, a private boat (from ฿39,000).
Can you swim in the Emerald Lake?
No. Swimming in Thale Nai on Koh Mae Ko is not allowed to protect the lake; you see it from the viewpoint at the top of the stairway.
When is the best time to visit Ang Thong?
January to September, when the sea is usually calm. October to December is the rainy season; tours still run, but on rough days the captain can change or cancel the program.
Is Ang Thong worth visiting?
Yes, it is the main natural sight around Koh Samui: the Emerald Lake, the view over 42 islands from Wua Ta Lap, snorkeling, kayaking and beaches you cannot reach by public transport.
Can I stay overnight in Ang Thong?
Yes. Koh Wua Ta Lap has park bungalows and a campsite run by the national park. Day tours from Koh Samui do not include an overnight stay.
Is the climb to the viewpoints difficult?
Both are steep. The Emerald Lake stairway is short. The Wua Ta Lap trail is about 500 meters and much harder, so take water and good shoes; you can stay on the beach instead.
Book a tour
See the Emerald Lake for yourself
Send a request: no payment now. We confirm the tour and the pickup time by WhatsApp or email. Not sure which tour fits? Choose "help me choose" and we will suggest one.
Book a tour to Ang Thong
Free hotel pickup on Koh Samui