- Ang Thong National Marine Park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no tours run during that window.
- The park sells no tickets for closed dates, so no tour to Ang Thong can be booked for them.
- The closure is there to let nature recover; the exact dates are announced by the national park each year.
- After the park reopens around 15 December it is still the rainy season, so the captain may change the route or cancel on rough days.
- January to September usually brings the calmest sea and the clearest water for an Ang Thong day trip.
You land on Koh Samui on 20 November, open the tour list for Ang Thong and find no dates at all. That is not a booking glitch. Plenty of travellers type "Ang Thong closed November" into Google at exactly this moment, and the answer is yes: the park takes its annual break and no boat goes in.
I have watched guests take this news in two ways. Some shrug and plan a different day. Others try to find a way around it. There is no way around it, but there are good ways to plan, so here is everything I tell friends who ask.
Ang Thong closed November to mid-December: what are the dates?
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December. During those six weeks no tours run, from any pier, on any boat.
The word "usually" matters. The exact dates are announced by the Department of National Parks each year, so the opening day can shift a little. If your holiday falls in late December, check with us when you book rather than assuming the park opens on the 16th sharp.
Here is how the year usually looks from a day-trip point of view:
| Period | Park status | What it means for your trip |
|---|---|---|
| January to September | Open | Usually calm sea and clear water. All tours run on schedule. |
| October | Open | Rainy season. Tours run, but the captain may change or cancel on rough days. |
| 1 November to 15 December | Usually closed | No tickets sold, no tours. Nothing can be booked. |
| From around 15 December | Reopens | Still the rainy season. Tours run, with weather calls on the day. |
| Late December | Open | One of the wettest periods. Keep a spare day in your plan. |
Why does Ang Thong close every year?
The park closes to let nature recover. For six weeks the reefs, beaches and forests get a break from the daily boats and footsteps.
Think about what a normal day looks like here. Speedboats, big tourist boats and the odd sailing junk arrive one after another, people swim over the shallow reefs, climb the stairway on Mae Ko and walk the trail on Wua Ta Lap. Spread over a whole year, that is a lot of pressure on a small group of limestone islands.
The timing also makes sense with the weather. November sits right in the rainy season in this part of the Gulf, when the sea is often at its roughest. A pause at this point costs the park fewer good tour days than a closure in March would.
The park has been protected since 1980, and people live on just two of its 42 islands: the fishing village on Koh Phaluai and the park staff at the headquarters on Wua Ta Lap. The rest of the archipelago is wild, and the annual rest is part of keeping it that way. If you want to understand what is being protected, the main Ang Thong guide covers the islands, the reefs and the wildlife.
Can you still book a tour or buy a ticket during the closure?
No. The park sells no tickets for the closed dates, so no tour to Ang Thong can be booked for them.
This applies to every way of getting in. Group speedboats, the VIP speedboat, the big tourist boat, the Red Baron and private charters all stop for the same six weeks. There is also no public ferry to the park at any time of year, so there is no "independent" route either, as the guide on how to get to Ang Thong explains.
My honest advice: be wary of anything that promises "Ang Thong" in November. Boats can still sail past the islands at sea, but that is not a visit to the park, and you will not stand at the Emerald Lake viewpoint or on the beach at Wua Ta Lap.
A few practical points if your dates are close to the edge of the closure:
- A trip on 30 or 31 October is possible while the park is open, but October is the rainy season, so keep a backup day.
- A trip on 16 December depends on the official reopening date, which is announced each year.
- If the weather forces the tour company to cancel, you get a new date or a full refund, including the card fee.
What can you do on Koh Samui instead?
Quite a lot. Koh Samui itself stays open all year, and most of what people love about the island does not depend on calm sea.
These are the things I suggest to friends who arrive in the closure window:
- Waterfalls: the rainy season is the one time of year when Samui's waterfalls actually look like waterfalls. Go after a wet night and wear shoes with grip.
- Temples and viewpoints: Big Buddha in the north-east and the hill roads in the middle of the island make a good half-day between showers.
- Food and markets: the walking street evenings and the small Thai restaurants away from the beach roads are at their most relaxed in low season.
- Spa and cooking: a rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse for a Thai massage or a cooking class.
- Beach days on the calm side: when the wind blows from one direction, the beaches on the opposite coast are often calmer. Ask at your hotel which side is sheltered that week.
What I would not do is try to swap Ang Thong for another island-hopping boat trip in the same week and expect the same day. The sea is rough for everyone at this time of year, not only for the park boats.
What is Ang Thong like right after it reopens?
The park usually reopens around 15 December, and it is still the rainy season. Tours run, but on rough days the captain may change the route or cancel the trip.
Late December is one of the wettest periods of the year, together with October. Some days are bright and calm, some are grey with a swell that makes a speedboat crossing hard work. The weather call belongs to the tour company and the captain, not to us and not to you, and it is made for safety.
The good side is that the park has just had six weeks of rest. The beaches are clean, and the first boats in usually find the islands at their quietest. The challenge is the sea, so choose your boat with that in mind:
| Tour | Crossing | In rough weather | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Big tourist boat | About 1.5 hours | The smoothest ride, rolls far less | From ฿1100 |
| Red Baron | Under sail | Large and steady, Wed and Sat only | ฿3700, park fee included |
| Speedboat | About 40 minutes | Fast, but feels every wave | ฿1890 |
| VIP speedboat | About 45 minutes | Small group, still a speedboat | ฿3890, park fee included |
If anyone in your group gets seasick, the late-December choice is easy: take the big boat tour. It costs ฿1100 per adult without kayaks, comes with breakfast and lunch on board, and the ride is much gentler. For a longer comparison, the article on speedboat or big boat goes through it in detail.
Families with steady stomachs and people who want the most time on the islands will still prefer the speedboat, while the big boat suits anyone who worries about waves:
When should you book for the weeks after reopening?
Book once you know your dates, and check with us first if they fall in the second half of December. The request on the website is free and no payment is taken until a manager confirms the details with you.
Here is how booking works. You send a request, a manager contacts you by WhatsApp or email, confirms the date and sends a payment link for a prepayment, usually 50%. Card payments carry a 6% card fee, and the rest is paid on the day of the tour.
Two things make late-December planning easier:
- Pick an early day of your holiday. If the sea is too rough and the trip is cancelled by the tour company, you still have time for a new date.
- Know the cancellation rules. If you cancel 5 days or more before the tour, the prepayment is refunded minus the 6% card fee. Later than that there is no refund. A weather cancellation by the tour company gives you a new date or a full refund including the card fee. The full details are in the cancellation policy.
If your holiday falls in October instead, the same logic applies: the park is open, but keep a spare day. And if you are flexible, January to September is when Ang Thong is at its best, with calm water for the reef and clear views from the top of Wua Ta Lap.
A quick plan if your trip overlaps the closure
Most people only need to answer one question: do my dates touch 1 November to 15 December or not? If your whole stay sits inside that window, plan your days on Koh Samui and save Ang Thong for the next visit.
If your stay straddles the edge, use this order:
- Arriving in late October: go to Ang Thong in your first days, before 1 November, and keep a spare day for weather.
- Arriving in early December and staying past the 15th: plan the trip for the end of your stay and ask us for the confirmed reopening date.
- Arriving after Christmas: the park is open, but the sea can still be lively, so lean towards the big boat if you worry about waves.
Bring cash for the park fee on tours that do not include it: ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child aged 3-12 and under 130 cm. The VIP speedboat and the Red Baron already include it. A photo of your passport, swimwear, sunscreen and shoes with grip for the stairs cover the rest.
Questions and answers
Is Ang Thong open in November?
No. The park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no tours run during that time. The exact dates are announced by the national park each year.
Can I visit Ang Thong on my own during the closure?
No. The park sells no tickets for the closed dates, and there is no public ferry to Ang Thong at any time of year. Every route into the park stops for the closure.
Does the closure happen every year?
Yes, the park usually closes every year for the same period to let nature recover. Small shifts in the dates are possible, so check before booking a trip in late October or the second half of December.
Is late December a good time for Ang Thong?
It can be, but it is still the rainy season and one of the wettest periods. Tours run, and on rough days the captain may change the route or cancel. The big boat is the smoothest option in that weather.
What happens if my tour is cancelled because of the weather?
If the tour company cancels for weather, you get a new date or a full refund, including the 6% card fee. That is a good reason to plan the trip early in your holiday.
Do I pay anything when I send a booking request for December?
No. The request is free and no payment is taken. A manager contacts you by WhatsApp or email, confirms the details and then sends a payment link for the prepayment, usually 50%.
Which month is best for Ang Thong if I can choose?
January to September usually has the calmest sea and the clearest water. October and late December are the wettest periods, and the park is usually closed from 1 November to 15 December.
Facts checked against our tour pages on 24 October 2026. Prices and days can change: your manager confirms them when you book.
