- The speedboat day starts with hotel pickup between 07:40 and 08:20 and ends back on Koh Samui at about 16:30.
- The boat leaves at 09:00 and needs about 40 minutes to reach the park, so the first snorkeling stop is at about 10:00.
- The four stops are the coral reef, the Emerald Lake on Mae Ko, lunch and kayaks on Tamarin Beach, and Wua Ta Lap.
- The national park fee of ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child is not in the ฿1890 speedboat price and is paid in cash at the park.
- The big boat day runs from 07:30 to about 17:00, costs from ฿1100 and visits only Wua Ta Lap and Mae Ko.
It is ten to eight, you are in the hotel lobby with a towel under your arm, and every minivan that turns into the drive might be yours. That is how most Ang Thong days begin. This ang thong day trip itinerary follows the speedboat tour from that moment to the drop-off in the late afternoon, with what I tell friends at each point.
The times below come from the real tour timetable. The tide, the weather and the captain can move them by half an hour either way, so read them as the rhythm of the day, not a promise.
What does a full Ang Thong day trip itinerary look like?
The speedboat day runs from hotel pickup between 07:40 and 08:20 to arrival back on Koh Samui at about 16:30, with four stops in the park in between. Here is the whole day in one table before we walk through it.
| Time | What happens | Quick tip |
|---|---|---|
| 07:40-08:20 | Hotel pickup and transfer to the pier | Be in the lobby ten minutes early |
| 08:40 | Registration, tea and coffee, safety briefing | Have a photo of your passport ready |
| 09:00 | Departure to the park | Phone into a waterproof pouch |
| 10:00 | Snorkeling at the coral reef | Defog your mask before you jump |
| 11:00 | Mae Ko: climb to the Emerald Lake viewpoint | Shoes with grip, not flip-flops |
| 12:00 | Tamarin Beach: buffet lunch and kayaking | Sunscreen again before you paddle |
| 14:00 | Wua Ta Lap: viewpoint hike or beach | Watch the clock, the boat will not wait long |
| 15:30 | Departure back to Koh Samui | Dry shirt for the ride |
| 16:30 | Arrival on Koh Samui, transfer to your hotel | Keep the evening plan loose |
The tour runs every day while the park is open. Ang Thong is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December to let nature recover, and no tours run then; if your dates are close to that window, read what the annual closure means for your plans.
Morning: pickup, registration and the crossing
07:40 to 08:20: the minivan
Pickup time depends on where you stay, and the minivan usually collects several hotels on the way. The exact time is confirmed before the trip, so trust that message rather than a guess.
Be downstairs early. Drivers run a tight loop, and the last family still in the shower is how a whole van ends up late. Eat something light before you leave: a banana and a coffee is enough, because a heavy breakfast and a fast boat are not friends.
08:40: registration at the pier
At the pier you check in, get tea or coffee and listen to the safety briefing. You will be asked for your passport number for the accident insurance, and a photo of the passport on your phone is enough, so the real one can stay in the hotel safe.
This is also the moment to sort out cash. The national park fee is not in the speedboat price: it is ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child, paid in cash at the park. Small notes make it quicker for everyone.
09:00: the crossing
The boat leaves at 09:00 and needs about 40 minutes to cover the open water to the park, which lies about 28 km west of Koh Samui. On a calm morning it is the most fun part of the day: spray, sun and the islands rising out of the haze.
Group speedboats come in different sizes, and in high season the big three-engine boats take well over 30 people. The front bounces the most, so if you are sensitive to motion, sit further back and keep your eyes on the horizon.
10:00 and 11:00: reef first, then the Emerald Lake
10:00: snorkeling at Koh Wao
The first stop is a shallow reef off Koh Wao. Masks, snorkels and life jackets are handed out on the boat, and the guide stays in the water with the group, which is why this stop works well for nervous swimmers too.
Rub a little seawater or baby shampoo inside the mask before you get in, and keep your fins and feet off the coral. Parrotfish and sea urchins are the usual company; the urchins are the reason you never stand up on the reef.
My honest advice: snorkel first, take photos later. The reef stop is short, and people who spend it fiddling with a phone pouch often see more of their own hands than the fish.
11:00: Mae Ko and the Emerald Lake
Next is Mae Ko, the "mother island", with Thale Nai hidden inside its limestone walls. A stairway with handrails climbs to a platform above the green saltwater lake. The climb is short but steep in places, and in the late morning sun it is warm work.
Take water and wear shoes with grip. Let the fast walkers go first and you will have the railing to yourself for a minute. Swimming in the lake is not allowed, so the view from the top is the whole point; there is more on how the lake works in the Emerald Lake guide.
12:00 to 14:00: lunch and kayaks on Tamarin Beach
Tamarin Beach is the longest stop of the day: about two hours for a buffet lunch and kayaking, both included in the price. Lunch is served at the beach restaurant, and kayaks wait on the sand for whoever wants them.
You paddle along the cliffs and small caves at your own pace, or you simply stay on the sand. Kayaking in the park is allowed from 5 years old, and skipping it does not change the price. The kayaking guide explains what each tour offers.
A few tips for this stop:
- Put sunscreen on again before you paddle. The sun bouncing off the water is stronger than it feels.
- Do not eat a huge plate and then paddle hard straight away. Give it twenty minutes.
- Keep your phone in a pouch on a lanyard. Kayaks tip over more often near the rocks than in open water.
- If you are tired, this is the stop to rest. Wua Ta Lap next is the most demanding part of the day.
14:00 to 16:30: Wua Ta Lap and the ride home
The last stop is Wua Ta Lap, the second largest island and the park headquarters. You choose between the steep 500-meter trail to the top viewpoint, the Bua Bok cave, or swimming off the white beach, and the boat leaves at 15:30, so you cannot do everything well.
Here is how I would choose:
- Fit, and you want the photo of the trip: go straight up the trail, without stopping at the beach first.
- Tired after kayaking, or travelling with small children: swim and watch the dusky langurs in the trees behind the beach.
- Curious and not keen on the climb: walk to the Bua Bok cave with its lotus-shaped stalactites.
The trail is much harder than the Emerald Lake stairway, partly over rocks, and it is the part of the day people underestimate. If you are unsure, the honest answer on how hard the Wua Ta Lap climb is will help you decide before you are standing at the bottom.
At 15:30 the boat heads back, and you are on Koh Samui at about 16:30. The minivan then drops people off one by one, so depending on where you stay, you may be at your hotel a while after that. Do not book a tight sunset dinner on the other side of the island.
How is the big boat day different?
The big boat day is longer, slower and cheaper: pickup at 07:30, departure from Nathon Pier at 08:30 and back on Koh Samui at about 17:00, with two islands instead of four stops. It costs ฿1100 per adult, or ฿1500 with kayaks, against ฿1890 for the speedboat.
| Speedboat | Big boat | |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup | 07:40-08:20 | 07:30 |
| Departure | 09:00 | 08:30 from Nathon Pier |
| Crossing | About 40 minutes | About 1.5 hours |
| Breakfast | Tea and coffee at registration | Light breakfast on board |
| First stop | 10:00, coral reef | 09:50, Wua Ta Lap |
| Lunch | 12:00, buffet on Tamarin Beach | 12:30, buffet on board |
| Emerald Lake | 11:00 | 13:30, by kayak or longtail boat |
| Back on Koh Samui | About 16:30 | About 17:00 |
| Adult price | ฿1890, kayaks included | ฿1100, or ฿1500 with kayaks |
The big boat does Wua Ta Lap in the morning, when the trail is cooler, and Mae Ko in the afternoon. It rolls far less than a speedboat, and that matters more to some people than the extra stops. What you give up is the reef stop and about an hour more at sea.
My view: the speedboat is the better day for most adults, because more of it is spent on the islands. Families on a budget and anyone who dreads bumpy water usually enjoy the big boat more. The full comparison is in speedboat or big boat: which one fits your day.
The speedboat suits people who want the most islands and time ashore; the big boat suits families, budget travellers and anyone prone to seasickness.
What should you pack for the day?
Pack light, but do not forget cash for the park fee: it is the one thing the guide cannot sort out for you on the island. Everything else fits in a small dry bag.
- Swimwear and a towel
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- Shoes with grip for the stairs and the trail
- Cash for the park fee: ฿300 per adult, ฿150 per child
- A photo of your passport for the insurance
- Water and a waterproof phone pouch
Wear your swimwear under your clothes from the start, so you can get in the water at the first stop without hunting for a changing room. Bring a dry shirt for the ride home; the breeze on a fast boat feels cool once you are wet. Ready to pick a date? The speedboat tour page has the full program and booking form.
Questions and answers
Do I need to eat breakfast before the Ang Thong speedboat tour?
Something light is a good idea. Pickup is between 07:40 and 08:20, and the speedboat tour serves tea and coffee at registration, with the buffet lunch at about 12:00. A heavy breakfast before a fast boat ride is not a good plan.
Can I choose my pickup time?
No, the pickup time depends on where your hotel is, somewhere between 07:40 and 08:20. It is confirmed before the trip, so be in the lobby a little early on the day.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day?
The program can change with the tide and the weather, and the captain makes the final call on the route and the order of stops. If the tour company cancels for weather, you get a new date or a full refund including the card fee.
Is there time to swim at every stop?
There is swimming at the reef, on Tamarin Beach and on the beach at Wua Ta Lap. Mae Ko is a viewpoint stop, and swimming in the Emerald Lake itself is not allowed.
Can children do the whole speedboat day?
Yes. Children aged 3-12 and up to 130 cm pay ฿1490, and infants under 3 go free. Kayaking is allowed from 5 years old, and at Wua Ta Lap families with small children often stay on the beach instead of climbing.
Do I need to bring my passport?
You need the passport number for the insurance at registration, and a photo of the passport is enough. Leave the original in the hotel safe.
How much cash should I take?
Take enough for the park fee, ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child, paid in cash at the park. Lunch, soft drinks, snorkeling gear and kayaks are already included; alcoholic drinks and an underwater camera are not.
Facts checked against our tour pages on 4 November 2026. Prices and days can change: your manager confirms them when you book.
