- Wear swimwear under light, quick-drying clothes: you will be in and out of the water all day.
- Shoes with grip matter more than anything else, because the Emerald Lake stairway and the 500-meter Wua Ta Lap trail are steep.
- Bring a hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen; the average air temperature is around 28 °C and the sun on the water is strong.
- Carry cash for the park fee (฿300 per adult, ฿150 per child) unless you are on the VIP speedboat or the Red Baron, where it is included.
- A waterproof phone pouch and a photo of your passport for the insurance are the two small things people most often forget.
At 07:40 the minivan pulls up, and you are standing in the hotel lobby in flip-flops, with a beach bag that is either far too big or missing the one thing you will need at noon. Every guide on Koh Samui has seen it. Knowing what to wear ang thong style, for a day that mixes speedboats, steep stairs, reef and sand, saves you a lot of small discomfort.
The good news: you need less than you think. Here is what works, item by item, and what you can happily leave in the room.
What to wear on an Ang Thong tour: the short answer
Wear your swimwear under light, quick-drying clothes, put on shoes with grip and bring a hat. Shoes are the one choice that really decides how your day goes, because the viewpoints are reached by steep stairs and trails.
A typical outfit that works on every tour:
- Swimwear, worn from the start, so you never need to change on the boat.
- Shorts or a light skirt and a loose T-shirt or shirt over the top.
- Sandals with straps or light trainers, not slip-on flip-flops.
- A hat, sunglasses and sunscreen already on your skin before pickup.
That is it. Ang Thong is warm all year, with an average air temperature around 28 °C, so heavy clothes only get in the way. Everything else is about protecting you from the sun, the sea and the rocks.
The day changes a lot from hour to hour, so it helps to think of it in parts:
| Part of the day | What to wear | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pickup and the boat ride | Shirt over swimwear, hat with a strap, sunglasses | Wind and spray, and the sun is already strong by mid-morning |
| Snorkeling | Swimwear, ideally a rash guard | Your back faces the sun the whole time you float |
| Emerald Lake stairway | Sandals with a heel strap or trainers | Short but steep steps, often wet feet from the beach |
| Kayaking | Swimwear and shorts you can soak | You will get wet from the paddle |
| Lunch | A cover-up or sarong | More comfortable in a restaurant or near a village |
| Wua Ta Lap trail | Trainers or sturdy sandals, water bottle | About 500 meters of steep path, partly over rocks |
| The ride back | A light long-sleeved top | Most sunburn happens here, in the breeze |
If you are taking the daily speedboat tour, all of these moments happen between the 07:40-08:20 pickup and the return to Koh Samui at about 16:30, so you will wear the same outfit through every one of them.
Shoes for the stairs and the wet rocks
Grip beats style. The Wua Ta Lap trail is about 500 meters long and steep, partly over rocks with ropes and rails, and the Emerald Lake stairway is short but steep in places.
Flip-flops are the most common mistake. They are fine on the boat and the beach, but on a steep stairway in the heat your feet sweat, the rubber slides, and every step becomes a balancing act. I have watched people climb the Wua Ta Lap trail barefoot because their flip-flops gave up.
What works best:
- Sports sandals with a heel strap: good on stairs, fine in water, dry quickly.
- Light trainers if you plan to do the full Wua Ta Lap climb. You can leave them on the boat during swim stops.
- Water shoes, if you have them, for rocky beaches and getting in and out of kayaks.
If you are not sure you want to do the big climb, read the honest take on how hard the Wua Ta Lap viewpoint hike is first. Many people skip it and stay on the beach, and that is a fine choice too.
Swimwear and clothes for the water
Wear your swimwear from the hotel. Snorkeling, swimming and kayaking all happen on the same day, and there is rarely a good place to change.
A rash guard or a light long-sleeved swim shirt is the best thing you can bring for snorkeling. Your back is turned to the sun the whole time you float face down, and that is how people get the worst burns of their holiday.
For kayaking, wear something you do not mind soaking. You will get wet, from the paddle drips if nothing else. Shorts over swimwear are fine. The Ang Thong kayaking guide explains which tours include a paddle and where.
A thin cover-up, a sarong or a shirt is useful for the walk from the beach to a restaurant, and for any stop near a village. On the VIP tour, lunch is on Koh Phaluai, the island with the fishing village, and walking around in just a bikini is not polite there.
Sun protection: hat, sunscreen and covering up
The sun on the water is strong, and there is not much shade on a speedboat or on the viewpoints. Bring a hat, sunglasses and plenty of sunscreen, and reapply after every swim.
A few tips from many long days on the boats:
- Choose a hat with a strap or one you can tuck away. On a speedboat at full speed, loose hats fly into the sea.
- Put the first layer of sunscreen on at the hotel, not on the boat with salty hands.
- If you can find a reef-friendly sunscreen, use it. The reefs in the park recover slowly.
- Sunglasses with a cord are worth the small price. The glare on the water is real.
- A light long-sleeved shirt protects better than any cream on the long ride back.
The burn usually happens on the boat, not on the beach, because the breeze makes you feel cool while the sun keeps working. If you only remember one rule, cover your shoulders on the way home.
What to carry in your bag
A small, soft bag is all you need. Hotel transfer, snorkeling gear, life jackets and lunch are part of every group tour, so you are only packing for yourself.
My checklist for a day in Ang Thong:
- Swimwear (worn) and a towel.
- Sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses.
- Shoes with grip for the stairs.
- A waterproof phone pouch.
- A bottle of water for the climbs.
- A photo of your passport: the number is needed for the insurance at registration.
- Cash for the park fee: ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child aged 3-12 and under 130 cm.
- A light shirt or cover-up for lunch and the ride back.
- Any medication you need, including something for seasickness if you are prone to it.
The park fee is the one thing that can spoil the start of the day. It is paid in cash at the park on the regular speedboat, the big boat and the private charter. On the VIP speedboat and the Red Baron it is already included, so you can leave the extra cash behind.
Protecting your phone and camera
Assume everything in your bag will get splashed at least once. Speedboats throw spray, kayaks drip, and wet hands do the rest.
A waterproof phone pouch with a neck strap is the cheapest insurance you can buy on Koh Samui. It also lets you take photos while snorkeling in shallow water, though the pictures will be soft rather than sharp.
If you bring a real camera, keep it in a dry bag or a plastic bag inside your day bag on the boat. Take it out on land and at the viewpoints. An underwater camera is not included on the tours, so bring your own if you want reef photos.
A small power bank is useful. You will take more photos than you expect, especially from the platform above the Emerald Lake on Mae Ko.
What to leave at the hotel
Leave anything you would be upset to lose in the sea. There is nowhere to lock valuables during the swim stops, and bags stay on the boat or on the sand.
Things that are better left in your room:
- Expensive jewellery and watches that are not made for water.
- Large amounts of cash and all the cards you do not need.
- Laptops, tablets and anything that does not like salt water.
- Heavy beach bags, hard suitcases on wheels or big backpacks.
- Heels, wedges and new shoes you have not walked in yet.
- White clothes you want to keep white.
Also leave your full original passport in the hotel safe if you can. A photo of it is enough for the insurance.
The regular speedboat suits most first-timers and only needs the basics above, while the big boat suits families and anyone who wants a smoother, shaded ride with more room for bags.
Dressing for the season and the boat
From January to September the sea is usually calm and a swimsuit and a shirt are all you need. In October and the second half of December, the rainy season, a light rain jacket or poncho is worth the space.
Remember that the park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no tours run during that time. After it reopens, the sea can still be rough on some days, and spray on a speedboat feels cold when you are wet.
The type of boat matters too. On a speedboat everything gets wet, so pack accordingly. On the big boat and the Red Baron you have more shade and more room, and a light layer is nice for the long, breezy ride home. For crossing times and piers, see how to get to Ang Thong.
Questions and answers
Can I wear flip-flops on an Ang Thong tour?
You can, but they are a poor choice for the Emerald Lake stairway and the Wua Ta Lap trail, which are steep. Sandals with a heel strap or light trainers are much safer and more comfortable.
Do I need to bring snorkeling gear?
No. Masks, snorkels and life jackets are provided on the group tours. Bring your own mask only if you prefer one that you know fits.
Should I wear a rash guard for snorkeling in Ang Thong?
It is a good idea. When you snorkel your back faces the sun the whole time, and a light long-sleeved swim shirt prevents the worst burns.
Will I get wet on the speedboat?
Probably, at least from spray. Keep your phone in a waterproof pouch and anything else that should stay dry in a plastic or dry bag.
Do I need my original passport on the tour?
No. The number is asked at registration for the insurance, and a photo of the passport is enough.
Is there a dress code on Ang Thong tours?
There is no formal dress code. Cover up with a shirt or sarong for lunch stops and near the fishing village on Koh Phaluai, out of respect for the people who live there.
Do I need to bring food and drinks?
Lunch and soft drinks are included on the group tours. A bottle of water for the climbs is still useful, and bring snacks only if you or your children need them between meals.
Facts checked against our tour pages on 26 October 2026. Prices and days can change: your manager confirms them when you book.
