You can take a day cruise from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan to the 42 idyllic islands that make up Ang Thong National Marine Park in the Gulf of Thailand.
It should be sufficient to visit Mu Ko Ang Thong for the incredibly picturesque panorama viewpoint (seen above). See several small, jungle-covered islands strewn across the azure horizon, resembling Thailand’s take on Raja Ampat. It is well-known for having one of the greatest vistas in the entire nation!
Directions To Ang Thong
The journey to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, the two largest islands in the Gulf of Thailand, is the first step towards seeing Ang Thong Marine Park.
Directions To Ang Thong
Traveling to Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, Thailand, is the first step towards seeing Ang Thong Marine Park. Bangkok Airways has nonstop, direct flights to Samui (USM) from both Bangkok (BKK) and Kuala Lumpur (KUL). However, due to their private ownership of the Samui airport, they have exclusive flight rights, and their tickets are typically somewhat expensive, costing over 3,000 Baht (~ USD 100). Skyscanner offers flight options to Koh Samui.
For less than 1,000 Baht (~ USD 33), AirAsia offers airline, bus, and ferry combo packages from Bangkok (DMK) or Kuala Lumpur to Samui or Phangan. Simply enter Samui (Lipa Noi Pier) or Phangan (Thong Sala Pier) in the flight search as your destination.
A tour is required to see Ang Thong once you arrive on Koh Samui or Phangan, as the park features numerous islands dispersed around the ocean, necessitating a lot of island hopping. the two largest islands in the Gulf. More on that later.
Top Ang Thong Tour
For as little as 1,700 Baht (~ USD 50), Klook offers speedboat day trips to Ang Thong from Koh Samui that include free hotel pickup and drop-off, a buffet lunch, soft drinks, kayaking, and snorkeling (with snorkel gear provided). For the same cost, they also provide a comparable excursion departing from Koh Phangan.
I looked across Thailand, and this is the best deal I could find for an Ang Thong trip. Klook will match any lower price you can find. In contrast, for the same-day excursion, most street vendors in Koh Samui and Phangan charged 30% more, and some didn’t even include kayaking!
The Klook trip was excellent, and everything went off without a hitch.
Activities & Attractions in Ang Thong
🔃 Scuba Diving
Our journey started with a stop at snorkeling. We snorkeled at a few small, unidentified islands north of the marine park for an entire hour.
Although this portion of the excursion was technically outside the national park, the snorkeling and vistas were still excellent. This place has a lot of fish and coral.
🔃 Canoeing
Our tour included free kayaking, so we had the chance to paddle out to two different white-sand beaches after lunch.
It was enjoyable to explore the cliffs and shoreline by kayak, especially if you’ve never done anything like it before, but my wife and I became lazy and turned back before the end!
Lake Emerald
On Ko Mae Ko island, there is a unique treasure known as Emerald Lake, or Talay Nai.
After a 15-minute hike to the top of the limestone karst walls, you’ll be rewarded with views of this incredible lake, which is fed by underground sea tunnels and has a pretty Gumby-esque color. Even though the trek to the summit is short, it is quite taxing.
The steep, horribly narrow stairs are my sole complaint. Even by the standards of the Thai government, they’re appalling.
Pha Jun Jaras’ Point of View
The primary vantage point on Ko Wua Talap, where you can see all the islands—or at least a dozen of them—extending into the distance, is undoubtedly the highlight of any journey to Ang Thong.
Although the trek to the top is mostly shaded and takes only approximately 30 minutes, the steepness and intense Thai heat make it an extremely strenuous workout. Ensure you are getting enough water!
The vista is breathtaking from the summit.
Ideal Time To Go
The months of February through September are the ideal times to explore Ang Thong National Marine Park and the neighboring islands since they are sunny and have little rain.
October to January is when the monsoon season occurs; during this time, there is a lot of rain and possibly choppy seas.
Having said that, the weather was still clear and sunny when we visited in early October.
Where We Accommodated
We paid USD 16 for a large double room with chilly air conditioning, a hot shower, and quick WiFi while staying at the At Lamai Resort.
This motel offers excellent value. Despite not being situated on Lamai Beach itself, it’s only a ten-minute stroll to the beach, markets, and dining establishments.
Prices are subject to change, so always look for a good offer.
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