During our 8 months in Thailand, we spent a few weeks on Koh Samui, and the absolute highlight of our stay was the day trip to Ang Thong National Park.
So, if you do only one thing in Koh Samui (or Koh Phangan), let it be this one.
In this Ang Thong National Park travel guide, we’ll share everything you need to know to organize a visit together with all the tips we learned along the way.
What is Ang Thong National Marine Park?
Ang Thong National Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park) is a stunning archipelago of 42 beautiful small islands covered with dense jungle and stunning white sand beaches.
This picturesque national marine park offers a wide range of activities, including kayaking, hiking, swimming, and snorkeling.
Fun fact: Ang Thong means ‘bowl of gold’.
Why is it famous?
The highlight of Ang Thong Marine Park is undoubtedly the panoramic viewpoint—one of Thailand’s best viewpoints!
After traveling through Thailand for over 8 months and seeing many viewpoints, we can confirm that Ang Thong National Park viewpoint, Samet Nangshe (Phang Nga), and the Hong Island Viewpoint in Krabi are the best the country offers!
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Where is Ang Thong Marine Park?
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is located in the Gulf of Thailand, a short distance from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan – only 45 minutes away by speedboat.
How to get to Ang Thong National Marine Park?
To reach Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, you must join a boat tour from Koh Samui or Koh Phangan. These are usually full-day tours (8+ hours).
Best Ang Thong National Park Tours from Koh Samui
Most Ang Thong tours have similar itineraries, so you don’t have to worry much about finding the best one!
We recommend deciding whether you want extra activities (such as kayaking and snorkeling) or a nicer boat (more comfortable and spacious) and choosing a tour based on that.
Based on these factors, here are the two best Ang Thong Marine Park tours:
We did the one with the sailboat/yacht.
Best Ang Thong National Park Tours from Koh Phangan
The selection of tours to Ang Thong from Koh Phangan is not that big, so simply choosing one of the top-rated ones is enough.
- Day trip from Koh Phangan (optional kayaking) – book here (free cancellation)
Ang Thong National Park entry fee
There is a fee of 300 THB ($9 / €8.2) for adults and 150 THB ($4.5 / €4.1) for children to enter Ang Thong National Marine Park.
Thai nationals have cheaper fees, 50 and 25 THB.
Ensure to check if your tour includes fees in the price. Usually, they don’t include it.
Also read: Things to do in Koh Tao
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Opening hours & closure
Ang Thong National Park is open daily from 8 am until 4 pm.
However, Ang Thong Park is closed every year from the 20th of October until the 20th of December because the Gulf of Thailand’s bigger waves and unpredictable weather make trips in that period more dangerous.
This closure resembles other Thailand island destination closures, like the Similan Islands and Surin Islands.
Can you stay at Ang Thong National Marine Park?
Yes, you can stay overnight in Ang Thong Marine Park. You can choose between camping in tents or staying in a simple bungalow.
The only way to book a bungalow at Ang Thong National Park is through the official website of the National Marine Park (www.dnp.go.th), although it is not the best site to navigate.
You could also try to wing it and ask if they have anything available while on the spot. Some people seem to have done exactly that.
However, you also have to organize a way to get there, usually done through one of the day tours that agree to take you to the island and then pick you up the next day.
It’s a bit more complicated to organize, but it’s doable.
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Travel tips for visiting
- When hiking the viewpoints, we suggest wearing shoes or sandals. We had flip-flops, and while it’s doable in flip-flops, shoes or sandals are much more comfortable.
- Apply enough sunscreen!
- Take water with you when hiking the viewpoints.
- Have cash to pay the entrance fee.
- Bring a waterproof pouch for your phone or action camera if you plan to snorkel or kayak.
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Things to do in Ang Thong National Park
- Read next: Bangkok itinerary
1. White sand beach on Ko Wua Ta Lap
Ko Wua Talap is the main island of Ang Thong National Park, and its gorgeous white sand beach has become a postcard of Ang Thong Park.
2. Ang Thong Viewpoint (Wua Ta Lap viewpoint)
The famous Ang Thong Viewpoint is also located on the main island and is a real highlight of Ang Thong Park and the main attraction, offering a fantastic view of all the little islands surrounding it.
To reach Ang Thong Viewpoint, you need to hike an approximately 500-meter-long trail. While it only takes about 20-30 minutes one way, it’s made of endless uneven stairs and will get your heart rate up quickly. So, don’t underestimate it!
While the first part of the trail is mostly shaded, there’s no shade at all towards the trail’s end.
We urge you to come prepared, especially since you’ll likely be hiking it around noon. It will be hot, so take enough water and sunscreen.
But it is so worth it, so don’t skip it!
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3. Emerald Lake (Blue Lagoon/Green Lake) on Mae Koh Island
The Emerald Lake, locally called Thale Nai, is a stunning emerald saltwater lake in the middle of Mae Koh Island, about 100 meters above sea level. It’s an impressive natural spot to see and something you wouldn’t expect.
TIP: Emerald Lake is also called Blue Lagoon and Green Lake. So, if you see one of these three names promoted in Koh Samui or Koh Phangan, it’s surely this spot.
You can climb to the viewpoint deck to see it from above. It should take around 10-15 minutes, and it’s worth the climb!
But you’ll be relieved to know that it’s an easier hike than Wua Ta Lap’s viewpoint. This one also includes many steep (metal) stairs but is much more shaded.
After visiting the observation deck, head down to the lake’s edge to see it from a different perspective. It’s only a slight detour before going back to the starting point.
If you’re lucky, you might see some cool fish!
Swimming is strictly forbidden in Emerald Lake in Ang Thong Marine Park, even though it looks very inviting from the lower viewing platforms.
4. Beach at Ko Mae Ko Island
Just before the trail to Emerald Lake, there is a cute little beach. While it’s not as stunning as the one at Ko Wua Talap Island, it offers a nice refreshment after the hike.
Plus, it has a stunning view!
Just be careful while swimming, as this beach has rocks scattered everywhere. It’s easy to spot them, though.
5. Kayaking
The marine park of Ang Thong is very picturesque, so it offers many kayaking opportunities.
If you’re interested in this, book a tour with optional kayaking, like this one (from Koh Samui) or this one (from Koh Phangan).
It reminds us a bit of kayaking in Ha Long Bay in Vietnam – but with more beautiful water.
6. Snorkeling
Snorkeling in Ang Thong National Park is not as impressive as in some other locations in Thailand (such as Surin, Similan, Koh Tao, Krabi, or Phi Phi Islands). However, you can still see a nice variety of fish and corals.
Note that visibility here can often be poor, so manage your expectations. This is especially true if you snorkel off one of the sandy beaches. From the boat, it can be much better.
7. Wildlife spotting
Keep your eyes peeled while hiking the trails of Ang Thong Marine Park. You might see some cute animals, mostly beautiful birds and monkeys.
We saw dusky leaf monkeys, which were adorable! The only other time we saw them this close was at Phra Nang Beach in Krabi’s Railay peninsula.
Our experience
We decided to do a different Ang Thong trip and booked a shared sailing boat trip. After countless speedboat rides all over Thailand, we really appreciated choosing that one!
While getting to the national park takes longer on a bigger boat, the trip is much more comfortable and relaxing than a speedboat. We also had a better breakfast and lunch than the standard boat trips.
Note: These trips don’t run daily but three times a week – check their schedule. So, if you want to experience this, plan accordingly and book it in advance.
Even though the boat was fully booked, it was spacious enough for everyone. The food was delicious, the staff was lovely, and the day was well-planned.
We thoroughly enjoyed this tour, and the beauty of Ang Thong National Park is undeniable. This trip still holds a special place in our hearts. The only thing we regret is not having more time on each spot. 😅
We still believe that Ang Thong National Park is the best thing to do in Koh Samui (and Koh Phangan) and one of the best places to visit in Thailand.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit Ang Thong National Park is between December and April when the weather is the most stable.
Don’t forget that the national park is closed between October 20th and December 20th every year!
We highly recommend reading our best time to visit Thailand guide to easily plan your trip based on the weather in each region.
Is it worth it?
If you love visiting stunning and unique nature spots, you’ll love Ang Thong National Park, and you should add it to your Thailand itinerary. Hiking impressive viewpoints and then swimming in the beautiful beaches – we’d say that’s a perfect combination!
As mentioned, visiting Ang Thong National Marine Park is one of the best things to do in the country as it offers some of the best viewpoints in Thailand.
Frequently asked questions
Can you fly drones?
Flying a drone in Ang Thong National Marine Park is forbidden. You can only fly a drone further away from the main islands.
Can I visit Ang Thong Marine Park with the children?
Yes, you can visit Ang Thong Marine Park with children. We saw many young kids during our trip to Ang Thong. However, we would only recommend doing the viewpoint hikes with older children as they are pretty steep and require climbing many stairs.
Thank you for reading our Ang Thong National Park Travel Guide. We hope we helped you plan your trip. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below! 🥰 And make sure to read our other Thailand guides.
Continue planning your Thailand trip
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