Complete Travel Guide to Koh Nang Yuan Island

About Nang Yuan Island

Koh Nang Yuan Island in Thailand is unique due to its distinctive geography—three small islands (rocky islets) connected by a stunning sandbar made of white coral sand.

This sandbar is a beach during low tide and almost completely disappears during high tide. You can check the tide charts here.

It’s a popular spot due to its beautiful viewpoint, allowing you to see this unique shape easily. Its picturesque nature makes Koh Nang Yuan’s viewpoint one of the most stunning viewpoints in Thailand.

In addition, the island offers crystal-clear waters that are perfect for snorkeling, and for that, Koh Nang Yuan is included in many snorkeling trips around Koh Tao.

• Read our guide to Chiang Mai next!

Getting to Koh Nang Yuan Island

The easiest and best way to Nang Yuan Island is from Koh Tao. The boat ride should take 15-20 minutes. You can even book this ticket online here.

However, you can also visit Nang Yuan Island on an organized tour from Koh Samui, which takes around an hour and a half by speedboat, or from Koh Phangan, which takes about one hour by speedboat.

Koh Tao to Koh Nang Yuan

There are a few easy ways to reach Koh Nang Yuan Island from Koh Tao: by longtail boat, on tour, or by kayak.

By longtail boat

If you want to visit only Koh Nang Yuan Island, it’s best to go by long-tail boat. A return trip from Koh Tao should cost around 300 THB per person.

It would be best if you let your boat driver know when you plan to leave so he can come to pick you up.

There is also an option to book your longtail boat (ferry) online here with fixed schedules.

By kayak

This one is only for adventurous souls, but it’s possible to kayak from Koh Tao to Koh Nang Yuan. If you’re experienced in kayaking, it should take around 45 minutes one way or less.

Just look out for bigger boats passing by and go on a day when the sea is calm.

You can rent kayaks at Sairee Beach (we suggest the north part closer to Nang Yuan) for about 400 – 800 THB for a double kayak (depending on how long you take it) or even at Dusit Buncha Resort, which is much closer to Nang Yuan island.

If you stay here, the entrance ticket to the island and the ferry to and from Koh Nang Yuan (for some room types) are already included in the price.

When we took a ferry from Surat Thani to Koh Samui, we saw people disembarking there.

Things to do on Koh Nang Yuan

You can reach this beautiful viewpoint in about 10-15 minutes. The hike is not hard, as it’s mostly stairs, except for the last part, when there are a few rocks to climb.

The viewpoint area is small, so there’s not much space for many people.

However, remember that Nang Yuan Island is very popular, and there is a high chance there will be a queue to take photos. During our visit, the viewpoint seemed crowded, so we first went snorkeling and then to the viewpoint when it cleared out, so we timed it perfectly. We had to wait maybe 5 minutes. 

We both still had marks/imprints on our faces from the snorkel masks, but at least we didn’t have to wait in line. From the reviews we read, the lines are sometimes much longer. 

2. Snorkeling

Snorkeling is another top thing to do on Koh Nang Yuan Island. You can see many fish just by snorkeling off the beach, including black tip reef shark (also famous at Maya Bay and Krabi).

We even saw the infamous Titan Triggerfish. While they are fascinating fish to observe, keep some distance if you see one of these guys. They are very territorial and can attack people (especially in the mating season).

Sometimes, if there are many people snorkeling simultaneously, it may be hard to spot fish as they tend to swim away from people.

Travel tip: The best snorkeling spots on Koh Nang Yuan are around the islands (for example, the Japanese Garden), not from the main beach. That’s why visiting on tour or staying overnight is best if you want a better snorkeling experience.

The beach is pretty tiny, and there isn’t much space, so Koh Nang Yuan isn’t necessarily a place for a beach experience unless you stay here overnight.

Rules on Koh Nang Yuan Island

Since a resort privately owns Koh Nang Yuan island, you need to be aware of some rules before visiting.

Some of these rules seem a bit ridiculous, especially since they’re not adequately enforced, but we appreciate the effort of at least trying.

Plastic is not allowed on the island.

This includes plastic bottles, so don’t be surprised if they take them away from you before entering. It’s best to use reusable water bottles.

Flying a drone on Koh Nang Yuan is not allowed.

You can bring a drone with you (for now), but you won’t be allowed to fly it. This is understandable, though, as the beach area is really small.

However, if you really need to, you can fly your drone from the coast of Koh Tao to get some shots of the island.

Taking corals, shells, or sand from Nang Yuan is forbidden.

This one should be obvious for any place, not just Nang Yuan Island.

Our experience on Koh Nang Yuan island

We really liked our experience on Koh Nang Yuan island, mainly because we didn’t come here for a full day but as part of a small group Koh Tao snorkeling tour.

We had just enough time to snorkel around the beach, where we saw various fish, including Trigger Titanfish and Black Tip Reef Sharks. 

And then to climb the Nang Yuan viewpoint. Our guide also timed this perfectly as we first went snorkeling and climbed the viewpoint when almost no people were on the top.

If we came for a full day here, we’d quickly get bored, especially with so many rules you must follow. And if you’re planning a beach experience, Koh Tao has some nicer beaches.

If you want to spend more time in Koh Nang Yuan and have a more peaceful experience, staying overnight makes more sense. You can enjoy it in the morning and late afternoon when all the tours and daily visitors leave.

What to expect from visiting Koh Nang Yuan & tips for visiting

Koh Nang Yuan is a beautiful place to visit in Thailand. The viewpoint is stunning, and the island has great snorkeling opportunities.

However, you need to be aware of a few things if you decide to visit.

It can be crowded

Koh Nang Yuan is the most popular trip from Koh Tao, and many tours from Koh Phangan and Koh Samui also come here. So, the most important thing to know is that it won’t be completely peaceful, and depending on the time of your visit and season, it might be pretty hectic.

We visited at the end of April and had a good experience because it wasn’t that busy.

You might need to queue for the viewpoint.

You might need to queue for the famous photo from Nang Yuan’s viewpoint. You might be lucky and wait minimally (we waited a maximum of 5 minutes), or you might be one of the unlucky ones and wait 30-50 minutes. 

Visit early or late in the afternoon.

If you plan to visit alone, arrive early or late afternoon for the best experience. Just keep in mind the island’s opening and closing times (9 am—4 pm).

The beach/sandbar almost disappears during high tide

Check the tide charts here before visiting. During the high tide, the sandbar can disappear.

Frequently asked questions

Is Koh Nang Yuan good for snorkeling?

Yes, Koh Nang Yuan is a great spot for snorkeling. There are lots of different fish around. But remember that you won’t see beautiful corals there as most are dead – the best snorkeling spots in Koh Nang Yuan are around the island, not from the beach.

Are corals at Koh Nang Yuan beach dead?

Most corals around Nang Yuan Island (especially in the beach area) are dead. They were destroyed by a typhoon and the rising water temperature, which caused even further coral bleaching.

Are there any restaurants at Koh Nang Yuan?

There is a restaurant at Ko Nang Yuan Island, but expect slightly higher prices than in Koh Tao.

Is there a snorkel rental shop at Koh Nang Yuan?

You can rent a snorkel mask and life jacket at Nang Yuan Island for about 150 THB ($4.4 / €4.1) per person. You’ll also need to leave a deposit of 1000 THB or your passport (which we don’t suggest doing). If you join a snorkeling tour, it usually includes snorkeling gear.

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