Marine park day trip
42
Mu Ko Ang Thong
A cluster of limestone islands west of Koh Samui, seen from a boat deck and two short climbs. Long day, small park fee, worth checking the calendar first.
Nearly all of it is uninhabited limestone; the boats put you ashore on only two islands.
What the boat actually stops for
- 01
Thale Nai
Ko Mae Ko
Thale Nai on Ko Mae Ko is a saltwater lagoon sealed inside the island's crater. A steep trail climbs to a viewpoint above it; you look down, you do not go in.
- 02
Ang Thong viewpoint
Ko Wua Talap
Above the park headquarters on Ko Wua Talap, sleeping cow island, a short rough scramble ends at a lookout over the whole scattered group of islands.
Getting there
Four boats, four different days
Two of these publish no price at all, and the park fee usually lands on top of whatever you do pay.
- Blue Stars 08:00-18:00
- Red Baron 08:30-18:30
- 100 Degrees East 10:00
- Lomprayah 08:00-17:00
- Blue Stars 2,800 THB
- tour boat and sea kayaks Nathon Sails from Nathon with sea kayaks alongside the tour boat, so you can paddle into coves the bigger boats skip. Park fee included, child rate published.
- Red Baron 3,750 THB
- junk-rigged sailing boat Bophut A junk-rigged sailing boat out of Bophut, running two set days a week rather than daily. Slower and quieter than the motor boats, park fee extra. park fee extra
- 100 Degrees East price on request
- private speedboat Bang Rak A private speedboat charter from Bang Rak for small groups who want their own schedule. No rate published; ask for a quote and a return time. park fee extra
- Lomprayah price on request
- high-speed catamaran Nathon The same high-speed catamaran that runs the ferry routes, chartered for a day trip from Nathon. No price published for this trip online. park fee extra
The park fee
Entry to Mu Ko Ang Thong costs 300 baht for an adult and 150 baht for a child, paid at the park and usually not folded into the tour price you were quoted.
- Adult
- 300
- Child
- 150
THB
Off season
The park shuts for the monsoon
Every year the park closes for several weeks while the seas turn rough, and no operator we found states the dates plainly.
The park is closed from the start of November to the middle of December each year; the exact reopening shifts with how rough the sea still is.
Plan the rest of the day
Read the full write-up on the viewpoint trail, or line the trip up against our other day trips and island-hopping notes before you book.
Questions about the trip
Can you swim in the lagoon at Thale Nai?
No. The trail only takes you to a viewpoint above the lagoon on Ko Mae Ko. Swimming and boats inside it are not allowed; you look at the water from above and walk back down.
Is the park fee included in the tour price?
Usually not. Most operators quote the boat price and collect the park fee separately once you land, so budget for it on top of whatever you paid to book.
Which boat should I book if I want a price up front?
Blue Stars and Red Baron publish a price. The private speedboat charter and the catamaran trip do not list a rate online, so you would need to ask them directly.
When is Mu Ko Ang Thong closed?
The park closes every year from early November into mid December for the monsoon. The reopening date moves with sea conditions, so check with an operator before planning a trip in that window.
How long is the day trip?
Most boats leave Samui in the morning and return in the late afternoon or early evening. One charter operator does not publish a return time at all, so confirm it when you book.
Prices, schedules and the park fee change; checked against the national park and each operator's own site, not against resellers.