Angthong National Marine Park
 View of the park from the top of Wua Talab ('Sleeping Cow') Island. |
By far, the 'must see' attraction away from the beaches on Samui is the Angthong National Marine Park. This collection of 42 tiny limestone islets 31 km west of Samui sport virgin tropical rain forests, white sand beaches and coral reefs, all preserved as a national park. The park is normally visited as a day trip from Samui, operated by several agencies. Your hotel is sure to have a tour desk or nearby agency that can book a trip, or you can make sure you get a spot by booking in advance through our partner Viator.
The standard itinerary generally first stops at the park's largest island, Koh Wua Talab, where a steep climb up the island's central peak affords panoramic views as far as the mainland. This climb of about 500 metres is not for the out of shape or faint of heart. There is no stairway, just a cleared seam of limestone that you have to climb. There's a rope to guide you as well as give you something to pull your self up and over some of the bigger stones.
The strong nerves are required towards the end of the climb, where you must scrabble over about ten metres of steep exposed karst to reach the top, where you really are rewarded with a fantastic view.
On the way up or down, you may encounter a troop of spectacled monkeys up in the trees. These are quite an interesting sight, but be careful not to walk directly under them. Their primary defence mechanism when animals get too close is to urinate on them!
 The "hidden lake" inside Mae Koh Island. |
Lunch is usually served on board your boat on the way to Koh Mae Koh. Over millions of years, rain water seeping through the limestone of the island eroded a huge cavern in the centre of the rock. Eventually the roof of the cavern collapsed, leaving a large emerald lagoon completely surrounded by steep cliffs. You reach the lake by climbing a series of ladders up to a deep crevice in the cliff. Squeezing through the crevice and along a walkway brings you to the inner face of the rock wall. From here you can take stairs down to the lake, or up to a viewpoint on top of the cliff. Note that there is no swimming or diving into the lake, but you can see some great wildlife through the clear waters of the lake. The snorkelling off Koh Mae Koh is quite good as well.
The cost for the typical tour is 800 to 1,000 Baht, excluding the 200 Baht entry fee to the park.
Photo Gallery
For more pictures of Angthong National Marine Park, see our online photo gallery.
Advance Booking
To secure your place on a day trip to Angthong, try booking one of the tours listed below:
 |
Sea Kayaking at Angthong | |
| 9 hours. Departs from Koh Samui, Thailand | Starting from USD $85.68 per person | |
After you will explore the underwater sights snorkeling, and it is recommended that you keep your eyes open for families of dolphins or the occasional sea turtle in these waters. Also experience the once in a lifetime thrill of Kayaking alongside the awesome and majestic Whale Shark. Depart the Park and head back to Koh Samui to your hotel. | ||
 |
Angthong National Marine Park Adventure - Koh Samui | |
| 8 hrs. Departs from Koh Samui, Thailand | Starting from USD $71.40 per person | |
Discover the Angthong national marine park, cruise past several of the 42 islands and enjoy the natural beauty of this untouched region. After a one-hour ride, the first stop will be in the northern part of the marine park for some snorkeling. Continue sightseeing to the island of Koh Mae with its amazing emerald lake in the mountain. Climb up the stairs to the view point (200m) and enjoy the surrounding views. Discover a laid back island with only 4 villages on it away from any noise and modern development. Have a delicious Thai lunch then relax and enjoy the quiet beach. | ||
