Angthong Marine Park tour from Koh Samui: kayaking and hiking

Kayak under limestone cliffs, then climb to the Emerald Lagoon.

A full-day tour from Koh Samui to Angthong Marine Park aboard a 3-deck boat with hotel pickup and guide included. You kayak along the coastline under towering cliffs, hike to the top of Mae Koh Island for views of the saltwater Emerald Lagoon, and snorkel or swim at Wua Talap Island's white-sand beach. Choose between kayaking the whole route or sightseeing by longtail boat instead.

Step-by-step itinerary

Full-day tour of Angthong Marine Park

• Pickup from hotel on Koh Samui
• Depart from Nathon Pier by tour boat
• Enjoy light breakfast on board
• Arrive at Angthong Marine Park
• Kayak along limestone cliffs coastline
• Reach Mae Koh Island by kayak or boat
• Climb to top of Mae Koh Island
• View Emerald Lagoon from viewpoint
• Enjoy Thai buffet and fresh fruits
• Hike 500m trail to panoramic viewpoint
• Visit Lotus Cave with mineral formations
• Swim, snorkel, or relax on beach
• Depart Angthong Marine Park
• Enjoy coffee or tea on return trip
• Arrive back at Nathon Pier
• Transfer back to hotel

The Experience

The day starts with pickup from your Koh Samui hotel and a minibus ride to Nathon Pier, where you board a 3-deck tour boat with space to move around. A light breakfast arrives as the boat leaves the pier and heads toward Angthong Marine Park. The boat carries snorkeling gear, life jackets, and if you've chosen the kayaking option, kayaks with dry bags — everything is on board when you arrive.

At Angthong, you either paddle a kayak or ride a longtail boat to Mae Koh Island, depending on which option you picked. The kayak route takes you under massive limestone cliffs through clear water; the sightseeing option gets you there by boat. Once on the island, a 10-minute climb up the steps brings you to the viewpoint overlooking the Emerald Lagoon — a saltwater lake ringed by sheer cliffs and the signature moment of the tour. Afterward, a Thai buffet lunch and fresh fruit wait on the boat. The afternoon splits between activities: a 500-meter natural trail with a rope section leads to a panoramic viewpoint over the park; a short hike reaches Lotus Cave with its stalactite formations; or you can swim, snorkel and rest on the beach. The tour is built so you can mix these — there is no single path everyone follows.

The boat departs Wua Talap Island in the late afternoon, and the return to Nathon Pier includes coffee or tea while the islands fade behind. Hotel transfer completes the day. The whole tour runs about 8 hours from pickup to drop-off. English guides are standard; German-speaking guides are available (not on Tuesdays). If you want to stay overnight at Wua Talap, the operator will drop you at the park ranger headquarters and pick you up the next day — bungalows and camping are available on the island.

What’s included

• Hotel round-trip transfer by air-conditioned minibus.
• light breakfast and Thai buffet lunch with fresh seasonal fruit.
• snorkeling equipment and life jacket.
• drinking water.
• professional English-speaking guide (German-speaking guide available on request, not Tuesdays).
• accident insurance.
• kayaking equipment with dry bag if you choose the kayaking option.

Good to know

Easy physical levelNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Trip Store Krabi

Is this one for you?Choose the kayaking option if you want to paddle under the limestone cliffs yourself; pick sightseeing by longtail boat if you'd rather save energy for the afternoon hikes and snorkeling. Either way, the fixed schedule and included meals mean the day holds together without you arranging transport, food or timing between the islands.

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Top questions

What's the Emerald Lagoon and why is it the highlight?

The Emerald Lagoon, also called Talay Nai, is a saltwater lake on Mae Koh Island surrounded by sheer limestone cliffs. You reach the viewpoint by climbing the steps to the island's top in about 10 minutes, and the view across the enclosed lagoon and the park's dramatic landscape is the centerpiece of the day.

Do I have to kayak, or can I see the park without paddling?

You choose at checkout: the kayaking option lets you paddle along the coastline under the cliffs to Mae Koh Island; the sightseeing option gets you there by longtail boat instead. Both routes visit the same islands and beaches, so the difference is whether you paddle or ride.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, the boat ride, light breakfast and Thai buffet lunch, snorkeling equipment and life jacket, drinking water and fruit, and a professional English-speaking guide are all included. Accident insurance is covered. If you book the kayaking option, kayaks and dry bags come with it.

Is there time to snorkel and swim, or is the day all hiking and kayaking?

The afternoon at Wua Talap Island is yours to split between activities. You can hike the natural trail or visit Lotus Cave, but you can also spend the time swimming, snorkeling in the clear water, or relaxing on the white-sand beach — the tour doesn't lock you into a single schedule.

How physically demanding is this tour?

The hike to the Emerald Lagoon viewpoint is about 10 minutes uphill with steps; the longer natural trail is 500 meters with a short climbing passage using fixed ropes at the end. If those don't suit you, the afternoon offers swimming, snorkeling and beach time instead, so you can skip the hikes and still have a full day.

Can I stay overnight on the island instead of returning the same day?

Yes. If you want to stay at Wua Talap, the operator will drop you at the park ranger headquarters, and bungalows or camping sites are available on the island. They'll pick you up the next day for the return to Koh Samui.