Snorkeling Koh Tao: 5 islands, turtles and reef sharks

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Free cancellationTravelers' pick

1/26

Duration7h

GroupUp to 50

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Five snorkeling stops in one day, from a sandbar between islands to reefs where sharks hunt in a meter of water

A full-day snorkeling trip around Koh Tao and Nang Yuan Island visits five separate reefs and bays, each with different marine life and underwater terrain. The boat picks you up from your hotel, provides all snorkeling gear and lunch, and returns you by late afternoon. An English-speaking guide leads the group to Nang Yuan's Japanese Garden, Mango Bay's turquoise shallows, Hin Wong Bay's coral pinnacles, Aow Luek's deep cove, and Shark Bay where blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles appear daily. The private island entry fee (250 THB for adults, 120 THB for children) is separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkelling tour around Koh Tao islands

Pickup from hotel lobby
Drive to Mae Haad Pier and meet crew
Walk on beach linking Koh Nangyuan islands
Climb to viewpoint on highest island peak
Snorkel at Japanese Garden and swim areas
Enjoy Thai style lunch on board
Snorkel at Mango Bay
Snorkel at Hin Wong Bay
Snorkel at Aow Luek Beach
Swim with sharks and turtles at Shark Bay

The Experience

You start the morning with a hotel pickup and arrive at Mae Haad Pier to meet the crew. The boat then heads to Nang Yuan Island, where you walk across the iconic sandbar that connects three islands together and climb to a viewpoint on the highest peak. The Japanese Garden—a separate snorkeling zone with tropical fish—sits in the shallow waters off this beach, and there are calm swimming areas nearby if you want to rest between dives.

From there, the boat moves to Mango Bay, where you eat a Thai lunch on board. The bay's turquoise-green water and sandy seafloor make it ideal for snorkeling, and the shallow depth means you can see fish clearly without going deep. Next is Hin Wong Bay on the east coast, surrounded by large boulders and underwater pinnacles covered in coral and anemones. The water here is exceptionally clear—you might see schools of sardines being chased by trevally in less than a meter of depth. Aow Luek comes next, a deep cove with white sand and water in shades of blue, backed by Shark Island on the horizon.

The final stop is Shark Bay, where blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles swim daily. You'll have time in the water here before the boat returns to the pier. The whole day runs about seven hours. Equipment, lunch with vegetarian options, fresh fruit, water, pineapple cookies, life jackets, and underwater photography are all included; restrooms are on board. The guide speaks English and leads the group through each site.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off.
snorkeling equipment and life jackets.
Thai lunch with vegetarian options.
fresh fruit, pineapple cookies and water throughout the day.
underwater photography.
on-board restroom.
English-speaking guide for the group.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditions

Operated by kohtao sangthong tours

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to visit five distinct reef zones—from shallow bays to coral pinnacles to shark habitat—in a single day with a guided group that moves through each site without long waits between stops.