Snorkeling Koh Tao and Nang Yuan: 5 spots with lunch

Five snorkeling spots in one day, from the white sandbar of Koh Nang Yuan to Shark Bay

A full-day snorkeling activity around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan with hotel pickup and drop-off, exploring five hand-picked spots including the Japanese Garden, Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay, Ao Leuk Bay, and Shark Bay. The boat carries snorkeling gear, a freshwater shower, and serves a Thai lunch buffet with drinks and fruit; an English-speaking guide leads the group and captures underwater photos. The itinerary shifts with weather and sea conditions, and Koh Nang Yuan entry (250 THB per adult, 120 THB per child) is paid on site.

The Experience

The boat leaves from Mae Haad Pier with a spacious hull, a water slide, and an onboard toilet—built for a full day on the water. After hotel pickup, you cruise to Koh Nang Yuan first, where three small islands connect across an iconic white sandbar. The stop gives you time to snorkel at the Japanese Garden reef or hike to the viewpoint for the panoramic sweep of the islands. The sandbar itself is the landmark: it's what makes this island recognizable from every angle, and it's where most people spend their first hour.

Four more stops follow. Mango Bay and Hin Wong Bay bring you into dense coral gardens with reef fish, sea anemones, and the kind of visibility that lets you see the bottom clearly. Ao Leuk Bay continues the same theme—crystal water, thriving coral. The final stop is Shark Bay, where blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles move through the water in their own rhythm; spotting them is not guaranteed, but the bay is set up for it. Between stops, the guide stays with the group and the crew handles the boat. Snorkeling gear, a life jacket, and a towel are provided; the freshwater shower rinses the salt off before lunch.

Thai lunch arrives onboard—a buffet with hot dishes, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and biscuits. The meal sits in the middle of the day, so you eat on the boat between stops, watching the water and the other islands. The guide speaks English throughout, and the crew photographs and films underwater moments when conditions allow. The trip runs about seven hours from pickup to drop-off, though the exact timing shifts with hotel location, sea state, and the day's schedule. Weather or rough seas can change which stops you visit or skip, and the operator will notify you in advance if a cancellation becomes necessary.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Koh Tao.
• snorkeling mask, snorkel, life jacket, and towel.
• freshwater shower and onboard toilet.
• Thai lunch buffet with coffee, tea, fresh fruit, and biscuits.
• underwater photos and videos captured by the crew.
• English-speaking guide.
• and basic accident insurance.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for pregnant travelersNot for heart conditionsNot for back problems

Operated by Siam Scape Journeys

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to hit five snorkeling spots in one day on a spacious boat with a water slide—the fixed itinerary and included lunch timing let you move between reefs and Koh Nang Yuan's white sandbar without gaps between stops.

Top questions

What is the white sandbar at Koh Nang Yuan like when you get there?

Koh Nang Yuan's white sandbar connects three small islands and is the island's defining feature—you snorkel at the nearby Japanese Garden reef or walk to the hilltop viewpoint for panoramic views of all three islands and the surrounding water.

Will I see sea turtles and sharks on this snorkeling trip?

Shark Bay, the final stop, is where blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles inhabit the reef, though sightings depend on the day and sea conditions; the other four spots—Japanese Garden, Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay, and Ao Leuk Bay—feature abundant coral reefs, tropical fish, and sea anemones.

What's included in the lunch, and when do we eat?

A Thai lunch buffet with hot dishes, fresh fruit, coffee, tea, and biscuits is served onboard between snorkeling stops, so you eat on the boat while taking in the island views.

Does the boat have facilities for a full day on the water?

The spacious boat includes an onboard toilet, a freshwater shower to rinse off salt, a water slide, and a comfortable deck; snorkeling gear, life jackets, and towels are provided.

How does weather affect the itinerary?

The five stops and timing are approximate and may shift depending on sea conditions, weather, and safety—the operator will notify you in advance if the tour needs to be rescheduled, and you can choose an alternative date, a different tour, or a full refund.

Is the Koh Nang Yuan entry fee included in the price?

Koh Nang Yuan entry is paid on site: 250 THB per adult and 120 THB per child; all other costs—boat, snorkeling gear, lunch, hotel transfer, guide, and underwater photos—are included in the booking price.