Snorkeling Koh Tao: Five Bays and Nang Yuan Island

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Free cancellation

1/42

Duration6h–7h

GroupUp to 120

LanguagesEN

PickupAt your hotel

Five snorkeling stops in one day: Japanese Garden reef, Yellow-Strip scad swarms, green turtles at Shark Bay

Snorkeling around Koh Tao on a traditional Thai leisure boat that departs from Mae Haad pier and visits five bays plus Nang Yuan Island, with all equipment, a guide in English, Thai lunch and hotel pickup included. The boat carries about forty people and runs on a morning or afternoon schedule; a minimum of ten passengers is required to operate. National Park entry (250 THB per adult, 150 THB per child) is paid separately at the pier.

6h–7h

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling trip around Koh Tao and Nang Yuan

Pick up from accommodation in Koh Tao
Depart from Mae Haad pier to Koh Nang Yuan island
Explore Nang Yuan Island and snorkel at Japanese Garden
Lunch served on the boat
Snorkel at Mango Bay (Ao Muang Beach)
Snorkel at Ao Hin Wong
Snorkel at Ao Leuk
Snorkel at Shark Bay
Return to Mae Haad pier and drop off at accommodation

The Experience

The boat leaves Mae Haad pier at 10am or 12pm depending on which trip you book, and the first stop is Nang Yuan Island — the centerpiece. You can walk the sand bridge that connects three islands or climb to the viewpoint, then drop into the water at the Japanese Garden snorkeling point, a named reef the operator marks as unmissable. The boat carries you back on board for a Thai lunch box, cold water, coffee and tea before moving to the next four stops.

Mango Bay (Ao Muang) comes next, where the corals and fish populations are dense enough that the operator names them as the draw. Ao Hin Wong follows — this one is known for millions of Yellow-Strip scad fish that move as a single mass. Ao Leuk is famous for large corals and variety. The last stop is Shark Bay, where green turtles are regular and blacktip reef sharks appear on lucky days. All snorkeling equipment — mask and snorkel — is provided, and life jackets are available for anyone who wants one. The boat has a roof terrace and toilet on board, and an English-speaking guide is with the group throughout.

The boat returns to Mae Haad pier between 5pm and 6pm, and your hotel pickup and drop-off are included (except for Mango Bay and Lighthouse Beach accommodations). The trip runs on a traditional Thai leisure vessel that seats about forty people, so it is not a small-group experience — the trade-off is that the boat can reach five separate snorkeling sites in a single day and the cost stays low. A minimum of ten passengers is required to run the trip; if the operator must cancel, you get offered an alternative date, a different tour or a full refund.

What’s included

Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Koh Tao accommodation.
all snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel).
life jackets available for all passengers.
English-speaking guide.
Thai lunch box.
cold water, coffee and tea on board.
toilet and roof terrace access.
boat insurance.

Good to know

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

Operated by Oh-Hoo

Is this one for you?Book the morning departure if you want to snorkel the five bays and Nang Yuan before the afternoon crowds arrive; choose the afternoon trip if you prefer a later start and don't mind sharing the water with more people. The boat's size means the cost is lower than a small-group alternative, and you reach five separate sites in one day instead of two or three.