Snorkeling Koh Tao: Six Spots by Vintage Wooden Boat

Six reef stops in one day, from Nangyuan Island to Shark Bay

This eight-hour snorkeling tour departs from Koh Tao on a vintage wooden boat, visiting six sites including Nangyuan Island, Japanese Gardens, Hin Wong Bay, Aow Leuk and Shark Bay, where you snorkel among coral, fish and blacktip reef sharks. The boat includes a restroom, a professional English or Thai-speaking guide, snorkeling gear, kayak and paddleboard access at each stop, buffet lunch with island views, and a sunset BBQ dinner with Virgin Mojito Mocktail. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Koh Tao are included, along with underwater photography service and accident insurance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Snorkeling and island exploration

• Arrive at Nangyuan Island
• Snorkel at Japanese Gardens
• Enjoy buffet lunch on board
• Snorkel at Hin Wong Bay
• Relax and snorkel at Aow Leuk
• Snorkel at Shark Bay

The Experience

Eight hours aboard a vintage wooden boat means six snorkeling stops without the logistics of arranging transport or gear yourself. The day starts at Nangyuan Island, a three-island formation connected by white sandbar, where you snorkel in clear water before heading to Japanese Gardens — a coral reef system where eels, rays and Titan triggerfish move through the rocks. Between stops, you're on the boat with a restroom available, soft drinks, coffee and tea, and time to dry off and reset.

Lunch is a buffet served on board while the boat anchors with a view of Nang Yuan Island, then the afternoon splits across three more reefs. Hin Wong Bay has granite rocks and a small cave at the southern corner where banana fish and parrotfish school; Aow Leuk is a shallow bay with white sand where you might spot baby blacktip reef sharks in the shallows and can paddleboard or kayak off the beach. Shark Bay, the final stop, is where sea turtles and blacktip reef sharks move through calm, clear water — the kind of encounter that justifies the whole day.

The boat carries snorkeling equipment, a kayak and a paddleboard, so you don't pack or rent separately. A professional guide speaks English or Thai and stays with the group throughout. As the sun sets, a BBQ dinner and Virgin Mojito Mocktail are served on board, and the boat returns you to your hotel in Koh Tao. Underwater photography is available if you want images of the reefs and the sharks.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English or Thai.
• snorkeling equipment for all six stops.
• hotel pickup and drop-off from Koh Tao.
• kayak and paddleboard access at each site.
• buffet lunch with six options and seasonal fruit.
• sunset BBQ dinner with Virgin Mojito Mocktail.
• unlimited soft drinks, water, coffee and tea.
• restroom on board.
• underwater photography service.
• and accident 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 this if you're based in Koh Tao and want to visit six reefs in one day by boat—you'll snorkel, kayak, and paddleboard across multiple sites from Nangyuan Island to Shark Bay, with lunch included on board.

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Top questions

What kind of marine life will I see while snorkeling at these six spots?

Nangyuan Island and Japanese Gardens have colorful coral reefs with eels, rays and Titan triggerfish. Hin Wong Bay holds banana fish, rabbitfish and parrotfish around granite rocks and a small cave. Aow Leuk has coral reefs in shallow water where baby blacktip reef sharks sometimes appear. Shark Bay is where you'll see blacktip reef sharks and sea turtles gliding in clear, shallow water.

Is the snorkeling gear provided, or do I need to bring my own?

Snorkeling equipment is included and provided on the boat — you don't need to bring or rent it separately.

How much time do I spend snorkeling versus traveling between stops?

The tour runs eight hours total from hotel pickup to drop-off. The itinerary includes six snorkeling stops with time at each site, plus travel between them, a buffet lunch on board, and a sunset BBQ dinner. Exact time at each reef varies based on weather, sea conditions and the group's pace.

Can I use the kayak and paddleboard at the snorkeling sites?

Yes, kayak and paddleboard access is included at each stop — you can paddle out from the boat or launch from beaches like Aow Leuk to explore the reefs at your own pace.

What's included in the meals, and are there options for dietary restrictions?

Lunch is a buffet with six options plus seasonal fruit, served on board with views of Nang Yuan Island. Dinner is a BBQ set with a Virgin Mojito Mocktail. Unlimited soft drinks, water, coffee and tea are available throughout the day. Dietary needs should be confirmed when booking.

Does the boat have facilities like a restroom on board?

Yes, a restroom is available on the vintage wooden boat throughout the eight-hour tour, so you don't have to plan around facilities at the islands.