A day of snorkelling around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan

Clear water, coral gardens and three tiny islands joined by a sandbar — the Gulf's underwater highlight in one long day.

Area

Island hopping

Start from

Samui

Distance

roughly 1.5–2 hours by speedboat

Time needed

1 day, or several days to dive

Best season

March – September

Difficulty

Moderate

Transport

Speedboat tour or scheduled ferry

Tickets & rules

Small landing fee on Koh Nang Yuan

Why go

Koh Tao, north of Samui and Koh Phangan, is one of the busiest places in the world to learn scuba diving, and for good reason: the water is warm, often very clear, and the reefs around the island are full of life. Even if you only snorkel, you'll see angelfish, butterflyfish, schools of fusiliers and, if you're lucky, a turtle or a blacktip reef shark cruising over the sand.

Most day trips stop at Koh Nang Yuan, three small islands joined by a narrow white sandbar. It's one of the most photographed views in Thailand, and the short but steep climb to the viewpoint is worth every drop of sweat.

A day trip is long but rewarding. If the underwater world grabs you, it's easy to come back for a few nights and an open-water course.

The story

Koh Tao means 'turtle island', usually explained by the island's shape when seen from the sea. Turtles once nested here in large numbers, and conservation projects are trying to bring them back.

Until the 1980s the island had only a few families of fishermen and coconut farmers. Diving schools arrived in the 1990s and the island transformed, becoming a magnet for young travellers from around the world.

In recent years, local dive schools have joined coral restoration projects, growing coral fragments on underwater frames and replanting them on damaged reefs — a small sign that the island wants to protect what made it famous.

Getting there

Speedboat tours leave Samui's north coast early in the morning and return in the late afternoon. Scheduled ferries also run, if you prefer to plan your own day or stay overnight.

The crossing can be bumpy, especially on windy days; sitting at the back of the boat helps.

A suggested plan

1. Early morningPick-up from your hotel and boat departure from the north coast.
2. Late morningTwo or three snorkelling stops around Koh Tao's bays, such as Mango Bay or Japanese Gardens.
3. AfternoonLunch, then Koh Nang Yuan: swim off the sandbar and climb to the viewpoint.
4. EveningBoat back to Samui, tired and salty.

Where to stay

If you plan to dive, stay on Koh Tao itself: Sairee Beach is lively, the east coast bays are quiet.

Good to know

• A rash guard protects from sunburn better than any sunscreen on long snorkelling days.
• Reef-safe sunscreen helps protect the coral.
• Seasickness tablets taken before departure make a big difference.