Ang Thong National Marine Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong)
An archipelago of 42 dramatic limestone islands with hidden lagoons, viewpoints and the famous Emerald Lake (Talay Nai) — the visual inspiration for the novel The Beach.
- Category
- National Parks
- Entrance fee
- National park fee, as of 2026 roughly 300 THB adults / 150 THB children for foreigners (confirm locally); day tours ~1,800–2,800 THB including boat, lunch and fee
- Hours
- Daylight tours only; park often closes for the monsoon (typically Nov–Dec) — confirm before booking
- Best time
- Calm-season months (roughly Feb–Sep); leave early to beat the fleet at the Emerald Lake
- Time needed
- Full day
- Difficulty
- Moderate — some steep viewpoint and lagoon climbs on Ko Wua Talap
About Ang Thong National Marine Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong)
If you do one big day trip from Samui, make it this. The archipelago of dramatic limestone islands, hidden lagoons and clifftop viewpoints is spectacular, and the Emerald Lake tucked inside the rock is the kind of thing that inspired The Beach for good reason. It genuinely lives up to the hype.
The catch is that everyone knows it, so it can get busy. The fix is choosing your tour carefully: a small-group or kayak trip beats the big cattle-boats every time, and leaving early gets you to the Emerald Lake before the whole fleet piles in.
It's a full day out with a couple of steep climbs on Ko Wua Talap, so you'll want reasonable footwear and a bit of energy. Check the season too, since the park often closes during the monsoon.
Highlights
- 42 dramatic limestone islands
- The famous Emerald Lake (Talay Nai)
- Clifftop viewpoints on Ko Wua Talap
- Hidden lagoons and kayaking
- The scenery that inspired The Beach
Tips
- Pick a small-group or kayak tour over the big cattle-boats
- Leave early to beat the fleet at the Emerald Lake
- Confirm the park is open; it often closes in the monsoon
- Wear proper shoes for the steep viewpoint climbs
How to get there
Only reachable by boat from Samui: organised speedboat or big-boat day tour from Nathon/Bang Rak piers, ~1.5–2.5 hrs each way; no independent access