Ko Nang Yuan
Three tiny granite islets joined by a photogenic triple sandbar, with a short rocky climb to one of the Gulf's most iconic viewpoints and excellent snorkelling.
- Category
- Islands
- Entrance fee
- Island landing fee, as of 2026 roughly 100–150 THB; plastic bottles banned on the island — confirm locally
- Hours
- Daytime only; typically ~09:00–17:00 for day visitors — confirm locally
- Best time
- Early to mid-morning before boats crowd the sandbar; calm season for clearest water
- Time needed
- Half a day (as part of a Ko Tao trip)
- Difficulty
- Easy–moderate — short steep climb to the viewpoint
About Ko Nang Yuan
This is the shot you've seen on a hundred Thailand postcards: three tiny granite islets joined by a curving triple sandbar, with turquoise water on both sides. The short rocky scramble to the viewpoint delivers one of the Gulf's most iconic panoramas, and the snorkelling around the islets is excellent. It fully earns the hype.
Be realistic about two things. It's small, so it crowds up fast once the boats arrive midday, and it's a further hop beyond Ko Tao rather than a direct Samui day trip. Plan it as part of a Ko Tao outing, not a standalone.
Go early to mid-morning to catch the sandbar before the crowds, and note that plastic bottles are banned, so bring a refillable one. The viewpoint climb is short but a little steep, so decent footing helps.
Highlights
- Photogenic triple sandbar linking three islets
- Iconic Gulf viewpoint after a short climb
- Excellent snorkelling around the islets
- Turquoise water on both sides of the sandbar
Tips
- Go early to mid-morning before boats crowd the sandbar
- It's a hop beyond Ko Tao, not a direct Samui trip
- Plastic bottles are banned, so bring a refillable one
- Wear shoes with grip for the short steep viewpoint climb
How to get there
Reached via Ko Tao (itself 1.5–2.5 hrs by ferry from Samui), then a short longtail/speedboat hop; usually done on a Ko Tao dive/snorkel day trip