Located not too far from the idyllic diving islands of Koh Tao is an island called Koh Nang Yuan.
You might have seen photos of it. The enticing aquamarine waters, the white sand, and the picturesque
rocks setting the perfect scene. Due to its close location to popular islands like Koh Tao and Koh Samui, a
visit to Nang Yuan is often part of every traveller’s agenda. So if you’re in Koh Tao and find yourself
taking a break from the underwater world, here is everything you need to know about doing a daytrip in
Koh Nang Yuan
How to Get to Koh Nang Yuan
-Koh Nang Yuan from Koh Tao
From Koh Tao, Nang Yuan is only a 15-20 minute ride via long tail boats. Although you can
easily book a snorkelling trip from any tour agency or operator, the cheapest way, and the one we
recommend is just by chartering a longtail boat yourself. You can negotiate a price but a rough estimate is
100-150 Baht one way. Unless you’re planning to stay on the island overnight, secure a ride going back
and arrange with the boat man beforehand. Swap contact info so you don’t end up walking around trying
to find a boat that will take you back to Koh Tao.
-Koh Samui to Koh Nang Yuan
Given the distance, day trips from Koh Samui are much more expensive so making Koh Tao your
home base to explore Nang Yuan is a lot more ideal. You can arrange with any tour operator snorkelling
trips to Koh Nang Yuan, roughly ranging around 2000-2500 Baht per person. This should include the boat
transfer, snorkelling equipment, the entrance fee to the island, and lunch.
What to Expect in Koh Nang Yuan
Entrance fee: As of April 2016, visitors were charged 100 Baht
It can get crowded! There are A LOT of boats with large amounts of tourists. The island closes at
5pm and at this time, only the guests of the resort are allowed to stay.
The resort restaurant is the only place to buy food and it is pricier than the average Thai
restaurant.
As mentioned, there is currently just one resort on the island, Nang Yuan Island Dive Resort. If
you wish to get the beach all to yourself (until the tours arrive and leave), staying here might be
your best bet.
Plastic water bottles are confiscated upon arrival which means you have to purchase water from
the resort’s restaurant.