Limestone and turquoise waters
The first time we visited the Gulf of Thailand together in 2014, we didn’t make the trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park.
When we returned and spent 2 months on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan in early 2019, we knew we had to go.
At first, we thought a day-trip would be sufficient.
But the more we researched, the more we got sold on the idea of staying on the main island of the archipelago overnight. And we were so glad we did!
Also known as Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, this archipelago has been a protected marine national park since 1980, and it remains remarkably pristine.
In this travel guide to Ang Thong National Marine Park, we’ll share our best tips on visiting the magnificent place whether or not you stay for just half a day, a night or even several + how to get to Ang Thong Viewpoint (Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint).
Table of contents
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Why visit Ang Thong National Marine Park
We would strongly argue that Ang Thong National Marine Park deserves a place on your Thailand itinerary – especially for the secluded island known as Koh Wua Ta Lap with the spectacular Ang Thong Viewpoint (Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint).
With Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao to the east and the Thai mainland to the west, Ang Thong National Marine Park sits on prime real estate in the Gulf of Thailand.
There are 42 islands in the archipelago ranging widely in size and shape, but what they have in common is their unparalleled beauty – both under and above the turquoise water.
Koh Wua Ta Lap (the main island)
Though it’s not the biggest island of Ang Thong National Marine Park, Koh Wua Ta Lap is considered the main island of the archipelago.
It’s also written as Koh Wua Talap, and it means “Sleeping Cow Island” in Thai.
This is where you’ll find the national park’s headquarters as well as the main draw of Ang Thong: the Ang Thong Viewpoint, which is also known as the Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint.
It’s even called “The viewpoint of viewpoints” and “the most beautiful sight in Thailand” – and it has a fantastic view over the islands and the pristine waters surrounding them.
Koh Wua Ta Lap is also home to a stunning beach, an interesting cave with stalagmites and stalactites and a few bands of cute monkeys. There’s also a second beach we didn’t visit.
If you intend to spend a night inside the national park, you’ll sleep on Koh Wua Ta Lap.
The Ang Thong Viewpoint (Pha Jun Jaras): what to expect on the hike
Even though “the viewpoint of viewpoints” sounds a bit corny, the Ang Thong Viewpoint (officially called Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint) earns its lofty nickname the moment you see the ocean sparkle around jungled limestone cliffs in the distance.
It’s also called “the most beautiful sight in Thailand”, and we won’t argue with that!
The hike to Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint is steep and quite arduous, but sooo worth the effort.
The trail to the viewpoint is around 500 metres long (about 1,640 feet), with an elevation gain of approximately 245 metres (about 800 feet).
The stairs are in good condition, which makes the climb more manageable, but don’t let that fool you.
It’s sweaty work, and most people need 30-45 minutes to reach the summit.
It will probably take less time to get down again. Remember to set aside extra time for photos and a rest at the top.
Going early or late in the day will be much more comfortable as you’ll avoid the heat and humidity of mid-day.
If you want to save time (or your legs!), it’s possible to stop at other viewpoints on the way up that still have excellent views of Koh Wua Ta Lap’s beach and the rest of the islands in the archipelago.
Bua Bok Cave
On most day-tours, you get to choose between visiting either the viewpoint or the cave.
We were really glad we got to experience both.
The trek to the cave isn’t long, but it’s a little difficult with some sections requiring scrambling and very basic climbing.
When we went in the morning, we were all alone at the cave, which actually felt a little spooky.
The stalagmites and stalactites are impressive, though, and the light entering from both sides makes the cave very photogenic.
Everything you need to know about the experiences
Other islands in Ang Thong National Marine Park
On the other islands of Ang Thong, it’s possible to visit an emerald lake, hike to other viewpoints, chill out on the secluded beaches or enjoy the marine life by snorkelling in the clear waters.
Sea gypsies make a living from fishing and live on Koh Phaluai.
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Read moreStaying overnight in Ang Thong National Marine Park
To our knowledge, Koh Wua Ta Lap is the only place you can stay as a tourist in Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park.
We booked a night in one of the few bungalows in the national park to be able to spend more time soaking in the beauty of this place.
Being more or less alone on Koh Wua Ta Lap also gave us the opportunity to witness the view from the top at both sunset and sunrise – all by ourselves.
Which was, perhaps almost needless to say, the highlight of our Ang Thong-trip (if not of our whole two months in Thailand!).
Standing up there was such a spectacular feeling.
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Read moreOur bungalow
The bungalow had a bathroom with a shower, toilet and running water.
There was also toilet paper, soap and towels.
The beds were single beds.
We had a fan (which we didn’t need), and electricity was on until 23.00 in the evening.
It’s also possible to either sleep in a tent or bring your own.
Restaurant
There’s a restaurant on Koh Wua Ta Lap serving tasty Thai meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Have patience.
Prices range from about 60 to 120 baht (~ 1.5-3.5 EUR / 2-4 USD) for a meal.
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Read moreHow to book accommodation on Koh Wua Ta Lap
How to stay the night in Ang Thong National Marine Park?
We’ll be honest: Booking the bungalow wasn’t exactly easy, and arriving at Koh Wua Ta Lap, we weren’t completely sure if we had actually booked anything.
Thankfully, everything had worked out and we even got a way-too-big bungalow with room enough for a huge family.
We booked the accommodation with the help of the travel operator in Koh Samui with whom we also booked the boat tour itself.
It’s possible to do it yourself, but navigating the national park’s reservation system isn’t without quirks.
To pay for our bungalow, it seemed like the only option we had was to transfer funds to the national park by going to a local bank and paying. This was simple enough, but just be aware of the bank’s opening hours and national holidays.
When booking your boat tour, make sure to specify that you’re staying overnight and intend to get picked up again the following day. It also doesn’t hurt to double-check with the boat crew.
Once you reach Koh Wua Ta Lap, approach the visitor centre to check in.
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Read moreHow to get to Ang Thong National Marine Park
The only way to get to Ang Thong National Marine Park is by boat.
There is no public ferry service, so you’ll need to join a tour or charter a private boat. Fortunately, a wide range of operators run daily trips to the national park.
As one of the most popular destinations in the Gulf of Thailand, most tours depart from Koh Samui, with the journey taking roughly one to two hours depending on whether you travel by speedboat or slower ferry.
The park lies about 28 kilometres from Koh Samui and around 32 kilometres from Koh Phangan.
It is also possible to visit from other nearby islands, and tickets can be arranged through most travel agents in Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao or from Surat Thani on the mainland.
You can even ask at your hotel or at many restaurants – it is Thailand, after all.
It’s certainly also possible to book your tour online (adlink).
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Read moreOverview: Ang Thong tours
Speedboat tours for around 2,000 baht per person (~ 53 EUR / 60 USD)* carrying a maximum of 30 people are a popular choice, while the slower ferries are cheaper.
Some ferries can sail with up to 50 people and some even carry up to 100 people.
Most tours make a stop at the emerald lake on Koh Mae Ko before heading to the national park’s headquarters at Koh Wua Ta Lap.
Speedboats might be able to cram in an extra stop.
There’s an entrance fee of 300 baht per adult (~ 7.9 EUR / 9.1 USD)* to the national park, which is sometimes included in the price of your tour, but mostly not.
The child entrance fee is 150 baht (~ 4 EUR / 4.6 USD)*.
Kayaking, snorkelling gear, food and drinks are sometimes included as well, but not always – so make sure to double-check with your travel agent.
*Prices are from 2026.
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Ferry from Koh Samui
Prices naturally vary across tour operators, but the standard price for a big boat or ferry tour to Ang Thong National Marine Park is somewhere between 1,200 baht (~ 32 EUR / 36 USD)* and 1,800 baht (~ 47 EUR / 55 USD)*. They often include breakfast, lunch and kayaking.
Children receive a discount.
We paid 1,100 baht for a trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park in 2019, which included the ferry there and a return journey to Koh Samui the following day (no kayaking).
*Prices are from 2026.
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Our tour included:
- Mini bus transfers from around Samui (we drove to the harbour on our own bike, though).
- Unlimited water from a water dispenser + soda from big bottles.
- Coffee, tea and cocoa.
- Simple breakfast.
- Lunch buffet.
- Life jackets.
- Snorkelling equipment.
- Dry bags (if you are going kayaking).
- Marine park fees.
- English-speaking guides.
Food on our ferry
When we left from Nathon Pier on Koh Samui, breakfast was served on the ferry consisting of bananas and (boring) croissants. You could also help yourself to a cup of coffee, tea or cocoa (in powder form) with milk powder and sugar.
After our first stop on the boat tour, lunch was served as a small buffet with rice, spring rolls with rice noodles and vegetables, sweet chilli sauce, vegetables (corn, carrots and kale), curry with chicken and potatoes as well as watermelon and pineapple.
Drinking water was free from a big cooler. As we had brought our refillable bottles, we easily had enough to stay overnight.
Soda, beer and chips were sold from the small shop onboard along with dry bags to keep your phone dry.
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Read moreKayaking in Ang Thong National Marine Park
If you have kayaking included in your trip, you’ll paddle along the limestone cliffs for about 20 minutes. You can borrow a dry bag for free.
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When to visit Ang Thong National Marine Park
The seas in the Gulf of Thailand are at their calmest from March to October.
Between November and January, Ang Thong National Park may close due to bad weather conditions.
When we visited in February, the seas were too rough for the boat to pick us up at Koh Wua Ta Lap, so we had to get transported in a dinghy. It was a fun adventure and nothing to be scared of.
It should be noted in this regard, though, that getting to and from the islands from the boats requires some balancing skills if there are waves.
The best times to visit Thailand and what to expect – from the tropical islands to the northern hills
Read moreWhat to bring to Ang Thong National Marine Park
- A good camera – here’s our guide to lightweight photography gear for high-quality travel content.
- Swimwear. You’ll really want to jump in!
- A sarong or a quick-dry towel (adlinks) for drying and chilling on the beaches.
- Sun protection: a hat, sunglasses, light covering clothes and an eco-friendly sunscreen (adlink).
- Hiking shoes or sneakers if you want to walk to the Ang Thong viewpoint or to the cave.
- You own snacks (you can also buy some on the boat or at the restaurant by the headquarters of the national park at Koh Wua Ta Lap).
- Thai baht in cash for the restaurant on Koh Wua Ta Lap.
- Headlamp or flashlight if you want to hike before sunrise or after sunset.
- If you stay for one night or more, you might also want to bring mosquito spray.
- Don’t bring your drone. Drones aren’t allowed in the national park.
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Read moreSustainable travel tips
To minimise your impact when visiting the Ang Thong National Marine Park, follow these guidelines:
- Bring your own drinking water in a refillable bottle (adlink).
- Avoid single-use plastics, including straws.
- Dispose of waste properly. Preferably take anything you bring to the national park back with you.
- Check your sunscreen. Many brands contain oxybenzone and other chemicals that are harmful to corals.
- Take only photos, leave only footprints. Let shells and corals stay in their natural home.
- Be considerate of other visitors.
- Respect any wildlife you might encounter. Don’t feed the monkeys.
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Read moreThanks for reading
We hope this travel guide to visiting Ang Thong National Marine Park has been useful.
What do you think about the Ang Thong Viewpoint (aka Pha Jun Jaras Viewpoint)? Would you climb to the top?
If you’ve been to Ang Thong National Marine Park, it would be awesome to hear about your experience.
If you haven’t been yet but would like to, please don’t hesitate to ask us anything in the comments below. We’re only glad if we can help.
Our favourite travel resources:
- Booking.com for hotels and apartments.
- Momondo for the best flight deals.
- AirHelp for flight delay compensation.
- GetYourGuide for great tours everywhere.
- Airalo for reliable eSIM.
- Discover Cars for transparent car hire.
- SafetyWing for travel insurance. We also like True Traveller. Compared here.
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