Koh Tao and Koh Nangyuan Snorkelling Day Tour with Lunch
- DurationAbout 7 hours
- Daily
- Group
- Pickup available
- Fair, honest prices
- Real people, not bots
- Confirm, then pay
- Secure payment
Overview
This full-day snorkelling tour sails right around Koh Tao on a traditional wooden boat, stopping at the island's best reefs and bays. You start at Koh Nangyuan, three islands joined by a white sandbar, with time to climb to the viewpoint and snorkel in the Japanese Garden. Then you enjoy a Thai-style buffet lunch on board on the way to Mango Bay, explore the coral pinnacles of Hin Wong, swim in the deep blue water of Aow Leuk and look for blacktip reef sharks and turtles at Shark Bay. It is a shared group tour with a guide speaking English and Thai, and hotel pickup and drop-off on Koh Tao, snorkelling gear, drinks, fruit, underwater photos and accident insurance are included.
Highlights
- Five snorkelling stops around Koh Tao in one day
- Koh Nangyuan sandbar beach, viewpoint hike and Japanese Garden reef
- Thai-style buffet lunch on board
- Mango Bay, Hin Wong and Aow Leuk on the quiet coasts
- Chance to see blacktip reef sharks and turtles at Shark Bay
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on Koh Tao included
- Snorkelling equipment, life jacket and underwater photos
- Guide speaking English and Thai, drinking water, coffee, tea and fruit
Full Description
Mae Haad Pier and the wooden boat
The day begins with pickup from your hotel and a short drive to Mae Haad, the main village and harbour on Koh Tao's west coast. Here you meet the crew and board a converted wooden fishing boat, a spacious, stable vessel with shaded seating and plenty of deck space for sunbathing between stops.
After a safety briefing and the fitting of masks, snorkels and life jackets, the boat sets off around the island. Travelling by wooden boat is slower than by speedboat, but much more relaxed: the ride between stops takes only about 15 minutes each, and you can enjoy the coastline of granite boulders, palm-fringed coves and forested hills along the way. Tea, coffee, water and fresh fruit are available on board all day.
Koh Nangyuan: sandbar, viewpoint and Japanese Garden
The first and longest stop is Koh Nangyuan, just off Koh Tao's north-west coast, where three small islands are linked by a curving sandbar of white sand. You have about two hours here to walk the beach, swim on either side of the sandbar and climb the wooden steps and rocks to the viewpoint on the highest island, a hike of about 15 to 20 minutes with a famous view over the sandbar.
Close to the pier, the Japanese Garden is one of the best snorkelling spots in the area, with colourful hard and soft corals and shoals of tropical fish in shallow water. A Koh Nangyuan entry fee is paid in cash on the day, and plastic bottles are not allowed on the island. Arrive early in the day, as on this tour, to enjoy it before the afternoon crowds.
Mango Bay and Hin Wong
After Koh Nangyuan, lunch is served on board as the boat sails to Mango Bay at the northern tip of Koh Tao, named after the mango trees that once grew on its slopes. Steep cliffs and boulders surround a sheltered bay where the sandy seabed gives the water a vivid turquoise colour. You have about 40 minutes to snorkel among parrotfish, angelfish and coral heads in calm water.
The boat then continues to Hin Wong Bay on the quieter east coast, ringed by huge granite boulders. Below the surface, rocky pinnacles covered in coral and sea anemones rise close to the surface, and the water is often so clear that you can watch shoals of small silver fish chased by hunting trevallies in water less than a metre deep.
Aow Leuk and Shark Bay
Aow Leuk, on the south-east coast, takes its name from its deep, rounded shape and the depth of its water, which makes it good for snorkelling even at low tide. A white sand beach, water in every shade of blue and Shark Island in the distance make this one of the most scenic stops of the day.
The last stop is Shark Bay in the south of Koh Tao, known for the young blacktip reef sharks that patrol the shallows and the green turtles that come to feed on seagrass. The sharks are small and shy, and sightings are common but never guaranteed. Is a Koh Tao snorkelling tour worth it? With five different reefs in one day, it is the best way to see the island's underwater life. After the stop, the boat returns to Mae Haad and our driver takes you back to your hotel.
Itinerary
- Hotel pickup on Koh TaoOur driver collects you up to an hour before the 10:00 start and drives you to Mae Haad Pier.
- Safety briefing and boardingMeet the crew, receive your snorkelling gear and board the wooden boat; about 30 minutes.
- Koh NangyuanBeach time, the viewpoint hike and snorkelling at the Japanese Garden; about 2 hours.
- Lunch on board and Mango BayThai-style buffet lunch on the way, then snorkelling at Mango Bay for about 40 minutes.
- Hin Wong BaySnorkel around the coral pinnacles for about 40 minutes.
- Aow LeukSwim and snorkel in the deep blue bay for about 40 minutes.
- Shark Bay and returnSnorkel with reef fish and look for sharks and turtles, then return to your hotel about seven hours after pickup.
What's included
- Hotel pickup and drop-off on Koh Tao
- Wooden boat trip with an English-speaking guide
- Five snorkelling stops including Koh Nang Yuan and Shark Bay
- Thai-style buffet lunch on board
- Drinking water, coffee, tea and fresh fruit
- Snorkelling equipment and life jacket
- Underwater photos
- Basic accident insurance
Not included
- Koh Nang Yuan entry fee, paid in cash on the day
- Tips
Is this right for you?
Great for
- Travellers without a car — hotel pickup is included
- Food lovers
- Travellers who want a proven choice — rated 4.7/5 by past travellers
Think twice if
- You want a private tour — this one is shared with other travellers
Not suitable for
- Children under 2 years
- Pregnant women
- People with back problems
- People over 70 years
Meeting point
Hotel pickup and drop-off on Koh Tao are included, except for hotels at Mango Bay and Lighthouse Beach. Our driver collects you up to an hour before the 10:00 start; we confirm the exact pickup time after booking. Please wait in your hotel lobby a few minutes before the pickup time.
Important information
- The Koh Nangyuan entry fee is not included and is paid in cash on the day
- Plastic bottles are not allowed on Koh Nangyuan
- Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a sun hat, sunglasses and a waterproof bag
- Flip-flops or water shoes are useful for the beaches and the viewpoint path
- Luggage and large bags are not allowed on the boat
- The adult fee at Koh Nangyuan applies to children taller than 120 cm
- The order of stops depends on weather and sea conditions
- Do not touch or stand on the coral
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Straight answers to what travellers ask us most, before they book.
Is this a shared or a private experience?
It is a shared group snorkelling tour on a wooden boat, with a guide speaking English and Thai.
How long does it take?
About seven hours including hotel transfers.
Is hotel pickup included?
Yes, from hotels on Koh Tao, except Mango Bay and Lighthouse Beach.
What is included?
Hotel transfers, the boat trip with a guide, five snorkelling stops, a Thai-style buffet lunch on board, drinking water, coffee, tea and fresh fruit, snorkelling equipment, a life jacket, underwater photos and basic accident insurance.
Is the price per person or per group?
The price is per person, with a child rate. The booking panel on this page shows the current price of each option.
Is it suitable for children or people with reduced mobility?
Children from 2 years can join with an adult and life jackets. It is not suitable for people with back problems, pregnant women or people over 70.
Will I see sharks at Shark Bay?
Blacktip reef sharks and turtles are often seen, but they are wild animals, so sightings cannot be guaranteed. The reef sharks are small and harmless to snorkellers.
Can non-swimmers join?
Yes. Life jackets are provided, and you can stay in shallow water or relax on the boat and the beaches.
What should I bring?
Swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, water shoes or flip-flops, a waterproof bag and cash for the Koh Nangyuan fee.
When is the best time to snorkel around Koh Tao?
From February to October, when the sea is usually calm and the visibility is best.
What happens in bad weather?
The tour runs in short rain when it is safe. If conditions are unsafe, we offer another date or a full refund.
How do I book and confirm?
Choose your date in the booking panel. Our team confirms your booking on WhatsApp within minutes.
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