Koh Nang Yuan Island
For the ultimate paradise beach and snorkeling experience, the Instagram famous island of Koh NangYuan is just a five-minute longtail ride away from Koh Tao.
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Koh Nang Yaun is one of the most famous islands in all of Thailand, and many visitors will recognize it from postcards, travel magazines, and ‘best of’ holiday guides. Rated as one of the top 10 islands globally in the Trip Advisor Travelers Choice Awards, your stay Koh Tao would not be complete without visiting this iconic island.
While described as a single island in its own right, Koh NangYuan is actually three separate landmasses connected by sand bars. It’s the perfect place to kick back and spend a day sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling, and the spectacular viewpoint is not to be missed. Simply follow the wooden walkway around the southern-most island and head up the steps through the jungle. After 10 minutes, you’ll be rewarded with unbeatable views looking back down over the sand bars and the rest of the island. Take your selfie stick and prepare to get filtering, as this is one of the hottest Instagram spots in the world!
While some local ferry services offer transfers, the best way to get to Koh NangYuan is by longtail taxi boat. There’s no need to pre-book, as you can pick up a boat easily by strolling along Sairee beach and asking at any of the longtail taxi stations. However, your accommodation provider should be able to help you if you’d prefer to plan ahead of time. The journey only takes five to ten minutes, and most drivers will quote for a return fare.
The island is open from 10 am until 5 pm daily. There tends to be an influx around lunchtime as snorkel tour visitors arrive from the neighboring islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. So you’re likely to have more beach space to yourself if you stay later in the afternoon after all of the day-trippers have left.
Koh NangYuan is just a 5-10 minute longtail ride from Sairee beach.
Koh NangYuan is a National Park and a designated marine sanctuary, so there is a 100THB fee for entry. Because of the island’s status as a marine reserve, conservation practices are strictly enforced. Visitors are not permitted to take single-use plastic like plastic water bottles onto the island with them. If you are carrying any visible single-use plastic items with you on arrival, you will be asked to leave them at reception and collect them again when you leave at the end of the day.
Koh NangYuan is an Instagram famous island.
On either side of Koh Nang Yuan lie two of Koh Tao’s most popular scuba diving sites, Japanese Gardens and Twins. You don’t have to scuba dive to see the coral reefs and marine life, as both dive sites are shallow and suitable for snorkeling. The brightly colored tropical fish are used to seeing people in the water, so you can normally get quite close. You may even spot a turtle or blacktip reef shark in the shallows if you are lucky.
Incredible snorkeling and scuba diving await.
There is only one restaurant and an adjoining beach bar on Koh Nanyuan. The menu is extensive enough to cater to most needs, and there is an array of light snacks, refreshments, and ice creams too. However, if you need anything specific, then it’s best to take it with you (as long as it’s not wrapped in single-use plastic, of course!).
Masks and snorkels are available for hire, and there are sunbeds and parasols set up on the beach. There is no convenience store on Koh NangYuan, so we recommend you take plenty of sunscreen and anything else you might need with you.
For the ultimate paradise beach and snorkeling experience, the Instagram famous island of Koh NangYuan is just a five-minute longtail ride away from Koh Tao.
