Ang Thong National Marine Park

There was a tourist information stand in our hotel and the travel agent helped us pick out a day trip to Ang Thong. We decided to go with Samui Island Tours and the daytrip with kayaking would cost 1800baht but the travel agent gave us a discount and we paid 1660baht per person- this included hotel pickup and drop off, breakfast and lunch on the boat, all of the equipment needed for kayaking, snorkeling, and hiking.

We were picked up at 730 from the hotel were on the boat an hour later. It took about an hour and a half to get out to Ang Thong. 

The boats don’t dock in Ang Thong—we got on kayaks from the boat —if you weren’t doing the kayaking part of the tour you got on a long tail from the boat to get to the beach. 

Everyone in kayaks met around the guide-she tied us all together and we were a floating island of kayakers while she told us about the area. From there we kayaked around the smaller islands and in through a cave. We ended on a beach after about forty minutes of kayaking. From the beach you can walk up some very steep steps to get an amazing view of Ang Thong and also of the salt lagoon that is within the island. 

After a break on the beach we went on a longtail boat back onto the tour boat for lunch. Lunch was buffet style with rice, chicken curry, fried mixed vegetables, spring rolls and fruit. There was free water and sodas-beer was available to be paid for.

The tour then brought us to Mu Ko Ang Thong- a beautiful beach with jungle in the background. There were snorkels provided—but because we’re here during monsoon season the tour guides said that visibility may not be the greatest. And that Ang Thong doesn’t have a gray coral reef. 

The beach had really nice soft white sand and there were areas roped off for swimming that was away from the boats. There were two options for treks—one up to a cave and then another longer one up to the view point. 

The Pha Jun-Jaras Nature Trail was about fifty minutes through the jungle and what felt like straight up the side of a mountain. The elevation at the top is 620 meters and we had a breathtaking view of all of the islands. The hike itself wasn’t easy—there were semi-steps out of rocks on the way up. Luckily there were ‘viewpoints’ every hundred meters so you could stop to take pictures and catch your breath. The last 100meters was the toughest as it was out of the jungle so it felt a lot hotter. 

There was a small stand that you could buy water, sodas, coffee and ice creams at. There is a first aid stand and bathrooms with showers there also. At 3 we were back on the longtails out to the boat. 

The hour and a half boat back was much quieter and a lot of people (me included) napped. There was tea and coffee available and some snacks you could buy. 

The price of the tour included transfer back to your hotel so as soon as we docked there were minibuses waiting to pick us up.