How to get from Samui to Koh Tao and Nang Yuan in a day and what you will see

What you will see on Koh Tao and Nang Yuan

Koh Tao (Ko Tao, “turtle island”) lies in the Gulf of Thailand north of Samui and Phangan. The island, about 21 km², is in Ko Pha-ngan district of Surat Thani province (Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap), and all ferries dock at the village of Mae Haad. Koh Tao is known for diving and dive courses, and Wikipedia counts a little over 25 dive sites. A trip from Samui usually combines a stop on Nang Yuan with snorkelling off Koh Tao.

Nang Yuan (Ko Nang Yuan). Three small islands close to Koh Tao, joined by a sandbar with a shared beach between them. The island is private: it holds Koh Nangyuan Resort, which admits day visitors from 10:00 to 15:00 for THB 250 (THB 50 for Thais). A short but steep trail leads to the viewpoint, and the resort advises shoes with grip and sun protection.

Snorkelling. The resort writes of a “famed reef” at its doorstep and offers snorkelling off the island by day. Koh Samui Tours’ programme has two snorkel stops off Koh Tao of 40-50 minutes each, with gear provided. The resort says reef sharks with black tips visit the island each morning in June-August, so watch them without chasing.

Diving. Nang Yuan has one dive centre, Duck n Dive Nangyuan, with beach and boat dives, a Discover Scuba Diving try dive from age 10 and a three-day PADI Open Water course. The centre’s recommended sites include Japanese Gardens, Twins Bay, White Rock, Chumphon Pinnacle and HTMS Suphairin 313. We do not publish diving prices: see the centre’s page.

Island rules. By the resort’s rules, plastic bottles and cans are not allowed on the island. There are no ATMs on the island, so bring cash for the fee, food and boats.

What the day looks like, step by step

This is the day on a Koh Samui Tours trip as published on 18 October 2026. Times are approximate, and the operator says the programme can change with the weather and traffic.

1. 7:00-8:00 a minivan picks you up at your hotel and drives to Bangrak Pier
2. Around 9:00 the boat sails, about 90 minutes to Nang Yuan
3. Nang Yuan, about 90 minutes: viewpoint, beach, swimming in the shallows
4. Around 12:00 a Thai lunch at a small beachside restaurant on Koh Tao
5. Two snorkel stops off Koh Tao of 40-50 minutes each
6. Around 15:30 the boat heads back, reaching the Samui pier around 16:30-17:00
7. 17:00-18:00 transfer to your hotel

The same day on your own: the Lomprayah catamaran leaves Pralarn Pier at 8:00 and reaches Nang Yuan at 9:45, the island admits day visitors from 10:00 to 15:00, and the boat back leaves at 15:00 and reaches Pralarn at 17:30.

How long it takes and when to go

The Koh Samui Tours trip takes 9 hours with transfers (7:00-18:00). On your own it is 9.5 hours pier to pier, 8:00 from Pralarn and 17:30 back. The resort names a 10:00 longtail as the best time, ahead of the main groups, and the busiest period as late morning to mid afternoon, especially in high season from December to April.

Koh Tao has no station in the TMD table, so Ko Samui (about 63 km south of Koh Tao) and mainland Chumphon (to the west) serve as guides. The Gulf of Thailand has a different season from the Andaman Sea: its rain comes with the winter northeast monsoon (TMD).

TMD data, 1991-2020 normals. There is no station on the island, so the figures are only a guide, and sailings depend on swell. More on Samui in the Koh Samui guide.

Getting there and how far it is

From Bangrak Pier on Samui it is about 67 km as the crow flies to Nang Yuan and about 63 km to Mae Haad Pier on Koh Tao. From Mae Haad to Nang Yuan it is about 3.5 km. These are calculated from OpenStreetMap coordinates, and the sea route is slightly longer.

Lomprayah’s 2026 timetable from Pralarn Pier (Maenam):

From Bangrak Pier a speedboat runs to Koh Tao at 10:30 (arriving 12:15) and a direct speedboat at 15:30 (arriving 17:00), while the 8:00 sailing changes to a catamaran at Phangan. From Nathon Pier a catamaran leaves for Koh Tao at 12:15 and 16:00. Lomprayah writes “Schedules may vary. Please check before travel”: check the carrier’s site before you go. If you stay in the northeast of Samui, Chaweng and Bophut are closer to Bangrak, and Maenam to Pralarn.

Fees and what is included

There is no DNP national park fee here: the DNP table of entrance fees for individuals (revision of 02.06.2023) has no line for Koh Tao or Nang Yuan, and the page for Mu Ko Chumphon National Park does not mention them. You pay only to enter Nang Yuan: THB 250 per person, THB 50 for Thais, according to the resort on 18.10.2026. Resort guests do not pay.

The Koh Samui Tours trip includes transfers, a light breakfast, lunch on Koh Tao, drinks, snorkelling gear, a guide and insurance. The operator lists the Nang Yuan fee (THB 250 adult, THB 100 child) on a separate line next to “own expenses”: check before you pay.

Options: tour, catamaran, longtail, overnight

For another trip from Samui see Ang Thong and the Samui excursions overview.

What to do in rain and swell

Swell can change sailings and tours, and October-December are the wettest months on Samui by TMD. Koh Samui Tours says the programme can change with the weather and traffic, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Lomprayah warns that schedules may change.

If the sea is shut, keep a spare day: on Samui the Big Buddha and the Na Muang waterfalls stay open in that weather. Rain with a calm sea does not cancel the tour, but Koh Samui Tours reserves the right to change the programme with the weather.

Safety

• Life jackets. According to Koh Samui Tours, there is a life jacket on board for every participant
• The trail. The resort says people underestimate the sun and the short steep trail to the viewpoint: bring sun protection and shoes with grip
• The water. The resort describes reef sharks as visitors on June-August mornings: watch them without chasing. Snorkel near the shore and with the group
• Children. Koh Samui Tours does not take babies under one year, and life jackets are on board; ask about the child-fare age
• Insurance. Tours include the operator’s insurance, but separate traveller medical cover is worth having: is it needed in Thailand
• Box jellyfish. Box jellyfish live around Samui and Phangan, and their stings can be fatal. In a review of cases from 1999 to 2015, six of the seven box jellyfish deaths in Thailand happened on these two islands, and stings were most frequent from July to October (Thaikruea et al., BMC Research Notes, 2016). The UK Foreign Office warns of jellyfish close to shore in the rainy season from May to October and advises swimming at beaches with lifeguards and following the flags (FCDO, 18 October 2026). If you are stung: leave the water, pour household vinegar (4-6 %) on the sting straight away for at least 30 seconds, do not rub the wound or rinse it with fresh water, call an ambulance on 1669 and do not wait for it to get worse. Ask your hotel or the lifeguards where the vinegar is kept on your beach.

Who it suits and who should skip it

• Suits anyone who wants to see Nang Yuan’s sandbar and snorkel off Koh Tao in one day from Samui
• Suits those ready to go independently by catamaran for extra time on the island
• Skip it if you are pregnant or have a baby under one: Koh Samui Tours does not take them
• Skip it if you get badly seasick on a speedboat of 90 minutes each way
• Skip it if you want empty beaches by day: boats arrive from the morning, and the island admits visitors until 15:00

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