Thailand

Ko Nang Yuan

Three tufted islets joined by a white sandbar just off Ko Tao, with coral gardens beginning practically at the waterline — Japanese Gardens, the pick of them, is a five-minute swim of parrotfish, angelfish and the occasional blacktip reef shark.

Best forDivers & snorkellers · Beach lovers · Couples
In September29°C · 23 rainy days · sea 30°C
Ideal stayA half-day trip from Ko Tao
Approx. flying time~16h 55m from Los Angeles

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Ko Nang Yuan, Thailand Open in Google Maps Powered by Geoapify · © OpenStreetMap contributors · © OpenMapTiles

CurrencyTHBThai baht
LanguageThai
Local time17:166h ahead of the UK
PlugsType A / B / C / OBring an adapter
Drive on theLeftSame as the UK
Dialling code+66

Why go

Three granite islets in the Gulf of Thailand, joined by a curved sandbar you can walk across, with shallow water on both sides and coral starting a few metres out. The place is tiny, and an hour covers all of it on foot. The interest lies underwater or from the viewpoint above, and day boats from Ko Tao arrive mid-morning, at which point the sand fills up quickly.

Treat it as a half-day from Ko Tao rather than a destination, and go on the first boat of the morning. There is a single resort, and day visitors pay a landing fee on arrival. February to May brings the clearest water and the calmest crossings, while the monsoon around November can make even this short trip unpleasant. Plastic bottles are banned ashore, so bring a refillable one.

Ideal stay: A half-day trip from Ko Tao
The vibe: Postcard sandbar, crowded by noon

From our guides

Day boats pour in mid-morning, so stay on Ko Tao and catch the first longtail across, then climb the famous viewpoint before the heat builds. February to May brings the calmest, clearest water.

Featured in Ten snorkelling beaches with reefs right off the sand

Things to do

The sandbar

The strip of white sand connecting the islets shifts with tide and season, and at low water you can walk between all three.
Japanese Gardens

The shallow coral garden on the eastern side is a five-minute snorkel from shore, thick with parrotfish, butterflyfish and staghorn coral.
The viewpoint

A short, steep scramble over boulders reaches a platform looking down the length of the sandbar. Go early, before the rock gets hot.
The drop-offs

Beyond the shallow gardens the seabed falls away, and blacktip reef sharks patrol the edges in the early morning.
Ko Tao dive sites

The islets sit within easy reach of Chumphon Pinnacle and the other sites that made Ko Tao a diving base.
Sairee at sunset

Back on Ko Tao, the long west-facing beach is where the day ends, with the sun dropping behind these very islands.

Getting there

Fly to
Na Thon (USM)

Nearest airport to Ko Nang Yuan, about 69km away as the crow flies.
Then
To Ko Tao

Fly to Ko Samui (USM), then a catamaran ferry on to Ko Tao takes roughly one and a half to two hours. Cheaper routings fly to Chumphon or Surat Thani and connect by ferry.
On the ground
Getting around

Nang Yuan lies just off Ko Tao's north-west coast, ten minutes by longtail boat from Sairee or Mae Haad; day boats and hired longtails both go, and a landing fee applies.

Public transport: There are no scheduled services to the islet, only boats hired or booked on Ko Tao.

Flights

Los Angeles Ko Nang Yuan, Thailand

Flying from

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Roughly 16h 55m in the air from Los Angeles (LAX), estimated from the distance — check for a direct route. Pick a month to see every available flight with live prices.

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Flight times are estimates; prices open on Google Flights.

When to go

Daytime highs run from about 27°C in January to 30°C in May. Driest in January; wettest in October, with rain on about 28 days. The sea is warmest in May at around 32°C, coolest at 28°C.

The year at a glance — pick a month for detail

September29° · rain 23 days · sea 30°Warm and often wet.

Monthly figures averaged from daily records for 2020–2024 at this location (ERA5 reanalysis).

Where to stay

Dive-school resorts, hillside bungalows and mid-range beachfront hotels on Ko Tao. Nang Yuan itself has only its single private resort, so almost nobody sleeps there.

Best base overall
Sairee Beach, Ko Tao

The island's long main beach, with the widest choice of rooms, dive schools and restaurants, and longtails leaving early for Nang Yuan. The beachfront bars run late, so ask for a room set back.
Find stays in Sairee Beach, Ko Tao
Closest to the sights
Mae Haad

The pier village, so the ferries and the Nang Yuan boats leave from your doorstep and you can catch the first crossing of the day. It is a working port rather than a beach.
Find stays in Mae Haad
Best with children
Chalok Baan Kao

A sheltered southern bay with calm shallow water, a handful of low-key resorts and far less traffic on the road. Getting to Nang Yuan means a taxi or longtail across the island.
Find stays in Chalok Baan Kao
Quietest
Ao Tanote

A rocky snorkelling bay on the east coast with a few bungalow places and little else. The access road is steep and rough, so scooters and nervous drivers do not mix well here.
Find stays in Ao Tanote

Worth knowing before you book: Nang Yuan charges a landing fee and bans single-use plastic bottles on arrival. Ko Tao rooms are tightest from December to March and over the Full Moon dates on neighbouring Phangan.

Search everything else in Ko Tao by budget. These are indicative budget bands in GBP per night for two people, not live quotes or guarantees of hotel type. Check your dates, guests, taxes and final price on Booking.com.

Or see everything in Ko Tao

Good to know

Landing fee: Day visitors pay an entry fee on arrival, in cash. Plastic bottles and cans are not allowed ashore.
Timing: The first longtail from Ko Tao beats the organised day boats by an hour or two, and that hour is the whole difference.
Reef care: Do not stand on or touch the coral, and wear a rash vest instead of applying sunscreen before you swim.
Footwear: The rocks and the viewpoint path are sharp and slippery. Bring something more useful than flip-flops.
Facilities: There is one resort, limited shade and nowhere to shop. Take water, a hat and whatever else you need for the day.

Similar places

Nearby destinations

Elsewhere in Thailand

Bangkok Koh Lipe

Quick answers

When is the best time to visit Ko Nang Yuan?

Daytime highs run from about 27°C in January to 30°C in May. Driest in January; wettest in October, with rain on about 28 days. The sea is warmest in May at around 32°C, coolest at 28°C.

How long should I spend in Ko Nang Yuan?

Our suggestion: a half-day trip from Ko Tao.

How do I get to Ko Nang Yuan?

Fly to Ko Samui (USM), then a catamaran ferry on to Ko Tao takes roughly one and a half to two hours. Cheaper routings fly to Chumphon or Surat Thani and connect by ferry.

Do I need a car in Ko Nang Yuan?

No. There are no scheduled services to the islet, only boats hired or booked on Ko Tao.

What currency and language are used in Ko Nang Yuan?

Currency: Thai baht (THB). Language: Thai. Plugs: type A and B and C and O.

Who is Ko Nang Yuan best for?

Best for divers & snorkellers, beach lovers and couples. In a phrase: postcard sandbar, crowded by noon.

Ko Nang Yuan

The sandbar

Japanese Gardens

The viewpoint

The drop-offs

Ko Tao dive sites

Sairee at sunset

Na Thon (USM)

To Ko Tao

Getting around

Sairee Beach, Ko Tao

Mae Haad

Chalok Baan Kao

Ao Tanote

Flamenco Beach

Radhanagar Beach

The Grenadines: Bequia

Ko Tao

Koh Phangan

Railay Beach

Koh Yao Noi

The Andaman Coast: Phuket

Koh Lanta

Ten snorkelling beaches with reefs right off the sand