Ang Thong National Park

 

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, an archipelago of 42 islands encompassing 102 km2 at the shore of the Surat Thai Province east of Ko Samui in the Gulf of Thailand, was established as a marine national park in 1980. Here are some facts to keep in mind when you’re planning your visit here.

Visiting

You can only enter the park with a licenced tour operator. You can hire a tour boat as a group and decide your schedules and destinations within the park. Foreigners will have to pay an entrance fee of 100 – 200 baht. The park opens at 08/;00 hours daily except from 20th October to the 20th of December every year.

Staying

You can either opt to stay at the on-site camping area in Ko Wua Ta or book a resort in Koh Samui. If you’re staying at the campsite you have to make your bookings through the official website well in advance and payments need to be made in full. If you opt for a Koh Samui luxury hotel such as the famous SAii Koh Samui Choengmon you can make your bookings leisurely, and can book excursions leisurely to Ang Thong.

Activities

From the adjoining islands, day trips to the islands and the surrounding waterways are common places to go snorkelling, canoeing or kayaking, enjoying the beaches, hiking, and other activities. On arriving on the island, it is simple to make arrangements with one of the many tour companies that offer both group and private tours to the islands.

Wildlife

On larger islands, the woods are mostly made up of dry evergreen trees, along with limestone forests and a small number of planted mangroves near the beaches and bays. Only at Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park can one find the endemic species of plant known as the Ang Thong Lady’s Slipper Orchid. Currently, only a small number of animal species have been reported from the park: 16 mammals, roughly 50 birds, 14 reptiles, and 5 amphibian species have been discovered on the islands, but it’s very likely that the majority of the amphibian and reptile species discovered on Ko Samu and Ko Phang Nga are also present in the park.

Ko Phang Nga
Ko Phang Nga | Image via Pixabay

Fun things you can do in Koh Samui

 

Koh Samui, Thailand’s second-largest island after Phuket, is among the most rewarding to travel to. This popular island in the Gulf of Thailand is also bordered by magnificent beaches and covered with forest.

The Top Activities in Koh Samui

Whether you are a fan of Muay Thai and want to catch a fight or you simply want to meditate at a Buddhist temple, there is something for you any day of the week.

Visit Ang Thong National Marine Park by scheduling a tour

This is unquestionably among the top activities in Koh Samui and the entire Gulf of Thailand. There are 42 islands in the Ang Thong National Marine Park, each of which is rocky and distinctive.

ang thong national marine park
Ang thong national marine park | Image via wiki media commons

View a Monk who has been preserved

Koh Samui’s Wat Khunaram is a Buddhist temple well-known for its mummified monk.This is not a sight for the faint of heart; it is a dead body on show in a glass case. But it is pretty fascinating.

Experience the Big Buddha

Visitors to Koh Samui should unquestionably make a visit to the Big Buddha this stunning landmark is located in close vicinity to many a Koh Samui luxury hotel, so be sure to keep an eye out for places such as SAii Koh Samui Choengmon if you need a place to a crash after all the sightseeing.