Koh NangYuan Beach
Koh NangYuan Beach is one of the most famous landmarks in Thailand. If you read any Thailand travel brochure, you’ll likely encounter a captivating image capturing the iconic scene from the island’s rocky vantage point, gazing down onto the sandy bars below. With great sunbathing, swimming, and snorkeling opportunities plus the viewpoint walk and an on-site bar and restaurant, Koh NangYuan Beach provides the best Koh Tao beach option for those just wanting to spend a full day chilling at the same location without getting bored.
Access
Koh NangYuan Beach can be reached by longtail boat from one of the many water-taxi stations dotted along Sairee Beach and is open from 10 am until 5 pm daily. Several boats visit the island during the period from 10 am to 3 pm. They bring day trippers from the neighboring islands of Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. So the optimal time to be on Koh NangYuan Beach is between 3 pm and 5 pm. That’s after the day boats have departed again, so you have more of the island to yourself.
Fees
Koh NangYuan Beach falls under the National Park banner. It is a designated sanctuary area and there is a 250THB entry fee that goes towards its upkeep.
Single-use plastic items, such as water bottles, are forbidden in the island, which is designated as a marine reserve zone. If you do not possess a reusable water bottle, you have the option to purchase a metal ‘Trash Hero’ bottle from various shops or dive centers on the island. Upon acquiring one, you will receive complimentary water refills from participating establishments, as indicated on the bottle. Any visible plastic items brought to the entrance of Koh NangYuan will be collected and held for retrieval upon your departure.
Services & Facilities
There is a bar, café, and restaurant on Koh NangYuan Island. However, prices are higher here than back on Koh Tao. So it’s not a bad idea to take some snacks and refreshments with you. Provided they are not carried in single-use plastic of course.
Swimming and Snorkeling
Two of Koh Tao’s most popular scuba diving sites, Japanese Gardens and Twins, are located right off of Koh NangYuan. So there is plenty to see in the water, including many fellow tourists completing Discover Scuba Diving sessions and Open Water Courses! There are many colourful species of tropical fish to see, and sometimes you can see juvenile blacktip reef sharks in the shallows on the Twins side of the sand bar.
Recommended for… a Full Day Trip
As well as great swimming and snorkeling, the short hike up to Koh NangYuan’s iconic viewpoint takes just 10-15 minutes and is bound to impress. After all that swimming, snorkeling, and sweating, you’ll need some well-deserved beach time. So setting aside a full day to get the most out of Koh NangYuan Beach is advised.
