Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand, at the shore of the Surat Thani Province. This park consists of 42 islands. Its main islands are Phaluai Island, Wua Chio Island, Wua Talap Island, Mae Ko Island, Samsao Island, Phai Luak Island, Kha Island, Hindap Island, Phi Island, Wua Kantang Island, Mae Yat Island, Wua Te Island, Naiphut Island, Changsom Island, Hanuman Island, Thaiphlao Island, Huaklong Island, and Kho Ban Island.

The park covers a total area of 102 sq.km of which about only 18 sq.km is land. The National park does not encompass the entire island chain, its jurisdiction covers about 82% of the total area. The park was established on 12th November 1980.

One of the islands, Koh Mae, or Island Mother, contains an unusual saltwater lake hidden inside a hill in the landscape. To reach the Emerald Lake, so called after the colour, it’s possible to climb up the hill and squeeze through an opening where small steps have been carved out to take a look. (It’s not an easy climb but worth it for magnificent scenery.)

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park Address :
For more information please contact:
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park
145/1, Talat Lang rd, Talat Sub-district,
Amphur Muang Surat Thani
Surat Thani 84000 Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 77 286 025 , +66 (0) 77 280 222?
Fax: +66 (0) 77 286 588
E-mail: angthong_np@hotmail.com

Climbing at Ang Thong Marine National Park

If you are out for a climb at Ang Thong Marine National Park wear orderly shoes and if possible take some gloves with you the stones you have to hold on (especially on the last 50 meters) have very sharp edges and you also have a better grip on the rope. The people who implemented this climbing trek at Ang Thong Marine National Park Thailand have done a great job. Ang Thong means “golden basin” in English and has been left quite untouched for a long time since it was under the control of the Thai Navy until 1980 when it became a national park.

On Ko Mae Ko is the beautiful hidden emerald lake or lagoon. you can reach the lake after a steep climb over some staircases (left picture) anchored into the stones. The lagoon is fed by seawater by an underground connection to the sea. You are not allowed to swim in the lake, and don’t try it as you will have a difficult time. Before the islands of Ang Thong came under the control of the navy it was a hideout for pirates.

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park attractions

Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park has so many Attractions. The main sites of course is the beautiful scenery island.
There are some beautiful attractions here :
1. Wua Talap Island
Wua Talap Island situates in Kha Bay. The National Park Headquarters locates here. In front of the office is the white and clean beach appropriate for playing water and recreation. When going to the viewpoint at the top of the mountain, about 500 meters, traveler can see all of Ang Thong islands with strange-looking shape lay in-line on the sea. There is also Bua Bok Cave situated one kilometer from the office. It has beautiful stalagmite and stalactite, and is unique in its geology condition.

2. Thale Nai
Thale Nai or Lake in the Mountain situates in Mae Ko Island. It is a large natural pond surrounded by complicated limestone mountain. The area has under-water hole connected to the outer sea. There has been assumed that the limestone layer under the lake was sink so that cause the lake, this incident had been occurred simultaneously with the islands, or it might have been occurred by the change of chemical condition so did the caves.

3. Samsao Island
Samsao Island situates opposite Mae Ko Island. There have beautiful coral, natural stone bridge curve out into the sea, and white and clean beaches appropriate for camping and swimming to enjoy coral.

4. Thaiphlao Island and Wua Kantang Island
There are beautiful coral reef and white sand beaches in Thaiphlao Island and Wua Kantang Island.

5. Nature Trails
There are trekking trail about 500 meters called ‘View Point Trekking Trail’ located in Kha Bay in Wua Talap Island, and two boating trails called ‘Studying Nature by Boat’. The first boating trail is about 600 meters surrounding Phi Island, and the second is about 2,200 meters between the beach of Kha Bay and the Nathap Beach. More over, there are three snorkeling route call ‘Studying Nature Under Water’; about 200 meters long near Thaiphlao Island, about 150 meters long near Samsao Island, and about 150 meters long in Kha Bay in Wua Talap Island.

Ang Thong marine national park islands panorama southern Thailand

Ang Thong Marine National Park climbing trek Thailand

Ang Thong Marine National Park Ko Mae Ko Emerald Lagoon

Ang Thong steep climb over some staircases to reach the lagoon

Kayaking at Ang Thong Marine National Park