Koh Nang Yuan

Koh Nang Yuan is a cluster of three small islets connected by white sand bars, just off Koh Tao in Surat Thani province. Administratively it sits within Koh Pha-ngan district — the same district that also covers Koh Tao — but the island itself is a short boat ride from Koh Tao’s Sairee Beach, not from Koh Phangan.

Boats to the island typically leave from Sairee Beach on Koh Tao. The land is owned by Thailand’s Treasury Department and operated under lease by Nangyuan Island Dive Resort, which controls day-visitor access alongside its own guests. The main draw is the short uphill viewpoint trail, which overlooks all three connected islets and their beaches at once — a view that’s become one of the most photographed in the Gulf of Thailand. Below the waterline, shallow and deep-water reefs around the islets are a well-known dive and snorkel site, with underwater rock formations and small caves on the island’s south side.

Insider Tip: Day-trip boats from Koh Tao arrive in waves around mid-morning. If you’re staying overnight at the resort, the early morning and late afternoon — after the day boats leave — are when the beaches and viewpoint are close to empty.

A single-use plastic bottle ban is enforced on arrival; bring a refillable bottle rather than assuming you can bring one in from Koh Tao. A buoyed swimming area keeps longtail boat traffic away from waders and snorkellers, and canoes are available to rent by the hour at the resort.

Watch out: The landing fee has risen more than once in recent years and isn’t always posted in advance — budget a little extra and treat any fee figure, including the one here, as approximate until you’re at the pier.