Family Tour: Visit Nang Yuan from Ko Tao – Little Paradise

Nan Yuan is a group of two small paradise islands adjoining that of Ko Tao, in the Gulf of Thailand. This is a must-see tour if you are staying in the area, as the scenery is truly incredible, despite the “basic tourist spot” aspect. And yet, that day, in April, it was far from being a hustle and bustle and that was quite enjoyable.

Ko Nang Yuan, a must-see island in Ko Tao

After our morning of snorkeling and therefore spending most of our time in the water, this time it was dry land that awaited us and what could be described as the real "highlight" of the day.

So we disembark on the pontoon not without a certain excitement. The view of the island, with the beach of Maya Bay, is one of those iconic images when you think of the south of Thailand.

View of part of the island of Ko Nang Yuan upon arrival.

Some people rent a "long tail boat" taxi for the day, it's also a good solution for more independence and sometimes they know the places better than the tours which are satisfied with the same spots.

Boats are not allowed to stay more than a few minutes, to avoid polluting near this protected site and also because there are people to disembark for a single small pontoon. We have 2 hours to go around these two small islands, located northwest of Ko Tao, enough time to explore and enjoy the place, starting with going to the viewpoint.

Welcome to Ko Nang Yuan, the colors are crazy!

Indeed, here for snorkeling you only have a mask and a snorkel. Fins are prohibited, because the blows can damage the corals which are fragile. Unfortunately, the corals are already quite dead in the area…

A parrot fish passing by.

In the background to the left is Ko Tao, which is really not far.

Private pontoon of the small resort located on the island.

This is the less “cool” aspect of the island…

The sandbar connecting the two parts of Nang Yuan.

Jitima, very conscientious, picks up some waste to throw it in the trash.

A dive boat parked nearby.

A real little paradise.

Along the path to the viewpoint.

Ko Nang Yuan's viewpoint

It was really the first thing I wanted to see and so I headed straight to the left after the pontoon, following the small signs indicating the latter.

We find ourselves crossing the sandbank, surprisingly deserted since most people are more likely to pile onto the deckchairs to nap and swim in its admittedly magnificent lagoon called « japanese garden » (or Japanese garden in good French). Something we will also do afterwards (swimming, not the deck chairs).

You can also have fun ziplining over the lagoon in question, but I think there must often be a queue (and I especially think you have to pay extra).

Part of the path having collapsed, the diversion is on the big rock.

Ko Tao is just across the street.

It's a climb. On the last few meters, there are no more steps and you have to climb a little, but it remains easy to access.

It takes no more than 10 minutes to reach the rock that serves as a viewpoint over the island. The climb is quite steep, but it is the heat on this hot April day that is the most difficult.

When I arrive and discover the view, I am completely sweaty, but it doesn't stop me from enjoying the moment.

So, isn't this view beautiful? It's just sublime, it's well worth the little effort and the heat to endure up there.

Some people are a bit of a daredevil just to get THE photo.

Back down.

The little delirium of the moment.

The summit where the viewpoint is located.

Given the heat, and since there is still time left, it is high time to take a dip. As such, you can't really see much of the island, as a whole area is taken up by the Resort and therefore private.

It was in the translucent waters of its lagoon that we enjoyed these few extra minutes in paradise. I am particularly happy with the atmosphere that day, because although many tours pass through the island, there were frankly few of us that day at the end of the afternoon and it gave the feeling of having the island only for a few privileged [Editor’s note 2019: c[It was also just before the Chinese started to land in Thailand in numbers…]

Our little swimming spot. Be careful of the dead coral though.

Small crab spotted on a rock.

And fish, coming to nibble on the bits of dead skin, free “fish spa”.

Blurp blurp

Time passes and it is already time to reach the pontoon where our boat must be waiting for us. This concludes this beautiful day of snorkeling around the island of Ko Tao and this time spent on Nang Yuan is certainly one of the best moments.

It is easy to understand the success of this little piece of sand just a stone's throw from Turtle Island, and sleeping here must be a particularly great experience, because once you have passed all the towers, you are the only ones here, until the early hours of the morning.

Waiting for their customers.

For us, it's the end! Back to Ko Tao and soon the end of this trip to the south of Thailand, before the next time of course!