Nang Yuan Island (Three-Island Sandbar)
Three islets linked by a white sandbar you can walk between — Koh Tao's most iconic sight, with superb snorkelling and a breathtaking aerial viewpoint.
About this Place
Nang Yuan Island is Koh Tao's most iconic sight — three small islets linked by a double sandbar that you can walk between at low tide, creating one of the most photographed beach formations in Thailand. The surrounding water has snorkelling directly off the sandbar with excellent visibility. A steep 15-minute climb to the viewpoint plateau rewards with a spectacular aerial view of the three islands and the sandbar configuration — the most-used photograph in Koh Tao's promotional material. The Nang Yuan Dive Resort manages the island and charges an entry fee (currently 100 THB) to control visitor numbers. No plastic bottles allowed on the island. Longtail boats from Koh Tao's Mae Haad pier depart throughout the day. Best visited early morning (07:00–09:00) before snorkelling tour boats arrive. The island has a restaurant and accommodation — overnight stays eliminate the crowds.
Location
10.1095, 99.8389
More Nearby Locations
Koh Tao's main pier village — the island's commercial and transport hub with the best restaurants, dive shops, and infrastructure for island living.
Koh Tao's main beach and dive hub — learn to dive here for the world's best prices, snorkel off the shore, and end the day at a laid-back beach bar sunset.
Snorkel with harmless blacktip reef sharks in shallow water — Koh Tao's Shark Bay is one of Thailand's most reliable spots for close marine wildlife encounters.
Koh Tao's best summit view — a granite boulder hike to panoramic Gulf of Thailand vistas with Nang Yuan, Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui all visible on clear days.