Koh Tao is a tropical paradise known for its crystal-clear waters, colorful marine life, and breathtaking coastal scenery. With so many beautiful bays scattered around the island, we decided a private longtail boat adventure would be the perfect way to explore! The highlight of our five-hour journey was snorkeling alongside blacktip reef sharks at Ao Leuk, an unforgettable experience! We also explored colorful fish and coral at peaceful Mango Bay, visited the stunning islands and sandbars of Koh Nang Yuan, and cruised past secluded bays and dramatic granite formations along Koh Tao’s coastline. It was one of our favorite adventures in Thailand!

🗓️ Itinerary: Snorkeling, Sharks & Sandbars

We spent the morning of our third day on Koh Tao (April 18, 2026) exploring the island by private boat. We arranged our five-hour trip through View Point Resort after arriving on the island, with pickup directly from the resort’s beach. Our itinerary combined a hike to Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint, snorkeling, and sightseeing before returning to the resort for lunch and relaxation.

• 🛶 8:00 AM – Private longtail boat pickup from View Point Resort (🎟️ BOOK through hotel on arrival)
• 🏝️ 8:30 AM – Mango Bay snorkeling
• 🧗 9:45 AM – Arrive at Koh Nang Yuan before its 10 AM opening (250 THB/person)
• 🥾 10:00 AM – Hike to Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint (~0.7 mile round-trip) and explore Nangyuan Island Beach (~0.93 mile total)
• 🦈 11:15 AM – Ao Leuk snorkeling, where we spotted numerous blacktip reef sharks!
• 🐢 12:00 PM – Cruise past Shark Bay & Shark Island
• 🛶 1:00 PM – Return by boat to View Point Resort 

💡 Tips: Smooth Sailing & Snorkeling

• 🛶 Consider a Private Longtail Boat: At 3,000 THB for two people, our five-hour private trip offered flexibility and the convenience of pickup directly from our resort’s beach.
• 🏝️ Plan Ahead for Koh Nang Yuan: Arrive before the 10 AM opening to beat the viewpoint crowds, bring cash for the separate 250 THB entrance fee, and avoid disposable plastic bottles and drones. Check the tides if you want to see the famous sandbars fully exposed. Read more: Koh Nang Yuan
• 🦈 Look for Blacktip Reef Sharks: We spotted numerous sharks while snorkeling at Ao Leuk! Keep a respectful distance and avoid touching marine life.
• ☀️ Pack Sun Protection: Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, and plenty of water. You’ll spend several hours exposed to the tropical sun.
• 📸 Bring an Underwater Camera: Between the snorkeling, sharks, and incredible island scenery, there are plenty of opportunities for underwater photos and videos.
• 🛶 Confirm Your Boat & Operator: Request photos of the actual boat and clarify your preferences before booking.

🚤 Western Coast: Setting Sail from Paradise

Our private snorkeling adventure began with a scenic boat ride north from View Point Resort, giving us a beautiful view of our resort and Villa 4 from the water! Along the way, we cruised past Banana Rock Bar, the hillside villas of Pinnacle Koh Tao Resort, secluded beaches, and dramatic granite headlands. The stunning scenery along Koh Tao’s western coastline made the journey to our first snorkeling stop at Mango Bay an adventure of its own!

🏝️ Mango Bay: A Tropical Snorkeling Escape

Our first snorkeling stop was Mango Bay, a beautiful, secluded bay along Koh Tao’s northern coastline. Surrounded by lush green hills, its clear turquoise waters revealed colorful fish, fascinating coral formations, and massive underwater boulders. While we didn’t encounter any larger marine life, we had the snorkeling area entirely to ourselves! It was incredibly peaceful exploring the underwater scenery without another boat or snorkeler in sight, making it a relaxing start to our adventure.

🏝️ Koh Nang Yuan: Three Islands, Two Stunning Sandbars

One of our most anticipated stops was Koh Nang Yuan, a breathtaking collection of three small islands connected by white sandbars just off Koh Tao’s coast. Arriving before the island opened allowed us to race to the iconic viewpoint and enjoy spectacular panoramic views almost entirely to ourselves! We also explored the beautiful Nangyuan Island Beach, one of our favorite beaches in Thailand. From the unforgettable viewpoint hike to walking between the turquoise-water sandbars, this destination deserves its own adventure! Read our complete Koh Nang Yuan blog for hiking stats, photos, videos, and visitor tips.

🦈 Ao Leuk: Snorkeling with Blacktip Reef Sharks

Ao Leuk was one of the most exciting snorkeling stops of our entire Koh Tao adventure! This beautiful bay on the island’s southeastern coast is known for its clear waters and marine life, including blacktip reef sharks. Unlike our earlier snorkeling experience at Shark Bay, where we didn’t spot any sharks, we encountered several at Ao Leuk! We initially spotted one, then another, and were lucky enough to swim alongside them for a while. Watching these incredible creatures glide through the water was an unforgettable highlight of our private trip!

🚤 Eastern Coast: Hidden Bays, Shark Island & Buddha Rock

Beyond our snorkeling stops, our private boat trip gave us incredible views of Koh Tao’s rugged coastline! We cruised past lush green hillsides, dramatic granite formations, and beautiful bays along the island’s eastern and southern shores, including the areas around Laem Thian and Tanote Bay. Highlights included passing the distinctive rocky Shark Island and the towering granite formations near Cape Taa Toh, home to Buddha Rock. It was a beautiful way to see parts of Koh Tao we hadn’t explored on land!

🎥 Koh Tao Longboat Adventure: Short, Reel, TikTok

🔄 360 Photo: Click and drag to look around

Drag to look around. Use the mouse wheel or the plus and minus buttons to zoom. Use arrow keys when the viewer has focus.

📞 Boat Info: Private Koh Tao Boat Trip

Exploring Koh Tao by private boat was one of the highlights of our visit, especially reaching Koh Nang Yuan before the crowds and snorkeling with blacktip reef sharks! While the destinations were incredible, our boat and operator were disappointing. Despite requesting a traditional wooden longtail, we received a fairly rundown boat, and our operator smoked frequently. We’d definitely recommend a private trip for the flexibility, but suggest requesting photos of the actual boat and confirming operator preferences before booking.

• 🛶 Booking: Arranged through View Point Resort after arriving on Koh Tao.
• 💰 Cost: 3,000 THB total for a private boat accommodating 2–4 people.
• ⏰ Duration: Five hours, approximately 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
• 🚤 Transportation: Convenient pickup and drop-off directly from View Point Resort’s beach.
• 🤿 Included: Snorkeling gear (excluding fins), life jackets, drinking water, ice, and shade. Food, soft drinks, and island admission were not included.
• 🏝️ Koh Nang Yuan: Entrance cost 250 THB per person, with opening hours of 10 AM – 5 PM during our visit.