Ko Mae Ko, located in the stunning Ang Thong National Marine Park of Thailand, is a breathtaking island known for its azure waters, striking limestone cliffs, and lush greenery. This pristine paradise provides unforgettable opportunities for snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking amidst spectacular natural beauty. Visitors can witness the famous Emerald Lake, which offers a mesmerizing hue and panoramic views for those who trek to its vantage point. Whether you’re seeking adventure or tranquility, Ko Mae Ko is an idyllic destination for nature lovers and explorers alike, making it a must-visit in Thailand’s remarkable landscape.
Nestled in the heart of Ang Thong National Marine Park, Ko Mae Ko stands out as an enchanting destination that captures the essence of Thailand’s natural beauty. The island boasts dramatic landscapes, including emerald waters and towering granite cliffs, creating a picturesque backdrop ideal for photography and relaxation. A visit to the island’s famous Emerald Lake showcases nature’s artistry, where the vibrant green of the water contrasts sharply with the surrounding limestone formations. Guests can partake in various activities such as kayaking through the tranquil bays, exploring the rich marine life while snorkeling, or hiking to breathtaking viewpoints that overlook the pristine natural environment. The abundance of flora and fauna adds to the charm of Ko Mae Ko, inviting eco-conscious travelers to immerse themselves in the island’s unique ecosystem. As part of the Ang Thong National Marine Park, this island also emphasizes the importance of conservation efforts, ensuring that future generations can experience its untouched beauty. With its serene atmosphere and stunning landscapes, Ko Mae Ko is not just a destination but an experience that leaves lasting memories for all who visit.
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Ko Mae Ko is perched on a picturesque hilltop overlooking Ang Thong National Marine Park, Thailand
This island is within the Ang Thong National Park and is often one of the islands tourists will stop at on a tour of the islands from Koh Samui along with Ko Wua Talep island.The ascent of Ko Wua Talep Island is tricky (see my review of that island too) but Ko Mae Ko has an established set of steel and wooden steps both up to the ridge around the lake in the middle and also down close to the lake.The steel steps do get baking hot in the Thai sun so hot to touch the rails and advisable to wear some footwear. They can be quite steep (see photos i’ve uploaded) but you are rewarded with a good view at the viewing area at the top.The steps down to the lake are just as steep however please note that you cannot actually dive into the lake or even walk around the lake. Instead the steps bottom out to a balcony area where you can view the sealife.Once you have taken in the area there is a little shop to grab an ice cream and snorkelling is available in the coral area just off the beach. The ground coral pretty much contributes to the coarse beach.
This was our next stop when we did Angthong National Marine Park Tour. The place has rough & rocky beach. The tour operator takes us here for snorkelling but I didn’t find this place suitable for snorkelling. There is a platform which has been created but one should be aware while trying to get into water from this artificial platform created. The water pulls you below the platform & it can be very risky. The bottom of teh platform has become junk & you can get hurt. (If tour operators are reading this, I would suggest that they should identify some other place for snorkelling. The area has rocky structures & steep footsteps has been made to climb up & reach top(Not advisable for old people & family with young children). Once you reach top you get beautiful view of the island and the nature. You also see “Talay Nai” a blue lagoon with beautiful emarald green water by following steps downwards. Only the problem is that time given by operator is too less to enjoy. If you have opted for kayaking then they take you for that too. There is small shop which serves water, cold drinks etc.You need to have proper shoes & camera is a must to capture scenaries. You require at least 2 to 3 hours to fully enjoy this place but it all depends upon your tour operator.
We went on a tour with In Sea Speedboat to Ang Thong Marine Park, the highlight was climbing the stairs on Koh Mae Ko to see the amazing view well worth the jelly legs at the end. There’s a small shop to buy ice creams and cold drinks and toilets are also available.
“MORE STUFF”? YEAH, I ALREADY HAVE THE ORIGINAL “STUFF” ON TRIPADVISOR’S KO MU ANG THONG PAGE (there are 2 for some reason – the one with more reviews).KO MAE KOH is the island in ANG THONG NATIONAL PARK with the GREEN LAGOON/LAKE made famous by the novel “THE BEACH.” Admittedly they later shot the movie way across at PHI PHI LEY in the ANDAMAN SEA – largely because the beach there fitted more closely the description in the novel: KO MAE KO’s main beach although nice is small.Note however KO MAE KOH is not ANG THONG’s main island – that is the headquarters island KO WUA TALAP. This has the even better known climbs to THE HIGH VIEWPOINT and LOTUS CAVE. The good thing is that most daytrip itineraries make a point of calling in at both islands – if not, pick another trip provider – the 2 main islands are dead set highlights. (in my research, one outfit out of KO PHANGAN substitutes a SNORKELING STOP for one of the 2 main islands. Shallow water and closeness to some big mainland rivers means water clarity isn’t great for coral or snorkeling). Most visitors to the island come in on one of the daytrip boats out of KOS SAMUI or PHANGAN ((last I heard you can’t get daytrips from KO TAO or the MAINLAND but there are some charters and an occasional sailing cruise from the former). Because there are other spots in the marine park to visit, each MAE KO stay over tends to last 90 to 120minutes. This gives plenty of time to climb to the GREEN LAGOON/LAKE viewpoint and laze on the beach afterwards.THE CLIMB – when I first visited in the ‘90s there was a rough somewhat circuitous and longer climb to the lagoon. This has been replaced by a much shorter wooden stairway leaving from the corner of the beach – it’s in very good condition suggesting it is only a few years old. This is one steep climb – I reckon a lot is abt 45degrees. Fortunately the climb is short (a sign said 150m but I reckon that was the height of the platform – the actual length was more like 300m which is still pretty short) and there are plenty of resting platforms on the way up so even unfit people should make it with a few stops. The view at top is a 2 way panorama of THE LAGOON in one direction and surrounding islands in the other: well worth the effort.On the way down, something new from my 90s visit – a branch in the stairway leads down to a platform not far above the lagoon’s green surface (colour comes from the limestone). Swimming is forbidden in the lagoon.THE BEACH – once the climb is done, visitors spend some time on the beach. This is very compact – only about 60m long but has plenty of sand even at full tide. There is a pretty big swimming enclosure which keeps swimmers away from longtail boats shuttling people from the floating blue plastic pier near the foot of the stairway to the daytrip boats offshore.I grabbed a dive mask and checked the underwater scene in the deeper part of the enclosure – not great: ANG THONG’s close to some big mainland rivers and in the shallow Gulf so water clarity isn’t fantastic. Coral likes clarity. But I’m an elitist- non-fanatical snorkelers won’t find the underwater scene boring. There must have been 20 daytrip boats (evenly split between largish slowboats and speedboats) offshore and the small beach got pretty crowded. A national park canteen behind the sand was doing good business. There is an amenities block nearby. There were also a lot of kayaks drawn up on the beach – many slowboats carry kayaks, and passengers have an option of paddling from a nearby island across to MAE KOH. However unlike the beach at NATIONAL PARK HQ ISLAND (KO WUA TALAP), I don’t think NP hires kayaks here.Enjoy your visit – KO MAE KO and other parts of MU KO ANG THONG NATIONAL PARK are well worth the time.
The step are a litter more than rExpected, so be carful, make sure u are in snap or do the day before u leave
The island is in the national marine park and the main reason that people land on this island is to climb up the steep stairs ( to be honest in some places they are more like ladders!) to see the stunning views well worth a visit. The day we went the section going down to the emerald lake was closed off for repairs, it looks like it has been closed for a while. The view of the lake from the top was great though.
we were picked up by the tour operator from our hotel and transferred to the start point of the tour. the boat was comfortable and very dry from sea spray. there was plenty of cold water on hand through out the trip. powered by three outboards, the boat skimmed across the top of the glassy water with ease.the crew were professional and safety was paramount.the national park was a delight with its natural beauty, surrounded by crystal clear water, with fish swimming around. the only negative was the amount of plastic floating in the water. well worth visiting….thank you…
Sports excursion 1 hour of ascent to discover superb views.Accompanied by superb monkeysKayak stage, BOF, dirty water, poor snorklingGood atmosphere on the traditional boat, very good lunch.On the other hand, 4 hours on the boat…..plan to read