Red Dragon Cruise: Ang Thong National Marine Park 

Aboard the Red Dragon: a day in Ang Thong National Marine Park

The Red Dragon isn’t just the title of an exciting comic book; it’s also a charming, vintage Thai cruise ship that sails in the Koh Samui region. In August 2022, we had the pleasure of taking a full-day tour to Ang Thong National Marine Park. From early morning until sunset, we laughed, ate, snorkeled, kayaked, climbed, and enjoyed stunning views. It was a fantastic day filled with fun and adventure!

Cruising on the Red Dragon: An amazing adventure in Thailand!

Imagine this: you’re on board the Red Dragon, an awesome sailing yacht that’s a whopping 24 meters long and weighs 76 tons! This ship is truly a gem, offering plenty of space for 74 happy passengers. With a mix of luxury and relaxation, this is the place you want to be during your vacation in Thailand.

Welcome aboard!

From the moment you step on board, you can feel the good vibes. The crew greets you with big smiles and asks you to take off your slippers. Yes, you read that right – here, you can walk around barefoot! On the upper deck, you can sink into soft cushions and mats, feeling like you’re lounging on a luxury bed with a stunning view of the sea.

Thai hospitality at its best

The crew is incredibly friendly and always up for a chat. They make sure you’re having a great time and regularly check if you’d like another drink. With a refreshing beverage in hand, you can totally relax and soak up that classic Thai hospitality – always with a smile!

Food, Food, Food!

As soon as you board, you can enjoy unlimited soft drinks, coffee, tea, and water. And that’s just the beginning! While we sail along the coast, we’re treated to delicious snacks: gyozas, spring rolls, and fresh fruit like watermelon and pineapple.

And then comes the highlight: lunch! A fantastic Thai buffet featuring fried fish, crispy chicken, satay, and rice dishes. And as the cherry on top, we were served two scoops of ice cream with banana and roasted peanuts on the way back. Yum!

Adventures in Ang Thong National Marine Park

We headed to the stunning Ang Thong National Marine Park, which boasts over 40 islands to explore. Riding on this authentic wooden yacht felt much more relaxed than zooming around in a speedboat. The trip to the viewpoint overlooking the “Emerald Lake” was simply magical.

Snorkeling like a pro

Once we arrived in the crystal-clear waters of Ang Thong National Marine Park, we jumped into the deep at Koh Wao Island for a dive into the underwater world. Before starting our snorkeling adventure, we received a thorough briefing on the best snorkeling spots and what we should (and especially should not) do. The experienced crew from Ko Samui Boat Charter made it clear that we should leave the marine life undisturbed. After all, you don’t want to disrupt this beautiful world!

The “Secret” Lagoon

The second stop is a sea kayaking trip that includes a visit to a secret location in the park. For an additional cost of 250 THB per person, you can join this kayak tour. If you prefer not to participate, you can stay on board or take the dinghy that accompanies the kayak tour.

From The Red Dragon, we transferred to the kayak and paddled towards “The Secret Lagoon” of the Ang Thong National Marine Park. We intentionally do not reveal the exact location of this spot, but we can tell you that it is situated in the most remote corner of Ang Thong. Under expert guidance, we were led into a cave, and after a few minutes of kayaking, we arrived at a small lagoon. It was incredibly beautiful and unique!

After a short hour, we made another stop where we parked our sea kayaks on a sandbank. Here, we enjoyed the splendor that Ang Thong National Marine Park has to offer. It was pure, untouched nature with crystal-clear water, allowing us to see the fish swimming from a distance.

Jump!

After we all arrived safe and sound on The Red Dragon, we were given some time to relax or swim around the ship. At a height of about five meters, a small platform was constructed on the upper deck, from which we could jump into the water.

Once all the kayaks were hoisted back on deck, it was time to cruise toward our last stop of the day.

Thale Nai Viewpont

Our last stop was off the coast of Koh Mae Ko, the island with the emerald lake, the blue lagoon, and the hidden sea. Many names describe this unimaginably beautiful place tucked away on an island in Thailand’s Ang Thong National Marine Park. After being dropped off at the island’s long plastic pier, we began our considerable climb. For those with mobility issues, we do not recommend the climb to the Thale Nai Viewpoint due to the many steep steps. The steps are short, and especially downhill, can be very uncomfortable.

After such a climb, the reward is even greater. From two different platforms, visitors can enjoy awe-inspiring views of Ang Thong National Park’s Emerald Lagoon. Once at the bottom, you can take a break and order something to drink. We treated ourselves to fresh coconuts and then splashed in the lukewarm water.

Sailing into the sunset

On our way back to Koh Samui, we dedicated the return trip to relaxation, still savoring the adventurous day filled with unforgettable impressions and beautiful memories. As we stretched out on the upper deck of The Red Dragon, we admired the stunning play of colors in the approaching sunset. After docking at a quaint port in Lipa Noi, we boarded a minivan that whisked us back to our accommodation on KohSamui, enjoying the added convenience of free pick-up and drop-off at our place.

Price overview for your cruise adventures in Thailand

For the Ang Thong Marine Park tour, adults pay 3,300 THB and children pay 1,800 THB. Don’t forget the entrance fees: 300 THB for adults and 150 THB for children. Book through Thailand Magazine to get a 200 THB discount per adult.

The Southern Samui Island Tour costs 2,400 THB for adults and 1,500 THB for children, with a 100 THB discount for one adult when booking through Thailand Magazine.

For inquiries or to make a reservation, email info@thailandmagazine.com with the number of people, desired dates, and any questions. Get ready for an amazing day!

Southern Samui Islands Tour

In addition to the Ang Thong National Marine Park Tour, Ko Samui Boat Charter offers the Southern Samui Island Tour, visiting Koh Rap, Samui’s Five Islands, Koh Taen, and Koh Mat Sum. Koh Rap features a peaceful beach and diving opportunities, while Koh Mat Sum is known for its friendly pigs.

The tour costs THB 2,400 for adults and THB 1,500 for children, running from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Snorkeling gear is free, and a Thai lunch with drinks is included. Extra entrance fees apply: 50 THB for Koh Rap and Koh Mat Sum each. Kayak rentals cost 200 THB.

Ko Samui Boat Charter – Private Yacht Rentals

Celebrate special moments on a yacht! Ko Samui Boat Charter offers The Red Dragon and The Blue Dragon for private tours. Perfect for weddings, staff parties, birthdays, or sunset cruises!

Options:

• The Red Dragon:
  • Capacity: 10 people
  • Half-day (4-5 hours): 34,500 THB
  • Full-day (7-8.5 hours): 32,500 THB
  • Additional guests: 1,100 THB each
• The Blue Dragon:
  • Capacity: 6 people
  • Half-day: 20,500 THB
  • Full-day: 57,000 THB

Book through Thailand Magazine for a 5% discount per adult.
For inquiries or to make a reservation, email info@thailandmagazine.com with the number of people, desired dates, and any questions.

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