This one is a memory. A while ago we went to Koh Samui, in the south of Thailand, and spent a day out at Ang Thong Marine National Park. We had a lot of fun.
Back then, getting there from Guwahati meant a long way round. Now there is a direct flight, and that changes everything.
Guwahati to Thailand, now direct
IndiGo now flies non-stop from Guwahati to Bangkok. It is the airline's first international route from Guwahati. The first flight ran on 27 October 2026, and the regular service flies twice a week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
For anyone in the North East, that turns Thailand from a big trip into a simple one. You fly out of your own city in the evening and land in Bangkok the same night. From Bangkok, Koh Samui is a short onward hop.
Bangkok to Koh Samui
Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island, after Phuket. It sits in the Gulf of Thailand. There are two ways to get there from Bangkok.
The quick way is to fly. Samui has its own small airport, built and owned by Bangkok Airways. The airline flies there from both of Bangkok's airports, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang.
The slow way is by land and sea. Go south by bus or train to Surat Thani on the mainland. From there a bus runs to the pier at Donsak, and a car ferry crosses to the island in about an hour and a half. It is a long day, so leave plenty of time between each leg.
Out to Ang Thong
Ang Thong is a marine national park of 42 islands in the Gulf of Thailand, about 30 km off Koh Samui. It has been a national park since 1980. You reach it by boat, and only licensed tour boats may take you in. Most people join a group day trip from Samui, though private boats are also possible.
The water in the park is clear and green-blue, and the islands rise straight out of it, steep and covered in forest.
A day trip usually mixes a few things. There is time on a beach and a swim. Many tours add kayaking along the cliffs and a stop for snorkelling. The park suits snorkelling better than diving, as silt from a river on the mainland can cloud the deeper water.
The view from the top
Then comes the climb to the viewpoint. It is steep, but from the top you look out over the whole archipelago: island after island, green on blue, as far as you can see.
The best-known viewpoint is on Koh Wua Ta Lap, the island with the park office. The trail is only about 500 metres long, but it is steep, with ropes to hold on to. Allow 25 to 30 minutes to get up.
Emerald Lake
Ang Thong is also known for its Emerald Lake, a saltwater lagoon in the middle of one of the islands, Koh Mae Ko.
The lake is closed in by cliffs, but it is not cut off. Caves under the rock link it to the open sea. A path of about 20 minutes leads from a nearby beach up to a viewpoint over the lake.
More to see on Koh Samui
Samui is worth a few days of its own. The island is about 25 km across, and a ring road of about 51 km runs right round it, so nothing is far.
The Big Buddha, at Wat Phra Yai, is a 12-metre golden statue on a small islet off the north-east coast. A raised road joins it to the main island, not far from the airport. The temple was finished in 1972.
Another temple, Wat Khunaram, keeps the preserved body of a monk, Luang Pho Daeng. Inland, the jungle hides waterfalls such as Na Muang. Take care on the rocks there: people have been badly hurt in slips and falls near the island's waterfalls.
Chaweng is the busiest beach. It is where the island's first big resorts were built.
When to go
Samui's heaviest rain falls from mid-October to early December. November is the wettest month, and February is the driest. In the rest of the year, rain tends to come in short showers, often 20 minutes to an hour.
Ang Thong usually closes each year from 1 November to 15 December. This is partly for the weather and partly to give the park time to recover. Strong winds and high waves can also close it at short notice at other times. The dates can change, so check before you book.
If you want to go
Plan Ang Thong outside the closed season, and keep a spare day in case the sea is too rough for the boats.
Book with a licensed operator. Park entry fees are charged on top of some tours and included in others, so ask before you pay.
Wear shoes with grip for the viewpoint climb, and carry water and sun cream.
With the direct flight from Guwahati, a week in Bangkok and the islands is easier to plan than ever. See our Thailand trips, or tell us your dates on Plan My Trip.
About the writer
Shrawani
Shrawani is an avid traveller. She writes about the trips she takes, in India and abroad.
