Ang Thong National Marine Park

The archipelago was declared a marine national park on 12 November 1980, and its name combines 'Mu Ko', a group of islands, with 'Ang Thong', meaning a bowl of gold. The park is managed by Thailand's Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation and was also designated a Ramsar wetland of international importance in 2002, recognising its marine lakes, caves and shallow coastal waters.

Ang Thong gained international attention through Alex Garland's novel The Beach, whose hidden lagoon is often associated with the park's scenery, although the film adaptation was shot elsewhere in Thailand. Today the park receives well over 100,000 visitors a year, nearly all on day trips from Koh Samui and the mainland.

Most of the islands are uninhabited, and the small communities on Ko Wua Ta Lap and Ko Phaluai are tied to fishing and to the park itself. The main human presence is the stream of tour boats from Koh Samui and the Don Sak area on the mainland, many run by local family businesses. Tour lunches usually feature simple Thai dishes and fresh fruit, and the park station on Ko Wua Ta Lap has a small shop and restaurant.