About Ko Nui
Ko Nui is a small uninhabited limestone islet in Khanom Bay, Khanom District, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, southern Thailand. Located a short longtail boat ride from the mainland, it is known for a small cave containing a freshwater spring linked to the legend of Luang Pu Thuat. The islet is a popular stop on Khanom pink dolphin watching boat tours and offers scenic karst scenery, clear water and photo opportunities.
Visitors guide
Visitors reach Ko Nui only by chartered longtail boat from Khanom piers such as Laem Prathap Pier. The islet is a bare limestone rock with a small cave and a freshwater spring inside. There are no beaches for swimming or facilities on the island. Visitors can walk on the rocks, enter the cave to see the spring, take photos of karst formations and clear water, and combine the stop with dolphin watching and sightseeing of nearby islands in Khanom Bay.
Key highlights
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Small limestone islet with distinctive karst formation in Khanom Bay
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Cave containing a natural freshwater spring
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Association with the legend of Luang Pu Thuat
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Common stop on Khanom pink dolphin watching boat tours
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Scenic photo opportunities with clear turquoise water and rock formations
History of Ko Nui
Local legend associates the freshwater spring in the cave on Ko Nui with Luang Pu Thuat, a revered Buddhist monk, who is said to have stepped on the island and caused fresh water to emerge from the rock to provide drinking water for sailors.
Culture & Context
The freshwater spring inside the cave is considered sacred by locals and visitors. It is respected as a spiritual site linked to Luang Pu Thuat and is visited for its cultural and folk-religious significance.
Route
| By air | Fly to Nakhon Si Thammarat Airport or Surat Thani Airport, then drive to Khanom (approx. 80-100 km) |
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| By road |