Koh Samui Boat Trips and Island Hopping Guide (2026)

A day on a private boat is the most popular thing our guests do on Koh Samui, and it is easy to see why. Within an hour or so of the villa you can be snorkelling in Ang Thong Marine Park, meeting the pigs on Koh Madsum or having lunch on Koh Phangan, and still be back by the pool for sunset. We have been arranging villa holidays on Koh Samui since 2003, and this is our guide to the trips worth taking, how they work and where to stay to make the most of them.

What is the best boat trip from Koh Samui?

For most families and groups it is Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park, an archipelago of about 42 islands west of Samui, and widely cited as the inspiration for Alex Garland's novel The Beach. By private speedboat it is usually 45 minutes to an hour each way, against one and a half to two hours on the big tour boats, which is why a private charter turns it from a long excursion into a relaxed day.

A typical day takes in snorkelling and kayaking around the limestone islands, then a climb on Koh Mae Ko to the viewpoint over Thale Nai, the emerald saltwater lake fed by underwater caves. It is a walk of around 20 minutes and you look rather than swim, as swimming in the lake is not allowed. On Koh Wua Ta Lap, where the park headquarters sits, a steep trail of about 500 metres with rope handholds climbs to the best view in the park. Allow 25 to 30 minutes up, wear proper shoes, and leave little ones on the beach with a grown up. Lunch is often taken at the fishing village on Koh Paluay.

The national park charges an entry fee in cash on the day, about 300 baht for adults and 150 baht for children aged 3 to 14 at the time of writing, and most charter prices do not include it. Single-use plastics are banned in Thailand's national parks, so bring refillable bottles.

There is one date to plan around. Ang Thong usually closes each year from 1 November to 15 December while the seas are at their roughest, so a stay in that window means choosing one of the trips below instead.

What about Pig Island and the islands off the south coast?

If you are staying on the south or south-west of Samui, the best day out is right in front of you. Boats leave from Thong Krut pier for Koh Madsum, known to everyone as Pig Island for the friendly pigs that wander its beach, around 20 minutes away, and Koh Taen next door, which has shallow, beginner-friendly snorkelling and a mangrove nature trail. There is a small cash entry fee on Koh Madsum, about 50 baht a person.

You can go by traditional long-tail or by speedboat. It is shorter and more relaxed than an Ang Thong day, which makes it a lovely half day with younger children or a gentle first outing early in the holiday.

Can you visit Koh Phangan and Koh Tao by boat?

Yes, and both make a superb private day. Koh Phangan is only about 30 minutes by private speedboat from Samui's north coast. Away from the party beach it is a quieter, greener island, and a charter lets you reach places the ferries do not: Bottle Beach on the north coast, which has no easy road in, the coves of Thong Nai Pan, and Koh Ma, a tiny island joined to Phangan by a sandbar you can walk at low tide, with good snorkelling on the reef beyond it.

Koh Tao is the bigger day. It sits about 65 kilometres north of Samui, roughly an hour and a half to two hours each way by speedboat, so you leave early and come home in the late afternoon. The reward is some of the best snorkelling in the Gulf. Koh Nang Yuan, three small islands joined by a white sandbar, is the postcard view, with a short, steep climb of 10 to 15 minutes to the viewpoint and easy snorkelling in the shallow bay between the islands. It has its own entry fee, around 250 baht for adults at the time of writing, and plastic bottles are not allowed ashore. Around Koh Tao itself, Shark Bay is known for green turtles and small blacktip reef sharks in shallow water.

Is a sunset cruise worth it?

For couples, birthdays and the last night of a holiday, very much so. Private sunset charters typically run for three to four hours in the late afternoon, either along the north coast with Koh Phangan on the horizon or down among the southern islands, some ending with the sun dropping behind the Five Islands. Sailing catamarans and traditional wooden yachts run sunset cruises too, some with dinner on board. Our villa managers and guest relations team can suggest the right boat for your group.

How do private boat charters work?

Charters are priced by the boat and the length of the day, not per person, which is why they make so much sense for families and groups of six to fourteen. A half day is usually four to five hours and a full day eight to nine. A private boat normally comes with captain and crew, snorkel gear, soft drinks and towels, with lunch often included on a full day. Most of the leading operators berth on the north-east coast around Bophut and Bang Rak and collect you from your villa, while the southern islands trips leave from Thong Krut.

The simplest way to book is through us. Tell our guest relations team your dates, group size and children's ages, and we introduce you to an operator we know, who confirms the day and takes payment directly. Once you have arrived, your villa manager can usually arrange a boat for you too.

Over Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Easter the best boats are booked well ahead, alongside the villas, so if a boat day matters to you, mention it when you book your stay rather than once you land.

When is the sea calmest?

February to April is the most reliable window for calm, clear water, and the summer months are usually good too. October to early December brings the north-east monsoon, with more rain and choppier seas, especially on the east coast. Whenever you come, the captain has the final say on safety, so plan your boat day early in the stay to leave room to move it if the weather turns.

Which villas are closest to the boats?

Every corner of Samui works for a boat day, but where you stay shapes which trip is easiest.

On the south coast, Sea Renity sits on 25 metres of beach at Laem Sor, minutes from Thong Krut, with views to Koh Taen. It has six bedrooms, most with sea views, plus a bunk room for six children, so it suits a big family who want Pig Island practically on the doorstep. For larger groups, Villa Kalyana nearby overlooks Koh Madsum and Koh Taen, has sea kayaks for the bay and can be booked from seven up to 26 bedrooms.

On the west coast, Baan Puri is an absolute beachfront villa on Lipa Noi with four to six bedrooms, a swim-up pool bar, family sea kayaks and views across to the Five Islands and Ang Thong. Lipa Noi, on the sheltered west coast, is also usually calmer than the east through the late-year monsoon. For a couple or a small family, The Headland Villa 1 in Taling Ngam has steps down to a private cove and sunsets over the Marine Park.

On the north coast, close to the main charter piers, Ban Haad Sai sits right on Big Buddha beach with up to seven bedrooms for 14 guests and views across to Koh Phangan. In Maenam, Villa Bougainvillea opens straight onto a quiet sandy beach with good swimming, sleeps up to eight and has kayaks for calm mornings.

You will find more on the island's beaches in our insider's guide to Koh Samui's beaches, the boats themselves on our Koh Samui boat charter page, and other ideas for your stay under activities and attractions.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to get to Ang Thong Marine Park from Koh Samui?

About 45 minutes to an hour by private speedboat, and one and a half to two hours on a larger tour boat.

Is Ang Thong Marine Park open all year?

No. It usually closes from 1 November to 15 December each year for the monsoon season. Outside those dates it is open, weather permitting.

Are boat trips from Koh Samui suitable for young children?

Yes, with the right choice of day. The southern islands half day is short and gentle, and private boats let you set the pace. The Ang Thong viewpoint climbs are steep, so they suit older children better. Charter operators usually have their own minimum age, which we check for you.

Do I need to book a boat in advance?

In high season, yes. Over Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and Easter the best boats are reserved weeks ahead. At quieter times a few days' notice is usually enough.

What should we bring?

Cash for park and island entry fees, reef-safe sun cream, a hat, refillable water bottles and shoes you can walk a steep trail in. Snorkel gear and towels are normally on board.

What happens if the weather is bad on the day?

The captain decides whether it is safe to sail. If not, a good operator will offer another day, which is why we suggest booking your boat trip early in your stay.

Planning a villa holiday with a day on the water? Get in touch with your dates and group, and we will match you with the right villa and help arrange the boat.