- Start with your group size, because base prices cover anything from 2 guests (Summer Casa, Coco Cay) to 10 guests (Neverland, most catamarans).
- Koh Tao is a speedboat or motor yacht day: none of the catamarans in the list run that route.
- Catamarans give the most shade, space and stability for families, while speedboats win on distance and time in the water.
- A real toilet is not standard on every boat: Coco Cay and Summer Casa list an onboard toilet, and Blue Coco has a bathroom in each of its 3 cabins.
- The cheapest private trip is a long-tail to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum from ฿3,000 for 1-2 people, while full yacht days run to ฿260,000 and more.
It is the second evening of the holiday, the sunset is over, and someone at the table says: "Let's get a boat for a day." Ten minutes later the group chat has a speedboat link, a catamaran link and a yacht link, all with different prices and nobody sure which one fits. This guide on how to choose a boat charter on Koh Samui turns that argument into seven simple questions.
I have watched a lot of groups pick the wrong boat for the right reasons: a fast speedboat for a toddler who wanted to nap, a slow catamaran for friends who dreamed of Koh Tao. Answer the questions below in order and the shortlist usually shrinks to two or three boats on its own.
How to choose a boat charter on Koh Samui: the four main boat types
Most private day trips from Koh Samui use one of four types of boat, and each one is built for a different kind of day. Every charter is the whole boat with captain and crew for your group only, and the price is per boat, not per person.
The type of boat decides how far you can go, how much shade you get and how the sea feels under you. The rest (cushions, music, snacks) is detail. Here is the simple version:
| Boat type | Best for | Trade-off | Starting price on the site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long-tail | Couples and small groups, short trips south of Samui | Slow, little shade, no toilet listed | from ฿3,000 |
| Sailing catamaran | Families, mixed ages, relaxed days | Slower, shorter range of routes | from ฿21,000 |
| Speedboat | Long distances, island hopping, active groups | Bumpy in waves, less space to lie down | from ฿30,000 |
| Motor yacht | Comfort, cabins, celebrations | Highest prices | from ฿18,000 (short sunset program) |
If you are torn between the two most popular types, the earlier article on catamaran or speedboat on Koh Samui goes deeper into that single choice. Here we look at the whole decision, one question at a time.
How many people are coming, and what does the base price include?
Count heads first, because every boat has a base price that covers a set number of guests and a maximum it can legally carry. Two boats with the same headline price can end up very different once you add your group.
The base group varies a lot. Summer Casa and Coco Cay price their trips for 2 people, then ฿2,000 for each additional person, up to 10. Anda, Ofcourse, Sapphire and Ti Ti cover up to 6 guests, with each extra guest at ฿1,000. Neverland already includes 10 guests in its price and takes up to 37. A boat priced for 2 is a great deal for a couple and an expensive one for eight friends.
Catamarans tend to have generous base groups. Vickey covers 6 people and takes 10, Nina covers 8 and takes 15, Victoria covers 10 and takes 13, and Coco Paradise covers 10 and can take up to 45. For a family of four that is often more boat than you need, which is not a bad thing: space is half the pleasure.
Be honest about the final number. Groups of twelve tend to become fifteen once a cousin and two new friends from the hotel join, and a boat with a maximum of 12 cannot simply squeeze them in. Pick a boat with some spare capacity if your group is still growing.
For a group in the middle, from 6 to 15 people, Pearl is the speedboat I would look at first, and it is the one guests book most often. The 12 m (38 ft) boat covers up to 6 guests in its price, takes up to 15, and each extra guest costs ฿2,000. Hotel transfer is included, so the price you see is close to the price you pay, apart from lunch and island entrance fees.
A quick match by group size: Summer Casa suits a couple who want a speedboat with a butler and a toilet, Vickey a small family on a budget, Pearl a mid-size group that wants one speedboat for any route, and Neverland a big group of friends on one boat.
How far do you want to go in one day?
Decide on the destination before the boat, because distance rules out half the list. The short trips go south to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum (Pig Island), the medium ones to Koh Phangan and Ang Thong Marine Park, and the long one north to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan.
Koh Tao is a speedboat or motor yacht trip: none of the catamarans in the list offer it. Koh Tao lies about 45 km north of Samui, and the boats that go there include Pearl (฿41,000), Ruby 38 (฿46,000), Ofcourse, Sapphire and Ti Ti (฿47,000 each), Neverland (฿53,000), Coco Cay (฿61,000), Summer Casa (฿62,000), Princess 42 (฿139,000) and Minor Affair (฿305,000). If Koh Tao is the dream, the choice is already narrower.
Pearl is the one I recommend most for groups who want range without a big bill. Its five 8-hour routes cover almost the whole map: Koh Tan and Koh Madsum or around Koh Phangan for ฿38,000, around Koh Samui or Ang Thong for ฿39,000, and Koh Tao with Koh Nang Yuan for ฿41,000. The Pearl speedboat page lists what is included, from the guide and snorkelling masks to fruit, snacks and soft drinks.
Koh Phangan is the easy middle ground: almost every type of boat goes there, from Vickey on a full day (฿35,000) to the speedboats and yachts. Ang Thong is also widely covered, but remember the park entrance fee of ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child is paid on top.
Also check where the boat leaves from. Anda, Neverland, Ofcourse, Sapphire and Ti Ti are moored on the north side of the island, close to Ang Thong, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Summer Casa and Coco Cay leave from the Naval Base, Hilux from the west coast, and the long-tails from Thong Krut Pier in the south. Hotel transfer is included on some boats (Anda, Pearl, Ruby 38, Princess 42, Lisa, Scarlet, Minor Affair) and not on others, so read the boat page before you compare prices.
My honest view: for a first boat day, a medium route with plenty of stops beats a long route with a lot of sitting. Koh Tao is beautiful, but if half the group gets bored in transit, Koh Phangan or Ang Thong will make for a happier day.
How much shade and space do you need on board?
More than you think. The Gulf of Thailand sun is strong even on a hazy day, and a group that spends eight hours on an open deck without proper shade usually comes back quiet and pink.
Catamarans give the most shade and the most room to move around. They have a covered aft deck, an inside saloon and nets at the bow for lying in the sun, so people can spread out by mood. The catamaran charter page lists seven of them, for 10 to 60 guests.
Speedboats usually have a canopy over the main seating and an open bow with cushions. That works well for a group that swims a lot and sits mostly during the crossings. It works less well for anyone who wants a long nap in the shade between stops.
Motor yachts sit in between. Princess 42, for example, has seating on deck and on the flybridge, where a large bimini keeps off the sun, plus air conditioning inside. Long-tails are the least shaded: a canopy, wooden benches and the wind. Lovely for four hours, too much for a full day in the heat, which is why the long-tail trips are half days.
Travelling with kids or prone to seasickness: which boat is easier?
A catamaran is usually the easier choice. Two hulls make it far more stable at anchor and in a small swell, and there is room for children to move, nap and play while the adults relax.
Speedboats are faster but they bounce when the sea picks up, and that is when stomachs complain. Seasickness tends to hit hardest on long crossings, so the shorter the route, the smaller the risk. A morning half day to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum on a catamaran is about as gentle as a sea day gets.
Some catamarans are built for fun with kids. Nina includes a water slide on programs of 4 hours or more, plus kayaks and paddle boards. Coco Paradise can add an ocean swimming pool and slide for ฿3,000, though not inside Ang Thong Marine Park. Scarlet sets up its slide on trips of 4 hours and longer.
Check the child rules too, because they differ by boat. On Hilux, children aged 0-10 travel free and children aged 11-14 cost ฿800. On Summer Casa and Coco Cay, children up to 5 travel free and from 6 they pay as adults. For people who know they get seasick, my tips are simple:
- Choose a catamaran and a short route, ideally in the morning when the sea is often calmer.
- Sit in the middle of the boat and look at the horizon during crossings, not at a phone.
- Eat something light before you leave, and drink water through the day.
- Take seasickness tablets in advance if they have worked for you before; a pharmacy on the island can advise.
Do you need cabins, a toilet or a place to change?
For a full day, a proper toilet matters more than most people admit. Not every boat lists one, so if it matters to your group, check the boat page or ask before booking rather than assuming.
Among the speedboats, Coco Cay and Summer Casa list an onboard toilet, which is one reason couples and families like them. Blue Coco, a Lagoon 400, has 3 double cabins, each with its own bathroom, toilet and air conditioning. Scarlet has 3 bedrooms, a living room and 2 restrooms. Coco Paradise has 3 cabins and 3 bathrooms.
Cabins also help with small children who need a nap, older guests who want air conditioning, and anyone who simply wants to change in private. The motor yachts are strongest here: Princess 42 has two double cabins, an en suite master and a fresh water shower, Lisa has two double cabins, and Minor Affair has three double cabins and an air-conditioned living room.
Long-tails are the opposite end: no cabin, no toilet listed, just a wooden boat and the islands. That is fine for a four-hour trip with stops on beaches, and it is part of the charm, but it is not for everyone.
What is your budget, and what is the occasion?
Set a budget for the whole boat, not per person, and then let the occasion decide how much comfort is worth paying for. A relaxed family swim day and a birthday on the water deserve different boats.
Budget
The cheapest private trip is a long-tail from Thong Krut Pier to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum: ฿3,000 for 1-2 people, rising to ฿5,500 for 9-10 people. The luxury long-tail adds cold drinks and fresh fruit from ฿6,000. Transfer to the pier is not included; a round trip costs ฿1,500. The long-tail boat page shows both boats.
The catamarans start low: Vickey from ฿21,000 for a morning half day, Victoria from ฿21,000 for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise, Nina from ฿22,000 for the same kind of sunset trip. Speedboats start at ฿30,000 with Anda for a full day to Koh Phangan or Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap, and Pearl starts at ฿38,000 for a full 8-hour day with hotel transfer included. Motor yachts range from Princess 42 at ฿77,000 for 4 hours up to Minor Affair at ฿260,000 for a full day. The full price guide by boat compares them route by route.
Occasion
For a celebration, comfort and service matter more than speed. Blue Coco comes with a butler, a bartender, a beach picnic and afternoon tea. Lisa includes 2 bottles of wine or 24 cans of beer and lunch on full days. Several catamarans (Vickey, Nina, Victoria, Scarlet, Blue Coco) let you bring your own food and drinks free of charge, and champagne glasses and dishes are on board, which is perfect for a cake and a toast.
For a proposal or an anniversary, a sunset cruise on a small catamaran is hard to beat. For a fishing day with friends, Hilux builds most of its programs around fishing. For a premium day with cabins, Blue Coco suits a group that wants a catamaran with private bathrooms, Princess 42 a small group that wants a classic motor yacht, and Lisa a group of 10 who want drinks and lunch taken care of.
Checklist before you send a booking request
Once you have answered the seven questions, the booking request takes two minutes. The request is free and non-binding: a manager checks that the boat is free on your date and confirms the final price before anything is paid.
- Date and a backup date. Weather can move a trip, especially from November to January.
- Exact number of guests, with children and their ages, since child prices differ by boat.
- Route and length: half day, 6 hours or full day, and the islands you want.
- Pickup: is hotel transfer included, or do you need to reach the pier, Naval Base or marina yourself?
- Fees not in the price: Ang Thong, Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap entrance fees are paid separately.
- Food: is lunch included, extra, or should you bring your own?
- Must-haves: toilet, cabin, shade, water slide, fishing gear or a cake moment.
Send it through the booking form on the boat page, or use the contact page or WhatsApp if you would like help choosing between two or three boats. Tell the manager what kind of day you imagine, not just the boat name, and you will get a better match.
Questions and answers
How far in advance should I book a private boat on Koh Samui?
As early as you can, especially in the busy season and for the popular catamarans, because the popular boats get booked first. In quieter months a shorter notice often works. The request is free, so there is no harm in checking early.
Is the price per person or per boat?
The price is for the whole boat with captain and crew. Each boat has a base group size, and extra guests above that cost a fixed amount per person, listed on the boat page.
What happens if the weather is bad on my date?
The captain decides whether the sea is safe, and the route can be changed or the trip moved to another day. For the long-tail boats, there is no cancellation fee when extreme weather such as heavy rain or strong wind stops the trip.
Can guests bring their own food and drinks on board?
On several catamarans, including Vickey, Nina, Victoria, Scarlet and Blue Coco, you can bring your own snacks, food and drinks free of charge, and glasses and dishes are on board. On other boats, check the boat page or ask the manager.
Are snorkelling masks included?
Snorkelling equipment or masks are included on most boats, from the long-tails to the yachts. Fins and kayaks vary by boat, so check the inclusions list if they matter to you.
Is lunch included on a boat charter?
It depends on the boat. Lisa includes lunch on full-day trips, Scarlet serves a Thai lunch on 6- and 8-hour trips, and Minor Affair includes lunch, while many speedboats offer lunch at an extra charge.
Can we go diving on a speedboat day?
Yes, on some boats. Anda, Neverland, Ofcourse, Sapphire and Ti Ti offer scuba diving with equipment, an instructor and 2 dives for ฿4,500 as an add-on.
Which speedboat is the best all-round choice for a mid-size group?
Pearl is the most booked one. It is a 12 m speedboat for up to 15 guests, the price covers up to 6 with ฿2,000 per extra guest, hotel transfer is included, and its 8-hour routes run from ฿38,000 to ฿41,000, Koh Tao included.
Ready to choose your boat?
Every boat page shows the routes, prices and what is included. The booking request is free: a manager checks the boat is free on your date and confirms the price.
Updated 26 October 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.
