- Koh Samui island hopping by private boat covers five island groups in one day: Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap; Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang; Koh Phangan; Ang Thong; and Koh Tao with Koh Nang Yuan.
- The southern islands are the shortest trip, from ฿3,000 per long-tail for 1-2 guests or ฿25,000 per catamaran for a 4-hour half day.
- Koh Tao is about 45 km north of Samui and is a speedboat day, from ฿41,000 per boat on Pearl with hotel transfer included.
- Ang Thong National Marine Park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and its park fee of ฿300 per adult is paid on top.
- All prices are for the whole boat with captain and crew, and island entrance fees are never included.
It is the evening before your boat day, the group chat is busy, and someone finally asks the real question: Pig Island, Ang Thong or Koh Tao? Koh Samui island hopping by private boat can mean five very different days, from a short hop to the islands off the south coast to a long run north to the reefs of Koh Nang Yuan.
This guide sorts them by distance, time on the water and the boat that suits each one. The aim is simple: pick one route and enjoy it, instead of trying to squeeze everything into eight hours.
Which islands can you reach on a Koh Samui island hopping day?
Five island groups are within reach of a single day from Koh Samui: Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap to the south; Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang off the north-east coast; Koh Phangan to the north; Ang Thong National Marine Park to the west; and Koh Tao with Koh Nang Yuan far to the north. They differ less in beauty than in how much of your day goes on travelling.
The closest islands work as a half day. The farthest, Koh Tao, sits about 45 km north of Samui, so it is a full day on a fast boat and nothing else. Koh Phangan and Ang Thong sit in between and are the two classic full days.
Every price on Koh Samui charters is for the whole boat with captain and crew, not per person. That changes the maths: a speedboat shared by a family of six is a very different deal from the same boat for a couple. The table shows the lowest entry price per route among the boats in this guide.
| Island group | Where from Samui | Usual trip length | Boat types | From (per boat) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Koh Tan, Koh Madsum, Koh Rap | Just off the south coast | 4 to 8 hours | Long-tail, catamaran, speedboat | ฿3,000 (long-tail, 1-2 guests) |
| Koh Som, Koh Mad Lang | Off the north-east coast | 2.5 to 4 hours | Sailing catamaran | ฿21,000 |
| Koh Phangan | The next island north | 4 to 8 hours | Speedboat, catamaran | ฿30,000 |
| Ang Thong Marine Park | West of Samui | 8 to 10 hours | Speedboat, catamaran | ฿32,000 |
| Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan | About 45 km north | 8 hours | Speedboat | ฿41,000 |
One honest rule from years on the water: one island group per day. Mixing Ang Thong with Koh Tao, or Koh Tao with Pig Island, means most of the day is spent bouncing across open sea. The good combinations are the ones the boats already run, such as Koh Tan with Koh Madsum and Koh Rap, and you will find them below.
Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap: the easiest island hop
The trio south of Samui is the easiest island hopping day: short crossings, three different stops and plenty of time in the water. Koh Madsum is the island known as Pig Island, Koh Tan has coral off its sandy beaches, and Koh Rap is the small third stop that the longer programs add.
This is the only route where a long-tail boat makes real sense. The long-tails leave from Thong Krut Pier on the south coast, and the price slides with the group: the standard long-tail costs ฿3,000 for 1-2 guests on the 4-hour Koh Tan and Koh Madsum trip and ฿5,500 for 9-10 guests. The luxury long-tail starts at ฿6,000 and adds cold drinks and fresh fruit. A round-trip transfer to the pier is ฿1,500 extra.
For shade, a toilet and space to lie down, the sailing catamarans from the Treasure Pier at Thong Krut are built for this route. Victoria runs 4-hour trips to Pig Island and Koh Tan for ฿25,000 and an 8-hour day that adds Koh Rap for ฿39,900, for up to 8 guests. Nina covers the same islands from ฿29,000 for a morning half day to ฿43,000 for 8 hours with Koh Rap, and sets up a water slide on programs of 4 hours or more.
Speedboats from the north side reach the same islands by running along the coast, which turns the ride into a sightseeing loop. Pearl's 8-hour Koh Tan and Koh Madsum day is ฿38,000 with hotel transfer included, and Anda's 8-hour day with Koh Rap added is ฿30,000.
Koh Madsum and Koh Rap each charge ฿50 per person, paid separately from the boat price. Keep small notes in a dry bag.
Who should skip it? People who want empty beaches. Pig Island is popular, and around midday you will share the sand with other boats, so the morning and afternoon slots on the catamarans are worth using. The Koh Tan and Koh Madsum route page lists every boat that runs it.
Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang: a short sail by catamaran
Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang are small islands off the north-east of Samui, and they make a half-day sail rather than a full island-hopping day. Two catamarans run them, both close to the north-east beaches, so you are swimming soon after you step on board.
Vickey is the small, relaxed option: ฿21,000 for the morning half day (09:00-13:00) or ฿22,000 for the afternoon with sunset (14:00-18:30), for up to 6 guests, with sashimi and fishing gear on board. Scarlet is bigger, takes up to 20 guests and leaves from Choeng Mon or Bang Rak beach with hotel transfer included: ฿35,000 in the morning, ฿38,000 in the afternoon, or ฿28,900 for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise to Koh Som or Thongson Bay.
This is the one route in this guide where the boat itself is the main event. You sail, swim off the back, try the paddle boards, fish a little and are back in time for dinner.
My view: it is the best first boat day for families with small children and for anyone worried about seasickness, because the crossings are short. It is the wrong choice if you want the famous postcard scenery. For that, go to Ang Thong.
Is Koh Phangan worth a full day by private boat?
Yes, if you want beaches you cannot reach by road. Koh Phangan is the largest island next to Samui, about 168 sq km, and much of its coast is wild, with bays that only boats reach easily. The crossing is about thirty minutes, so most of the day goes on swimming rather than travelling.
A typical day starts from the north of Samui and anchors at Koh Ma bay for snorkelling over the reef, then works along the coast to quiet beaches. The Koh Phangan charter page describes the stops in more detail.
A full 8-hour Koh Phangan day starts at ฿30,000 per boat on Anda, the lowest full-day price in this guide. Pearl's loop around the island is ฿38,000, and Sapphire, Ti Ti and Ofcourse ask ฿40,000. Coco Cay and Summer Casa offer a 4-hour version for ฿43,000 or 8 hours for ฿53,000, priced for 2 guests, with a butler on board.
Catamarans work here too. Vickey's full day is ฿35,000, and Scarlet's is ฿49,900 for 6 hours or ฿55,000 for 8 hours, with Thai lunch served on board.
Who should choose it: groups who like swimming more than sightseeing, and anyone who has already done Pig Island. Who should not: first-timers who want the most dramatic scenery in one day. That is Ang Thong.
Ang Thong Marine Park: the classic day, with one key date
Ang Thong National Marine Park is the most spectacular day trip from Samui: 42 islands to the west, with limestone cliffs, lagoons, beaches and shallow coral gardens. It is also the route with the most rules and the longest day after Koh Tao.
Ang Thong is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no Ang Thong trips run in those weeks. If your holiday falls then, Koh Phangan or Koh Tao are the full-day alternatives. Outside the closure, the park fee of ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child (children aged 12 and older pay as adults) is paid on top of the boat price.
Speedboats do Ang Thong in 8 hours from the north side: Anda ฿32,000, Pearl ฿39,000, Sapphire, Ti Ti, Ofcourse and Ruby 38 ฿44,000, and Neverland ฿51,000 with up to 10 guests in the base price. Catamarans are slower and plan longer days: Nina runs 10 hours (09:00-19:00) for ฿65,000 with Thai lunch, and Blue Coco goes from 08:30 to 18:30 for ฿72,000. Coco Paradise's water slide and sea pool are not permitted inside the park.
The honest downside is the open-water crossing. On a speedboat in choppy weather you will feel every wave, and if anyone in the group gets seasick a catamaran is kinder. The Ang Thong charter page has the full picture.
How far is Koh Tao, and is it worth it by boat?
Koh Tao is about 45 km north of Samui, the farthest island group you can do in a day, and it is worth it if snorkelling is the main goal. Koh Nang Yuan, the small islands joined by sandbars just off Koh Tao, is the stop everyone remembers.
This is a speedboat route. Pearl is ฿41,000 for up to 6 guests with hotel transfer included, Ruby 38 is ฿46,000, Sapphire, Ti Ti and Ofcourse are ฿47,000, and Neverland is ฿53,000 for up to 10. Coco Cay at ฿61,000 and Summer Casa at ฿62,000 are priced for 2 guests and come with a butler and a toilet on board.
Koh Nang Yuan charges ฿250 per adult and ฿125 per child, and this fee is not part of any boat price. Children aged 12 and older pay the adult fee.
The downside is time at sea. A good part of the day is spent crossing open water, and in rougher months the ride can be tiring or the captain can change the plan. The Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan page shows the full route. If you only have one boat day and nobody in the group snorkels seriously, I would pick Ang Thong or Koh Phangan instead.
Which boat fits which island hopping route?
Speedboats for distance, catamarans for comfort, long-tails for the short southern hop. That is the short version; here is a bit more detail.
- Speedboat: the only sensible choice for Koh Tao and the fastest way to Ang Thong and Koh Phangan. Capacity runs from 8 guests on Ruby 38 to 37 on Neverland.
- Sailing catamaran: shade, a toilet, space to lie down, paddle boards and often a slide. Best for Koh Tan, Koh Madsum, Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang, and for Ang Thong if the group does not mind a longer day.
- Long-tail: the cheapest and most local option, only for Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rap from Thong Krut, up to 10 guests.
- Couples' speedboats: Coco Cay and Summer Casa price everything for 2 guests and add a butler, a sun bed and a beach picnic.
Pearl is the speedboat guests book most often: hotel transfer is included and every route, Koh Tao too, costs between ฿38,000 and ฿41,000. For a fast day, Pearl suits groups of up to 15 who want an easy pickup, Sapphire suits groups of up to 24, and Neverland is the one for big parties of up to 37.
For a slower day on the water, Victoria is the best value for the southern islands, Nina adds a water slide and a 10-hour Ang Thong option, Scarlet brings hotel transfer and Thai lunch, and Blue Coco has a butler, three cabins and room for up to 25.
To compare more options side by side, see all speedboats for rent on Koh Samui or the full list of catamarans on Koh Samui.
Planning your island hopping day: a practical checklist
Choose the route first and the boat second, then check the details that cause most surprises on the day.
- Pick one island group. The boats' own routes already combine the islands that sit close together.
- Check the departure point. Anda, Sapphire, Ti Ti, Ofcourse and Neverland leave from the north side, Coco Cay and Summer Casa from the Naval Base, the long-tails, Nina and Victoria from Thong Krut, and Scarlet from Choeng Mon or Bang Rak.
- Check the transfer. It is included on Anda, Pearl, Ruby 38 and Scarlet; on many other boats you get to the pier yourself.
- Count your group. The base price covers 2 guests on Coco Cay and Summer Casa, 6 on most speedboats, 8 on Nina, Victoria and Scarlet, and 10 on Blue Coco and Neverland.
- Ask about lunch. On most speedboats it is extra, while Scarlet serves Thai lunch on 6- and 8-hour trips and Nina on the 10-hour Ang Thong day. On Blue Coco, Nina, Scarlet, Vickey and Victoria you can bring your own food and drinks free of charge.
- Carry cash for island fees: Koh Madsum, Koh Rap, Koh Nang Yuan and Ang Thong all charge separately.
From about November to January the north-east monsoon can make the Gulf of Thailand rough, and trips may change route or be postponed. In those months keep a spare day in your plans and stay flexible about the destination.
When you know the route and the date, send the free request on the boat page. A manager checks that the boat is free and confirms the final price for your group before anything is paid.
Questions and answers
Can I visit Pig Island and Ang Thong on the same day?
Not on the routes the boats run. Koh Madsum is south of Samui and Ang Thong is to the west, so combining them would mean long crossings and very little time at each stop. Choose one and book the other for another day if you have time.
What is the cheapest way to go island hopping from Koh Samui?
The standard long-tail from Thong Krut is the cheapest private option: ฿3,000 for 1-2 guests on the 4-hour Koh Tan and Koh Madsum trip. The round-trip transfer to the pier is ฿1,500 extra. For a larger group, the per-boat price of a catamaran or a speedboat can work out well too.
Are island entrance fees included in the charter price?
No. Koh Madsum and Koh Rap charge ฿50 per person each, Koh Nang Yuan ฿250 per adult and ฿125 per child, and Ang Thong ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child. Bring cash, as these are paid on the day.
Is a half day enough for island hopping?
For Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, or for Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang, a 4-hour half day is enough to swim and visit the beaches. Koh Phangan can be done in 4 hours on Coco Cay or Summer Casa, but Ang Thong and Koh Tao need a full day.
Can children come on an island hopping trip?
Yes, and several boats have child prices. On Nina, Victoria and Scarlet children aged 4-9 pay half the extra-guest rate, and on Coco Cay and Summer Casa children up to 5 travel free. For young children a catamaran to the southern islands is the most comfortable choice.
What happens if the weather is bad on the day?
The captain may change the route to sheltered water or the trip may be postponed, especially from November to January. On the long-tails there is no cancellation fee when heavy rain or strong wind prevents the trip. Ask the manager about your boat's rules when you book.
Can I bring my own drinks on board?
On Blue Coco, Nina, Scarlet, Vickey and Victoria you can bring your own snacks, food and drinks free of charge, and champagne glasses and dishes are on board. On other boats, check when you send the request.
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 11 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.
