- Seven sailing catamarans are available on Koh Samui, from the 11 m Vickey for up to 10 guests to the 71 ft Serenity for up to 60.
- Half days start at ฿21,000 on Vickey (up to 6 guests) and ฿25,000 on Victoria (up to 10 guests); full days to Ang Thong cost ฿72,000 on Blue Coco.
- Short routes go to Koh Som, Koh Mad Lang or Thongson Bay in the north-east and to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum (Pig Island) in the south; longer days go to Koh Phangan and Ang Thong.
- Many catamarans let you bring your own snacks, food and drinks free of charge, with glasses and dishes on board.
- For Koh Tao or a fast Ang Thong day, a speedboat such as Pearl is the better tool: none of the catamarans run a Koh Tao trip.
The anchor drops off Koh Tan, the engine goes quiet, and the only sound is water slapping under the nets at the bow. Someone is already on a paddle board, someone else is asleep in the shade with a plate of mango. That is the day a sailing catamaran on Koh Samui is built for, and it is a very different day from a speedboat charter.
This guide goes through the seven catamarans you can charter privately, what each one costs per boat, where they go and the honest question of whether you will actually sail.
Why choose a sailing catamaran on Koh Samui?
A catamaran gives you space, shade and stability: two hulls mean the boat sits flat at anchor and moves gently under way, so it feels more like a floating terrace than a boat. It is the most comfortable way for families, couples and mixed groups to spend a slow day at sea.
The deck is wide, there is a covered area for lunch, and the nets at the bow are where most guests end up lying in the sun and the spray. Below deck you find cabins and bathrooms, which matters more than people expect on a long day with children or older relatives.
The trade-off is speed. Catamarans are slower than speedboats, so they suit close islands, Koh Phangan and a relaxed Ang Thong day, not long-distance island hopping. If you want to see as much as possible in one day, read the section on speedboats below before booking.
All seven boats are chartered privately: the whole boat, captain and crew for your group only, at one price for the boat. You can see them side by side on the catamaran charter page.
Which sailing catamarans can you charter, and how big are they?
The seven boats range from an 11 m catamaran with one double cabin to a 71 ft boat for big events. The right one depends mostly on your group size, because each price covers a base number of guests and extras are charged per person.
| Catamaran | Size and cabins | Price covers | Maximum guests |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vickey | 11 m (36 ft), 7 m wide, 1 double cabin | Up to 6 guests, ฿1,300 per extra guest | 10 |
| Victoria | 11 m (37 ft), living room | Up to 10 guests, ฿1,000 per extra guest | 13 adults |
| Nina | 11 m (38 ft), 2 bedrooms | Up to 8 guests, ฿1,500 per extra guest | 15 |
| Scarlet | 13 m (43 ft), 3 bedrooms, living room, 2 restrooms | Up to 8 guests, ฿1,500 per extra guest | 20 |
| Blue Coco | Lagoon 400, 12 m (40 ft), 3 double cabins with bathrooms | Up to 10 guests, ฿1,200 per extra guest | 25 |
| Coco Paradise | 3 cabins, 3 bathrooms | Up to 10 guests, ฿1,500 per extra guest | 45 |
| Serenity | Serenity 71, 71 ft long, 34 ft wide, 4 double cabins | Up to 25 guests, ฿1,300 per extra guest on a full day | 60 |
For a couple or a family of four, Vickey is the easy pick because its base price already covers 6 people. For 8 to 10 friends, Victoria and Nina are the sweet spot. Groups of 15 to 25 should look at Scarlet and Blue Coco, and big celebrations go to Coco Paradise or Serenity.
Cabins on a day charter are mainly for changing, resting and using the bathroom. Blue Coco is the most comfortable of the mid-size boats below deck, with 3 double cabins that each have their own bathroom and air conditioning, and an engine room insulated against noise.
Where do sailing catamarans go from Koh Samui?
There are three main areas: the small islands off the north-east coast, Koh Tan and Koh Madsum in the south, and the bigger full-day trips to Koh Phangan and Ang Thong National Marine Park. Each boat has its own set of routes, so the destination often decides the boat.
The north-east half days, to Koh Som, Koh Mad Lang or Thongson Bay, are run by Vickey and Scarlet. These are short hops with lots of time at anchor for swimming and paddling, which suits a lazy morning or an afternoon that ends with the sunset.
The south is the classic catamaran day: Koh Tan with coral off its sandy beaches, and Koh Madsum, the island known as Pig Island. Victoria, Nina, Blue Coco, Coco Paradise and Serenity all go there, and the Koh Tan and Koh Madsum page explains what you see on each island. Entrance to Koh Madsum and to Koh Rap costs ฿50 per person for each island, paid separately.
Koh Phangan is the full-day choice on Vickey, Scarlet, Blue Coco, Coco Paradise and Serenity. It is the largest island next to Samui, with quiet bays along its coast, and you can find more about the route on the Koh Phangan charter page.
Ang Thong is offered by Blue Coco, Coco Paradise and Serenity. The park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no Ang Thong trips run then. Outside that window it is a long, rewarding day, and the entrance fee of ฿300 per adult and ฿150 per child is paid on top. The Ang Thong charter page has the background.
How much does a sailing catamaran cost for a half day or a full day?
A half day on a sailing catamaran costs from ฿21,000 per boat on Vickey up to ฿60,000 on Serenity, and full days run from ฿35,000 to ฿130,000. Remember that these are prices for the whole boat and its base group, not per person.
- Vickey: ฿21,000 for a morning half day (09:00-13:00), ฿22,000 for the afternoon with sunset (14:00-18:30), ฿35,000 for a full day to Koh Phangan (10:00-18:30).
- Victoria: ฿21,000 for a 2.5-hour sunset cruise to Koh Tan, ฿25,000 for 4 hours to Pig Island and Koh Tan, ฿35,000 for 6 hours, ฿39,900 for 8 hours with Koh Rap added.
- Nina: ฿22,000 for the sunset cruise, ฿29,000 morning or ฿31,000 afternoon for 4 hours, ฿38,000 for 6 hours, ฿43,000 for 8 hours, all to Pig Island and Koh Tan.
- Scarlet: ฿32,900 morning or ฿34,900 afternoon half day, ฿47,900 for 6 hours or ฿52,000 for 8 hours to Koh Phangan.
- Blue Coco: ฿36,000 morning or ฿41,000 afternoon half day, ฿52,000 for a full day at Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, ฿62,000 to Koh Phangan, ฿72,000 to Ang Thong.
- Coco Paradise: ฿45,000 morning or ฿50,000 afternoon half day, ฿65,000 full day at Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, ฿75,000 to Koh Phangan, ฿85,000 to Ang Thong.
- Serenity: ฿60,000 for a 4-hour half day, ฿100,000 for 8 hours to Koh Phangan or Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, ฿130,000 to Ang Thong.
The 6-hour programs on Victoria and Nina are the best value most people overlook. You get a full, unhurried day at the southern islands without the long afternoon that sometimes makes an 8-hour trip drag.
Check what is included before you compare. Scarlet includes VIP hotel transfer and a Thai lunch on its 6 and 8-hour trips. Blue Coco includes a butler, a bartender, a beach picnic and afternoon tea. Serenity's base price does not include soft drinks and fruit (฿150 per guest) or the BBQ buffet (฿600 per guest), nor the transfer and lunch.
What does a day on the nets actually look like?
Most of the day is spent at anchor: swimming off the back steps, snorkelling, paddling and lying on the bow nets, with short cruises between stops. It is slow by design, and the best catamaran days are the ones where nobody checks the time.
A typical half day goes like this. You board, the crew hands out cold drinks, and the boat cruises to the first island. At anchor, out come the snorkelling masks, paddle boards and on some boats kayaks. After an hour or so the boat moves to a second stop, there is fruit and snacks on deck, and then you head back.
The toys differ from boat to boat, and they are worth checking if you have kids:
- Nina has a water slide on programs of 4 hours or more, depending on the program, plus a paddle board and fishing rods.
- Scarlet sets up its slide on trips of 4 hours and longer and carries 2 paddle boards and kayaking gear.
- Coco Paradise can add an ocean swimming pool and water slide for ฿3,000, but they are not permitted inside Ang Thong.
- Victoria includes kayaking, a paddle board and fishing rods.
- Vickey serves sashimi on board, and on Nina and Scarlet the fresh catch can be turned into sashimi.
Food is where you can save and personalise the day. On Vickey, Victoria, Nina, Scarlet and Blue Coco you can bring your own snacks, food and drinks free of charge, and champagne glasses and dishes are already on board. A cooler of your favourite drinks and something from a local bakery goes a long way.
Do you actually sail on a sailing catamaran?
Sometimes, but do not book a catamaran expecting a sailing lesson. On short day charters the crew usually motors between islands to keep to the schedule, and the sails go up only when the wind and the direction suit the route.
The Gulf of Thailand often has light winds during the calmer months, and the distances on a half day are short. A crew that has to bring you back by 13:00 will not tack across the bay for an hour just for the feeling. When conditions are right, it is lovely: the engine goes off, the boat leans a little and everything goes quiet.
If sailing itself is the point of your day, say so when you send the request. A longer program on a day with good wind gives you the best chance of time under sail, while a half day is mostly about swimming and lounging. The crew can tell you on the morning whether the wind is worth it.
Weather works the other way too. From about November to January the north-east monsoon can make the sea rough, and the crew may change the route or postpone the trip. Nina's page says it plainly: the route can change depending on the weather.
Who should choose a speedboat instead?
Choose a speedboat if you want Koh Tao, if you want to see a lot of Ang Thong in one day, or if you only have one day and a long list of islands. None of the seven catamarans runs a Koh Tao trip.
A speedboat covers the long crossings much faster, so you spend more of the day in the water and less of it getting there. The flip side is a bumpier ride, less shade and no cabins, which is why I steer families with small children and anyone who gets seasick towards catamarans for the closer routes.
The boat I recommend most for distance is Pearl. It is the most booked boat on the list, takes up to 15 guests, includes hotel transfer, and costs ฿38,000 for Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, ฿39,000 for Ang Thong and ฿41,000 for Koh Tao with Koh Nang Yuan, for up to 6 guests. You can compare the other fast boats on the speedboat charter page.
If you are still undecided, here is a quick match: Vickey and Victoria for small, relaxed groups on a budget, Blue Coco for comfort and Ang Thong, and Pearl when distance matters more than deck space.
How to book a sailing catamaran on Koh Samui
Pick the route first, then the boat that fits your group size, then the time slot. Morning half days are calmer and better for snorkelling; afternoons give warmer light and, on Vickey and the sunset cruises, a sunset on the way back.
- Decide on the area: north-east islands, Koh Tan and Pig Island, Koh Phangan or Ang Thong (not from 1 November to 15 December).
- Count your group, including children, and compare it with the number the boat price covers.
- Check the extras: island fees, Ang Thong entrance, lunch and transfer where they are not included.
- Plan your own snacks and drinks if the boat allows them.
- Keep a spare day in case the weather moves the trip.
Then send a free, non-binding request from the boat page or on WhatsApp. A manager checks that the catamaran is free on your date and confirms the final price for your group.
For larger groups who want the most space on deck, these three are the ones to compare:
Questions and answers
How many people fit on a sailing catamaran in Koh Samui?
It depends on the boat. Vickey takes up to 10 guests and Victoria up to 13 adults, while Blue Coco takes 25, Coco Paradise 45 and Serenity 60. The base price covers fewer people, so check how many guests are included before comparing.
Is a catamaran good for people who get seasick?
A catamaran is steadier than a monohull or a speedboat, especially at anchor, so many people who feel unwell on small boats are fine on one. Still, choose a calm morning, a short route and take your usual seasickness remedy if you need one.
Are lunch and drinks included on a catamaran charter?
Soft drinks, ice and seasonal fruit are included on most of the catamarans. A Thai lunch is included on Scarlet's 6 and 8-hour trips, while Serenity charges ฿150 per guest for soft drinks and fruit and ฿600 per guest for a BBQ buffet.
Can I sleep on board overnight?
The prices here are for day programs, with cabins used for changing and resting. If you are interested in more than one day, mention it in your request and a manager will tell you what is possible.
Which catamaran is best for a couple?
Vickey is a natural fit, with its single double cabin and a price that already covers up to 6 guests. Its afternoon half day with sunset, for ฿22,000, is a popular choice for couples.
Can we bring a cake or champagne for a celebration?
On Vickey, Victoria, Nina, Scarlet and Blue Coco you can bring your own food and drinks free of charge, and champagne glasses and dishes are on board. Let the crew know in advance if you need space in the fridge.
Is the water slide available on every trip?
No. Nina and Scarlet set up the slide on programs of 4 hours or longer, and on Coco Paradise the pool and slide cost ฿3,000 extra and are not permitted inside Ang Thong.
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 3 November 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.
