Sunset Cruise Koh Samui: Catamaran, Junk or Yacht?

It is four in the afternoon, the heat is finally easing, and a white catamaran is waiting with its engines idling and a cooler full of ice. Two and a half hours later you are at anchor off a small island with a drink in your hand, watching the sky go orange and then pink. That, in short, is a private sunset cruise Koh Samui style, and it is one of the easiest ways to make an ordinary holiday evening feel special.

The choice is wider than most people expect: short catamaran sunset trips, afternoon half days that end at dusk, a big Thai sailing junk with a dinner cruise, and even a motor yacht sunset on request. Here is what each one offers, what it costs for the whole boat, and who it suits.

Which boats run a sunset cruise from Koh Samui?

Three kinds of boats run sunset or late-afternoon programs: sailing catamarans, the Red Baron sailing junk and the Hilux motor yacht. All of them are private, so the price is for the whole boat and your group only.

Only Victoria and Nina have a dedicated short sunset cruise; the other catamarans offer afternoon half days that finish around sunset. That difference matters. A 2.5-hour trip is just the golden hour and a swim. A 4 to 5-hour afternoon trip gives you snorkelling, island time and then the sunset on the way home, but you start in the hottest part of the day.

The cheapest sunset on the water is not on a catamaran at all. The long-tail boats from Thong Krut run a 2 pm to 6 pm trip to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum from ฿3,000 for 1-2 people, and in good weather you watch the sunset from the sea on the way back. It is basic, loud and wonderful.

Where does the sun set on the boat routes?

The sun sets in the west, so the best views are on routes with open sea to the west of the boat. The southern routes to Koh Tan and the Five Islands usually give you the sun going down over the water; the north-east routes to Koh Som and Koh Mad Lang may put Koh Samui's hills between you and the sun, depending on where the boat anchors.

Koh Tan sits just south of Koh Samui, and the sunset trips from Victoria and Nina anchor there. On a clear evening the sun drops towards the sea and the mainland coast, with small islands in the foreground. The Hilux sunset program goes to the Five Islands off the south coast, which is classic sunset scenery.

Vickey and Scarlet sail to Koh Som, Koh Mad Lang and Thongson Bay in the north-east. These are calm, pretty anchorages, but the sunset there is often more about the light on the water and the sky turning pink than about a perfect sun disc on the horizon. Ask the crew where they plan to be at sunset if the classic view matters to you.

Near the equator, sunset times change only a little through the year, and the trips that end around 18:30 are timed to catch it. Clouds are the real variable: some of the best sunsets come right after a shower, when the sky clears and the colours are strongest.

Victoria, Nina and Vickey: the short sunset trips

For a couple or a small group, Victoria, Nina and Vickey are the best value sunset boats: compact sailing catamarans of about 11 metres, with prices from ฿21,000. They suit an easy evening rather than a long day out.

Victoria runs a 2.5-hour sunset cruise to Koh Tan from 16:00 to 18:30 for ฿21,000, for up to 10 guests, with extra guests at ฿1,000 each and a maximum of 13. Swimming, snorkelling gear, a paddle board, kayaking, soft drinks, ice, fruit and snacks are part of the package, and the staff speak English.

Nina runs the same kind of sunset cruise to Koh Tan, 16:00 to 18:30, for ฿22,000 for up to 8 guests; each additional guest costs ฿1,500, up to 15. Nina includes soft drinks, fruit and snacks, a paddle board and snorkelling equipment. The water slide comes only on programs of 4 hours or more, so if your kids want the slide, book Nina's afternoon half day from 14:30 to 18:30 instead, for ฿31,000.

Vickey is a little different: an afternoon half day with sunset, 14:00 to 18:30, to Koh Som or Koh Mad Lang, for ฿22,000. The base price already covers 6 people, extra guests cost ฿1,300 each, and the maximum is 10. Soft drinks, fruit and sashimi are included, and Vickey has one double cabin if someone needs a quiet moment.

Red Baron: is the junk dinner cruise worth it?

Red Baron is worth it for a group that wants a sense of occasion: a traditional Thai sailing junk, 30 metres long, with twin masts and red Thai-style sails. The 3-hour Sunset Dinner Cruise costs ฿42,000 for up to 20 guests.

The junk was built by the Pernor shipyard in Surat Thani from Takien Tong, a very hard wood, and it looks like nothing else on the water. On board there is a big sun deck and a main deck with lounge seating, a dining area and a sound system. It is moored on the north side of Koh Samui.

The group pricing is what makes it interesting. The ฿42,000 covers up to 20 guests, and each additional guest on the Sunset Dinner Cruise costs ฿1,800, up to 70 guests plus crew. For a wedding party, a company evening or a big family reunion, that is a lot of boat and a lot of atmosphere for the money.

For a couple it makes little sense: you would be two people on a ship built for seventy. Go for a small catamaran instead and spend the difference on dinner ashore. See details on the Red Baron sailing junk page, or compare classic boats on the page to rent a sailing yacht on Koh Samui.

What about a motor yacht? The motor yacht sunset to know is on Hilux, a 15-metre yacht moored on the west side of Koh Samui: a 2-hour program at the Five Islands, 16:30 to 18:30, for ฿18,000, arranged on request. Rates cover 1-10 people, and children aged 0-10 travel free. It is quick, simple and good value for a family, but it is a motor yacht, so there are no sails and less of the slow, quiet feeling of a catamaran at anchor.

Sail or engine, then? On a catamaran or the junk the evening feels slow and soft, and the boats sit steady at anchor. A motor yacht gets you to the view faster and back sooner, which suits families with small children who need to be in bed early. If you can, choose the boat for the mood you want, not only for the price.

Bigger catamarans for afternoon and sunset groups

For groups of 10 to 60, the bigger catamarans run afternoon half days that end around sunset, with more space, more service and higher prices: Scarlet, Blue Coco, Coco Paradise and Serenity.

Scarlet, a 13-metre catamaran for up to 20 guests, sails 14:00 to 18:30 to Koh Som, Koh Mudlang or Thongson Bay for ฿34,900 for up to 8 people, with ฿1,500 per extra guest. It has 3 bedrooms, 2 restrooms, a captain and 3 staff, VIP hotel transfer and a slide on trips of 4 hours or more.

Blue Coco, a Lagoon 400 with 3 double cabins, runs an afternoon half day from 13:30 to 18:30 to Koh Tan, Koh Madsum or Koh Rap for ฿41,000 for up to 10, extra guests ฿1,200, up to 25. A butler, a bartender, afternoon tea, a welcome drink and a beach picnic are included. For a polished sunset with service, Blue Coco is the strongest mid-size choice.

Coco Paradise runs its afternoon half day to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum from 13:30 to 18:30 for ฿50,000 for up to 10 guests, with a dedicated personal butler, pastries by a pastry chef and room for up to 45. The ocean pool and water slide can be added for ฿3,000.

Serenity is the giant: a 71-foot catamaran for up to 60 guests, with a half day of 4 hours, morning or afternoon, for ฿60,000 for up to 25 people. Extra guests cost ฿800 on a half day or sunset trip. Soft drinks and fruit can be added for ฿150 per guest and a buffet with BBQ for ฿600 per guest. Browse them all on the page to rent a catamaran on Koh Samui.

Sunset cruises for couples, proposals and families

Couples are happiest on a short, small catamaran; proposals need a boat where you can find a quiet corner; families do best on an afternoon program with a slide and a swim before the sunset.

For a proposal, tell the crew in advance. They can time the anchor stop with the light, keep the rest of your group busy and, if asked, stay out of the photos. Pick a boat with a bow net or a quiet foredeck, and choose a short sunset trip so the nerves do not have to last all afternoon. Bring your own flowers or cake if you want them; on Victoria, Nina, Vickey, Scarlet and Blue Coco you can bring food and drinks on board free of charge.

For families, the hot start of an afternoon program is the trade-off for more to do. Kids swim, slide and paddle, then calm down on deck as the sun goes down. Nina, Scarlet and Coco Paradise all have slides on the right programs.

For a couple or a proposal, these small catamarans are the best fit: Victoria for the cheapest short sunset trip, Nina for a slightly more intimate group of up to 8, and Vickey for a slower afternoon sail with sunset for up to 6.

Catamaran Max 13 persons Victoria From฿21,000 Catamaran Max 15 persons Nina From฿22,000 Catamaran Max 10 persons Vickey From฿21,000

For families and bigger groups, these work better: Blue Coco for service and space up to 25, Scarlet for families who want a slide and hotel transfer, and Red Baron for a dinner cruise with up to 70 guests.

Catamaran Max 25 persons Blue Coco From฿36,000 Catamaran Max 20 persons Scarlet From฿32,900 Sailing junk yacht Max 70 persons Red Baron From฿42,000

What to bring on a sunset cruise

Bring a light layer, a camera with a charged battery, cash for any island fees, and your own food or drinks if the boat allows it. The evening breeze on the water feels cooler than you expect after a hot day.

• A light long-sleeved shirt or wrap for the ride back.
• Swimwear and a towel, if the boat does not supply towels.
• Sunscreen and a hat for the first hours of an afternoon program.
• Insect repellent for the anchor stop near the shore.
• A dry bag for phones and cameras, and a power bank.
• Cash for entrance fees: Koh Madsum and Koh Rap each charge ฿50 per person.
• Snacks, drinks or a bottle of wine if you are on a bring-your-own boat.
• Seasickness tablets if you are sensitive, taken before boarding.

From about November to January the north-east monsoon can make the sea rough, and a sunset trip may change route or be postponed. Sunsets in those weeks can still be lovely, but keep a second evening free in case the first one is called off.

When you book, choose the boat and program on its page, give your date and number of guests, and mention any celebration. A manager confirms the boat and the price for your group.

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.

Choose a boatAsk on WhatsApp

Updated 25 October 2026. Prices can change: the boat page always shows the current price.