Private single-engine speed boat Koh Tan

This half-day afternoon charter gives your group one private speedboat, two islands south of Koh Samui and an unhurried pace. The single-engine boat cruises at about 25 knots, so the crossing from Bang Kao Pier to Koh Tan takes roughly 30 minutes. Most of the afternoon goes to the water and the beach, not to travel time.

Koh Tan: reef snorkeling

Koh Tan is a small, quiet island with a pretty beach, secluded surroundings and mangroves. Its coral reef is the main snorkeling stop of the trip. The water over the reef is shallow and sheltered, which suits beginners and families. Snorkeling gear is provided. You can also swim, or take a kayak out along the shore (kayaking is paid separately). Stay on the surface and keep your fins off the coral. This protects the reef and keeps you safe.

Koh Madsum: Pig Island

From Koh Tan the boat continues to Koh Madsum, also known as Pig Island. It has a white sandy beach and clear water, and the island's pigs are often seen near the shore. Use the time here to snorkel, swim, paddle or simply lie on the sand.

How the afternoon runs

Hotel pick-up is at 13:30, and the boat leaves Bang Kao Pier at 14:00. You are back in Samui and on your way to your hotel around 16:30. Soft drinks, water and snacks are on board, and a guide looks after the group throughout. Because the boat is private, you share each stop only with your own party. Lunch is not included, so plan to eat before pick-up.

This is a long day on the water that starts early, with one private speedboat and three islands south of Koh Samui: Koh Tan, Koh Madsum and Koh Rab. The single-engine boat cruises at about 25 knots, so the crossings are short and most of the day goes to swimming, snorkeling and beach time. Your group sets the pace, and you share each stop only with your own party.

Koh Tan: reef and a quieter beach

Koh Tan is a small island with mangroves, secluded surroundings and a pretty beach. The morning begins at its coral reef, the main snorkeling stop of the day, where the shallow water suits beginners as well as confident swimmers. Snorkeling gear is provided. After the reef, the boat moves to a small, pretty beach on the same island for a change of scenery. You can swim there or take a kayak along the shore (kayaking is paid separately).

Koh Madsum: Pig Island

After lunch the boat crosses to Koh Madsum, also called Pig Island. It has a white sandy beach and clear water, and the island's pigs are often seen near the shore. You have around an hour and a half to snorkel, swim, paddle or lie on the sand.

Koh Rab: a last beach stop

The day ends at Koh Rab, a quieter beach nearby, where you get more time on the sand before the ride back to Bang Kao Pier.

Soft drinks, water and snacks are on board, and a guide looks after the group throughout. Lunch is optional and paid separately.

This afternoon charter links three islands south of Koh Samui on one private speedboat, and the timing puts the return leg in the evening light. The single-engine boat cruises at about 25 knots, so the crossing from Bang Kao Pier to Koh Tan takes roughly 30 minutes. Your group sets the pace and shares each stop only with its own party.

Koh Tan: reef snorkeling

Koh Tan is a small, quiet island with a pretty beach, secluded surroundings and mangroves. Its coral reef is the main snorkeling stop of the trip. The water is shallow and sheltered, which suits beginners and families. Snorkeling gear is provided. You can also swim, or paddle a kayak along the shore (kayaking is paid separately).

Koh Madsum: Pig Island

The boat then continues to Koh Madsum, also called Pig Island. It has a white sandy beach and clear water, and the island's pigs are often seen near the shore. Use the time to snorkel, swim, paddle or lie on the sand.

Koh Rab and the ride back

The last stop is Koh Rab, a quieter beach nearby, for a final change of scenery before the boat heads back to Bang Kao Pier. If the weather allows, the return crossing gives you a view of the sunset over the sea.

Soft drinks, water and snacks are on board, and a guide looks after the group throughout. Hotel pick-up is at 13:30, and you are back in Samui around 18:00.

This full-day private speedboat tour takes your own group to Angthong National Marine Park, an archipelago of 42 limestone islands in the Gulf of Thailand, north-west of Koh Samui. The park can only be reached by boat, and a private charter lets you decide how long to stay at each stop instead of following a fixed group schedule. You leave Bang Kao Pier at 09:00 and are back in Samui around 18:30.

What the day looks like

The day starts at a snorkeling point in the park, with the option to swim or take a kayak out among the islands. Sheer karst cliffs, forested slopes and small sheltered coves surround the water. Snorkeling gear is provided, and the guide stays with your group throughout.

Later you visit a viewpoint over the archipelago, where the limestone islands and the green water between them make for good photographs. After lunch there is free time for a walk around the island and its lake. These walks usually include steps and some uphill sections, so go at your own pace. The lake is a protected saltwater lagoon that you look at from above. It is not for swimming. The afternoon ends with a beach stop for swimming, snorkeling and relaxing before the ride back to Bang Kao Pier.

Good to know

• Lunch is optional and costs 300 THB per person, paid on the day.
• The park entrance fee is not included in the tour price.
• The order and length of stops can change with weather and sea conditions.
• The park usually closes for the monsoon season each year, roughly 1 November to mid-December, so confirm availability if you are travelling around then.