The public ferry from Koh Samui to Koh Tao takes two and a half hours each way, packed shoulder to shoulder with backpackers and their luggage. You arrive exhausted, spend a few rushed hours on the island, then face the same ordeal going back. It is nobody's idea of a great day.
A private speedboat changes the equation completely. Two hours each way in the open air, stopping wherever you want along the route. You arrive at Koh Tao fresh and ready to dive in. You explore at your own speed. And on the way home, you catch the sunset over open water with a cold drink in hand and no schedule to worry about.
Here is exactly what a full day looks like when you charter a private boat from Koh Samui to Koh Tao with BADA. This is the trip we run most often, and every detail has been refined through hundreds of departures.
7:30 AM: Meet at Bangrak Pier
We meet at Bangrak Pier on the northeast coast of Koh Samui. If you are staying in Chaweng, Lamai, or Bophut, the drive to Bangrak takes between 10 and 25 minutes depending on traffic. Most hotels can arrange a taxi the night before, or we can help coordinate pickup if you need it.
When you arrive at the pier, the boat is already loaded with equipment. Snorkels, masks, fins, life jackets, towels, a cooler full of water and soft drinks, and the GoPro for underwater footage. If you are interested in freediving, we bring long fins and weight belts sized for each guest. Everything is included in the charter price.
Our captain does a brief safety overview while the crew finishes preparations. Then you are on the water.
8:00 AM: Departure and Open Water Crossing
The speedboat heads northeast from Bangrak, passing the north tip of Koh Samui and entering open water. The crossing to Koh Tao covers about 65 kilometers and takes roughly two hours depending on sea conditions.
This is the part people worry about most, but it is usually the part they enjoy most. On a calm day the Gulf of Thailand looks like a sheet of glass with small ripples. The boat cruises at a comfortable speed and the ride feels smooth. On choppier days the captain adjusts the route and speed to keep things comfortable.
About halfway across you pass near Sail Rock, which breaks the surface as a lone granite tower in the middle of the ocean. If conditions are good and the group is interested, we sometimes stop for a quick swim around the rock. This is not guaranteed because it depends on current and weather, but when it happens, it is a spectacular bonus. Sail Rock is one of the best dive sites in the entire Gulf of Thailand.
During the crossing, you can sit in the shade under the boat's canopy, stretch out on the front deck for sun, or just watch the water change color as you move into deeper open ocean. Many guests fall asleep during this leg and wake up to the sight of Koh Tao's green hills on the horizon.
10:00 AM: First Stop at Japanese Gardens
The boat anchors at Japanese Gardens on the southwestern side of Koh Nang Yuan, just off Koh Tao. This is one of the most famous snorkeling and freediving sites in Thailand, and for very good reason.
The coral formations here are extraordinary. Massive bommies of staghorn, brain, and table coral spread across the seafloor from 3 to 15 meters deep, creating a natural underwater garden that looks almost deliberately arranged. The diversity of life is staggering. Hawksbill turtles cruise through the coral heads looking for sponges to eat. Schools of parrotfish the size of your arm crunch on coral in groups. Clownfish defend their anemone homes with comical aggression. Blue spotted stingrays rest on sandy patches between the bommies.
Because we arrive early, usually before the tour boats from Koh Tao start their morning runs, you get the site almost entirely to yourself. The difference between snorkeling Japanese Gardens with no other boats around versus sharing it with twenty other groups is enormous. In the quiet morning water, you can hear the parrotfish eating. You can hover motionless above a turtle and watch it for five minutes without anyone swimming through your view.
We typically spend about 90 minutes at Japanese Gardens. For complete beginners, that time is spent floating on the surface with a snorkel, watching the reef from above. For those interested in freediving, our guide takes you down to the coral heads on breath hold dives, pointing out marine life you would miss from the surface. The depth is forgiving and the visibility is usually excellent, which makes it a wonderful place to try your first real freediving attempts.
11:00 AM: Koh Nang Yuan Sandbar and Beach Time
After Japanese Gardens, we motor around to the main sandbar at Koh Nang Yuan. This is the iconic viewpoint you see in every Thailand travel blog: three small islands connected by a strip of white sand with turquoise water on both sides.
You can walk the sandbar, swim in the calm shallows on either side, or hike up to the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint for the classic photo. The hike takes about 20 minutes and the trail is steep in places, but the view from the top is worth every drop of sweat. You look down on the sandbar, the surrounding islands, and the deep blue open ocean stretching to the horizon.
There is a small restaurant on the island where you can buy food and drinks, but we also bring a packed lunch onboard for guests who prefer to eat on the boat. Either way, this is the relaxation portion of the day. Take your time. There is nowhere to be.
12:30 PM: Lunch and Koh Tao Exploration
We head to Koh Tao proper, anchoring in one of the bays on the western coast. Sairee Beach is the most popular option, with dozens of restaurants right on the sand. But if the group prefers something quieter, we can anchor at Chalok Baan Kao or Tanote Bay on the east side where the crowds thin out dramatically.
Lunch on Koh Tao is a highlight in itself. The island has genuinely good food, from fresh seafood grilled on the beach to Thai curries at local restaurants that have been perfecting their recipes for decades. Prices are reasonable and the atmosphere is relaxed. You can eat barefoot in the sand with your feet in warm water.
After lunch, there is time to explore. Walk through Sairee village, browse the dive shops (Koh Tao has more dive shops per square kilometer than anywhere on earth), grab a smoothie, or just lie on the beach and do absolutely nothing. Some guests use this time for a second snorkeling session at a different spot on the island.
2:30 PM: Afternoon Snorkeling or Freediving Session
The afternoon session is where we adapt the trip to what the group wants. For snorkelers, we usually hit Shark Bay on the southern end of Koh Tao. The name is accurate. Blacktip reef sharks cruise through the shallows here, completely harmless and unbothered by humans. Seeing a shark glide past you in waist deep water is a thrill that never gets old.
For freedivers, we have more options. The deeper sites around Koh Tao offer walls dropping to 20 meters and beyond, with larger marine life including giant trevally, barracuda, and occasionally whale sharks during peak season (March through May). Our guide selects the best site based on conditions, current, and the group's experience level.
This second session is usually more relaxed than the morning. Everyone has found their rhythm in the water by now. Beginners are more comfortable with their masks and breathing. Experienced freedivers have warmed up and are reaching their target depths with ease. The afternoon light filters through the water differently too, creating golden shafts that make the coral glow.
4:00 PM: Departure and Sunset Return
We leave Koh Tao in the late afternoon, heading southwest back toward Koh Samui. The return crossing takes the same two hours, but it feels different going back. Everyone is tired in the best possible way. Sun kissed skin, salt in your hair, memories from the day playing on repeat in your mind.
The highlight of the return trip is the sunset. Depending on the time of year, the sun drops toward the horizon as you cross the open water. The sky turns orange, then pink, then deep purple. The sea reflects every color. It is one of those moments that looks fake in photographs because the colors are too intense to seem real.
Drinks come out of the cooler. The boat slows down to cruising speed. Conversation turns quiet and happy. This is the part of the day that guests mention most often in their reviews. Not a specific snorkeling spot or a particular fish sighting, but this feeling of being on open water as the day ends, completely relaxed and completely content.
We arrive back at Bangrak Pier around 5:30 to 6:00 PM, depending on conditions and how many stops we made along the way.
What Is Included in the Charter
The private boat charter to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan costs 38,000 THB for the full day. That price covers the entire boat for up to 12 guests, which means you can split the cost among your group. Eight friends sharing the charter works out to under 5,000 THB per person. That is comparable to what many group tour operators charge, except you get a private boat, a flexible schedule, and a master freediver guide instead of a megaphone and 40 strangers.
Here is everything included in that price:
A private speedboat with captain and crew for the full day. All snorkeling and freediving equipment including masks, snorkels, fins, life jackets, and wetsuits if needed. Long freediving fins and weight belts for those who want to dive deeper. A PADI Master Freediver guide who knows every site on the route. Drinking water, soft drinks, and light snacks throughout the day. GoPro footage of your underwater adventures, delivered digitally after the trip. Towels and dry bags for your belongings.
Not included: lunch on Koh Tao (budget 200 to 400 THB per person at local restaurants), Koh Nang Yuan entrance fee (100 THB per person if you go ashore on the island), and any alcoholic drinks (you are welcome to bring your own).
What to Bring
Pack light. You are on a boat all day and space is limited. Here is what we recommend:
Sunscreen that is reef safe. Regular sunscreen contains chemicals that damage coral, and we take this seriously. If you do not have reef safe sunscreen, we have some on the boat you can use. A hat or cap for the boat ride. Sunglasses with a strap so they do not end up at the bottom of the ocean. A light cover up or rash guard if you burn easily. Cash for lunch and the Nang Yuan entrance fee. Your phone in a waterproof case if you want to take photos (though the GoPro footage usually turns out better than phone shots).
You do not need to bring towels, water, snorkeling gear, or diving equipment. All of that is provided.
Best Time of Year for This Trip
The Koh Tao trip runs year round, but conditions vary by season. The best visibility is typically from March through September, when the Gulf of Thailand is calm and the water clears to 15 to 25 meters. This is also when water temperatures peak at a comfortable 29 to 30 degrees Celsius.
October through February brings occasional rough seas due to the northeast monsoon. We still run the trip during these months, but some days we need to adjust the route or choose more sheltered sites. The captain makes the final call on departure day based on weather conditions, and if the crossing is genuinely unsafe, we offer alternative destinations closer to Koh Samui or reschedule at no extra cost.
The sweet spot is late March through May. Calm seas, warm water, peak visibility, and the chance to encounter whale sharks at Sail Rock or around Koh Tao. If you can plan your vacation around these months, you will get the best possible conditions for this trip.
Why Private Matters
The public ferry to Koh Tao costs about 600 THB each way and takes over two hours. You arrive at a crowded pier, then need to arrange your own transport, equipment, and food on the island. The return ferry leaves at a fixed time regardless of whether you are ready to leave. If you miss it, you are spending the night on Koh Tao.
Group speedboat tours cost 2,000 to 3,500 THB per person and run on a strict schedule. You get 20 to 30 minutes at each snorkeling stop, eat a pre packed lunch box, and share the boat with 20 to 30 strangers. The guide points out fish through a microphone while you jostle for space in the water.
A private charter is a fundamentally different experience. You move at your pace. You stay at the spots you love and skip the ones that do not interest you. You eat where you want. You leave when you are ready. And most importantly, you are in the water with your own group and a guide who adjusts everything to your interests and ability level.
When you divide the charter cost among a group of friends or family, the per person price is in the same range as a group tour. The value difference is not even close.