The engine cuts out a few hundred metres off Koh Phangan, and the only sound left is water slapping against a teak hull. A private boat turns the Gulf of Thailand into something closer to a garden: islands to walk around, coves to swim in, and no timetable but the light. Koh Samui has a working fleet built for exactly this, from wooden sailing ships to speedboats that reach Koh Tao in about 90 minutes.
This guide covers established operators for private charters and sunset cruises, the routes most trips follow, and where the boats leave from. It finishes with the questions worth asking before handing over a deposit. Samui Beach Club does not sell or book trips; the operators below are listed because they hold a current tour business licence from the Department of Tourism, have a long track record, and have a strong reputation with visitors.
Boutique Yachting
Boutique Yachting sails the Naga, a 30-metre wooden motorsailer with two masts, built in the style of a Turkish gulet. It is one of the larger private vessels sailing from Samui.
Day cruises head to Ang Thong National Marine Park, Koh Phangan, and the islands off Samui's south coast, including Koh Madsum. There are sunset cruises too. Private charters cover half days, full days, weddings, and overnight trips of up to five days, and diving charters can be arranged.
The Naga departs from Petcherat Marina in Bangrak, on the north coast near the Big Buddha.
- Vessel: the Naga, a 30-metre wooden motorsailer
- Day cruises, sunset cruises, and private charters of up to five days
- Departs Petcherat Marina, Bangrak
Boutique Yachting
Private yacht cruises from Bophut Beach to Samui’s islands and marine parks
Chantara
Chantara is a 25-metre Burmese junk built from teak. She worked in Burma from the 1960s before being converted into a cruise boat between 2002 and 2004, and she has sailed the Gulf of Thailand since 2006. Solar panels added in 2012 now cover part of her power needs.
The signature trip is a full day to Koh Phangan that returns with the sunset, sailing three days a week with a limit of 35 guests. Private half days, full days, sunset sails, overnight trips, and weddings are also available. Pickup is included from hotels along the north and east coasts, from Lamai round to Bang Po.
- Vessel: a 25-metre teak junk, in the Gulf since 2006
- Koh Phangan day with sunset (limited to 35 guests), plus private charters
- Hotel pickup on the north and east coasts
Chantara Junk Boat
Traditional junk-boat cruises with Thai food, island scenery and sunset views
Samui Luxury Boats
Samui Luxury Boats has run private charters from the north coast since 2015. Its fleet includes a 39-foot yacht, a 38-foot speedboat with 700 horsepower, and a catamaran, so the choice comes down to pace: a slow sail, a fast run across to Koh Tao, or something in between.
Private full days and overnight charters cover Ang Thong, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, and Koh Madsum. Guests are transferred to the boat rather than meeting at a public pier.
- Fleet: a 39-foot yacht, a 38-foot speedboat, and a catamaran
- Private full days and overnight charters
- Based on the north coast, operating since 2015
Samui Luxury Boats
Private boat charters and tailored island adventures from Koh Samui
Oceana Samui Charters
Oceana has arranged private boat days around Samui for more than 12 years. It works with a selection of yachts, catamarans, and speedboats rather than a single vessel, matching the boat to the group and the route.
Full days reach Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Phangan, or the waters known for dolphin sightings. Half days suit island hopping closer to home. A sunset trip leaves mid-afternoon and returns as the light goes, and there is a semi-private option for Ang Thong. Pickups are usually made from hotel beaches.
- Yachts, catamarans, and speedboats, chosen for each trip
- Full days, half days, sunset trips, and semi-private Ang Thong days
- Pickup from hotel beaches
Oceana
Private speedboat and yacht charters from Koh Samui to the Gulf’s island destinations
Where the Boats Leave From
Most charters start on the north coast. Petcherat Marina in Bangrak is the island's main private marina, used by sailing ships, speedboats, and charter companies. The public pier at Bangrak, a few hundred metres away, serves ferries to Koh Phangan.
Smaller operators pick guests up straight from the beach in front of their hotel, and several include transfers from accommodation. On the south coast, the fishing village of Thong Krut is the starting point for longtail boats to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum.
Petcherat Marina
A practical marina hub for island transfers, boat charters and sea excursions.
The Main Routes
Ang Thong National Marine Park: an archipelago of limestone islands, a viewpoint above the enclosed lagoon on Ko Mae Ko, and sheltered water for kayaking and snorkelling. The park closes every year from 1 November to 15 December, and the national park entry fee is not always included in the charter price.
Koh Phangan: the closest neighbour, with quiet beaches on its north and west coasts that are hard to reach by road. It is the usual destination for sunset sails.
Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: around 90 minutes each way by speedboat. Nang Yuan is privately owned and charges its own landing fee. Plastic water bottles, fins, and drones are not allowed on the island.
Koh Tan and Koh Madsum: two small islands off the south coast, with shallow coral for snorkelling. Koh Madsum is known as Pig Island for the pigs that roam its beach; they are best left unfed.
When to Go
The calmest seas arrive from February to September. The northeast monsoon brings rougher water from October to early December, with November the wettest month, and some routes become uncomfortable or impossible in a small boat. Operators reschedule when conditions turn, so a flexible date is worth more than a fixed one.
Before Booking
A few questions separate a good operator from a risky one. Ask for the company's tour business licence number from the Department of Tourism; it can be checked on the department's public register. Ask whether the boat is registered with the Marine Department and whether passenger insurance is included. Confirm what the price covers: national park fees, fuel, lunch, snorkelling gear, and transfers vary from one operator to the next.
Marine national parks ban sunscreens containing oxybenzone, octinoxate, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, and butylparaben. A reef-safe bottle in the day bag avoids an awkward moment at the park entrance.
The boat decides the day more than the destination does. A teak junk makes Koh Phangan feel distant and slow; a speedboat puts Koh Tao within reach before lunch. Choose the pace first, then the island.
