The most Thai way to spend an afternoon
The longtail is a working boat that happens to be beautiful: a long teak hull, a car engine on a pivot, a propeller on the end of a pole and a bundle of coloured ribbons on the bow for luck. It's slow, it's loud, and it goes places nothing else does — right up onto sand, into coves a metre deep, along a coast you'd otherwise never see from the water.
It's also the cheapest way to have a boat entirely to yourselves. Two hours at sunset costs less than dinner for two at a resort, and the skipper — almost always a fisherman from one of the villages — knows the coastline in a way no chartered captain does. For couples, small families and anyone who wants something authentic rather than polished, this is the one.
On board
🛶
The real thingA traditional teak longtail with ribbons on the bow, not a tourist replica.
🏝️
Coves nothing else reachesA metre of draft: shallow bays, sand landings, rock arches the big boats pass by.
🌅
The sunset classicTwo hours on the west coast as the sun drops behind Koh Phangan. Hard to beat.
💚
Best valueThe most affordable private boat on the island — a genuine charter without the charter price.
A sunset cruise
- 4:30 pmMeet your skipper on the beach, no pier needed
- 4:45 pmAlong the coast: fishing villages, rock formations, empty sand
- 5:15 pmAnchor in a shallow cove for a swim and a snorkel
- 6:10 pmSunset from the water, drinks from the cool box
- 6:45 pmBack along the coast under a pink sky
- 7:00 pmAshore where you started
✅ What's included
- Private longtail boat with a local skipper
- Fuel for the agreed route
- Life jackets and snorkelling masks
- Cool box with water and soft drinks
- Insurance
- Beach departure — no pier or transfer needed
❌ Not included
- Hotel transfers (departure is from the nearest beach)
- Food and alcoholic drinks
- National park entrance fees
- Tips (optional, always appreciated)
Popular add-ons
🍱 Thai picnic on board🍾 Drinks package🌹 Romantic decoration📸 Photographer🎣 Fishing with the skipper🍖 Beach barbecue🕯️ Beach dinner set-up⏱️ Extra hour
Formats and routes
| Format | Duration | Typical route | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sunset cruise | 2 h | West coast, swim stop, sunset | On request |
| Half day | 4 h | Koh Tan or Koh Madsum, snorkelling | On request |
| Full day | 7 h | Island hopping with a beach lunch | On request |
| Fishing trip | 4 h | Traditional fishing with the skipper | On request |
💡 Good to know
🔊 Noise: longtails are loud under way — that's the engine and it's part of the experience. At anchor and at low speed it's perfectly quiet.
🌊 Conditions: longtails are coastal boats. They're wonderful in calm water and unpleasant in a swell, so we won't send you out in bad conditions.
🚫 Not for: Ang Thong or Koh Tao — too far and too exposed. For those, take a speedboat or a catamaran.
In pictures
Frequently asked questions
How many people fit on a longtail?
Comfortably six to eight, ten at a push on a large one. Beyond that, take two boats — they travel together and it costs less than you'd think.
Can a longtail go to Ang Thong?
No, and don't let anyone tell you otherwise: it's 30 km of open water in a coastal boat. For Ang Thong or Koh Tao you want a speedboat or a catamaran.
Is it comfortable for older guests or small children?
For a short coastal trip in calm water, yes — the boat is stable and slow. Bring a cushion; the bench seating is wooden, and after two hours you notice.
📖 Read more: Compare the whole fleet · Where to catch the best sunsets on Koh Samui
