The tour in a nutshell
Koh Tao has the best water in the Gulf and everybody knows it. It also costs a five-hour round trip on a fast boat, which is most of a day and, for some stomachs, most of a holiday.
Koh Tan is the alternative nobody sells. It sits twenty minutes off Samui's south coast, it is ringed by the healthiest reef within reach of the island, and about a dozen families live on it. You leave from Thong Krut on a local longtail — the boats that were doing this before anyone came to look at them — snorkel two spots, walk a beach with nothing on it, and are back on land in time for a late lunch.
It is the half-day version of a boat day. Less water, less time, no schedule to catch, and coral that is genuinely alive.
Highlights
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The north-side reefThe best snorkelling on this side of Samui: shallow, clear in the morning, and busy with fish before the wind gets up.
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A real longtailNot a speedboat with a brand on it. Wooden hull, one long shaft, a local skipper who has fished this strait his whole life.
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An island with nobody on itA few houses, two or three simple restaurants, coconut palms and sand. No shops, no hotels to speak of, no jet skis.
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Koh Madsum, if the sea allowsPig Island is the next one along. When the strait is calm we add the sandbar — the same one on our Koh Madsum day — for the second stop.
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Fed by a fishing villageThong Krut sells the morning's catch and cooks it over the water. Lunch there afterwards is the cheapest good meal on the south coast.
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It works with childrenShallow water, a short crossing and a beach with shade. Far easier than a full day at sea.
How the day runs
- Pick-upHotel pick-up anywhere on the island, heading for the south coast.
- Thong KrutThe jetty, the fresh market beside it, and the longtail. Briefing and equipment before boarding.
- First stopThe north side of Koh Tan: the main reef, with the guide in the water.
- AshoreA beach with shade and time to dry off, or the second snorkelling stop if the group would rather stay in.
- Back by lunchReturn to Thong Krut, with the option of a seafood lunch over the water before the drive home.
Times are indicative — the exact pick-up time depends on where you stay and is confirmed after booking.
✅ What's included
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off
- Local longtail with skipper
- Mask, snorkel and fins
- English or French speaking guide in the water
- Water and fruit on board
❌ Not included
- Lunch at Thong Krut
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Gratuities
What to bring
- Swimwear under your clothes and a towel
- Reef-safe sunscreen — ordinary sunscreen damages coral
- A t-shirt for the water if you burn: shade is scarce on a longtail
- A dry bag or a pouch for your phone
💡 Good to know
🌊 Mornings only: the strait between Samui and Koh Tan gets choppy from about two in the afternoon. That is why the boats go early, and why we do not sell this as an afternoon.
🧴 About sunscreen: the ordinary kind bleaches coral. Bring a reef-safe one or use a t-shirt in the water — we would rather say it than watch the reef go.
🐠 Do not stand on it: the reef here is shallow enough to touch, which is exactly why it is fragile. Fins on, feet up, and nothing taken home.
🌧️ In the rainy months: visibility drops after heavy rain and the crossing can be cancelled outright in a swell. We move the day rather than take you out in it.
🏝️ Not the same as Pig Island: our Koh Madsum day is the pigs and the sandbar, five hours with more beach time. This one is the snorkelling version, and shorter.
Book this tour
This day is ours, not a partner's: tell us the date and how many you are, and we come back within 24 hours with the exact plan, the pick-up time and the price. A deposit confirms the booking.
Request this day 💬 Ask on WhatsApp
No online payment on this site. We answer within 24 hours, seven days a week, and the price depends on the size of your group and the vehicle.
In pictures
Frequently asked questions
How is this different from the Koh Madsum day?
The Koh Madsum trip is about the sandbar and the pigs, with beach time and a longer programme. This one is about the reef: two snorkelling stops off Koh Tan, less beach, and back earlier. If the sea is calm we usually add the Koh Madsum sandbar as the second stop anyway.
Is the snorkelling really better than Koh Tao?
No — Koh Tao is better, and it costs five hours on the water to get there and back. Koh Tan is the best reef within twenty minutes of Samui, which is a different claim and the honest one. If you have a full day and a good stomach, take Koh Tao instead.
Do I need to be a strong swimmer?
No. The water at the first stop is shallow and calm in the morning, the guide is in the water with you, and buoyancy vests are on the boat for anyone who wants one. Say so when you book and we will make sure of it.
What if the sea is rough?
We move the day. The strait here builds quickly in the afternoon and in the November–December swell, and a longtail is not a boat to argue with the sea in.
Can we eat at Thong Krut afterwards?
Yes, and we recommend it: the restaurants there are built out over the water and serve what came in that morning. It is not included, it is cash only, and it is among the best value on the island.
📖 Read more: The best snorkelling spots around Koh Samui · Koh Tan, mapped