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Koh Samui 3-Day Sea Trip
Ang Thong · Diving · Koh Tao

If you're coming to Samui and want the trip to really be about the sea, this plan covers all three flavors. Day one heads out to Ang Thong Marine Park to kayak through caves, day two is snorkeling over coral around the island, and day three is a boat hop across to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan — the legendary dive spots of the Gulf of Thailand. We've included real travel times, ballpark tour and ferry prices, and the safety points you need to check before every single boat trip.

🏝️ Ang Thong Marine Park🤿 Coral snorkeling⛴️ Boat hop to Koh Tao
Koh Samui 3-Day Sea Trip Ang Thong · Diving · Koh Tao

🔄 Updated 21 Jun 2026

Samui makes a great base for the sea, because it has several tour piers (Maenam, Bang Rak, Nathon) and speedboats that reach both Ang Thong Marine Park to the west and Koh Tao to the north. This three-day plan eases off a little each day — starting with a relaxed big-boat tour and ending with a full-on diving day. Cut or add days to suit your energy and budget.

Read this before you set sail

The Gulf of Thailand has a monsoon season, especially late in the year (October–December), when wind and waves pick up and tours can be cancelled at short notice. Before you book, check the forecast and ask the operator about their refund policy. If the sea is rough, don't push it — safety always comes before the view.

Day 1 — Ang Thong Marine National Park

Ang Thong is an archipelago of 42 limestone islands northwest of Samui. The highlights are the Emerald Lake (a green saltwater lagoon in the middle of one island), the cliff-top viewpoints, and the clear water that's perfect for kayaking. Most tours are same-day round-trip speedboats with hotel pickup and drop-off.

Day 1

Ang Thong speedboat day tour, round trip

07:30
Tour van picks you up at your hotel and takes you to the departure pier (usually Maenam or Nathon)Staying in the Maenam–Bang Rak area means a slightly earlier pickup
08:30
Speedboat leaves Samui for Ang Thong, around 45–60 minutesSitting mid-boat is steadier than the bow
09:30
Kayak along the cliffs and through caves, with some shallow-water coralMost tours include kayaks; some charge extra, so ask before you book
11:00
Hike up the Koh Wua Talap viewpoint to see the islands lined up belowThe trail is steep and the rock is sharp — wear closed-heel water shoes, not flip-flops
12:30
Lunch buffet on the boat or on the island, with time to swimSoft drinks are usually included in the tour; bring extra water if you like
14:00
Walk up to the Emerald Lake (the green inland lagoon on the main island)The stairs are fairly steep — if your knees aren't up to it, you can relax on the beach instead
16:30
Boat back to Samui, with a stop at a market or café near your hotel

Ballpark price: Ang Thong speedboat tours start around 1,700–2,200 THB per person (including pickup and drop-off, buffet, kayaks, and snorkeling gear). The national park fee for foreigners is 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child — some tours include it, others collect it on site, so ask clearly when you book. Prices shift with the season and high season.

Big boat or speedboat

Ang Thong has both big-boat tours (slower, but steadier and less likely to make you seasick) and speedboats (faster, with more time on the islands, but a bumpier ride). If you get seasick easily, go with a big boat and take a motion-sickness pill 30 minutes before departure.

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Day 2 — Snorkeling around Samui

If day one was about views and kayaking, day two is about getting fully in the water. Samui has snorkeling spots around the island like Koh Tan and Koh Madsum to the south, with shallow water and easy-to-reach coral that suit beginners and families. And if you want to try scuba for the first time, there are Discovery / Try Dive programs leaving from Samui too.

Day 2

Snorkeling at Koh Tan–Koh Madsum + a first scuba try (optional)

08:30
Van pickup to the pier in the south (Hua Thanon / Ban Tai area)
09:30
Boat heads to Koh Tan for the first snorkeling stop, with coral and schools of fishYou can keep a life vest on the whole time — you don't need to be a strong swimmer
11:00
Move on to Koh Madsum (Pig Island) to swim off the white-sand beach and take photosThe pigs on the island are animals — don't feed them or get too close
12:30
Lunch break on the boat or on the island
13:30
Optional: a Try Dive program — your first scuba dive with an instructorYou need an instructor at 1:1–1:2; never dive on your own without a certification, and check that the shop is properly licensed
16:00
Boat back to the pier, then back to your hotel to rinse off and relax

Diving safety

Don't touch or stand on the coral — you'll hurt yourself and damage the reef. Apply reef-safe sunscreen before getting in. If you aren't a certified diver, don't scuba dive without an instructor, and never dive alone under any circumstances.

Ballpark price: Koh Tan–Koh Madsum snorkeling tours start around 1,200–1,800 THB per person, while a Try Dive program for your first scuba experience runs about 2,500–3,500 THB depending on the number of dives and the shop. Prices swing with the season.

Day 3 — Boat hop to Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan

The real sea-lover's highlight is Koh Tao, a famous Gulf of Thailand dive area and one of the best-value places in the world to learn to dive. It pairs with Koh Nang Yuan, where a sandbar links three islands and the viewpoint is gorgeous. From Samui you have two options: a same-day round-trip speedboat tour, or taking the ferry over to stay on Koh Tao and learn to dive.

Day 3

Speedboat day tour, round trip — Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan

06:30
Hotel pickup, then on to the speedboat pierToday you leave early because it's a longer run than the previous days
07:30
Speedboat leaves Samui for Koh Nang Yuan, around 1.5 hoursThis stretch is choppier than Ang Thong — take a pill before departure if you get seasick
09:00
Land on Koh Nang Yuan and hike up to the three-island sandbar viewpointPlastic bottles aren't allowed on Koh Nang Yuan, and there's a separate island entry fee
10:30
Snorkel around Nang Yuan — clear water and shallow coral
12:00
Over to Koh Tao for lunch at a beachfront spotAround a 45–60 minute break
13:30
Snorkel spots around Koh Tao, such as Mango BayThe snorkeling spot changes depending on the day's wave conditions
15:00
Boat departs back to Samui
16:30
Arrive in Samui and wrap up the sea trip

Ballpark price: A round-trip speedboat day tour to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan from Samui starts around 2,000–2,800 THB per person (including pickup and drop-off, buffet, and snorkeling gear). The Koh Nang Yuan island fee is collected separately on site. If you'd rather take the ferry on your own without a tour, the Lomprayah speedboat from Samui (Maenam / Bang Rak / Nathon piers) to Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao runs about 700 THB per trip and takes around 1.5–2 hours.

Want to learn to dive? Stay over on Koh Tao

If you want to come home with a dive certification, swap day three for a 2–3 night stay on Koh Tao and take the Open Water course instead of a day tour. The standard course takes about 3 days, covering theory, pool practice, and several real ocean dives.

Sairee Beach

Sairee Cottage Diving

A dive school on Sairee Beach running a 3-day Open Water course, with an eLearning system so you can do the theory in advance

Sairee Beach

Simple Life Divers

A PADI 5-star dive center on Sairee Beach with courses from beginner up to instructor level, an easy walk from the beach

Ballpark price: An Open Water course on Koh Tao is around 11,000 THB, including equipment, the manual, and the PADI certification fee. Prices are similar across many shops — walking in to talk with a Sairee Beach shop directly can get you a better deal than booking online. Choose a shop that's properly licensed and has real reviews; don't go on the cheapest price alone.

Health conditions before a dive course

Dive courses require a health questionnaire. If you have a heart or lung condition, asthma, or are pregnant, talk to a doctor first. Don't fly within 18–24 hours of a scuba dive, so plan a buffer day before any flight home.

Getting ready and getting around the island

  • Book tours 1–2 days ahead, especially in high season (December–April) when tours fill up fast
  • What to pack: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a UV shirt, closed-heel water shoes for the viewpoint hikes, and a waterproof pouch for your phone
  • Motion-sickness pills: take them 30 minutes before departure, especially on the Koh Tao day when the water is rougher
  • Cash: the Koh Nang Yuan entry fee and some national park fees are collected on site and cash only
  • Ride carefully on Samui: some hillside coast roads are steep and slippery in the rain — always wear a helmet, and if you're not used to the roads a taxi or the tour's shuttle is safer

Find a well-placed hotel as your base for the sea

See 10 Koh Samui hotels →

FAQ

How many days should a Samui sea trip be?

Three days is about right: Ang Thong on day one, snorkeling around Samui on day two, and a boat hop to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan on day three. If you're short on time, pick either Ang Thong or Koh Tao. And if you want to learn to dive, add 2–3 nights staying over on Koh Tao.

How do you get to Koh Tao from Samui, and what does it cost?

There are two ways: a same-day round-trip speedboat tour starting around 2,000–2,800 THB per person (including pickup, drop-off, and buffet), or taking the Lomprayah speedboat on your own from the Maenam / Bang Rak / Nathon piers to Mae Haad pier on Koh Tao for about 700 THB per trip, around 1.5–2 hours.

How much is an Ang Thong tour, and what's included?

Speedboat tours start around 1,700–2,200 THB per person and usually include hotel pickup and drop-off, a lunch buffet, kayaks, and snorkeling gear. The national park fee for foreigners is 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child — some tours include it, others collect it on site, so ask clearly when you book.

When should you avoid going out to sea at Samui?

During the late-year monsoon, roughly October to December, when the wind and waves in the Gulf of Thailand pick up, tours can be cancelled at short notice and seasickness is more likely. Before you book, check the forecast and the refund policy. If the sea is rough, don't force the trip.

Do you need to swim to dive at Samui and Koh Tao?

For snorkeling you don't need to be a strong swimmer, since you can keep a life vest on the whole time — it suits beginners and families. For scuba diving or an Open Water course you'll train with an instructor, complete a health questionnaire, and you shouldn't fly within 18–24 hours of a scuba dive.

Related

🗺️ Koh Samui travel guide🏨 Top 10 Koh Samui hotels🏝️ Ang Thong Marine Park🤿 Snorkeling & diving in Koh Samui

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