Koh Tao Snorkeling tour
For the best snorkeling in the gulf of Thailand do a Koh Tao snorkeling tour from Koh Samui.
2 Koh Tao snorkeling tour options:
You can reach Koh Tao by fast catamaran from Chumphon on Thailand’s mainland or from Koh Samui and Koh Phangan.
Ideally you will spend a few days on Koh Tao at a resort there or at the one resort on Koh Nang Yuan (ask us for package details). Or you can do day trips from Koh Samui.
Organised snorkeling day trips from Samui to Koh Tao are either by speedboat or by big boat. There are advantages and disadvantages to each.
The speedboat day trip is slightly cheaper and because the speedboat covers the distance from Samui to Koh Tao more quickly you get a later start in the morning (8am instead of 6.45am on the big boat). In flat sea it’s ideal. But the sea is not always flat around Samui, especially from October to January. In these months, or if you are susceptible to sea sickness you may prefer to take the big boat which although slower is more stable and comfortable. On the big boat you can move around, talk, enjoy a drink, use the bathroom, sleep in the air conditioned saloon or sunbath on the upper deck. There are even VIP and Exclusive class rooms available for a small surcharge.
Once at Koh Tao the itinerary for both speedboat and big boat is similar, both offer equal snorkeling time. On the speedboat trip snorkeling is done from the speedboat, whereas on the big boat tour snorkelers are transferred onto another snorkeling boat that acts as a platform. This would be ideal for inexperienced snorkels or kids. The guides on the boat are very good at assisting everyone. Live jackets and other buoyancy aids like rubber rings are provided. The big snorkeling boat also has showers and toilets, a shaded deck and a sun deck.
Both trips eat lunch at the restaurant on Nang Yuan island, an excellent buffet lunch. Both trips offer free and easy time in the afternoon on Nangyuan island for more snorkeling, sunbathing or climbing the viewpoint.
Here are some photos from the big boat day trip.
