Snorkeling Tour with meals and BBQs – Cocktail – Sunset⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

The best reason to choose this Koh Tao boat trip is its small-group setup. The maximum is 20 people, but many departures have had fewer than 10, and some only two to six. That gives you room on the boat, more time in the water, and a real say in the pace.

I especially like two things: Chart often swims with the group to point out turtles, baby sharks, reef fish, and coral, and his family serves a proper homemade Thai lunch rather than a plain buffet. The free GoPro photos and videos are another useful touch.

The main consideration is simple: at $54, this costs more than the biggest shared boats. You may also pay an extra 250 baht if your route includes the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint. For most people, the extra space and calmer pace are worth the difference.

Key points at a glance

• Small groups that can feel almost private: The boat holds up to 20 people, though several trips have run with fewer than 10.
• Four Thai lunch dishes: Expect chicken Massaman curry, stir-fried chicken with holy basil, egg fried rice, and mixed vegetables.
• Four snorkel opportunities: Chart adjusts the route around crowds and conditions, with turtles, reef sharks, baby sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish possible.
• Food continues through sunset: Thai tea, water, fresh coconut, BBQ food, and a cocktail are included.
• Underwater photos are included: The crew uses a GoPro and sends photos and videos through WhatsApp.
• Pickup and flexible booking: Pickup is included from your Koh Tao accommodation, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

Why the small boat matters around Koh Tao

Koh Tao has no shortage of snorkeling trips. The cheaper option is often a large boat carrying several dozen people, sometimes with multiple boats arriving at the same bay. That can mean queues for ladders, crowded water, and less attention from the crew.

Coco Tip Adventures takes a different approach. The stated limit is 20 people, but the actual number may be much lower. Several departures have had only three, four, six, eight, or ten people. One couple even had the boat to themselves.

That difference changes the day. You can spread out on the upper deck, find a shady place between swims, and get back into the water without waiting for a large group. If one bay is crowded, Chart can move elsewhere and return later. You are not locked into following a large fleet.

This is still a shared boat trip, so do not book it expecting a guaranteed private charter. Yet even with a full group of 20, the setup should feel more relaxed than the big island boats.

Pickup, the boat, and the seven-hour rhythm

The day begins with pickup in front of your accommodation on Koh Tao. The crew also returns you to your accommodation afterward, which is helpful after several hours in salt water and sun.

The boat is described as comfortable and well-equipped, with a top deck for sitting, tanning, and taking in the coast. Some departures have had hammocks and comfortable seating. You can expect a mix of active time in the water and slower stretches on deck.

A typical day lasts seven hours. One departure began at 11:00 a.m., though the exact starting time depends on availability. That late-morning start works well for a full lunch, afternoon snorkeling, and a sunset finish.

The boat is wheelchair accessible, and the tour includes life jackets, sterilized snorkeling equipment, marine insurance, and a local guide. Bring a towel, swimwear, a change of clothes, sun protection, sunglasses, a hat, flip-flops, and a charged phone. Biodegradable sunscreen is specifically requested, which is the right choice around coral.

Four stops for snorkeling, not one rushed swim

The snorkeling is the heart of the trip. The exact bays can change with sea conditions and crowd levels, but the route commonly includes four water stops.

The appeal is variety. Koh Tao is known for colorful coral, tropical fish, turtles, and small reef sharks. Several outings have also found stingrays and baby sharks. None of this is guaranteed, since marine life moves freely and visibility changes, but Chart’s local knowledge helps you spend your time in promising areas.

Chart does not simply point you toward the water and wait on the boat. He often swims alongside the group, shows you where to look, and helps nervous swimmers feel more secure. That is particularly useful if you are new to snorkeling or uneasy in open water.

The pace is also a strength. You are not pushed through one short swim before the boat moves on. If a spot is crowded, the crew can alter the order or visit another bay first. One route returned to a turtle area later after the crowd had thinned.

There are practical limits. Snorkeling in open water requires basic comfort in the sea, even though life jackets are available. The boat carries goggles and snorkeling gear, but bringing your own goggles is sensible if you need a particular fit. Sea conditions can affect visibility, comfort, and the number of stops.

What you eat between swims

This is not a trip built around snacks alone. The midday meal includes four Thai dishes prepared by the guide’s wife:

• Chicken Massaman curry
• Stir-fried chicken with holy basil
• Egg fried rice
• Mixed vegetable stir-fry

The meal is served with Thai tea, bottled water, and fresh coconut. The food has earned unusually strong praise, especially the Massaman curry and the fresh spices used in the cooking.

For a boat day, a proper meal matters. Snorkeling works up an appetite, and having substantial food onboard means you do not need to wait until returning to Koh Tao. The homemade style also gives the outing a family-run feel that a standard catering tray cannot match.

The information provided does not promise a fixed vegetarian or vegan menu, but one vegan couple received suitable food after informing the crew. If you have dietary needs, tell the operator before the trip rather than assuming the normal dishes will suit you.

Water is available throughout the day. You also receive Thai tea, coconut, and later a cocktail. Bring cash in case you want to cover an extra expense, such as the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint fee.

Koh Nang Yuan and the route’s optional character

Some departures include Koh Nang Yuan, the small island known for its viewpoint and narrow beach. Reaching the viewpoint involves a short hike, and an additional 250 baht entry fee has been reported for that stop.

The viewpoint can be worthwhile if you want a classic aerial view of the sandbar and surrounding water. It is not the best use of the day for everyone, though. If you have already visited Koh Nang Yuan, tell Chart. He has allowed people to skip it and visit another snorkeling area instead.

That flexibility is one of the tour’s most useful features. The route is not presented as a rigid checklist. You can discuss what you have already seen, and the crew may adjust the plan around your interests, sea conditions, and crowd levels.

The upper deck, sunset, and BBQ finish

After the main snorkeling sessions, the boat becomes a place to slow down. The upper deck gives you space to dry off, sunbathe, or watch Koh Tao’s coast pass by. If you have spent the afternoon in the water, this quieter part of the trip is welcome.

The final meal is a BBQ served around sunset. A cocktail follows, making the ending feel more like a relaxed evening cruise than a simple return ride. The timing is one of the tour’s most distinctive features, since many snorkeling boats finish in the afternoon and leave you to find dinner on land.

The sunset is weather-dependent, of course. Clouds or rain can change the view, and the return ride may not feel as leisurely in rough conditions. Even so, the BBQ and drink give the final hour a clear purpose rather than making it dead time after the last swim.

If you do not drink alcohol, the listing does not specify a substitute cocktail. Ask the crew in advance if that matters to you.

Chart, his family, and the personal service

Chart is the main guide named throughout the experience, although some descriptions use Chan or Chad. The crew includes family members, including his wife, who prepares the Thai food, and sometimes his son. A small dog named Coco has also joined some trips.

The family-run nature is not just a marketing detail. It shows up in the way the day is handled. Chart swims with the group, points out sea life, takes underwater photos, checks that nervous swimmers are comfortable, and adjusts the route when needed.

The crew also sends GoPro photos and videos through WhatsApp, often on the same day. That saves you from trying to hold a camera while swimming and gives you a record of turtles, sharks, coral, and your time in the water.

This level of attention may be more than you want if you prefer to explore entirely on your own. For most people, especially first-time snorkelers, it adds real value.

How much value do you get for $54?

At $54 per person, the price is not the lowest available on Koh Tao. That comparison can be misleading, since a cheaper trip may carry far more people and charge separately for drinks, food, photos, or some stops.

Here, the price includes accommodation pickup, the boat, a local English or Thai-speaking guide, snorkeling gear, marine insurance, life jackets, four Thai lunch dishes, water, Thai tea, fresh coconut, BBQ food, and a cocktail. Underwater photos and videos are also provided.

The small group is the biggest value. If the boat runs with four to ten people, you are paying for space, personal attention, and a route that can change when a bay is crowded. The food is another strong point, since you receive two substantial eating moments rather than only a packed lunch.

You should budget extra for the Koh Nang Yuan viewpoint if it is part of your route. The 250 baht fee is not included in the advertised price. Also, the $54 price is per person, so a private-feeling trip for two still costs two full fares.

My view is that the price makes sense for visitors who dislike crowded boats, care about food, or want help spotting marine life. If your only goal is a short swim at the lowest possible cost, a basic group boat may suit you better.

Who will enjoy this most?

I would recommend this trip to couples, families, solo visitors, and small groups who value a calm day over a bargain-basement excursion. It works particularly well for people who want a mix of snorkeling, sightseeing, food, and downtime.

First-time snorkelers should appreciate the crew’s support. Chart and his family have helped nervous swimmers get comfortable, while experienced swimmers can spend more time looking for turtles, reef sharks, and other sea life.

It is also a good choice for a birthday, anniversary, proposal, or private celebration. The operator says tours can be customized for special occasions, though you should arrange the details before booking.

You may want another option if you dislike open water, cannot manage boat steps, or want a fast and highly scheduled route. The day is seven hours long, and the relaxed pace means stretches of sitting, eating, and waiting for sunset.

Booking details worth knowing

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now-pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately. Check the available start time because the tour lasts seven hours and does not follow one fixed public schedule.

English and Thai are supported. Pickup is included from your accommodation on Koh Tao. Bring cash, a charged smartphone, a towel, and a change of clothes. Use biodegradable sunscreen, and pack a camera only if you are happy to protect it from water, since the crew already provides underwater footage.

The group limit is 20, not a promise that every departure will have only a handful of people. If group size matters greatly to you, ask about the expected number before confirming.

Should you book Coco Tip Adventures?

Book it if you want the best balance of snorkeling, personal attention, local food, and sunset time. The combination of a small boat, flexible route, homemade lunch, BBQ, cocktail, and included underwater photos is unusually generous for $54.

I would be especially comfortable recommending it to anyone comparing this with a crowded 40-person boat. Pay the extra if you want space, guidance in the water, and a day that feels personal rather than processed.

Choose another trip if the lowest price is your main concern, or if you want to avoid a full seven hours on the sea. Otherwise, Coco Tip Adventures is a strong Koh Tao choice, particularly if you can confirm a small departure and request any dietary or celebration arrangements in advance.

FAQ

How long is the snorkeling tour?

The tour lasts seven hours, including pickup, snorkeling, meals, time on the boat, the BBQ, cocktail, and sunset.

Where does the tour start and finish?

Pickup and return are provided at your accommodation on Koh Tao Island.

How many people can join the boat?

The maximum group size is 20 people. Some departures have had far fewer, including only two, three, four, six, eight, or ten people.

What food is included?

Lunch includes chicken Massaman curry, stir-fried chicken with holy basil, egg fried rice, and mixed vegetable stir-fry. Thai tea, bottled water, fresh coconut, BBQ food, and a cocktail are also included.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Sterilized snorkeling gear, goggles, and life jackets are provided. Marine insurance is also included.

Can I see turtles or sharks?

Turtles, reef sharks, baby sharks, stingrays, tropical fish, and coral have been seen on the route, but wildlife sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Is Koh Nang Yuan included?

Some routes visit Koh Nang Yuan and its viewpoint. The viewpoint may require an additional 250 baht entry fee. You can ask about another stop if you have already visited the island.

What languages does the guide speak?

The tour is available with a live guide in English or Thai.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now-pay-later option is also available.