About this tour
When Em from our team booked this private speedboat tour out of Pattaya, we headed straight for Koh Phai—a quieter island getaway compared to the packed mainland beaches. The 6-to-8-hour experience hooks you up with your own boat, kayaks, paddleboards, snorkelling kit, and a full barbecue setup on the water. It's the kind of tour that appeals to groups wanting to skip the crowds and set their own pace, though you'll need to sort your own transport to the departure point and budget for the island entrance fee.
Highlights
- Private speedboat means no queueing with tour groups
- Barbecue chicken and seafood cooked aboard, mid-water dining
- Kayaking and SUP gear included—actually available, not just mentioned
- Snorkelling setup provided; reasonable water clarity for the area
- Banana boat ride rounds out the water-toy roster
- Photo props and on-water shoots add a fun social element
- Flexibility to bring your own food if you'd rather
What to expect
Em's day started with meeting the boat crew at Pattaya's departure point—no hotel pickups here, so organising your own transport is on you. The speedboat ride to Koh Phai takes a fair chunk of the morning, and the island itself is low-key: sandy beach, shallow waters, not manicured but refreshingly unstaged. We spent the early afternoon swimming and snorkelling in patches of decent visibility, then the crew fired up the barbecue mid-water while we floated around on loungers. The pace is genuinely yours—no rushing between ten checkpoints or sitting through pitches. By late afternoon, the banana boat ride injected some adrenaline, and we paddled back to Pattaya with the sun doing its thing on the horizon.
The real win is the privacy and food-on-water vibe, which feels more like a mate's boat day than a commercial tour. What caught us off-guard: you pay an island entry fee (150 THB per person) on top of the tour price, and the snorkelling, while fun, isn't world-class—this isn't a coral conservation zone. The water can be choppy depending on the swell, so bring seasickness tablets if you're prone.
What travellers say
- Private boat eliminates tour-group chaos and fixed itineraries
- Barbecue and water lounging feel genuinely relaxed, not rushed
- All water gear included and usable—not just decoration
- Flexibility to customise food; crew cook or bring your own
- Island entry and accident insurance clarity reduces surprise costs
- No hotel pickup—arranging own transport adds logistics
- Island fee (150 THB pp) not flagged in headline price
- Snorkelling quality patchy; not a coral-heavy dive site
- Seasickness risk on choppy days; early start not for night owls
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
Spot-on for small groups (friends, families) wanting a day away from the Pattaya party circuit. The barbecue and water lounging are genuinely relaxing, not performative. All gear—kayaks, SUPs, snorkelling—is included and functional. You can bring your own food or let them cook their menu (grilled chicken, wings, seafood). Accident insurance is built in.
No hotel transport; you'll need a taxi or Grab to the meeting point. The 150-THB island fee isn't advertised upfront in the tour price. Not suitable for pregnant travellers. Early-to-mid departure means an early alarm. Water conditions vary—choppy days limit snorkelling appeal. Infants must sit on your lap the entire boat journey. Budget 6–8 hours total; factor in travel time to/from Pattaya.
Bring sunscreen, a rash vest, and seasickness tablets. Towels, lunch prep, and equipment hire are sorted. Groups of up to 8–10 work best for a true private feel.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.