Koh Tao with Mr. Tu
22 years on the route, knows the cove that fills with parrotfish at 2pm.
Twenty-two years on the same eight-mile stretch of water teaches a captain things that aren't on any map. Mr. Tu can read the morning current at a glance — if it's running south, he'll skip the standard Nang Yuan stop and drop you instead at a channel-side reef where parrotfish gather around 2pm. If the current's the other way, the morning visibility at the western pinnacle is unmatched. Either way, you won't be sharing it with three speedboats from a Bangkok-booked aggregator.
Mr. Tu owns the boat. He owns the route. He owns the trip. There's no middleman between you and him — when you book through Legitour, we WhatsApp him directly to confirm the day, and you pay him in cash on the pier in Bophut. The agency rate the big platforms charge for the same route is ฿4,200 per person; Mr. Tu's price is ฿2,650, and that's because it skips a 1.5× commission stack.
The boat is a traditional longtail — wood hull, the kind of long-shaft inboard engine that makes the iconic Thailand sound. It seats six in real comfort, eight at a squeeze. There's a canvas roof for sun, an open foredeck for the snorkel stops, and a small galley aft where the lunch is plated.
Lunch is Thai home-style: a green curry, stir-fried morning glory, jasmine rice, fresh fruit. Mr. Tu's wife packs it from their kitchen in Maenam. Vegetarians and pescatarians are easy; tell us when you book. Allergies, give us 48 hours.
What you'll see: 42-shaped Koh Nang Yuan from the air; the underwater statue at the western pinnacle; the parrotfish if Mr. Tu's right about the current; and on a good day, a school of barracuda around the channel marker between Tao and Nang Yuan. Visibility runs 8-15m most of the year; February-May is clearest, October-November is roughest.
If you've done the speedboat version of this trip — the 7am pickup, 90-minute ride, 30 minutes at each stop, lunch at a beach café you share with 80 strangers — you'll know what makes Mr. Tu different in the first hour. Slower water. Smaller group. Captain who knows you by your first name by the end.
- Price
- ฿1,500 / adult joint · ฿1,300 / kid (4–10) · Mr. Tu's private longtail ฿29,500 / 6-pax
- Duration
- Full day, ~10 hours
- Departs
- Bophut pier, 07:30
- Returns
- Bophut pier, ~17:30
- Capacity
- Up to 6 (private charter), or join others
- Captain / operator
- Mr. Tu — 22 years on Samui's east coast
What's included, what's not
Included
- Round-trip transport from your hotel to Bophut pier
- Private longtail boat with Mr. Tu
- Two snorkel stops including the Nang Yuan reef
- Thai lunch on board (vegetarian on request)
- Snorkel mask, fin rental, life jackets
- Bottled water, fresh fruit
- All marine park / Nang Yuan landing fees
Not included
- Underwater camera (rental at pier ฿200)
- Alcoholic drinks (bring your own or buy at Nang Yuan)
Sample itinerary
Pay on the day · cash or transfer · no card or deposit required
Book Koh Tao with Mr. Tu on WhatsAppQuestions guests ask
How is this different from the speedboat tours that go to Koh Tao?
The speedboats are fast (1h each way) and crowded — typically 30-50 guests on the same boat. Mr. Tu's longtail is slower (~1.5h) but it's just your group. He picks the snorkel spots based on conditions that day, not a fixed dock. You eat lunch on the boat, not at a buffet with three other tour groups.
Is Koh Tao good for beginner snorkelers?
Yes. Nang Yuan's western reef is shallow (1-3m) with calm water. Mr. Tu carries life jackets and noodles. He'll stay close if you're nervous.
Can I scuba dive instead of snorkeling?
Mr. Tu doesn't run dive trips, but he'll drop you at Koh Tao town in the morning so you can join a Lomprayah or Crystal Dive PADI excursion, then pick you up in the afternoon. WhatsApp us to coordinate.
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