Koh Samui Boat Trip With Kids: Is a Catamaran Day Safe? (Under-5s Free)

If you are planning a Koh Samui boat trip with kids, a day on a catamaran is one of the easier ways to show them the islands. Nobody has to hike, the boat is a stable base and there is always something to look at. Parents still want to know how safe it is before they book, and fair enough. Below we go through what makes a boat day safer for children, how a life jacket should fit, sun, heat and seasickness, and what to ask the operator, using the Samui Journey catamaran as the example.

Quick answer	Yes. A catamaran day trip can be a safe family day if you pick a licensed operator, make sure every child wears a well-fitting life jacket in the water, watch them closely and plan for sun and heat. Sailing only when the sea is safe matters as much as the boat itself.
Samui Journey prices	Under-5s free; children (5–11) ฿1,900; adults (12+) ฿3,300
Safety basics on board	Licensed captain with 10+ years’ experience, life jackets for everyone, first-aid kit, accident insurance included
Ask before booking	Any age limits on water activities (child-size life jackets are on board), via WhatsApp on +66 94 751 4988

What makes a boat day safer for children

No day on the water is risk-free. The World Health Organization’s drowning fact sheet makes sobering reading: children under five account for nearly a quarter of all drowning deaths worldwide. The risks on an organised boat day are well understood, though, and they are easy to manage. Check for these five things:

1. A licensed operator. Tour businesses in Thailand need a tour operator licence, and a reputable one will give you the number. Samui Journey’s TAT licence number is 44/00252.
2. An experienced, licensed captain. Our captain is licensed and has more than 10 years’ experience at sea.
3. Life jackets for everyone, in sizes that fit small children too.
4. First aid and insurance. A first-aid kit is kept on board, and accident insurance comes with the ticket.
5. A clear weather policy. If the sea is not safe, the Samui Journey catamaran moves your trip to a new date first, with a full refund if that date is also affected.

The sixth thing is you. The crew look after the boat and the whole group. Parents still need to keep their own children in sight, above all at the swim stops and when getting on and off the boat.

Life jackets: getting the fit right

The American Academy of Pediatrics gives clear, practical advice on life jackets for children, summed up here:

• Children should wear a life jacket at all times on boats or near open water.
• Pick a jacket that matches your child’s weight, and check the label.
• It should fit snugly, with every strap done up. A loose jacket can ride up over a child’s face in the water.
• Water wings, inflatable rings and blow-up toys are not life jackets.
• A life jacket never replaces an adult watching.

To check the fit, fasten the jacket and lift it at the shoulders. If it slides up past your child’s chin or ears, it is too big. Every guest on the Samui Journey catamaran gets a life jacket and there are child-size ones on board, so you do not need to pack one from home.

Age by age: what to expect

Under 5 (free)

Under-5s go free on the Samui Journey catamaran, but it is still a long day. Hotel pickup is between about 9:00 and 9:40 AM depending on your area, and you are back at your hotel around 4:30 PM. Toddlers who nap well on the move usually cope fine. Bring whatever helps your child rest, and keep the evening quiet. Keep babies and toddlers in the shade as much as you can.

Ages 5–11 (child rate, ฿1,900)

Kids in this bracket tend to get the most out of the day. Koh Tan is the swimming and snorkelling stop, and the banana boat, springboard and floating sea pool on board are all included in the price. Ask us on WhatsApp about any age or height limits for the water activities before you come, so nobody is disappointed on the day. Our Koh Tan snorkelling guide has tips for first-time snorkellers.

12 and over (adult rate, ฿3,300)

Teenagers pay the adult price and can usually join in with everything. Set a few ground rules before the swim stops, such as staying within sight of the boat and swimming in pairs.

Sun and heat

Children’s skin burns fast, and sunlight bouncing off the sea makes a boat day harsher than a day by the pool. The NHS sun safety advice is sunscreen of at least SPF30 with at least a four-star UVA rating, put on again straight after swimming, plus wide-brimmed hats and long-sleeved tops. It also says to keep babies under six months out of direct strong sun. For a child who will be in and out of the water all day, a long-sleeved rash vest is the easiest fix.

Drinks are included on the catamaran. Keep handing water to younger children anyway, as they often do not notice they are thirsty until they are flagging.

Seasickness in children

Kids get seasick too. The CDC Yellow Book says motion sickness is rare under the age of two, but children are most prone to it between about 7 and 12. A few simple steps help:

• Sit near the middle of the boat, where the motion is gentlest, and get your child to look at the horizon.
• Put screens and books away while the boat is moving.
• Give them a light meal beforehand, not a big breakfast.
• Keep them busy with chat, games or music.

Some seasickness medicines are not suitable for children. The CDC notes, for example, that scopolamine should not be given to children. Talk to a pharmacist or doctor before giving your child any medicine, and if they suggest one, try it at home first.

Pig Island with children

Pig Island is often the best bit for younger children, but adult pigs are heavy and they push when there is food about. Brief the kids before you land: no food, no chasing, hands kept low. Stand between small children and the bigger pigs. Our Pig Island guide covers how to visit responsibly.

What to pack for children

• Reef-safe sunscreen, a sun hat and a rash vest
• Swimwear, a towel and a full change of clothes
• Water shoes or sandals for hot sand and rocky shallows
• A dry bag for phones, nappies and spare clothes
• Snacks your fussy eater will touch (but nothing to feed the pigs)
• Any medicines your child needs, clearly labelled

Our boat day packing checklist has the full list.

What a Koh Samui boat trip with kids costs

Take two adults, a seven-year-old and a three-year-old. On the Samui Journey catamaran that comes to 2 × ฿3,300 + ฿1,900 + ฿0 = ฿8,500. Hotel transfers, lunch, drinks and accident insurance are all in that price, and so is the Thai massage on board if a parent needs a break.

Two policies matter for families. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, but later cancellations and no-shows are non-refundable, which counts if a child falls ill the night before. And the boat needs a minimum of 40 guests to sail. If that number is not reached, you choose between a new date and a full refund.

For more family ideas on land and sea, see our guide to Koh Samui with kids.

Questions to ask before you book

• Do you have life jackets that fit my child’s size and weight?
• Are there age or height limits for any of the water activities?
• Can lunch be changed for a child with allergies or a restricted diet?
• Where is the shade on board, and where can I change a baby?
• What happens if my child is unwell on the day?

We would much rather answer these before you book than leave you guessing, so send them to us on WhatsApp.

FAQ