ATV and Quad Tours on Koh Samui: What to Expect Before You Book

Bumping along jungle trails, stopping at viewpoints over the sea, and cooling off at a hidden waterfall — ATV and quad tours are one of Koh Samui's most popular activities. Here's how a tour actually runs, what to bring, and why you might choose a buggy instead.

How an ATV or quad tour works

Every tour starts with a short briefing: on the protective gear and on the vehicle you've chosen, whether that's a single ATV, a two-seat ATV, or a buggy. From there, you head inland in a small group with a guide.

The trails run over mountain paths, dried-up riverbeds and sandy or muddy hollows, past small, still-inhabited temples and a string of viewpoints looking out over the island and the sea. The three-hour tour also climbs to Koh Samui's highest point, Wat Teepangkorn at around 635 metres above sea level, with a 360-degree view that reaches the mainland on a clear day. The longer tours include a stop at a hidden waterfall to cool off, and the three-hour version wraps up with lunch at a hilltop restaurant with a view.

Which tour suits you?

On kohsamui.tours there are three options, each with hotel pick-up:

For a quick shot of adrenaline — one hour inland, suitable for beginners through to more experienced riders:

from 1,450 THBKoh Samui Quad Activity 1 hour adventure★★★★4.00 from 8 reviews

The full loop — three hours with the highest point, a waterfall and lunch included:

from 3,950 THBATV Quad island tour Koh samui 3 Hours★★★★★5.00 from 5 reviews

At sunset, by buggy — sitting side by side rather than one behind the other, on unpaved inland trails:

from 5,450 THBBuggy Safari 2 hour adventure tour Koh Samui★★★★★5.00 from 1 reviews

Licence, minimum age and riding as a passenger

All three tours state the same rule on their product pages: children under 12 may only ride as a passenger, not drive, and pregnant women are advised not to take part. A two-seat option is specifically available on the one-hour and three-hour tours, so a passenger can come along.

Independent sources on Koh Samui's ATV scene say you generally don't need a driving licence for a guided tour, since the vehicles are automatic. As a driver you're usually accepted from around age 12, after a short handling test before setting off — though this can vary between operators, so it's worth asking at check-in if you're travelling with children or teenagers.

What to wear and safety

Recommended by the operators and independent guides alike:

• Closed, sturdy shoes — not flip-flops
• Clothes you don't mind getting dirty
• Sunglasses or goggles — on dusty or muddy trails, this is the item most riders wish they'd brought
• Sunscreen and a camera for the viewpoints

The tour price includes mobile accident insurance and a guide who gives a safety briefing before you set off. Anyone who's been drinking won't be allowed to ride.

Rainy season and mud — when's the best time to go?

Muddy sections are part of these tours whatever the season — the trails are deliberately routed through natural terrain. During the rainy season, generally October to December on Koh Samui, it gets noticeably wetter: independent reports describe trails as greener with more mud between November and January, though the waterfall also carries more water then. October itself can bring the heaviest rain, with some trails temporarily washed out and tours adjusted or rescheduled depending on conditions. For more on how the weather changes through the year, see Koh Samui weather and the truth about the rainy season and our Top 10 rainy day activities.

Sunset by buggy

If you'd rather ride in the late afternoon, the buggy safari is built around sunset. The format is similar to the quad tours — hotel pick-up, unpaved inland trails, a guide leading the way — except you sit side by side in the buggy instead of one behind the other on a quad. For more sunset spots around the island, see our article on the best sunset spots on Koh Samui.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a licence to ride a quad bike on Koh Samui?

Independent sources on the island's ATV scene say no licence is needed for guided tours with automatic vehicles. Our partners' product pages don't explicitly confirm this either way, so it's worth checking at check-in.

What's the minimum age to drive an ATV or quad?

Independent sources on the Koh Samui market put it at around age 12, after a short handling test. According to our partner's product pages, children under 12 may only ride as passengers.

Can you ride as a passenger?

Yes. Both the one-hour and three-hour tours offer two-seat vehicles, so a passenger can ride along.

What's the difference between a quad, an ATV and a buggy?

Quad and ATV refer to the same vehicle — a four-wheeled machine where driver and passenger sit one behind the other. On a buggy, they sit side by side, more like a small off-road car. The trails and format are similar on both.

For more of Koh Samui's inland scenery, see our article on Koh Samui's waterfalls, and for another island day trip, read about the day trip to Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Tao.