Amazing private snorkeling tour in An Thoi islands by speed boat

Fingernail, Gam Ghi, May Rut, and Hon Thom give you a full day of island scenery in a compact four to six-hour outing. You swim, snorkel, eat lunch, and move on without having to plan boats or transfers yourself. The real appeal is the private group format, which lets you spend your time around the islands rather than sharing every decision with strangers.

I like the simple door-to-pier arrangement: an air-conditioned van collects you in Duong Dong, and the boat returns you to An Thoi before the van takes you back. I also like that lunch, bottled water, snorkeling gear, taxes, and a guide are included, so the $168 price covers nearly all of the day’s main costs.

One caution matters. The boat has been described by one passenger as a large passenger craft rather than a true speedboat, and the deeper moorings may limit how close you get to shore. Busy island stops are also possible, even on a private tour, so this is not a guaranteed quiet-island escape.

Key points to know before booking

• Four island stops: You visit Fingernail, Gam Ghi, May Rut, and Hon Thom, with about an hour planned at each.
• Private transport: Your group gets its own van, boat, and English-speaking guide.
• Snorkeling included: Equipment, bottled water, taxes, and a second snorkeling location near Hon Thom are part of the package.
• Lunch is covered: A BBQ lunch is included, with vegetarian food available if requested.
• Duong Dong pickup: The normal pickup area is Duong Dong town, with other arrangements possible on request.
• Crowds can affect the day: The operator chooses less crowded spots when possible, but there is no private beach and popular islands may be busy.

What your An Thoi day is really about

This is a classic island-hopping day, not a quiet expedition to an untouched corner of the sea. You board a private vessel, follow the southern island chain, and use each stop for a different mix of swimming, snorkeling, beach time, and lunch.

The An Thoi archipelago contains 17 small islands, and this route focuses on four of the better-known names. That makes the tour useful if you have limited time on Phu Quoc and want a broad taste of the southern islands without arranging separate transport.

The private format matters most when you are traveling with family or friends. You are not paying only for a seat on a boat. You are paying for your own vehicle, boat, and guide, plus a day that can be adjusted within the limits of weather, sea conditions, and crowd levels.

The advertised duration is four to six hours. That is long enough for several island stops, but it is not an all-day sailing trip. Expect a fairly active schedule, with roughly an hour at each main stop and transfer time at the beginning and end.

Leaving Duong Dong at 8:30 am

Pickup begins at 8:30 am from your hotel in Duong Dong town. An air-conditioned van takes you south toward An Thoi, with about 45 minutes listed for the transfer in each direction.

This arrangement is practical. You do not need to find the pier, arrange a taxi, or carry snorkeling gear through town. If you are staying outside Duong Dong, pickup may be possible by request, but you should confirm that before paying.

At the pier, you board the private boat. The tour description calls it a speed boat, but one passenger found the actual vessel to be a larger passenger craft. That difference could matter if you picture a small, fast boat cutting close to the islands. A larger boat may feel steadier, but it can also need deeper mooring points and may not pull directly onto shallow beaches.

The English-speaking guide accompanies your group. No guide name is provided, so you should not book this expecting a particular named guide. The private setup does give you a direct point of contact for questions, timing, and requests during the day.

Fingernail Island: beautiful, popular, and not always quiet

Your first island is Fingernail Island, also called Hon Mong Tay. It is part of the An Thoi archipelago and the Phu Quoc Marine Park.

The stop lasts about an hour. You can use that time for swimming, snorkeling, photographs, or simply sitting on the beach. The island is known for its small-island appearance and clear water, which makes it a natural first stop for getting comfortable with the equipment.

The name can cause confusion because Phu Quoc has more than one place referred to as Fingernail Island. This route visits the southern island in the An Thoi group, not the northern location with the same English nickname.

The main thing to understand is that the island’s fame can bring crowds. The operator says there is no private beach and that the guide tries to choose good times to avoid large groups. That is helpful, but it cannot remove the basic problem that popular stops may be busy.

If your perfect morning means an empty strip of sand, you may find this stop disappointing. If you want a recognizable island setting, a quick swim, and an easy first snorkeling session, it fits the day well.

Gam Ghi Island: coral, beaches, and a stronger snorkeling focus

Gam Ghi is another An Thoi island, surrounded by coral and known for several small beaches. The planned visit is about one hour.

I would treat this as one of the more useful snorkeling stops on the route. The island’s coral surroundings give you a clear reason to get in the water rather than spending the whole hour on the sand. The provided equipment lets you snorkel without bringing your own mask and fins.

You should still keep expectations sensible. The tour information does not promise a specific marine species, underwater visibility, or reef condition on the day. Water clarity depends on weather and sea conditions, and the itinerary can change if conditions are poor.

Gam Ghi also shows the tradeoff in a short group day. An hour gives you enough time to swim and look around, but not enough for a relaxed, unhurried beach afternoon. If you want to snorkel seriously, use the time in the water. If you prefer a long lunch and slow beach time, the schedule may feel brisk.

May Rut Island: the best all-around pause

May Rut is about 10 kilometers south of An Thoi Town and is described as one of the area’s best all-around islands. A local family owns the island and has lived there, giving this stop a more personal character than a simple photo stop.

You get about an hour here. The day’s balance of swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling makes May Rut a good place to slow down briefly. It is also where the tour’s lunch arrangement becomes important.

A BBQ lunch is included, and vegetarian food can be requested. Ask for the vegetarian option when you book rather than waiting until you arrive. Bottled water is also provided, which is useful in the sun and during repeated swims.

The phrase all-around is fitting because May Rut is not presented only as a snorkeling site. You can choose the activity that suits you: go into the water, sit on the beach, or take photographs. The short stop means you will probably need to choose rather than do everything at length.

The family ownership is worth noting, but do not read it as a promise of a private beach. The operator specifically says there is no private beach on the route. You are visiting a popular island environment, not a secluded property reserved for your group.

Hon Thom: a second chance to snorkel

The final major island stop is Hon Thom, also called Pineapple Island. The plan is to select a good snorkeling location around Hon Thom before returning to the pier.

This stop is more flexible than the earlier ones because the exact snorkeling place depends on sea conditions. That is a sensible approach. A guide who changes the location to suit the waves is more useful than one who follows a fixed plan in poor water.

Hon Thom gives you a second snorkeling opportunity near the end of the day. If your first swims were cut short by crowds, equipment adjustments, or choppy water, this final stop gives you another chance to get in and enjoy the marine setting.

On the other hand, the stop is not a guaranteed named reef with a fixed underwater program. The wording allows the guide to select a suitable location, so the experience may vary from one departure to another.

After about an hour, you return to An Thoi pier. The van then takes you back to Duong Dong, with roughly 45 minutes allowed for the return transfer.

What the private format does and does not change

A private tour gives your group its own car, guide, and boat. That is a major advantage over a standard shared excursion, especially if your group includes children, older family members, or people with different ideas about swimming and sunbathing.

You can ask for more time in the water at a stop, request a different pace, or tell the guide what you would rather avoid. The guide may be able to adjust the order or choose a less crowded location, but the route remains shaped by the listed islands and by sea conditions.

Private does not mean exclusive access. The beaches and snorkeling areas are shared, and the tour information is clear that there is no private beach. One passenger also found that the boat visited busy locations despite asking to avoid them, with large tour groups present at the islands.

That is the central limitation of this experience. Your group may be private, but the southern islands are not reserved for you. If avoiding crowds is your top priority, ask before departure how the guide plans to handle busy conditions, and keep your expectations flexible.

Is $168 a fair price?

At $168 per person, this is not the cheapest way to see the An Thoi islands. The value depends heavily on the size of your group and on how much convenience you want.

The price includes:

• Hotel pickup and return from Duong Dong
• Private van transport
• Private boat trip
• English-speaking guide
• Snorkeling equipment
• Bottled water
• Lunch, including BBQ food and vegetarian food on request
• Taxes and other listed fees

For a couple, the cost may feel high compared with a shared boat. For a larger private group, the price can make more sense because you are buying control over the vehicle and boat rather than paying separately for each convenience.

I would compare this tour with a basic group cruise by asking three questions. Do you value hotel pickup? Do you need a private guide and boat? Do you want the flexibility to manage the day for your own group? If the answer is yes to all three, the package is easier to justify.

If you mainly want inexpensive access to the water and do not mind sharing transport, a cheaper group outing may offer better value. The private label alone does not guarantee a quieter beach or a smaller boat.

Weather, cancellation, and practical details

The experience requires good weather. If poor conditions force a cancellation, you can choose another date or receive a full refund. The tour also requires a minimum number of participants, and a cancellation for that reason comes with the option of another date, another experience, or a full refund.

For your own cancellation, you need to cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes made inside that 24-hour window are not accepted, and the local time in Phu Quoc controls the cut-off.

Wear clothing that can handle salt water and sun, and bring any personal items you prefer for the beach. The operator supplies the main snorkeling equipment and bottled water, but personal expenses are not included. Tips are not compulsory, though they are recommended.

Most people can take part. The main demands are getting into the boat, swimming or snorkeling if you choose those activities, and handling several island stops within a fairly short day.

Who should book this Phu Quoc boat trip?

I would recommend it to couples, families, and friend groups who want a private day without arranging a boat, driver, guide, lunch, and equipment separately. It is especially useful if your hotel is in Duong Dong and you want door-to-pier transport.

It also suits you if you like variety. You can snorkel at more than one location, swim, sunbathe, eat lunch, and see four different islands in one outing.

I would hesitate if your first priority is solitude, a true high-speed boat, or a long, slow stay at one beach. The tour may encounter large groups, the vessel may be larger than the word speedboat suggests, and each island stop is limited to about an hour.

The high overall rating of 4.8 from 49 ratings, with 94 percent recommending it, points to a generally strong experience. Still, the lower rating offers a useful warning: the price feels less attractive if the boat is not as fast as expected and the route reaches crowded locations.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want the convenience of a private package and plan to spend your day actively moving among Phu Quoc’s southern islands. The included transport, lunch, equipment, and guide remove much of the usual planning work.

Before booking, accept two limits: popular beaches can be crowded, and the boat may be a larger passenger vessel rather than a nimble speedboat. If you can live with those conditions, this is a well-organized way to sample Fingernail, Gam Ghi, May Rut, and Hon Thom in one compact day.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

Pickup starts at 8:30 am from your hotel in Duong Dong town. Pickup from another location may be possible on request.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four to six hours, including the transfers and island stops.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The route includes Fingernail Island, Gam Ghi Island, May Rut Island, and Hon Thom Island.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment is included in the price, along with bottled water.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A BBQ lunch is included, and vegetarian food is available on request.

Is the tour private?

Yes. The car, speed boat, guide, and activity are private for your group only.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

You can choose another date or receive a full refund if the experience is canceled because of poor weather.