Quads on Koh Samui: Tour Prices, Two-Seaters and the Rules
ATV and quad rental in Koh Samui means a guided ride rather than a machine handed over for the day: a driver pays ฿1,450–1,800 for one hour and ฿3,995–4,500 for four, and a passenger seat costs from ฿950. Below: what an hour costs on each length of outing, one quad or two for a couple, the routes, age limits and the small print.
How quad hire works on the island: guided rides from ฿1,450
On the island a quad comes with a guide, a set route and a hotel pickup, and the price depends on the time on the trail rather than on the machine.
Why there is no keys-and-go option
ATV and quad rental in Koh Samui works as a guided ride: quad operators on the island do not hand over a machine to take onto public roads alone. Every booking follows the same pattern — a pickup from the hotel, a safety briefing and a short test ride at a base camp in Maenam or Lamai, then a convoy behind an English- or Thai-speaking guide on jungle tracks and hill trails. That is why prices are quoted per outing of one to four hours rather than per day, as they are for scooters. The format has an upside: helmets, the route and the way back are arranged for you, and the guide knows where the trail turns to mud. Book it the way you would book an excursion — pick the morning or afternoon slot first, then the length of the ride.
Market prices by length of ride
| Length | Driver | Passenger | On the route |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | ฿1,450–1,800 | ฿950–1,000 | Jungle trails and viewpoints near the camp |
| 2 hours | ฿2,200–2,800 | ฿1,000–1,950 | Adds a waterfall and a hilltop viewpoint |
| 3 hours | ฿3,395–3,800 | ฿1,500–1,690 | Mountain loop, temple, snack or lunch |
| 4 hours | ฿3,995–4,500 | ฿2,000–2,290 | Widest loop, two waterfalls, Thai lunch |
Who pays what: driver, passenger, two-seater
A quad ride is priced per driver, and a passenger riding behind pays a smaller fixed amount: ฿950–1,000 for an hour and ฿2,000–2,290 for four hours. Some operators use a different scheme for two-seat machines and price the whole quad as one unit — ฿3,800 for a two-hour ride on a 400cc two-seater, against ฿2,800 for a single. Children aged 6 to 10 ride free with a paying driver at some bases, while another base adds ฿200–300 for a child under 10 sitting behind. The headline figure in the price table is therefore the price of one person at the handlebars. For a couple or a family, add up the seats before comparing offers: a cheap driver rate with a dear passenger seat can end up above a two-seater sold as one unit.
One hour or four: what each extra hour buys
Longer rides cost more in total but less per hour, and the extra time buys different scenery rather than more laps of the same trail.
Cost per hour as rides get longer
| Length | Driver price | Per hour | Against one hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | ฿1,450–1,800 | ฿1,450–1,800 | — |
| 2 hours | ฿2,200–2,800 | ฿1,100–1,400 | 22–24% cheaper |
| 3 hours | ฿3,395–3,800 | about ฿1,130–1,270 | 22–30% cheaper |
| 4 hours | ฿3,995–4,500 | about ฿1,000–1,125 | 31–38% cheaper |
What changes on the route after the first hour
The first hour of most quad bike tours on Koh Samui stays on trails and gardens close to the camp, and a waterfall appears only from the two-hour mark. A two-hour outing adds a waterfall stop and a hilltop viewpoint over coconut and fruit plantations, though on one route that waterfall is described as seasonal. At three hours the loop reaches the mountains: the Green Mountain, Pak Phraek Big Waterfall and Wat Teepangkorn, the hilltop temple with a golden pagoda, with a snack box or lunch. The four-hour version adds Khao Toei and a second waterfall, Song Ruea, with a Thai lunch and entrance fees inside the price. To my mind the step from two to three hours changes the outing more than any other, because that is where the trip stops circling the base and crosses the island's interior. If a swim matters, choose three hours or more.
Why the one-hour ride feels like a test
One hour on a quad costs ฿1,450–1,800, yet part of that hour goes on the safety briefing and the test ride before the convoy leaves the base. One rider's review calls the short version kind of a test ride, and the price ladder agrees: at the same base the second hour adds about ฿1,000 to the driver price, and with it come the waterfall and the viewpoint. The short slot suits a family with young passengers, or a first-timer unsure about handling a 250cc machine on loose ground. Pickup and drop-off take the same time for either length — on the Lamai rides both the one- and two-hour versions start at 10:00 or 14:00 and drop off at 12:00 or 16:00 — so even one hour blocks a morning or an afternoon. If that half-day is free anyway, two hours make better use of the transfer.
Single quad, two-seater or 520cc with power steering
Five kinds of machine appear across the island's operators, from a basic 200cc automatic to a 520cc two-seater with power steering, and the number of seats matters more than the engine.
Machines on the island
| Machine | Seats | Gearbox or feature | Driver price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quad 200cc | Driver and 1 passenger | Fully automatic | ฿1,500–4,500 for 1–4 hours |
| Quad 250cc | Driver and 1 passenger | Automatic or manual | ฿1,450–2,450 for 1–2 hours |
| Single quad, model not named | 1 | Solo machine | ฿2,800 (2 h), ฿4,500 (4 h) |
| Two-seater, 400cc class (Suzuki KingQuad 450cc) | 2 | Larger seat for two | ฿3,800 (2 h), ฿6,800 (4 h) |
| CFmoto 520cc | 2 | Power steering, passenger backrest | ฿4,300 (2 h), ฿7,300 (4 h) |
Power steering and a backrest: when the 520cc pays off
The CFmoto 520cc is the dearest quad on the island at ฿4,300 for two hours and ฿7,300 for four, ฿500 above the 400cc-class two-seater on both lengths. For that ฿500 it adds power steering and a backrest for the passenger, the only two-seater on offer that lists either feature. On a four-hour mountain loop, with climbs to viewpoints and descents to waterfalls, steering effort adds up over the day, and a passenger without a backrest spends the climbs holding on to the driver. On a two-hour beginner waterfall tour the gap matters less, and the cheaper 400cc does the job. The limit of 140 kg per ATV, set on one mountain loop, covers driver and passenger together, so check it before choosing any two-up option. My rule of thumb: four hours with a passenger — take power steering; two hours or riding solo — keep the ฿500.
Two people: one machine or two
| Option for two people | 2 hours | 4 hours |
|---|---|---|
| Two single quads | ฿5,600 | ฿9,000 |
| Two-seater, 400cc class | ฿3,800 | ฿6,800 |
| CFmoto 520cc two-seater | ฿4,300 | ฿7,300 |
| Driver and passenger, 200cc or 250cc | ฿3,500–4,400 | ฿6,285–6,500 |
Which pairing to pick
Sharing one machine saves ฿1,800 over two hours and ฿2,200 on four hours compared with two single quads at the same base. The cheapest pairing in the market is a driver with a passenger behind on a 200cc automatic: ฿3,500 for two hours and ฿6,285 for four. Two singles make sense only when both people want to drive, and on one of the longer mountain loops the minimum driving age is 15, so a younger teenager rides behind. A passenger seat also changes the feel of the outing — the person behind sees the scenery but has no controls, which suits a child or a nervous rider more than an adult who came for the driving. Decide who will drive first; the price follows from that choice, not the other way round.
Routes from Maenam and Lamai: waterfalls, viewpoints and a hilltop temple
Quad routes run inland from two areas, the north coast around Maenam and the east coast at Lamai, into the island's jungle-covered interior.
Stops on the longer mountain loops
- Jo Garden: the first viewpoint on the three- and four-hour mountain loop, reached straight after the base camp and the test ride.
- Khao Toei: an extra hill stop on the four-hour version only, placed before the climb towards the Green Mountain.
- Green Mountain: the high point of the longer loops, followed by a lunch break on the routes that include a meal.
- Pak Phraek Big Waterfall: the main swimming stop of the mountain loops, which is why a swimsuit and towel are on the packing list.
- Song Ruea Waterfall: a second waterfall on the four-hour version, which skips the Maenam Soi 7 viewpoint used on the three-hour version.
- Wat Teepangkorn: a hilltop temple with a golden pagoda, the last big stop before the ride back to the hotel.
North-coast and Lamai base camps
Most quad operators keep their machines around Maenam on the north coast, including a base in the Maenam Soi 7 area at the foot of the mountain trails, while another base camp sits in Lamai on the east side. The base matters less than it seems, because the price of an ATV tour on Samui includes the transfer from the hotel, and the convoy starts at the camp rather than at your door. What the base does change is the route: from Maenam the mountain loops climb through the Green Mountain area to Pak Phraek waterfall and Wat Teepangkorn, while the Lamai rides stay in jungle and plantations near the camp. At least eight operators work the interior, which keeps prices in a narrow band of a few hundred baht per length. For a single hour from a hotel in Chaweng or Lamai, a Lamai start keeps the transfer short.
Pickup zones and start times
A typical free-transfer zone covers seven areas: Maenam, Bophut, Chaweng, Plai Laem, Choeng Mon, Lamai and Nathon. Outside it the transfer costs extra, so guests staying elsewhere, such as on the south coast, should ask for that surcharge together with the quote. Rides run in two daily slots. Short rides pick up between 9:00 and 10:00 or between 13:00 and 14:00 and start at 10:00 or 14:00. The two-hour beginner waterfall tour at another base starts around 9:30 or 14:00, and one four-hour mountain loop leaves at 9:00 and is back around 15:00, filling most of the day. Afternoon pickups for the mountain loops also exist, at 13:30–14:00 on another route. For the long loop, the morning start leaves the evening free.
Age, ability test, weight and the licence question
Quad operators on the island set their own limits on age, weight and health, and the licence rules differ between a quad and the buggies sold alongside it.
Limits operators set
- Driver age: 12 years on most one- to four-hour rides, after an ability test at the base camp before the convoy leaves.
- Mountain loop: one three- and four-hour route on 200cc quads raises the minimum driving age to 15 and the paying passenger age to 11.
- Passengers: from 4 years on the short rides; children aged 6–10 ride free behind a paying driver at some bases.
- Weight: 140 kg per ATV on the mountain loop, a limit that covers a driver and passenger sharing one machine.
- Health: rides are not advised for people with back problems or heart conditions, or for pregnant women.
- Experience: none is required; beginners and experienced riders join the same guided groups after the safety briefing.
Licence: nothing for a quad, a licence for some buggies
No driving licence is asked for quad bike rental on Koh Samui: operators state that no experience is required, and the ability test at the base takes the place of paperwork. Buggies are a different case. One operator that offers both requires a driving licence for its CFMOTO buggies, which start at ฿8,200 for four hours, while another lets drivers from age 12 take a buggy without experience — the buggy rental section lists the models. Scooters are stricter again: rental terms expect a home-country motorcycle licence plus an International Driving Permit with the A category, and riding without the permit risks a fine of ฿500–1,000. The scooter rental section, from ฿150 a day, sets those rules out. Without a motorcycle licence, a guided quad tour is the off-road option that asks for none.
Children: free seats, small surcharges and age floors
Children ride as passengers at every base, but the price for a child varies more than any other line in the market. At one Maenam base children aged 6 to 10 ride free behind a paying driver, while passengers from 11 pay ฿1,000–2,000 depending on length. On one mountain loop children of 6–10 also go free, and passengers from 11 pay ฿1,690 for three hours and ฿2,290 for four. A third operator adds ฿200 to a two-hour booking and ฿300 to a four-hour ride for a child under 10. At the young end, passengers on the one- and two-hour Lamai rides can be 4 years old. Driving starts at 12, and one operator lets children of 11–12 drive a single quad. Two adults on two quads with an eight-year-old behind one of them can therefore pay nothing for the child — ask which rule applies when booking.
What the price covers, what to wear and the small print
Ride prices on the island are close to all-inclusive, but a few extras — a transfer outside the zone, a private guide, a card fee — can change the final bill.
Included on almost every ride
- Transfer: hotel pickup and drop-off inside the transfer zone, timed around the morning and afternoon slots.
- Guide: an English- or Thai-speaking guide who leads the convoy and sets the pace on the trail.
- Safety: a briefing, a practice or test ride at the base camp, and a helmet for driver and passenger.
- Accident insurance: basic accident cover for the rider is part of the price at most operators; ask what it pays out.
- Food and fees: water and fruit, a snack box on three hours or a Thai lunch on four, plus entrance fees on the mountain loops.
Clothes, shoes and what to pack
Closed shoes are a requirement rather than a suggestion: operators list them as compulsory for safety, so flip-flops stay at the hotel. Clothes should be ones you do not mind getting dusty or muddy, since the trails are dirt and jungle tracks rather than paved roads. On the mountain loops with waterfall stops, pack a swimsuit and a towel; sunglasses, sunscreen and insect repellent appear on every packing list, along with a camera for the viewpoints. Helmets are handed out at the base, so there is no need to bring one. Food is not included on the one- and two-hour rides, so eat before a morning start. A light long-sleeved top protects against both sun and scratches on narrow tracks, and it weighs nothing in a day bag.
Extras that change the bill
| Extra | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Transfer outside the zone | Quoted on request | Hotels outside the seven areas |
| Private ride | +฿4,500 | Added to the tour price at one operator |
| Child under 10 as passenger | +฿200–300 | Two- and four-hour rides at one operator |
| Online card payment | +5% | Paying online instead of at the camp |
| Second hour on a short ride | About +฿1,000 | Upgrading from one hour to two |
Cancellation and paying on the day
Free cancellation up to a day before the start is the standard term on the island; inside that window the booking is non-refundable. Bookings for one to three riders can be made with nothing paid up front, and the bill is settled at the camp on the day. Paying online by card adds a 5% processing fee, which on a ฿4,500 four-hour tour comes to ฿225 — more than the ฿200 child surcharge on a two-hour ride. A private ride, with a guide only for your group, adds ฿4,500 to the tour price, so a two-hour single at ฿2,800 becomes ฿7,300, 2.6 times the shared price. Moving the booking to another date is free on the same 24-hour terms, so check the forecast the evening before and shift the date if heavy rain is expected.
Key points before booking a quad ride
Six figures to remember
- Format: quads on the island come with a guide, a hotel transfer and a set route; no one hands over a machine to ride alone.
- Price: a driver pays ฿1,450–1,800 for one hour and ฿3,995–4,500 for four; a passenger pays ฿950–2,290.
- Per hour: four hours cost about ฿1,000–1,125 an hour, roughly a third less than a one-hour ride.
- Couples: a driver and passenger on one 200cc quad pay ฿3,500 for two hours, against ฿5,600 for two single quads.
- Rules: drivers from 12 after a test, 15 on one mountain loop; 140 kg per machine; no licence for a quad.
- Terms: free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead; a private ride adds ฿4,500 and online card payment 5%.