ATV and Quad Bike Tours on Koh Samui, and Go-Karting at Chaweng Lake
By the Endless Summer crew · · 9 min read
Some links in this article go to GetYourGuide, which pays us a small commission if you book. It costs you nothing extra, and we only link trips we would send a friend on.
An ATV tour on Koh Samui is a guided quad bike ride through the island’s interior: a helmet, a short lesson on flat ground, then a line of quads following a guide along dirt tracks, through plantations and forest, and up to a viewpoint or a waterfall. Every ATV operator on Koh Samui sets its own rules on age, licence and deposits, and most packages include a hotel pickup.
This guide covers what to book, who is allowed to drive, how to avoid an argument over damage, and what the tracks are like in the rain. At the end there is the go-kart track at Chaweng Lake, the better choice for many families. We run a boat, not quads, so we have no favourite operator. Rules differ from one company to the next, so check them on the page you book.
What an ATV tour on Koh Samui involves
An ATV tour is a guided ride, not a rental. You do not go off on your own: a guide leads, the group follows in a line, and often a second guide rides at the back.
- Pickup from your hotel to the operator’s base in the hills.
- Kit. A helmet, and at some operators goggles or gloves.
- A short lesson on flat ground: throttle, brakes, how to sit, how to turn. Some operators test younger drivers here before they are allowed out.
- The ride. Dirt and gravel tracks, some steep climbs and descents, puddles and, on some routes, a stream crossing. Stops at a viewpoint or a waterfall, depending on the route.
- Wash, drink, van home. Expect to come back dusty or muddy.
Riders usually share a quad, one driving and one as passenger, or pay more to ride alone. The passenger seat is cheaper and is how children too young to drive take part.
1-hour or 2-hour quad bike tour on Koh Samui: which to book
Book two hours unless you are short of time or unsure you will like it. One hour is a taster: by the time you have had the lesson and found your feet, the ride is nearly over. The two-hour routes are the ones that reach the viewpoints and waterfalls.
| Length | What you usually get | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 hour | A loop near the base; a viewpoint on some routes | Trying it out; younger passengers; a tight schedule |
| 2 hours | Longer trails, a viewpoint or waterfall stop | Most first-timers |
| 3 to 4 hours | Further into the hills, some with lunch | Confident riders who want a full half-day |
All of these times are time on the quad. Add the lesson, the stops and the transfer either side: a two-hour ride is usually a half-day out of your schedule.
As one example of the two-hour format, this ATV quad bike tour on jungle trails is listed at about two hours, with 4.81 stars from more than 700 reviews at the time of writing.
Who can drive an ATV on Koh Samui: age, licence and passenger rules
There is no single rule. Each operator sets its own, and the listings we checked disagree widely.
- Driver minimum age. Anywhere from 12 to 18. Some operators let children of about 12 drive only after they pass a short riding test at the base. Others set 16 or 18 for every driver.
- Passengers. Usually from about four to six years old, riding behind an adult or a guide. Infants are not allowed.
- Licence. Most guided tours stay on private or rural tracks, but some listings say a driving licence may be required. Ask before you book, and bring your licence if you have one.
- Health. The ride is bumpy. Pregnancy and back or neck problems are common exclusions on the listings. If in doubt, ask your doctor.
Safety gear and the safety brief
A quad does not lean into corners, and on a side slope it can tip, so listen to the lesson even if you ride a scooter at home. Make sure your helmet fits and is fastened, and take goggles if they are offered, because dust and mud come off the quad in front. Most trouble on these rides comes from a few simple things:
- Going too fast downhill. Brake before the slope, not on it.
- Riding too close to the quad in front. Leave space for it to stop.
- Feet off the footrests or hands off the bars to wave or take a photo.
- Trying to keep up with a faster rider. Tell the guide if you want to go slower; on a good tour, the group waits.
Deposits and damage: agree the terms before you ride
Most ATV tours on Samui run without trouble, but damage disputes are a known problem with hired vehicles of all kinds in Thailand, and quads are no exception. A scratched panel or a broken mirror can turn into a long argument. A few habits make it much less likely:
- Read the damage terms before you pay. If the listing does not say what you pay for damage, ask in writing.
- Take photos and a short video of your quad before you ride, especially any existing scratches, and make sure the staff see you do it.
- Do not leave your passport. Offer a photocopy instead. If a cash deposit is asked for, get a receipt.
- Stay calm if there is a claim. Ask to see the damage and compare it with your photos. If it turns into a serious dispute, the Tourist Police can be reached on 1155.
What to wear for a quad bike tour on Koh Samui
Wear clothes you do not mind ruining, and closed shoes. Trail mud does not always wash out.
- Closed shoes with grip. Old trainers are ideal. Flip-flops and sandals are usually not allowed.
- Long, light trousers. They protect your legs from the hot engine, branches and flying stones. In shorts, expect more scratches.
- A dark T-shirt. Nothing white.
- Sunglasses or goggles, and a buff or scarf for the dust in the dry months.
- A small dry bag for your phone and money, and water. The guides stop for photos, so you do not need to hold a phone while you ride.
- A change of clothes and a towel for the van home, especially in the wet months.
ATV tours in Samui’s rainy season: mud and when to skip it
Quad bikes still run in the rain, and for some riders the mud is the best part. On Samui the wettest stretch is mid-October to mid-December. The tracks get slippery, the puddles get deep, and the climbs get harder, which suits confident riders and is hard work for nervous ones.
If you are a first-timer, or riding with children as passengers, the drier months are easier, roughly late December to April, when the tracks are usually firmer. In the monsoon, rain usually comes in bursts with sunny spells between, so a morning ride can still be dry. Many tours run rain or shine. A thunderstorm or very heavy rain is a reason to ask the operator about a new time. More on the season in our rainy season guide.
Go-karting at Chaweng Lake: the family option on Koh Samui
For families with children too young to drive a quad, go-karting is the easier half-day. The track is inland from Chaweng beach, by Chaweng Lake. It is a tarmac circuit with karts in different sizes, sold in short timed sessions; check the opening hours on the listing.
Age and height rules depend on the kart, and listings differ: kid karts usually start from around age 7 with a minimum height, the adult karts from somewhere between 12 and 15, and a two-seater lets an adult drive with a younger child as passenger. Check the listing for the current limits before you go.
The two-seater is how small children get a go. Wear closed shoes, tie long hair back and leave scarves at the hotel. If the track is open into the evening, karting can also follow a beach day. This go-karting session with round-trip transfers saves you finding a taxi back.
Fitting an ATV tour into your Koh Samui week
A quad ride shows you the island’s hills. A day on the water shows you its coast. Keep them on separate days, because both take a morning and both leave you tired. Our Half-Day Trip runs Monday to Friday from 09:00 to 14:00 on a slow Thai teak cruiser, with snorkelling at Silver Beach or Coral Cove and lunch on board, and it takes children from age four, which is younger than most quad operators allow as drivers. For more ideas, see our guide to things to do on Koh Samui, and for families our Koh Samui boat trip with kids guide.
Questions people ask us
- Do you need a licence to ride an ATV on Koh Samui?
- Not always. Most guided ATV tours on Koh Samui run on private or rural tracks, and many do not ask for a licence, but some listings say one may be required. The rule is the operator’s, so ask before you book and bring your licence if you have one. Renting a quad to ride on public roads is a different matter from a guided tour.
- How old do you have to be to drive a quad bike on Koh Samui?
- It depends on the operator: minimum driver ages on the listings we checked run from 12 to 18. Some let children of about 12 drive after a short riding test at the base. Younger children can usually ride as passengers from about four to six years old. Put every rider’s age in the booking notes and ask for confirmation.
- Is a 1-hour ATV tour enough?
- It is enough to try it, but many first-timers find it short. After the safety lesson, a one-hour ride does a short loop near the base. Two-hour routes go further into the hills and usually stop at a viewpoint or waterfall. Either way, add the transfer and the lesson: even a short ride takes a good part of a morning.
- Can kids go karting on Koh Samui?
- Yes. The go-kart track at Chaweng Lake has kid karts, usually from around age 7 with a minimum height, and a two-seater in which an adult drives and a younger child rides as passenger. Older children move up to the standard karts from somewhere between 12 and 15, depending on the kart. Check the listing for the current limits before you go.
- What should I wear for an ATV tour in Koh Samui?
- Old closed shoes, long light trousers and a dark T-shirt you do not mind losing to the mud. Bring sunglasses or goggles for dust, a dry bag for your phone, water and a change of clothes for the van home. Flip-flops and sandals are usually not allowed, and white clothes rarely survive the mud.
Come out on the water with us
One handcrafted Thai teak cruiser, fifteen guests at most, free hotel pickup anywhere on Koh Samui.
