Reviewed 27 October 2026
We may earn a commission from eligible bookings made through our links, at no extra cost to you. We explain practical trade-offs so you can choose a trip that fits. Prices, availability and cancellation terms are set by the provider.
Write down what each quote buys
Start with the same desired route and party details. Note whether the quote is per person, per boat or for a vehicle-and-boat package. Include the date and the ages of children where pricing depends on them. A private charter priced for a group should not be compared directly with one adult's seat on a shared tour.
Separate the items included from those payable later. Park admission, canoe service, meals, hotel transport and guide service are the main questions. The selected GYG option is the relevant offer; a general product description or a photograph of lunch is not enough to establish that your particular price includes it.
| Cost item | Question to ask |
|---|---|
| Boat / tour fare | Per person, per boat or complete party? |
| Road transfer | Both directions from the exact hotel? |
| Park admission | Included, arranged separately or payable locally? |
| Canoe session | Guide and equipment included for everyone? |
| Meals and drinks | Which meal, dietary alternatives and optional extras? |
| Guide and waiting | Sightseeing guide or captain only; any extra hours? |
Shared tour totals
Multiply the actual passenger fares by the number of people in each category, then add any excluded items. If children have different fares, calculate those separately rather than treating everyone as an adult. Add a hotel-zone supplement only when the organiser confirms it applies to your address.
For the calculator, enter the combined passenger fares as the shared-tour amount and the remaining party-wide extras in the shared-extras field. This avoids pretending that every traveller has the same price. Use one currency throughout; mixing a converted card amount with a local-currency quote produces a meaningless comparison.
Private longtail totals
Begin with the whole-boat or complete-party quote. Add the road transfer, admissions, canoeing, meals and any guide service that are excluded. Confirm the maximum party size and whether the boat described is the one offered for your group. A captain who operates the vessel is not automatically an interpretive guide throughout the stops.
Ask about the agreed duration and any extra waiting or route charge. A private outing can be good value for a group, but its appeal may be a slower pace rather than a lower price. Do not select it solely because the charter figure looks small before the additional costs are counted.
Read the comparison clearly
Enter your party size, the total shared passenger fares, shared extras, the private quote and private extras. The tool adds each side, divides by your party size and displays the difference. It does not choose a winner: the two itineraries may differ in comfort, time in a canoe, meals or guiding.
Blank amounts are not silently treated as a confirmed free inclusion. Enter zero only when you have checked that there is no extra charge for that field. Keep the operator's written quote beside the result. If you later change the date, hotel or party, recheck the offer rather than assuming the old calculation still applies.
Compare useful time and flexibility as well as money
A tour that includes a convenient transfer may save an awkward early taxi. A private itinerary may allow a longer village visit. A larger boat may offer space between activities but still use a smaller craft for access. Those differences can justify a higher total for the right traveller.
Compare cancellation and rescheduling terms too. A non-refundable low price can be less suitable when your arrival or island connection is uncertain. Keep the difference between your cancellation, an operator cancellation and a changed route clear. The calculator cannot put a reliable cash value on those terms; you need to judge them alongside the figures.
Keep accommodation and excursion costs connected
A less expensive room can require more transport, while a well-placed hotel may simplify several days. Add the whole stay's meals and transfers before comparing a remote resort with a town guesthouse. On Koh Yao, boat and island-side transport are particularly important parts of that calculation.
Use our budget and hotel-area guides to shortlist real Booking.com properties, then check the room and current total for your dates. Use the tour cards below to compare specific GYG products. No price on this page is a guarantee of availability; the provider's confirmed offer remains the basis of the booking.
Questions worth asking
Does the calculator fetch current tour prices?
No. It compares the quotes you enter so that fees and transfers can be included accurately.
How do I handle child fares?
Add the actual adult and child fares yourself and enter their combined total in the shared-fares field. Enter the full party size for the per-person average.
Is the cheaper result automatically better?
No. Compare route, comfort, guiding, meals and cancellation terms as well as the total.
Can I mix currencies?
No. Convert the quotes to one currency first, using a rate and any payment charges relevant to you.
Sources & editorial notes
Our guides use official tourism, provider and accommodation pages. Routes, opening arrangements and terms can change; confirm your date with the relevant provider.
