A private tour with Cable car & Boat trip to An Thoi islands

The best views begin above the sea. This private Phu Quoc outing combines the Hon Thom cable car with a fast boat to Gam Ghi, May Rut, Bom, and Finger Nail islands, giving you a full day of beaches, snorkeling, and photo stops. I especially like the private boat and the mix of air, sea, and shore time. The main caution is that snorkeling conditions can change, and one report found rough water and poorer-than-expected visibility.

You pay about $250 per person, which is a serious price for a four-to-six-hour trip. Still, the cost includes hotel pickup, cable car admission, a private speedboat, guide, lunch, equipment, water, and taxes. I also like that the guide can focus on your group rather than juggling a crowded boatload of people. Jackson, named in one particularly enthusiastic account, was praised for his local connection to the sea.

Key points at a glance

• Hon Thom cable car: Glide over the water for broad views of Phu Quoc’s southern coast, boats, islands, and pearl farms.
• Private speedboat: Your group has the boat to itself, with more personal attention and less waiting around.
• Four island stops: The route includes Gam Ghi, May Rut Ngoai, Bom, and Finger Nail, with swimming and snorkeling along the way.
• Lunch at Finger Nail Island: The longest stop gives you time to eat, rest, and enjoy the beach.
• Drone video included: A short aerial video is made at Finger Nail Island and sent to you after the trip.
• Weather matters: The tour requires good conditions, and the water may be rough or less clear than the pictures suggest.

Why this Phu Quoc tour is different

Many island outings give you either a cable car ride or a boat trip. This one joins both, so you get a useful introduction to southern Phu Quoc from three angles: high above the sea, close to the water on a speedboat, and on the sand at several small islands.

That variety is the biggest reason I find the tour appealing. The cable car is not just transport to Hon Thom. It is one of the day’s main views, with a chance to see fishing boats and pearl farms spread across the water. Later, the boat brings you close to the islands, where the focus shifts to swimming, snorkeling, lunch, and photos.

The tour is private, so only your group participates. That matters if you want to spend more time taking pictures, need help with snorkeling equipment, or would rather not follow a large group’s pace. It also makes the $250 price easier to understand, although the value depends heavily on the number of people sharing the booking.

The advertised schedule is compact. Pickup is listed for 8:45 a.m., with the cable car first and the boat portion beginning around 10:30 a.m. The island visits then run through lunch and early afternoon. Since the total duration is given as roughly four to six hours, allow some flexibility for transport and conditions on the water.

Riding the Hon Thom cable car above the southern coast

The day starts with pickup from your hotel and a drive toward southern Phu Quoc. The first major activity is the cable car to Hon Thom Island, and the ride is included in the tour price.

This is the calmest part of the day. You are seated above the sea rather than bouncing across it, and the height gives you a wide view of the southern islands. You can see boats, stretches of open water, and pearl farms below. If you enjoy photographs with a sense of scale, this is likely the best place to get them.

The stop at Hon Thom lasts about an hour. There is a small golden-sand beach and a jumping-castle-style playground. That makes it a reasonable early stop for families, especially if children need somewhere to move around before the boat ride.

I would keep expectations measured. The beach is described as lovely but small, so this is not the place to plan a long, quiet beach session. Treat Hon Thom mainly as a scenic cable car experience with a short shore visit.

The cable car also sets the rhythm for the day. You begin with a slower, scenic ride before switching to a faster boat and several water activities. Bring your phone or camera, but keep it secure. You will soon be moving between beaches and reefs, and there is plenty of spray around a speedboat.

Gam Ghi Island and the first swim

Around 10:30 a.m., you board the private speedboat and head for Gam Ghi Island. The boat is a major part of the experience, not simply a way to move between stops. It gives you a sense of the distance between the southern islands and lets you see the coast from water level.

Gam Ghi is presented as one of the most appealing stops on the route. Expect soft white sand, turquoise water, and coral with fish close to shore. The planned stay is about an hour, which gives you time for swimming, snorkeling, and photographs without turning the stop into a long beach day.

The word pristine should be taken as a hopeful description rather than a guarantee. Sea conditions affect the experience, and the quality of the water and coral can vary. One account praised the cable car but found the snorkeling less impressive than expected, with rough water and poorer water quality. Keep that possibility in mind if coral viewing is your main reason for booking.

Still, Gam Ghi offers a good early chance to test the water and equipment. You receive snorkeling gear and mineral water, and your English-speaking guide can help organize the stop. If you are not a confident swimmer, tell the guide before entering the water and stay within the area that feels comfortable.

May Rut Ngoai, also called Ocean Pearl Island

The next stop is May Rut Ngoai, also called Ocean Pearl Island. The schedule places this visit at about 11 a.m., with roughly an hour for swimming, relaxing, and beach time.

This is the stop for slowing down. After the cable car and speedboat, you may appreciate a simple stretch of sand and clear-looking water. The description calls it one of the most beautiful beaches on the route, but beauty here is tied to weather, tide, crowd levels, and water clarity.

You should think of the island visits as short samples rather than full explorations. An hour passes quickly once you have walked onto the beach, changed or adjusted your gear, taken pictures, and entered the water. If you want an unhurried island holiday, this schedule may feel brisk. If you want to see several places in one day, the pace is a strength.

May Rut Ngoai also gives you a chance to skip snorkeling for a while. You can swim, sit on the beach, or simply enjoy the setting. That flexibility is useful for mixed groups, since not everyone wants to spend every stop in the water.

Bom Island for a second snorkeling session

At about noon, the boat moves to Bom Island for another snorkeling stop. The water here is described as shallow, with a depth of about 10 meters, and the stop is intended for viewing coral and marine life.

This is a good arrangement for people who want more than one chance to snorkel. Conditions at one island may be choppy or cloudy, while another can be calmer. The route gives you a second opportunity instead of making the entire water portion depend on one reef.

You may see colorful fish around the coral, but the supplied information does not promise a particular species or guarantee clear visibility. That distinction matters. The tour offers access to several snorkeling sites, equipment, and a guide, but it cannot control the sea, wind, or water quality on the day.

If you are mainly interested in coral, ask the guide where conditions are best and use this stop to compare the water with Gam Ghi. If you have already had enough snorkeling, the boat and the island setting still provide a pleasant pause before lunch.

Finger Nail Island and the longest beach stop

The final listed island is Finger Nail Island, also known as Mong Tay Island. The boat arrives around 1 p.m., and this is the longest stop, lasting about two hours.

Lunch is included, so you do not need to arrange a separate meal during the outing. The timing also makes sense: after several hours of swimming and moving between islands, you can eat and rest instead of rushing straight back to the boat.

Finger Nail is the most relaxed part of the route. You can spend time on the beach, take photographs, and enjoy the setting without the same pressure to get in the water. If your group includes people who prefer sun and sand to snorkeling, this stop helps balance the day.

A fun extra is the short drone video. A video is made of you at Finger Nail Island and sent to you after the trip as a souvenir. That is more personal than the usual collection of generic island photographs, though you should confirm how and when the file will be delivered if the video is important to you.

Because this is the lunch stop, keep personal items organized. The tour includes food and water, but personal expenses are not included. Tips are optional, though the provider recommends them. Carry only what you need for the beach and water, and protect anything that should not get wet.

What the private format is worth at $250

At $250 per person, this is not a budget island excursion. The price includes air-conditioned transport, hotel pickup, a private speedboat, cable car tickets, guide service in English, snorkeling equipment, mineral water, lunch, and all fees and taxes.

The key question is how many people are in your private group. For a couple, the price feels high. For a family or small group splitting the cost, the private boat and personal attention may make better financial sense.

I see three clear benefits in the price:

• You do not share the speedboat with an unrelated group.
• Your guide can give your party direct attention.
• Major costs, including transport, admission, lunch, equipment, and taxes, are bundled together.

You are also paying for convenience. The driver collects you from your hotel, takes you south, and connects the cable car with the boat route. You do not have to arrange separate tickets, negotiate a boat, or work out how to reach each island.

The weaker part of the value is the limited duration. Four to six hours is enough for a sampler, but not enough for long stays at every beach. If you want the lowest possible cost or a full day on one island, look elsewhere. If you value a private schedule and want many highlights in a short window, the price is more defensible.

Conditions, comfort, and who should book

This tour suits you if you want a mix of scenery and activity. You should enjoy boat rides, swimming, snorkeling, beach stops, and taking photos. The cable car adds a strong sightseeing element, so you do not need to be a serious water sports fan to enjoy the day.

It also works well for families because of the private setting, the short stops, the Hon Thom playground, and the included lunch. Most people can participate, according to the activity information, but you should be comfortable with getting on and off a speedboat and spending time around the water.

The tour may not suit you if you need a slow, quiet beach day. The schedule moves from one stop to the next, and the island visits are generally about an hour, with two hours at Finger Nail. It may also disappoint you if you expect perfect coral and clear water in every location.

Weather is important. The experience requires good conditions, and poor weather can lead to a different date or a full refund. Even when the tour runs, rough water can affect comfort and snorkeling visibility. I would avoid booking it as the one fixed highlight of a tightly packed holiday unless you have room to adjust the date.

The meeting point is Truly Vietnam Travel at 90 Đường Trần Hưng Đạo, Dương Tơ, Phú Quốc, Kiên Giang, though pickup is offered. The listed operating information covers Monday through Wednesday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., so check the available date carefully before paying.

Confirmation is provided at booking. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that 24-hour window, cancellations and changes are not accepted for a refund.

My verdict: book it for variety, not perfect snorkeling

I would book this tour if I wanted to see southern Phu Quoc efficiently and preferred a private boat to a crowded group outing. The cable car views, four island stops, lunch, and drone video give the day more variety than a basic snorkeling trip.

I would be more cautious if coral is your sole priority. The route offers several chances to snorkel, but the sea can be rough and visibility may be disappointing. Weather also has a strong say in how much you enjoy the water.

For couples, the $250 price requires a real interest in privacy and convenience. For families or small groups, the cost may feel more reasonable once you divide it among several people. Book it when the cable car and island hopping are equally important to you, and leave room in your schedule for weather changes.

FAQ

How long does the private Phu Quoc tour last?

The tour lasts approximately four to six hours. The listed schedule begins with pickup at 8:45 a.m. and continues through the island visits and lunch.

What islands are included?

The route includes Hon Thom, Gam Ghi, May Rut Ngoai, Bom, and Finger Nail Island. Hon Thom is reached by cable car, while the other island stops are reached by private speedboat.

Is the cable car ticket included?

Yes. The tour includes tickets for the Hon Thom cable car.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and mineral water are included in the tour.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is included and is served during the Finger Nail Island stop.

Is hotel pickup available?

Yes. Pickup is offered, and the stated meeting point is Truly Vietnam Travel at 90 Đường Trần Hưng Đạo, Dương Tơ, Phú Quốc.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you will be offered a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.