Cham Island Snorkeling Tour: Coral Reefs & Fishing Villages

Mask on, coral reef below, local guide pointing out the fish.

A full-day snorkeling tour from Da Nang to Cham Island, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, with hotel pickup, speedboat transport, lunch, and an English-speaking local guide leading you to the best underwater spots. You visit a centuries-old stone carving village on the way, explore an ancient well on the island, and have free time to swim, sunbathe or rest in hammocks after lunch. The tour runs 6 to 8 hours and includes snorkeling equipment, bottled water, shower facilities and travel insurance.

Step-by-step itinerary

Cham Island snorkeling and cultural tour

• Pick up from hotel in Da Nang or Hoi An
• Visit local Stone Carving Village
• Explore Marine Protected Area on Cham Island
• Visit Champa ancient well with local stories
• Snorkel at Xep Beach or Dai Beach
• Optional scuba diving with professional guide
• Enjoy fresh seafood lunch with local family
• Free time for photos, swimming, sunbathing
• Shower and relax in hammocks
• Return to Hoi An and Da Nang
• Drop off at hotel and tour ends

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your Da Nang or Hoi An hotel at 7:30am, then a stop at a local stone carving village where over 600 workshops specialize in rare stone work (Champa statues, Buddha figures, jewelry), and you can watch artisans at work or pick up souvenirs before heading to the pier. The speedboat carries about 39 guests and takes you across to Cham Island, where your guide takes you first to the Marine Protected Area to see the marine species on display, then to an ancient Champa well where locals say they wish for love. The stories behind these places come from someone who lives there, not a script.

Snorkeling happens at Xep Beach or Dai Beach, where the water is clear enough to see the coral reefs and the different kinds of fish moving through them. You get a mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket. The guide shows you where to go and stays with the group. If you want to scuba dive instead, that's available for an extra cost and a professional diver goes down with you. After the water, lunch is fresh seafood cooked in a local fishing family style (vegetarian options exist if you need them), and then the rest of the afternoon is yours: swim more, take photos, play with the wild monkeys on the beach, or lie in a hammock. There's a shower to rinse off the salt water.

The speedboat leaves at 2pm and you're back at your hotel by 3:30pm. This is a shared tour, so everyone follows the same schedule and the guide's timing. If the weather turns rough, the operator offers you a different date, a different experience, or your money back. Bring a change of clothes, sunscreen, a hat and a waterproof phone case. The operator checks the forecast and will tell you what to expect.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup and drop-off in Da Nang or Hoi An city center.
• snorkeling equipment (mask, snorkel, fins, life jacket).
• speedboat transport to and from Cham Island.
• an English-speaking local guide.
• bottled water.
• lunch with fresh seafood and local cuisine if you book that option.
• shower facilities and hammock use on the beach.
• travel insurance.

Options for this experience

2 options

Group tour without lunchGuide in English · 07:30Lunch is not included. Guests can purchase a meal at a local restaurant on-site (the location is set by the tour operator) or skip lunch. Please follow the guide's timetable and finish eating before departure. Pickup is included.

Lunch-inclusive group tourGuide in English · 07:30Standard lunch is included. The island's restaurants are small local places with simple menus and basic facilities. Drinks are not included. Pickup is included.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDeparts at 07:30

Book up to3h before

AgesAdult (9 to 70 years) · Youth (4 to 8 years) · Child (under 4)

GroupUp to 21

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Dacotours Co.,Ltd

Is this one for you?Choose the option with lunch if you want a full day without stopping to find food on the island. Choose without lunch if you prefer to eat at your own pace or skip the meal and use that time to rest or explore more. Either way, the fixed schedule and included transport mean you're not arranging the speedboat, the guide or the logistics. You show up at your hotel and the day unfolds.

Traveler reviews

4.89★★★★★★★★★★

524 verified traveler reviews

5 ★489

4 ★22

3 ★6

2 ★4

1 ★3

Read all the reviews ›

Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (4 to 8 years); Child (under 4).

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What's the snorkeling like at Cham Island?

Xep Beach and Dai Beach have natural coral reefs and many kinds of fish in clear water. Your guide leads you to the best spots and stays with the group the whole time. You use a mask, snorkel, fins and life jacket provided by the tour.

Do I get lunch on this tour?

You can choose the option with lunch or without. If you book with lunch, it's fresh seafood cooked in a local fishing family style, and vegetarian food is available. If you book without lunch, you can eat at a small local restaurant on the island or skip it and relax instead.

What else is there to do besides snorkeling?

Before the island, you visit a stone carving village with over 600 workshops where artisans work with rare stone. On Cham Island, you explore the Marine Protected Area and an ancient Champa well with your guide. After lunch, you have free time to swim more, take photos, play with wild monkeys, or rest in hammocks on the beach.

How long is the whole tour?

The tour runs 6 to 8 hours from pickup at 7:30am to drop-off by 3:30pm. You spend the middle of the day on the island snorkeling, eating and resting.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup and drop-off in Da Nang or Hoi An, speedboat transport both ways, snorkeling equipment, bottled water, a shower and hammock use, an English-speaking local guide, and travel insurance are all included. Lunch is included if you book that option. Scuba diving is extra.

Is this tour safe if I'm not a strong swimmer?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. You wear a life jacket while snorkeling, and your guide stays with the group. If rough sea conditions develop, the speedboat can have strong movements. The operator will offer you a different date or a full refund if weather forces a cancellation.