Koh Samui: Pig Island & Koh Tan Speedboat Tour with Lunch

Pig Island gives this Koh Samui boat trip its odd and memorable hook: you can walk onto a beach, meet friendly pigs, and feed them before swimming or kayaking nearby. It is paired with a short snorkel stop at Koh Taen, so you get two very different island experiences in one morning.

I like the included hotel pickup and the fact that lunch, drinks, snorkeling gear, and a life jacket are covered. I also like the easy five-hour format, which leaves room for other plans. The main caution is the speedboat ride: in rough water it can hit the waves hard, and one report found poor visibility and no fins supplied.

Key points to know

• Pig Island means Koh Madsum: You can feed friendly pigs, walk the beach, swim, and kayak during the 75-minute stop.
• Koh Taen is the snorkel stop: You get about 45 minutes for swimming, photos, and viewing marine life.
• The speedboat ride takes about an hour total: Allow for a lively ride, especially if the Gulf of Thailand is choppy.
• Lunch is listed at Thong Krut Pier: The tour description also refers to island lunch, so confirm the exact meal location before booking.
• Pickup covers most major Koh Samui areas: Remote west coast areas cost an extra 700 baht per person each way.
• The total price is $47 per person: A separate 50 baht admission charge applies, making this good value if you want transport and several activities in one outing.

Why Pig Island makes this trip memorable

Koh Madsum, better known as Pig Island, is the star of the morning. The pigs are the sort of sight you do not expect on a tropical island trip, and feeding them gives the visit a playful edge that a standard beach stop lacks.

You will have time to walk, swim, snorkel, and kayak during the roughly 75-minute visit. That is enough for a taste of the island, though not enough for a slow, unhurried beach day. I would think of this as a compact island visit with several choices, not a full day at the shore.

The pigs are friendly, but you still need to use common sense around them. Keep food controlled, follow the guide’s instructions, and give animals room when they gather. The attraction works best if you enjoy simple, hands-on encounters rather than expecting a polished wildlife park.

The beach is also useful for people in your group who do not want to snorkel. One person can swim, another can kayak, and someone else can simply sit by the water or watch the pigs. That mix makes Koh Madsum a strong choice for families and mixed-age groups, provided everyone is comfortable with the boat ride.

Leaving Koh Samui from Thong Krut Pier

The morning starts with hotel pickup, generally between 7:40 and 8:30 a.m. The operator confirms your exact time by email, so check your inbox and be in the hotel lobby at least 10 minutes early. Pickup is from hotels near the main road. If your accommodation sits uphill, you may need to meet the vehicle at a nearby hotel or designated meeting point.

The listed pickup areas include Lamai, Chaweng, Bophut, Bangrak, Choeng Mon, Maenam, Bangpor, and the Butterfly Garden area. The west coast locations of Nathon, Taling Ngam, Phangka, Lipa Noi, and Lipayai carry an additional transfer charge of 700 baht per person each way. That extra cost can change the value calculation, especially for two people.

At Thong Krut Pier, allow about 30 minutes for the visit, safety briefing, and tour preparation. This pause matters. A speedboat outing is much more enjoyable when you know where to sit, how to use the life jacket, and what the plan is for swimming and snorkeling.

The tour uses a speedboat for about 30 minutes to reach the island area. You get scenic views on the way, but this is transport rather than a leisurely cruise. If you are prone to motion sickness, prepare accordingly. The ride can feel exciting in calm conditions and rough in windy weather.

What to expect at Koh Taen

Koh Taen is the first main stop, with about 45 minutes set aside for swimming, snorkeling, photos, and a guided look around. The water can be clear enough to see fish and underwater features, which gives this short stop real appeal.

I would keep expectations measured. Forty-five minutes passes quickly once you receive equipment, enter the water, and get settled. This is not a long snorkeling session or a serious marine excursion. It is a quick look beneath the surface before the boat moves on to Pig Island.

The supplied equipment includes snorkeling gear and a life jacket. One important detail is that fins may not be provided. A report from the trip specifically noted that only a mask and snorkel were available, along with disappointing visibility on that particular day. If fins matter to you, ask the operator before departure rather than assuming they are included.

Water conditions will shape this stop more than the brochure can. On a good day, you may see attractive fish and enjoy clear water. In poorer conditions, the view can be limited. That does not make the stop worthless, but it does mean the tour is better judged as a broad island outing than as a dedicated snorkeling trip.

For confident swimmers, this stop offers a quick chance to cool off. For less confident swimmers, the life jacket is useful, but you should still listen closely to the guide and remain within the designated area. The guide speaks English and Thai, which helps with basic instructions and safety information.

Feeding the pigs on Koh Madsum

After Koh Taen, the boat continues to Koh Madsum. The schedule allows about 75 minutes here, the longest island stop of the morning. That extra time gives you room to enjoy more than one activity without having to rush straight back onto the boat.

The pigs are the obvious draw. You can feed them and watch them move along the beach. This is a good stop for children, though parents should supervise closely, especially when several pigs gather around food. Children between ages 4 and 10 use the child ticket category.

You can also swim, snorkel, kayak, or walk. The range of choices is the real strength of this stop. I would suggest deciding early how you want to use the time. If you spend the first half feeding pigs and taking photos, you may have only a short window left for kayaking or swimming.

The beach setting gives the stop a relaxed feel, but it is still part of a timed boat tour. Do not expect to find a whole morning of solitude. The attraction is popular because it is unusual, and the experience is built around a brief, accessible visit.

The tour information describes lunch as an island meal, while the detailed schedule places lunch at Thong Krut Pier after the return journey. That distinction matters if you are picturing a picnic beside the pigs. Based on the schedule, plan for the main meal at the pier unless the operator confirms otherwise.

Lunch and the return to Koh Samui

The speedboat ride back to Thong Krut Pier takes about 30 minutes. Once there, the schedule allows about an hour for lunch, sightseeing, and a walk. Thai food, water, soft drinks, snacks, and refreshments are included.

The meal is one of the better-value parts of the package. A filling Thai lunch after swimming is practical, and you do not need to search for food during a tightly timed outing. The meal has been described as generous and tasty, though exact dishes are not specified, so do not book this expecting a particular menu.

After lunch, the included transfer takes you back to your hotel or the agreed drop-off point. The advertised experience lasts five hours, making it a useful half-day plan. You still have much of the afternoon for a beach, spa, market, or dinner reservation.

The early start is part of the bargain. You will need to be ready in the morning, and pickup times can vary by area. I would avoid scheduling a fixed activity immediately after the stated return unless you leave plenty of spare time for road delays and boat conditions.

Is $47 a fair price?

At $47 per person, the tour offers a lot in one package: hotel transfers in eligible areas, a guide, speedboat transport, two island stops, snorkeling gear, a life jacket, Thai lunch, drinks, snacks, accident insurance, and first-aid supplies.

The price is especially reasonable if you would otherwise pay separately for a taxi to the pier, a boat trip, lunch, and equipment. It also saves you the trouble of arranging a private boat and negotiating transport.

There are two added costs to remember. Admission is 50 baht per person, and pickup from several west coast areas costs 700 baht per person per way. For someone staying in Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, or another listed main pickup zone, the headline price is closer to the real cost. For someone staying in Nathon or Taling Ngam, the transfer fee deserves more attention.

The value depends on what you want from the water. If your main goal is serious snorkeling with long water time and fins, this may not be the best match. If you want a convenient mix of pigs, beach time, a short snorkel, kayaking, lunch, and transport, the package makes good sense.

Rough water is the main drawback

The tour is not suitable for pregnant women, people with back problems, heart problems, or bone diseases. It is also not recommended for people over 70. These restrictions are worth taking seriously because a speedboat can produce hard impacts when it meets larger waves.

One report praised the tour but warned that children may find the ride uncomfortable in rough water. That is useful advice for families. Young children can enjoy Pig Island, but the journey itself may be the hardest part of the morning.

Weather also affects the snorkeling. Clear water is never guaranteed, and visibility can be limited. The operator may cancel if conditions require it, offering another date, an alternative tour, or a full refund. You should still treat the scheduled plan as weather dependent.

I would bring swimwear, sun protection, a towel, and any personal motion-sickness remedy you normally use. Those items are not listed as included, and they make the day easier. Keep valuables to a minimum because you will be moving between a vehicle, boat, beach, and water.

Who will enjoy this five-hour outing

I think this trip suits you best if you want a simple, organized introduction to the islands south of Koh Samui. It works well for couples who want a playful half-day, families with older children, solo visitors who prefer a guided outing, and groups that want transport handled for them.

It is also a good option for mixed groups. The snorkeler can use the Koh Taen stop, while someone else can focus on the beach, pigs, kayaking, or photos at Koh Madsum. The included lunch and hotel transfer reduce the small decisions that can make a short holiday outing feel like work.

I would choose another type of boat trip if you need a long snorkeling session, guaranteed clear visibility, a quiet beach, or a gentle ride. The pig encounter is the memorable feature, while snorkeling is a shorter and less predictable part of the program.

The English and Thai-speaking guide is helpful for a first visit, especially during the safety briefing and transfers. No individual guide names are provided, so you should not expect to request a particular guide when booking.

Booking details worth checking first

You can cancel up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. Check the exact pickup time by email because the morning window is broad and varies by hotel.

Confirm three points before you commit:

• The exact pickup location if your hotel is on a hill or away from the main road.
• The added transfer price if you are staying on the west coast.
• Whether lunch will be served at Thong Krut Pier or on Koh Madsum, since the tour details describe both arrangements.

The tour has an overall score of 4.2 from 120 ratings, which fits the experience: strong organization, friendly guides, good food, and an unusual island stop, balanced by rough-boat concerns and variable snorkeling conditions.

Should you book the Pig Island tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, good-value half-day with a memorable animal encounter, a short snorkel, swimming, kayaking, lunch, and hotel transfers. The pigs on Koh Madsum give the trip a character that a standard island-hopping route lacks.

Skip it if you are sensitive to speedboat impacts, need fins and excellent snorkeling, or want a quiet full-day beach escape. For most able-bodied visitors who accept those limits, $47 is a fair price for a varied morning, especially from a covered pickup area. Check the transfer fee and lunch location first, then let the weather guide your expectations.

FAQ

How long does the Koh Samui Pig Island tour last?

The tour lasts about five hours. Pickup begins between 7:40 and 8:30 a.m., with the exact time confirmed by email.

Which islands does the speedboat visit?

The tour visits Koh Taen and Koh Madsum, also known as Pig Island, before returning to Koh Samui.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Pickup is included from hotels in areas such as Lamai, Chaweng, Bophut, Bangrak, Choeng Mon, Maenam, Bangpor, and the Butterfly Garden area. Hilltop hotels may require you to meet at a nearby hotel or meeting point.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Thai lunch, water, soft drinks, snacks, and refreshments are included. The detailed schedule places lunch at Thong Krut Pier, although the tour description also refers to an island lunch.

Are snorkeling equipment and life jackets provided?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a life jacket are included. Fins may not be provided, so confirm this with the operator if you want to use them.

Who should not take this tour?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back, heart, or bone problems, or people over 70. Children aged 4 to 10 use the child ticket category.