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

Pig Island is the star here, with friendly pigs wandering along a small tropical beach while you feed them, swim, or simply watch the scene. The trip also takes you to Koh Tan for snorkeling and gives you time for kayaking at Koh Madsum. It is an easy way to pack several island activities into one morning.

I like the practical setup: hotel pickup, equipment, lunch, water, and soft drinks are included for $47 per person. I also like the short five-hour format, which leaves room for an afternoon on Koh Samui. The catch is rough water. The speedboat can hit the waves hard, and snorkeling conditions may include poor visibility. Fins are not supplied, only a mask and snorkel.

Key points to know before booking

• Pig Island is Koh Madsum: You can feed the island’s friendly pigs, swim, walk the beach, and use a kayak.
• Koh Tan comes first: The snorkeling stop lasts about 45 minutes and includes time for swimming and photos.
• The speedboat ride is brisk: Each crossing is listed at about 30 minutes, and choppy seas can make the ride uncomfortable.
• Lunch details need checking: The general description places lunch on Pig Island, while the detailed schedule lists lunch at Thong Krut Pier after returning.
• Pickup covers much of Koh Samui: Service is offered from areas including Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam, Bangrak, and Cheong Mon.
• Budget for the extra fee: Admission costs 50 THB per person, and some western areas require a 700-baht-per-person, per-way transfer surcharge.

Why this Koh Samui boat trip works

For $47, this is a busy but fairly priced morning on the Gulf of Thailand. You get transport from your hotel, a speedboat, a guide, snorkeling gear, a meal, drinks, and access to two islands. Booking the same pieces separately would take more planning, and the included pickup is especially useful if you do not have your own transport.

The appeal is variety. You are not spending five hours on one beach. You get a short safety briefing, open-water views, snorkeling, a curious animal encounter, swimming, kayaking, and food. If you want a quiet beach day, this schedule may feel rushed. If you want a taste of several Koh Samui activities in one outing, it makes good sense.

The tour has an average rating of 4.2 from 120 bookings, which fits the experience described by the details available: strong organization and friendly service, balanced by changing sea conditions and a snorkeling site that may not always offer good visibility.

Starting at Thong Krut Pier

Your morning begins with a hotel pickup, usually between 7:40 and 8:30 a.m. The exact time is sent by email, so check your inbox before the day of the trip. Meet in your hotel lobby at least 10 minutes early. If your hotel sits up a hill, you may need to walk or arrange a meeting point at a nearby hotel on the main road.

The van takes you to Thong Krut Pier, where you receive a safety briefing and meet the English-speaking guide. The pier stop is planned for about 30 minutes, enough time to get organized before boarding. The guide service is offered in English and Thai.

Pickup is included from Lamai, the Butterfly Garden area, Chaweng, Bangpor, Maenam, Bophut, Cheong Mon, and Bangrak. Hotels in Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, or Lipayai require an extra charge of 700 baht per person, per way. That supplement can change the value calculation for couples or families, so check your hotel area before paying.

The 30-minute ride across the Gulf

The first speedboat crossing takes about 30 minutes. That is short enough to be manageable for most people, but a speedboat is not a gentle ferry. In choppy water, it can land hard on the waves, much like a fast amusement-park ride.

This matters if you are bringing children. One booking note specifically cautions that young children may find the ride unpleasant when the sea is rough. People with back problems should also think carefully before booking, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant women, people with heart problems, or people over 70.

You will receive a life jacket, and accident insurance and a first aid kit are included. Still, safety equipment does not turn a rough crossing into a smooth one. If you are prone to seasickness, sit where the crew directs you, watch the horizon, and avoid treating the boat ride as a minor detail.

Snorkeling around Koh Tan

Koh Tan is the first island stop. The boat ride itself offers scenic views, then you have about 45 minutes for photos, swimming, snorkeling, and a look at the underwater setting.

The water can be clear, and the site may offer colorful fish and underwater scenery. But sea conditions control the quality of this stop. One recent outing had attractive fish despite less-than-ideal weather, while another had poor visibility. You should see this as a chance to explore the water, not a guaranteed coral-reef spectacle.

There is also an equipment limitation worth knowing: the supplied snorkeling kit includes a mask and snorkel, but not fins. If you are a confident swimmer, that may not bother you. If you depend on fins for comfort or speed, the missing pair will be noticeable.

Forty-five minutes goes quickly. You will have time to get in the water and look around, but this is not an extended snorkeling session. The guide can help with the basic flow of the stop, while the life jacket gives extra support for people who are less comfortable in open water.

Meeting the pigs at Koh Madsum

Koh Madsum, commonly called Pig Island, is the memorable stop. Friendly pigs roam near the beach, and you can buy into the simple pleasure of feeding them and watching their antics. The setting is unusual enough to make the island feel different from a standard beach stop.

The planned visit lasts about 75 minutes, which gives you more room than the snorkeling stop. You can walk, swim, snorkel, or kayak. You might spend the first few minutes watching the pigs, then move down to the water for a swim or use the kayak for a change of pace.

Keep your expectations sensible. Pig Island is not a wildlife sanctuary visit with a long educational program. The attraction is the direct, playful encounter with pigs in a beach setting. Their presence also means this will not feel like a perfectly empty tropical shore. You are trading solitude for an unusual island scene.

The beach is described as picturesque, and the clear water can be inviting for a swim. If the sea is calm, this is likely the most relaxed part of the trip. If you want photos, the pigs, sand, boats, and water provide plenty of subjects without needing a long walk.

Lunch, drinks, and a schedule detail to clarify

Food is included, along with water, a soft drink, snacks, and refreshments. The meal is Thai food, and the portion is described as generous and good. For a five-hour activity, that is a meaningful inclusion. You do not need to search for lunch while moving between islands, and the food adds value to the $47 price.

There is one detail I would confirm before booking: the general tour description says lunch is served on Pig Island, while the detailed schedule lists the boat returning to Thong Krut Pier before a one-hour stop for lunch, sightseeing, and a walk. Both versions place a meal in the tour, but they describe different locations.

If eating beside the beach is important to you, ask the operator where lunch is served on your chosen date. If lunch takes place at the pier, that is still practical, but it changes the feel of the final hour. The detailed schedule allows one hour at Thong Krut after the second 30-minute boat ride, followed by your return to Koh Samui.

How much time you really get

The advertised duration is five hours, but the schedule is tightly arranged:

• About 30 minutes for the safety briefing and pier visit
• About 30 minutes by speedboat to Koh Tan
• About 45 minutes at Koh Tan
• About 75 minutes at Koh Madsum
• About 30 minutes back by speedboat
• About one hour for lunch, sightseeing, and walking at Thong Krut

That leaves little spare time for delays, changing weather, or a slow loading process. The benefit is efficiency. You can see both islands in half a day. The cost is that neither island receives a full-day treatment.

I would choose this trip early in a Koh Samui stay rather than on your last day. If weather affects snorkeling or the boat ride, you will still have time to adjust your plans. The operator says it may offer another date, an alternative trip, or a full refund if a departure must be canceled.

Is the $47 price good value?

The price is competitive for an organized half-day boat outing. The strongest value comes from the package: hotel transfer, guide, speedboat, life jacket, snorkeling equipment, lunch, drinks, snacks, accident insurance, and first aid support.

You will still pay a 50 THB admission fee per person. That is a small addition, but it should be included in your budget. The western Koh Samui transfer surcharge is more important. A 700-baht-per-person, per-way fee can add 1,400 baht for each person using that service, so the advertised price is most attractive for people staying in the covered pickup zones.

The price also makes sense for families who want an organized morning without arranging a private boat. Children from ages 4 to 10 use the child ticket category. The sea conditions remain the main question, not the price.

Who should book this trip?

I would recommend it to couples, families with older children, solo visitors, and groups who want a compact island sampler. You get more than a boat ride and more than a beach stop, but you do not need to commit a full day.

It is also a good fit if Pig Island is high on your Koh Samui wish list. The pigs give this trip a clear identity, while Koh Tan adds a traditional snorkeling stop. If you prefer wildlife encounters that are quiet, remote, or highly educational, this may feel too playful and tourist-focused.

Families should consider the children’s comfort rather than simply the minimum age. Children aged 4 to 10 can join, but rough water may make the speedboat ride difficult. People with back, heart, or bone conditions should not book, and the tour is not recommended for pregnant women or people over 70.

Practical tips for a smoother morning

Check your pickup email carefully and be ready in the lobby 10 minutes early. The driver may move on if you arrive more than 10 minutes late, so hotel pickup is convenient only if you respect the narrow timing.

Bring swimwear and a change of clothes. You will have chances to swim at both island stops, and the boat ride back can be less comfortable in wet clothing. Since fins are not provided, stronger snorkelers may want to ask whether bringing personal fins is allowed.

Expect the weather to shape the day. Clear water is possible, but visibility may drop when conditions turn cloudy or rough. The tour still offers the pigs, beach time, kayaking, lunch, and views, so the morning is not dependent on snorkeling alone.

I would also confirm the lunch location and the exact pickup time before departure. Those are the two details most likely to affect how you picture the day.

Should you book Koh Tan and Pig Island?

Book this tour if you want a lively, well-organized half-day with pigs, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, lunch, and hotel transport. At $47, it gives you a lot of activity for a modest price, especially from the main Koh Samui pickup areas.

Think twice if you dislike fast boats, get seasick, need fins for snorkeling, or want long, quiet stretches on one beach. The best booking decision depends on the sea forecast, your comfort on speedboats, and whether the 50 THB fee and possible transfer surcharge fit your budget. For everyone else, Pig Island makes this more distinctive than a standard snorkeling trip.

FAQ

How long is the Koh Tan and Pig Island tour?

The tour lasts about five hours, including hotel pickup arrangements, boat travel, island stops, lunch, and the return transfer.

Where does the tour depart from?

The tour departs from Thong Krut Pier on Koh Samui after hotel pickup and a safety briefing.

Which islands does the tour visit?

The tour visits Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, which is also known as Pig Island.

Can I feed the pigs on Pig Island?

Yes. Feeding the friendly pigs is one of the main activities at Koh Madsum.

Is snorkeling included?

Yes. Snorkeling equipment and a life jacket are included. The supplied equipment includes a mask and snorkel, but fins are not provided.

Is kayaking included?

Yes. Kayaking is listed as an activity during the Koh Madsum stop.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A Thai lunch, water, soft drink, snack, and refreshments are included. The general description places lunch on Pig Island, while the detailed schedule lists lunch at Thong Krut Pier, so confirm the location before departure.

Is hotel pickup included?

Pickup is included from many Koh Samui areas, including Lamai, Chaweng, Bophut, Maenam, Bangrak, Cheong Mon, Bangpor, and the Butterfly Garden area. Hill hotels may require a nearby meeting point.

Is there an extra admission fee?

Yes. Admission costs 50 THB per person. Hotels in Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, or Lipayai may also require a 700-baht-per-person, per-way transfer charge.

Can children join the tour?

Yes. The child ticket applies to children aged 4 to 10. Rough seas may make the speedboat ride uncomfortable for young children.

Is the tour suitable for pregnant women or people with health conditions?

No. The tour is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back problems, heart problems, high blood pressure, or bone diseases. It is also not suitable for people over 70.

Can I cancel the booking?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option lets you hold a place without paying immediately.