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

Pig Island is the star here: friendly pigs wander along the beach while you feed them, swim nearby, or simply enjoy a quiet stretch of sand. It is an unusual stop, and far more memorable than another ordinary beach outing.

I like the hotel pickup and the fact that snorkeling gear, water, soft drinks, snacks, and lunch are included. I also like the compact five-hour schedule, which gives you a taste of Koh Tan and Koh Madsum without taking up a full day.

The main catch is the speedboat ride. In rough water, it can hit the waves hard, and one recent family found the motion uncomfortable for children. Visibility at the snorkeling stop can also change with the weather, and fins are not provided.

Key points to know before booking

• Pig Island is Koh Madsum: You can feed friendly pigs, swim, walk on the beach, and use a kayak during the 75-minute stop.
• Koh Tan comes first: The snorkeling session lasts about 45 minutes, with time for photos and swimming.
• The ride is lively: Each speedboat crossing takes about 30 minutes, so rough seas may be tiring.
• Lunch timing needs checking: The tour description places lunch on Pig Island, while the detailed schedule lists lunch after returning to Thong Krut Pier.
• The price is strong for a half-day: At $47 per person, transfers, food, drinks, equipment, and insurance are included, though a 50 THB admission fee is extra.
• Pickup has limits: Hotel service covers many Koh Samui areas, but hill hotels require a nearby meeting point and some west coast areas cost an additional 700 baht per person each way.

Why Pig Island is more than a photo stop

The pigs are the unusual draw. On Koh Madsum, you can see friendly pigs near the beach, feed them, and take in the odd sight of animals wandering around a tropical island. It is a simple encounter, but it gives this trip a character that a standard snorkeling cruise lacks.

You will have about 75 minutes on Koh Madsum. That is enough time to walk, swim, snorkel, kayak, and spend a little time with the pigs, but not enough for a slow, all-afternoon beach day. You will need to choose what matters most to you.

Families often like the easy mix of animals, water, and sand. Couples may prefer the chance to sit by the shore after the boat ride. Solo visitors get a social outing with a clear schedule and a guide to help keep things moving.

The island is not a private wilderness experience. The pigs are the main attraction, and the stop is built around a short visit rather than long solitude. If you want an unusual half-day with several activities packed together, it works well. If you want hours of quiet beach time, the schedule may feel brisk.

Starting at Thong Krut Pier

Pickup begins between 7:40 and 8:30 in the morning, depending on your hotel and the operator’s route. You should wait in the hotel lobby at least 10 minutes before the confirmed time. If you stay on a hillside, pickup may be from a nearby hotel or meeting point rather than directly at your door.

The covered pickup areas include Lamai, the Butterfly Garden, Chaweng, Bangpor, Maenam, Bophut, Cheongmon, and Bangrak. Hotels in Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, or Lipayai can require an extra 700 baht per person each way, so check the total cost before you commit.

At Thong Krut Pier, allow about 30 minutes for the visit, safety briefing, and tour setup. This is where you meet the English or Thai-speaking guide, receive instructions, and get ready for the boat. The tour includes a life jacket and snorkeling equipment, along with accident insurance and a first aid kit.

The pier start gives the day a clear structure. You are not trying to find a boat on your own, and the guide handles the basic safety information before departure. Do not treat this as a quiet marina morning, though. The boat schedule is shared with a group, and punctuality matters.

The 30-minute speedboat ride

The ride from Thong Krut to the islands takes about 30 minutes. That makes the distant beaches accessible without spending hours at sea, but the speed comes with a tradeoff. When the Gulf of Thailand is choppy, a fast boat can slap down hard on the waves.

This is the most important comfort issue in the whole outing. A recent booking from Switzerland specifically found the ride too rough for children when the sea was unsettled. People with back problems, heart problems, or a pregnancy are not advised to join, and the activity is not suitable for people over 70.

If you are prone to motion sickness, the speedboat deserves serious thought. The tour does not promise calm water, and conditions can change. Sit where the crew advises, keep your life jacket ready, and do not assume a short crossing will always feel gentle.

The boat ride is also part of the appeal. You get open-water views and a quick connection between Koh Samui, Koh Tan, and Koh Madsum. Just think of it as a practical speedboat transfer, not a smooth sightseeing cruise.

Snorkeling around Koh Tan

Koh Tan is the first island stop. The schedule allows about 45 minutes for photos, swimming, snorkeling, and views around the coast. The water can be clear enough to see fish and underwater features, and this is the best part of the trip for anyone who wants a short look below the surface.

The conditions matter. One French booking found the snorkeling disappointing because visibility was poor, even though the rest of the outing was well arranged. Another visitor had a good look at fish despite less-than-ideal weather. That tells you what to expect: the underwater experience depends heavily on sea and weather conditions.

The tour provides a mask, snorkel, and life jacket. It does not provide fins. That detail matters if you are used to moving around reefs with foot protection or if you find swimming tiring. You may want to ask the operator about the equipment before booking, especially if fins are important to you.

Forty-five minutes is enough for a first look, but it is not a long snorkeling session. You will need to listen for the return instructions and keep an eye on the boat. If your priority is serious reef exploration, this tour is probably too brief. If you want a convenient swim with a chance to see fish, it is a reasonable part of a wider day.

Meeting the pigs on Koh Madsum

The boat then carries you to Koh Madsum, widely called Pig Island. Here, the pace changes. Instead of focusing only on what is underwater, you can walk the beach, feed the pigs, swim, snorkel again, or try kayaking.

The pigs are not a staged show with a formal performance. Their appeal is the unusual setting: animals moving around a beach island while people enjoy the water nearby. Follow the guide’s instructions when feeding them, keep food controlled, and give the animals room. The tour information describes them as friendly, but they are still animals.

The 75-minute stop is the longest island visit. I would use the first few minutes to see the pigs and take photos, then decide how to spend the remaining time. You may prefer a swim, while children may focus on the pigs and kayak. The short visit rewards a little planning.

Snorkeling is available here as well, but the trip does not promise better visibility than at Koh Tan. You also have no guarantee of a long kayaking session, since all activities share the same 75-minute window. Think of the choices as a sampler rather than separate full activities.

Lunch, drinks, and the schedule detail to check

Food is included, along with water, soft drinks, snacks, and refreshments. The meal is Thai food, and one French booking described it as generous and very good. That is useful on a morning spent swimming and riding in a speedboat, when buying food independently would be awkward.

There is a small inconsistency in the supplied schedule. The overview describes lunch on Pig Island, while the detailed route lists a one-hour stop at Thong Krut Pier after the return boat ride for lunch, sightseeing, and a walk. I would confirm the lunch location with Oh-Hoo before booking, especially if eating beside the beach is a major reason you want this tour.

Either way, the meal adds real value. You do not need to carry a full picnic or search for food between island stops. The one-hour lunch and pier visit also give you time to get your bearings after the boat ride before the final hotel transfer.

What $47 really covers

At $47 per person, this is a good-value package if you plan to use the included services. The price covers hotel transfer in the listed Koh Samui areas, the guide, speedboat transport, snorkeling gear, a life jacket, Thai lunch, drinks, snacks, refreshments, accident insurance, and a first aid kit.

The 50 THB per-person admission fee is not included. That is a small extra, but it should be part of your budget. The larger possible surcharge is the 700 baht per-person, per-way transfer fee for Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, and Lipayai.

The value is strongest for people who want convenience. Booking a boat, arranging a transfer to Thong Krut, finding snorkeling equipment, and buying lunch separately could take more work. Here, the main pieces are bundled into a half-day outing.

The value is less clear if you are staying far from the covered pickup areas or want a long snorkeling session. Extra transport charges can change the calculation, and 45 minutes of snorkeling is not enough for a dedicated reef trip. At this price, I see it as a varied island sampler rather than a specialist marine excursion.

Who will enjoy this half-day outing

This tour suits families with children aged 4 to 10 who enjoy animals and water, provided the sea is calm and everyone is comfortable on a speedboat. The child ticket applies to ages 4 through 10. Since the boat can move sharply over waves, parents should think about motion comfort rather than relying only on the age rule.

Couples get a simple combination of beach time, snorkeling, a meal, and an unusual animal encounter. Solo visitors may appreciate the easy pickup and guide support. Groups can split their time between pigs, swimming, kayaking, and photos without arranging separate activities.

It is a poor match for anyone who needs a very smooth ride, has a back or heart condition, is pregnant, or is over 70. The operator also advises against the tour for people with high blood pressure and bone diseases. Those restrictions are not minor footnotes. The boat ride is central to the experience.

You should also be comfortable with a timed group outing. The boat leaves on schedule, the island stops are short, and you cannot turn the trip into a private beach day. That structure is helpful for some people and limiting for others.

Booking tips that save trouble

Check the pickup email carefully. The exact time is confirmed there, and you should be in the lobby at least 10 minutes early. If you are late, you may be treated as a no-show after the vehicle leaves.

Ask about the lunch location before departure. The descriptions give two different locations, and the answer may affect what you expect from the Koh Madsum stop.

Pack swimwear, sun protection, and a small towel if you have one. The tour supplies the listed snorkeling equipment and life jacket, but not fins. Keep valuables to a minimum because the day includes water, sand, and boat transfers.

Weather is worth watching. Poor conditions can reduce snorkeling visibility and make the speedboat ride much rougher. The operator says that if a tour must be canceled, it will offer another date, an alternative tour, or a full refund.

You can cancel up to 24 hours ahead for a full refund, and the reserve-now, pay-later option keeps your plans flexible. The duration is five hours, with starting times confirmed through availability and the pickup email.

Should you book the Koh Tan and Pig Island tour?

Book it if you want a convenient, varied half-day from Koh Samui, especially if feeding pigs sounds more fun than spending all day on a boat. The included transfer, food, drinks, equipment, and guide make $47 a sensible price for a short island sampler.

Think twice if your priority is excellent snorkeling, long beach time, or a gentle ride. The underwater visibility can be poor, fins are not provided, and rough waves can make the speedboat uncomfortable. Before paying, confirm your pickup charge, lunch location, and the sea conditions forecast.

For most able-bodied visitors who enjoy mixing a little adventure with a curious animal encounter, this is an easy way to see two nearby islands without planning the details yourself. Just book it for the pigs, beach, and overall variety, not as a dedicated snorkeling expedition.

FAQ

How long does the Koh Tan and Pig Island tour last?

The tour lasts about five hours, including hotel pickup, pier arrangements, speedboat rides, island visits, lunch, and the return transfer to Koh Samui.

What islands does the tour visit?

The route visits Koh Tan first and Koh Madsum, also called Pig Island, afterward. The schedule includes snorkeling, swimming, photos, scenic views, walking, and kayaking.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup is included from Lamai, the Butterfly Garden, Chaweng, Bangpor, Maenam, Bophut, Cheongmon, and Bangrak. Hill hotels require a nearby hotel or meeting point. Pickup from Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, or Lipayai costs an extra 700 baht per person each way.

Is snorkeling equipment provided?

Yes. A mask, snorkel, and life jacket are included. Fins are not provided.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Thai lunch, water, soft drinks, snacks, and refreshments are included. The supplied schedule places lunch at Thong Krut Pier after the return boat ride, while the tour description places it on Pig Island, so confirm the location before booking.

Who should not join this tour?

The tour is not recommended for pregnant women, people with back problems, heart problems, high blood pressure, or bone diseases. It is also listed as unsuitable for people over 70.