Koh Samui: Private Speedboat to Pig Island with Snorkeling

The pigs of Koh Madsum are the main event here. They wander across a white-sand beach while you sit under an umbrella, take photos, and offer a friendly scratch. You reach the island by private speedboat, so your group avoids the packed feel of a large boat excursion.

I like the flexible schedule and the personal service. The crew can play your favorite music, take photos, and help with transport, even when a villa falls outside the usual route. I also like the useful pairing of Pig Island with Koh Tan snorkeling, which gives you more than a beach stop.

The main drawback is the price for a small party. At $573 for up to eight people, the value improves sharply when the boat is full. You will also need to pay 50 Baht per adult for Pig Island, and food is not included.

Key points to know before you book

• Private boat for up to eight people: The price covers the group, not each person, so a full party gets the best value.
• Koh Madsum is a real beach stop: You get seats, umbrellas, sea views, and time to play with the island’s pigs.
• Koh Tan adds a second setting: The snorkeling stop brings colorful fish and coral into the day.
• Hotel pickup and drop-off are included: This saves you from arranging your own ride to the pier.
• The service can be highly personal: The crew may take photos, play your preferred music, and help with unusual pickup needs.
• Pack light: Large bags and luggage are not allowed on the boat.

Why a private boat changes the Koh Madsum trip

Koh Madsum, often called Pig Island, is a small island stop south of Koh Samui. Its appeal is simple and immediate: white sand, open sea views, and pigs walking around the beach. A private speedboat makes the visit feel more like your own outing than a fixed group transfer.

After pickup, you go directly to the pier. Staff welcome you there, and your English-speaking guide explains the plan before departure. The boat crew and guide remain with you during the trip, giving you one point of contact for questions, equipment, photos, and timing.

The private format matters most if your group has different ideas about the day. You may want to spend longer on the beach, take more photos, or move on once you have had enough of the pigs. The schedule is described as flexible, though the exact amount of time at each stop is not specified.

A private boat also helps families and small groups stay together. You are not trying to find the right people at every stop or wait for a large party to return to the boat. That convenience is a real part of the price.

Reaching Pig Island from Koh Samui

The speedboat takes you from the Koh Samui pier toward Koh Madsum. The ride itself is part of the fun, with the Gulf of Thailand opening around you as the island comes into view. Since no journey time is provided, do not book this expecting a precise hour-by-hour schedule.

At Koh Madsum, you can settle into a seat beneath an umbrella and enjoy the shore at your own pace. The beach offers a clear focal point for the visit, but the pigs are what make it different from a standard island beach trip.

You will see pigs walking around the island and can play with them. This is a good stop for photos, especially if your group includes children or anyone who likes unusual animal encounters. Keep your expectations sensible, though. The pigs are the attraction, but the experience is still a beach visit, not a formal animal-care program.

The island also gives you wide sea views and several natural photo opportunities. The crew can take pictures for you, which is useful when you want a group shot without handing your phone to a stranger. One particularly nice service detail is the crew’s willingness to play your favorite music, turning the boat ride and beach time into something more tailored to your group.

Food is not included. You can buy snacks and drinks from stores on Koh Madsum, but it is wise to bring sunscreen and water needs in mind. Drinking water and seasonal fruit are supplied as part of the tour, while a full meal is not.

There is also an admission charge of 50 Baht per adult. Children enter free of charge. This is a small extra cost, but you should include it when comparing the total price with other Koh Samui outings.

What your time at Koh Madsum is really like

The beach stop works best if you treat it as a relaxed photo and swim break rather than a packed sightseeing program. You can sit under an umbrella, enjoy the views, watch the pigs, and take pictures without rushing from one point to another.

The pigs give the island its character, but they can also make the beach feel less peaceful than a normal quiet sandbar. If you want a completely empty beach, this may not be your ideal stop. If you enjoy a little oddness and plenty of photo possibilities, the pigs are the reason to come.

Bring flip-flops rather than relying on bare feet all day. You should also pack swimwear, a towel, and sunscreen. The operator does not allow luggage or large bags, so leave suitcases and bulky beach bags at your accommodation.

The island is especially well suited to groups that want shared memories. The private boat lets you choose your music, pose for photos, and spend time together without strangers in the frame. The crew’s attention can make a difference here. A trip that might otherwise be a simple beach transfer becomes more personal when the staff help with photos and small requests.

Snorkeling at Koh Tan brings a different kind of island day

After Koh Madsum, the boat continues to Koh Tan for snorkeling. This change of setting gives the outing a useful second act. Pig Island is about the beach, animals, and photos. Koh Tan is about looking below the surface at fish and coral.

Snorkeling equipment is included, including a mask and life jacket. The tour also provides boat crew support and an English-speaking guide. You should still bring your own towel and sunscreen, as these are not listed among the supplied items.

The water is described as clear, with colorful marine life and coral to see. Conditions in the sea can change, so the quality of the view will depend on the day. Still, the combination of fish, coral, and a separate island stop gives the tour more variety than a trip focused only on Pig Island.

If you are a confident swimmer, you may appreciate the freedom of exploring around the snorkeling area. If you are less comfortable in the water, the life jacket is useful, and you can keep the pace that suits you. The experience is not presented as a specialist snorkeling course, so anyone seeking advanced instruction or a long technical session should look elsewhere.

The stop is also a practical reason to wear swimwear under your clothes. You can move between the beach and water without needing a complicated change of clothes. Just remember that the tour does not allow large bags, so keep your personal items compact.

Hotel pickup makes the morning easier

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included, which removes one of the less enjoyable parts of island excursions: finding the pier and arranging a taxi at odd hours. After pickup, you go straight to the pier for the welcome and safety briefing.

The service can be flexible about transport. One group needed help getting to and from a villa outside the normal route, and the operator arranged it. That does not guarantee every unusual pickup request, but it shows that you should ask before booking if your accommodation is not on a standard route.

At the pier, staff explain the tour details before you board. Life jackets are included, and the boat has a crew as well as a guide. The listed languages are Thai and English, so English-speaking visitors have a clear communication option.

Because the boat is private, your group does not need to adapt to strangers. That makes the trip a good fit for families, couples traveling with friends, and groups marking a special day. The private setup also helps if your group wants a quieter ride, although the crew can play music if that suits you better.

Is $573 good value for your group?

The price is $573 for a group of up to eight people. With eight people sharing the boat, that works out to about $71.63 per person before the 50-baht adult admission fee. For four people, it is about $143.25 each, and for two people, the private format becomes a much more expensive choice.

The price includes several costs that can add up on an independent outing: hotel transfers, travel insurance, guide service, boat crew, life jackets, snorkeling masks, drinking water, and seasonal fruit. You are paying not only for the boat but also for convenience and control over the day.

I think the strongest value comes when your group fills most of the eight available places. You also get more from the price if personal service matters to you. Crew members can take photos, play your music, and help with transport details. Those touches are less important if you only want a basic ride to the island.

Food is the main missing cost. Snacks and drinks are available for purchase on Koh Madsum, but no meal is included. Add the adult island fee and any food purchases when setting your budget.

For a couple, a shared excursion may be cheaper. For a larger group that wants privacy, a flexible schedule, and hotel transport, this package is easier to justify. The best choice depends less on the island itself than on how much you value having the boat to yourselves.

Who should book this Koh Samui outing?

I would recommend it to groups of friends, families with children, and anyone who wants a playful beach stop rather than a serious cultural tour. The pigs are a strong draw for children, and the private boat gives parents more control over the pace.

It also suits photographers and groups celebrating a birthday or special occasion. The sea views, pigs, snorkeling, and crew photos create plenty of material for a shared album. The ability to play your own music adds a small but memorable personal touch.

This is less suitable for pregnant women and people with mobility impairments, who are specifically advised not to join. A speedboat, beach setting, and snorkeling stop can involve physical movement, so take those restrictions seriously.

It is also not ideal if your main goal is a long, quiet day on an empty beach. Koh Madsum’s pigs are the point, and the island’s character comes from that unusual mix of animals and beach activity.

Small details that make the day easier

Bring only what you need: towel, sunscreen, flip-flops, and swimwear. Large bags and luggage are not allowed, so use a small day bag if permitted and keep valuables to a minimum.

Seasonal fruit and drinking water are included, but food is not. Plan to buy snacks or drinks on Koh Madsum rather than expecting a full meal on the boat.

The tour includes travel insurance, though you should still follow the guide’s instructions around the boat and snorkeling area. A life jacket and mask are provided, which means you do not need to rent basic snorkeling gear separately.

Cancellation is allowed up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund. You can also reserve now and pay later, which helps if your Koh Samui plans are still shifting.

Should you book the private Pig Island tour?

Book this trip if you have a group large enough to share the cost and you want a relaxed day with a few unusual features: pigs on a white-sand beach, a private speedboat, personal music, crew photos, and snorkeling at Koh Tan.

Think twice if you are traveling alone or as a couple and mainly want the lowest possible price. The $573 group rate is easiest to justify with several people aboard. Also skip it if you are pregnant, have mobility impairments, or dislike beach outings where the animal attraction is the center of attention.

For the right group, this is a cheerful and practical Koh Samui day out. The private boat, flexible timing, and helpful crew give it more personality than a standard island transfer, while Koh Tan keeps the day from being only about the pigs.

FAQ

How much does the private Pig Island tour cost?

The price is $573 for a private group of up to eight people. The cost is shared by the group rather than charged per person.

What is included in the tour?

Hotel pickup and drop-off, travel insurance, an English-speaking guide, boat crew, a life jacket, a snorkeling mask, drinking water, and seasonal fruit are included.

Is the Pig Island admission fee included?

No. Admission costs 50 Baht per adult. Children enter free of charge.

Is food included?

No. Food is not included, though snacks and drinks can be purchased from stores on Koh Madsum. Drinking water and seasonal fruit are provided.

What should I bring?

Bring a towel, sunscreen, flip-flops, and swimwear. Large bags and luggage are not allowed.

Is the tour suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments?

No. The tour is not suitable for pregnant women or people with mobility impairments.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. You can also reserve and pay later.