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5 hr
Easy-going half-day escape to swim with pigs, snorkel shallow reefs, and relax on quiet beaches
Reserve
4 hr 30 min
Discover vibrant coral reefs, meet wild pigs on pristine beaches, and kayak crystal-clear waters
Reserve
4 hr
Charter your own traditional boat to meet friendly pigs and snorkel coral reefs on a half-day island escape
ReservePrices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.
The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.
A long, serene stretch of white sand perfect for sunbathing and swimming in shallow, turquoise water.
A dedicated area on the island where visitors can interact with and feed the famous friendly resident pigs.
An iconic, rustic rope swing hanging from a tree on the beach, frequently used for photos.
A rustic, open-air spot offering local Thai cuisine and drinks for visitors to enjoy after exploring.
Nearby coral reef areas perfect for discovering colorful tropical fish in the Gulf of Thailand.
Private longtail excursions provide a relaxed, personalized journey, whereas group speedboat tours prioritize efficiency and group logistics for a Koh Madsum excursion.
| Feature | Top pick Private Longtail | Group Speedboat |
|---|---|---|
Vessel Type |
Traditional wooden longtail boat | Modern fiberglass speedboat |
Flexibility |
High personal scheduling | Fixed tour itinerary |
Travel Time |
Slower paced journey | Rapid transit to island |
Guest Capacity |
Private group only | Up to 30 passengers |
Cultural Authenticity |
High local heritage value | Commercial tourism focused |
Noise Levels |
Moderate engine sound | High engine volume |
| See tickets → |
Verdict: Choose a pig island private longtail boat trip from koh samui tours for intimacy, or select a group speedboat tour if you require pig island private longtail boat trip from koh samui tickets for a larger party at faster transit speeds, though many travelers prefer the private pig island private longtail boat trip from koh samui tour for the authentic coastal views.
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Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.
Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.
Casual beachwear is standard. Wear comfortable swimwear and bring a cover-up for when you leave the beach area.
Space on private longtail boats is limited; carry only small, waterproof dry bags for your essentials.
Photography is encouraged, especially with the island's resident pigs. Please maintain a respectful distance and avoid using flash near the animals.
Koh Madsum is not wheelchair accessible; the sandy beach requires walking over uneven, shifting terrain.
The island is family-friendly, but ensure children are supervised around the animals. The calm, shallow waters are ideal for swimming.
Basic refreshments and local Thai dishes are available at the island's rustic beach bar. Bringing your own hydration is recommended.
Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.
Flexible, no hidden fees.
Full refunds are typically available for cancellations made 24 hours in advance. Note that the 50 THB conservation fee is payable in cash at the island and is not included in tour prices.
The pigs of Koh Madsum are not native. They were ferried across from Koh Samui within the last two decades and released onto a sliver of coral sand measuring less than a kilometre end to end. The island lies off Samui's southern coast, in the Gulf of Thailand, nearer to Koh Tan than to any stretch of mainland. A Pig Island Private Longtail Boat Trip from Koh Samui covers that channel from the fishing village of Thong Krut, in Taling Ngam. The vessel itself is older than the tourism. The rua hang yao, or long-tailed boat, took its modern shape in the mid-twentieth century, when Thai boatbuilders set surplus automotive engines on pivoting mounts and ran a bare propeller shaft several metres off the stern. The design suited shallow water, weed-choked channels and coral shelves that would foul a conventional outboard. Fishermen at Thong Krut used them to reach Koh Tan's reefs long before the first visitor asked to be taken to see a pig swim. Koh Madsum was a coconut plantation before it was an attraction. Copra dried under the palms; a handful of families worked the groves. Ownership of the animals remains local, and the herd is fed and managed by the families who run the beach concessions. Today the island falls under the same conservation framework that governs much of the Samui archipelago, and each arriving visitor pays a 50 THB conservation fee in cash at the island itself. Demand for Pig Island Private Longtail Boat Trip from Koh Samui tickets has followed the general shift in Thai coastal tourism away from packed group boats and toward smaller, chartered hulls. What remains is a landscape of unusual clarity. The sandbar between Koh Madsum and its neighbouring islet emerges and drowns with the tide. A shallow fringing reef runs along the eastern edge, sheltering staghorn coral and juvenile reef fish. Casuarina and coconut palms hold the dune line, and the water reads pale green over sand, darker over rock. Private longtail boat tours to Koh Madsum trace a route that has changed little in fifty years. The appeal of Pig Island Private Longtail Boat Trip from Koh Samui tours lies partly in that continuity: an old boat, a short crossing, an island small enough to walk in an afternoon.
"The pigs are recent arrivals; the boats that carry visitors to them are not."
A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.
You meet your boat on Koh Samui's southern coast, where the shaft engine coughs once and settles into a low, uneven rhythm. The hull is open to the sky. Spray comes over the bow in short bursts, and the water shifts from harbour brown to clear green as Koh Madsum rises ahead, low and wooded above a pale bar of sand. You wade the last few metres. On the beach you pay 50 THB in cash — the conservation fee, per person — and the pigs come down the sand toward you, unhurried, expecting fruit. You crouch. You photograph them at eye level. A piglet noses your ankle and moves on. Behind the treeline the old coconut palms stand in rows nobody planted for tourists. Later the boat carries you across to the reef off Koh Tan, where you drop over the side with a mask and follow the shallow coral shelf: parrotfish, urchins wedged in crevices, the occasional cuttlefish holding steady against the current. You climb back aboard salted and dripping. The return leg runs slower, and you sit on the rail with your back to the sun. If your Pig Island Private Longtail Boat Trip from Koh Samui tour left in the 09:00–11:00 window, you reach the pier with the afternoon still ahead of you.
The best arrival window is 09:00–11:00 to avoid midday heat and large tour crowds.
You do not need tickets for the island itself, but you must book a private longtail boat trip from Koh Samui to reach it.
No, the 50 THB conservation fee per person is payable in cash directly at the island upon arrival.
Koh Madsum is open daily from 09:00–21:00.
No, pets are generally not permitted on boat transfers or the island.
The island is not wheelchair accessible due to the natural, sandy terrain.
Bring essentials like sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and cash for the 50 THB conservation fee.
No, the pigs are domesticated and managed by locals; please treat them with care.
Private boat trips typically depart from Thong Krut Pier on the southern coast of Koh Samui.
Yes, the tour is family-friendly, but always supervise children near the animals.