Koh Madsum and Koh Tan Snorkeling Trip By Speedboat From Koh Samui

Pig Island is more than a beach stop. This half-day speedboat outing combines Koh Tan snorkeling with time on Koh Madsum, where you can kayak, swim, rest on a sunbed, and eat a fresh Thai lunch. I like the simple all-in-one setup, with hotel pickup, boat transport, gear, drinks, fruit, and food included. I also like that the trip gives you several hours on Koh Madsum rather than rushing you through two islands.

The main caution is that the day can involve more driving than expected, especially if you stay far from the departure pier. A few people also experienced poor planning, delays, or missed snorkeling when conditions changed. The islands can be lovely, but Pig Island may feel crowded and messy when pigs gather around the beach and food.

Five things to know before booking

• The boat leaves from Thong Krut, with the speedboat ride to Koh Tan taking about 15 minutes.
• Koh Madsum gets the longest stop, usually around three hours for lunch, kayaking, swimming, and beach time.
• Snorkeling gear and kayaks are included, along with life jackets, sunbeds, soft drinks, fresh fruit, and accident insurance.
• Pig Island has real pigs, but feeding them can make the beach feel busy and less polished than the photos suggest.
• A 50 THB admission fee is extra, while pickups from Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, and Lipayai cost an additional 700 baht per person each way.
• The tour needs at least 10 people to operate and accepts a maximum of 30.

What this Koh Samui island trip is really like

This is a practical way to see two small islands south of Koh Samui without arranging a private boat. At about $50.15 per person, the price covers a good number of essentials: hotel transfer from many parts of Samui, a speedboat ride, snorkeling equipment, a kayak, lunch, soft drinks, fruit, a life jacket, and a sunbed.

That makes the tour good value if you want a planned morning and do not want to negotiate at the pier. The value is less clear if your hotel is in one of the areas with the 700-baht surcharge. Add that fee in both directions, and the total can rise quickly.

The outing lasts about five to six hours. Pickup generally takes place between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m., with the official start listed as 9:00 a.m. You should allow extra time for collection from the hotel and any road delays. The group can reach 30 people, so this is not a quiet private-island escape.

The ride from your hotel to Thong Krut Beach

Pickup is offered from Lamai, Chaweng, Butterfly Garden, Bangpor, Maenam, Bophut, Cheongmon, and Bangrak. Transfer service is also listed from other areas, but Nathon, Taling Ngam, Pagka, Lipanoi, and Lipayai carry an extra 700-baht charge per person each way.

This detail matters. Samui looks compact on a map, but road transfers can take time. One unhappy account described a long wait followed by about an hour in a minibus to a different departure point. Another person felt the day involved too much time in a car and too little time on the water.

I would confirm your pickup point and the actual pier before departure. Thong Krut Beach is the stated boat departure area, and the speedboat ride from there to Koh Tan takes roughly 15 minutes. If you are staying outside the main pickup zones, ask about the extra charge before paying.

The tour is not recommended for people arriving by cruise ship or large boat. The timing is built around hotel pickup, not a ship’s arrival and departure schedule.

Koh Tan snorkeling, roughly 40 minutes in the water

Koh Tan is usually the first island activity. The schedule places the speedboat at Koh Tan around 9:15 a.m., followed by snorkeling and kayaking around 9:45. Another account described about 40 minutes allotted for snorkeling, which is enough for a focused look at the reef but not a full morning in the water.

You receive a mask and snorkel, and a life jacket is included. The water area is described as having white sand, fish, and coral. One particularly positive account praised the number of fish and the condition of the coral, calling the snorkeling a strong part of the day.

Still, you should keep expectations sensible. Weather and sea conditions can affect the snorkeling time. One account reported that snorkeling was skipped, while another complained that the promised water activities did not fully happen. The operator states that the trip requires good weather, and a poor-weather cancellation can lead to a new date or a full refund.

Koh Tan works best for you if snorkeling is a pleasant extra rather than the only reason you are booking. If you want several hours of reef time, this trip may feel too short. If you are happy with a compact snorkeling session plus a beach stop and lunch, the format is more appealing.

Koh Madsum, the three-hour beach stop

After Koh Tan, the boat heads to Koh Madsum, also known as Pig Island. The schedule gives you around three hours here, making it the main stop of the outing.

This is where the pace slows down. You can kayak, swim, rest on a sunbed, or sit on the white sand. Lunch is served on the island, with soft drinks, water, and fresh fruit included. A positive account described the meal as delicious and praised the crew for working hard to provide a good experience.

The longer stop is a real strength. You are not pushed straight from the boat into another boat, and you have time to choose how active you want to be. I like this setup for mixed groups. One person can kayak, another can swim, and someone else can simply relax with lunch.

The weak point is the island’s popularity and its pigs. Several accounts described Pig Island as a tourist stop rather than a quiet beach. The pigs are a memorable feature, but people feed them, and that can bring noise, crowds, and unpleasant mess around the sand and water. One account specifically complained about urine and waste near the area where people were interacting with the animals.

You should treat the pigs as an entertaining extra, not the main reason to book the trip. If you want a polished, quiet beach with no animal activity, Koh Madsum may disappoint. If you enjoy seeing something unusual and do not mind a less controlled setting, it adds character to the day.

Lunch, drinks, and the included equipment

The included lunch helps justify the tour price. You do not need to find a restaurant on the island or carry a full meal from Koh Samui. Soft drinks, water, and fresh fruit are included as well.

The supplied information does not give a detailed menu, so you should not book expecting a specific dish. The food is described as a fresh-cooked Thai lunch, and one positive account praised it. For many people, having lunch already arranged is worth more than a small saving from booking boat transport alone.

The practical equipment list is solid:

• Mask and snorkel
• Life jacket
• Kayak
• Sunbed
• Soft drinks and water
• Fresh fruit
• Accident insurance

The gear is suitable for a straightforward island outing. Bring your own personal items if you prefer a particular mask or snorkel, but the basic equipment is provided. You should also bring swimwear, a towel, sun protection, and a waterproof way to protect your phone. Those personal items are not listed as included.

The group size and the pace of the day

The maximum group size is 30 people. That is small enough to keep the boat experience manageable, but it is not a private or intimate trip. Expect shared transport, shared activity areas, and a set schedule.

The minimum is 10 people. If fewer than 10 book, the operator can cancel and offer another date, another tour, or a full refund. This is worth remembering if you are planning a very tight Samui schedule.

The timetable looks tidy on paper:

• 8:30 to 9:00 a.m.: Hotel pickup
• Around 9:00 a.m.: Depart Thong Krut
• About 9:15 a.m.: Reach Koh Tan
• Around 9:45 a.m.: Snorkeling and kayaking
• About 10:45 a.m.: Travel to Koh Madsum
• Around 12:30 p.m.: Lunch on Koh Madsum
• Afternoon: Return transfer

In practice, pickup delays, road traffic, sea conditions, and group movement can shift these times. I would avoid booking an important afternoon appointment immediately afterward.

One account described waiting two hours before being moved to another departure point. Another reported a long minibus ride. These may not be typical, but they show why you should build in spare time and confirm the morning plan.

Is the $50.15 price good value?

For a five- to six-hour outing, $50.15 per person is a fair package price. You are paying for more than the speedboat. Hotel pickup, snorkeling gear, a kayak, lunch, drinks, fruit, a sunbed, and insurance are all included.

The value is strongest when you stay in a standard pickup zone and plan to use several inclusions. If you will snorkel, kayak, eat lunch, and use the transfer, the package saves you from arranging each piece separately.

The value drops if you are staying in a surcharge area. An extra 700 baht per person each way can add 1,400 baht to the day. Check this before booking, especially if you are traveling as a family.

There is also a 50-baht admission fee per person that is not included. It is a small charge, but you should carry enough Thai baht for it. Children aged 4 to 11 receive the child ticket category, though the supplied information does not state the child price.

Who should book this tour?

I would choose this trip if you want a simple island day from Koh Samui and prefer a fixed plan to bargaining at the pier. It suits couples, families with children aged 4 and older, and groups with mixed interests.

It is also a good match if you want more than snorkeling. The three-hour Koh Madsum stop gives you time for kayaking, swimming, lunch, and sitting on the beach. You do not have to spend the whole trip in the water.

I would be more cautious if snorkeling is your top priority. The water time may be around 40 minutes, and weather can reduce or cancel it. A dedicated snorkeling charter would likely make more sense for someone focused on reef time, but this package offers no such promise in the supplied details.

I would also skip it if you dislike shared tours, possible schedule changes, or busy tourist beaches. Pig Island can be amusing, but it is not presented as a remote, untouched beach once the animals and visiting groups gather.

People who are pregnant or have high blood pressure, heart disease, or bone diseases are not recommended to join. The tour also requires good weather and a minimum of 10 participants.

Booking advice and cancellation terms

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded.

If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you should be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. Because one account described a booking system that did not accurately show availability, I would check your confirmation carefully and keep the operator’s contact details handy.

Should you book Koh Madsum and Koh Tan?

Book it if you want a reasonably priced, organized half-day with good food, friendly crew service, kayaking, and a short but worthwhile snorkeling stop. The strongest parts are the included meal, the long Koh Madsum visit, and the convenience of hotel pickup.

Think twice if you expect a peaceful deserted beach, a private boat, or hours of snorkeling. The pig area can be messy, the group can reach 30, and transfer problems have affected some departures.

For most people, this is a solid mixed-activity excursion rather than a pure snorkeling tour. Confirm the pickup location, ask about any transfer surcharge, allow extra time for delays, and carry the 50-baht admission fee. With those details handled, the trip offers a convenient way to see two islands south of Koh Samui without arranging the day yourself.

FAQ

How long does the Koh Madsum and Koh Tan tour last?

The tour lasts approximately five to six hours, including hotel pickup, the boat trip, island activities, lunch, and the return transfer.

What time does hotel pickup begin?

Hotel pickup is scheduled between 8:30 and 9:00 a.m. The listed tour start time is 9:00 a.m.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Yes. A snorkeling mask and life jacket are included. Kayaks and sunbeds are also provided.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A fresh-cooked Thai lunch, soft drinks, water, and fresh fruit are included.

How much is the extra admission fee?

The admission fee is 50 THB per person and is not included in the tour price.

Can the tour be canceled because of weather or low numbers?

Yes. The activity requires good weather and at least 10 participants. If the operator cancels for either reason, you can receive an alternative date, another tour, or a full refund.