Koh Madsum Pig Island: Is It Worth It? Getting There & Costs

Featured image: Marwan Mohamad, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Koh Madsum Pig Island: Quick Answer

Koh Madsum is a quiet white-sand beach island with pigs that visitors meet on land. Operators describe a boat ride of roughly 15 to 30 minutes from the departure pier. Longtail boats are slower, at about 35 to 45 minutes. Most visitors go on a half-day tour that also stops at Koh Tan. It suits families, beach lovers and anyone who wants a low-effort boat outing. It suits you less if you expect pigs paddling out to your boat. Sources disagree on exact times, so treat every figure here as a range and confirm it when you book.

What You Actually Find on Pig Island

Expect a long beach, shallow water, a small café or beach bar, and loungers with umbrellas. Visitor accounts mention basic facilities only, and there is no ATM, so carry cash. Reports on the pigs differ. One booking agency describes a fenced sanctuary, while visitor reviews describe pigs and dogs wandering the beach. Keep expectations flexible and ask your crew how the encounter works on the day. There is no accommodation on the island. Overnight stays are a Koh Tan or Koh Samui matter, so Pig Island works as a day trip only.

• Beach with loungers and umbrellas
• Small café or beach bar for drinks and snacks
• No ATM, so bring cash
• No hotels or guesthouses on Koh Madsum

How to Get to Koh Madsum From Koh Samui

Operators advertise hotel transfers from Bophut and Maenam, among other Samui areas, to a departure pier on the south coast. Confirm the exact pier and pickup time when you book. By speedboat, the crossing takes about 20 minutes. By longtail, expect 35 to 45 minutes. Booking agencies say no scheduled public ferry runs, but treat that as an operator claim and ask locally. Going alone means negotiating a private longtail at the pier. Agree the return trip and price before you leave. Most tours add a snorkel stop at Koh Tan, Samui: Snorkeling, Boats and Costs, where beach resorts also operate.

Speedboat, Longtail or Private Charter: Which to Pick

Three formats cover most visitors. Join-in speedboats are the cheapest and fastest. Longtails are slower and more relaxed. Private charters let you set the pace. If you prefer a guided day with a wider route, compare options on our Koh Samui Boat Tours Compared: Ang Thong, Koh Tao, Pig Island (Prices & Tips) page. Always ask how many passengers share the boat and what is included before you pay.

Cost: What You Pay and What Is Extra

Operators currently advertise group tours from roughly 1,450 THB to 1,750 THB per person. One booking site lists a join-in speedboat from about 1,490 THB per adult and 1,270 THB per child. Private longtails start around 5,950 THB to 6,250 THB for up to 5 people, rising to 8,550 THB for 6 to 10. Private speedboats start around 11,950 THB to 13,090 THB for up to 10 people. Larger groups cost more, up to 25,500 THB for 21 to 35 people. These prices were advertised in November 2026 and are operator-set, so check them at booking. Typical extras are drinks, beach-hut food and a small voluntary donation at the pig area.

Best Time to Go and Sea Conditions

One operator calls January to August the dry season, with calmer seas for boat trips. Another warns that late October and November can bring churned-up water and rougher crossings. Both fit the Gulf of Thailand's pattern of changing winds, but check the Thai Meteorological Department forecast before you commit. Trips can be adjusted or cancelled in rough weather. If you are visiting in November, book a flexible option and choose the morning departure if offered. Sea-sickness tablets are cheap insurance on a longtail ride of 35 to 45 minutes.

Is It Worth It? Go If, Skip If

Go if you want a beach half day away from Samui's busy strips, a family outing, or an easy snorkel stop at Koh Tan. Skip it if you want swimming pigs, dislike boats, or can only fit one boat day. In that case, compare it with Ang Thong Marine Park. Check the national parks department site for access and closure notices. For a wider comparison of nearby islands, read our 4 Koh Samui Island Hopping Routes Compared (Time, Cost, Best For) guide.

• Go if: you want a short boat ride, a calm beach and a small-scale pig encounter
• Go if: you are travelling with children and can supervise them closely
• Skip if: you expect Bahamas-style swimming pigs
• Skip if: you are visiting in rough late-season weather and dislike choppy crossings

Visiting Responsibly With Pigs and Kids

Ask your crew what the pigs may eat before you feed them. Operators mention fruit and snacks sold at the café, but rules can change. Share drinking water only if staff say it is fine. Supervise children closely, since pigs and dogs share the beach. Keep a calm distance from any animal that looks stressed, and do not chase or pick up piglets. Give children life jackets on the boat, including for the 20-minute speedboat leg. Wash hands before eating, because the beach café is the only food stop.

Sample Half-Day Timeline and What to Bring

A typical outing runs from hotel pickup to a crossing of 20 to 45 minutes, then a snorkel stop at Koh Tan. After that comes beach time on Koh Madsum and the return crossing. One booking agency frames it as about half an hour with the pigs and around three hours on the beach. Confirm your own schedule with the operator. If you would rather spend an evening on the water, see our Koh Samui Sunset Cruise Guide: Boat Types, Booking Questions and Backup Plans option. Pack light, and keep valuables in a dry bag.

• Cash in THB, since there is no ATM
• Sunscreen (reef-safe if possible), hat and sunglasses
• Towel and a change of clothes
• Drinking water
• Non-slip sandals for the pier and boat
• Motion-sickness tablets and children's life jackets