About this tour
When Charlie from our team booked this private longtail boat trip from Koh Samui, we were after a quieter island-hop without the tour-group rush. The route hits Koh Madsum (famous for its resident beach pigs) and Koh Tan, a snorkeling spot with decent coral. It's a 4-hour affair that mixes lounging on sand, feeding pigs if you're into that, and poking around underwater. The vibe is relaxed rather than adrenaline-fuelled—you get the boat to yourself, which matters when you want to control the pace and not wait around for stragglers.
Highlights
- Private longtail boat means no sharing with twenty other tourists
- Pig Island's resident herd is genuinely unfazed by visitors—photo op confirmed
- Snorkeling at Koh Tan showed healthy coral and decent tropical fish variety
- Flexible timing lets you spend longer where you want, skip what bores you
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off removes the faff of getting to the pier
- Life jackets and snorkel gear supplied; one less thing to hire separately
- Beach bar on Pig Island for drinks (paid separately) if you want to linger
What to expect
The boat collects you from your hotel and heads straight to Koh Madsum—roughly 20–30 minutes depending on where you're staying. You'll arrive to a short stretch of white sand with actual pigs roaming freely. They're used to tourists, so don't expect wild animals; they'll eat from your hand if you feed them (bring cash for food if that appeals). Plenty of time to swim, snap photos, and grab a drink from the beach shack before heading to Koh Tan.
Koh Tan is quieter, less developed, and the main draw is the snorkeling. We found the reef in decent nick—brain coral, small groupers, parrotfish—nothing mind-blowing but solid for a couple of hours in the water. The whole outing feels unhurried, which is the real win. You're not clock-watching or being herded back to the boat. The trade-off is the 4-hour window is tight once you factor in travel time each way, so you're really getting 2–2.5 hours on the islands combined.
What travellers say
- Private boat feels exclusive and gives you full control of timing
- Koh Madsum pigs are a genuinely quirky, stress-free animal encounter
- Snorkeling at Koh Tan decent quality reefs, no certification needed
- Hotel transfer included saves you navigating Samui's roads yourself
- Gear supplied and insured; accident cover removes one worry
- National park fee sneaks in as an extra; factor it into budget
- Four hours net feels tight once boat travel eats into island time
- Sea roughness unpredictable; not comfortable for queasy or pregnant travellers
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
A private boat beats a crowded speedboat every time if you can stretch your budget for it. You control the stops, the pace, and who you're stuck with. The pig interaction is genuinely novel (and the pigs are fine—they're island residents, not a circus act). Snorkeling gear is included and decent quality.
The national park fee (50 THB per person) isn't mentioned upfront in the inclusions, so budget for it separately. Food and drinks are extra—the beach bar isn't cheap, so bring snacks if you're budget-conscious. The 4 hours sounds generous until you realise half goes to travel; leave early if you want proper island time. Not suitable for pregnant travellers or anyone with serious back or heart issues. Infants must sit on a lap the whole way, which gets old fast on a boat. Weather can chop the sea—if it's rough, the ride's bumpy and not everyone enjoys it.
Bring reef-safe sunscreen, a rash guard if your skin's sensitive, and cash for the park fee and any extras. The boat holds however many you book, so it's genuinely private. Best avoided during peak monsoon (roughly October–November); calmer seas are June–September. Most hotels within 15 minutes of the pier; pickup time varies.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original BugBitten summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.