Catamaran vs Speedboat vs Longtail Boat in Koh Samui

Longtail Boat: The Traditional Option

A longtail is the boat most people picture when they think of Thailand. It has a narrow wooden hull, a car engine mounted on a long propeller shaft at the stern and open sides, so the trip feels local and unpackaged.

Longtails suit Pig Island and Koh Tan because the islands are close. The crossing to Koh Tan takes about 20–30 minutes from Thong Krut or Bang Kao, so you are not relying on speed to make the day work.

Choose a longtail if you want:

• a private charter at a low price;
• a small group;
• the traditional boat and its atmosphere;
• a relaxed pace;
• good photos of the boat itself;
• a simple half-day trip.

Our pick: the shared longtail trip with a viewpoint hike (4.3/5 from 917 reviews, from $28 per person) is the lowest-priced Pig Island trip that still includes hotel transfers and the island fee. For a boat to yourselves, the private longtail with snorkel gear (4.3/5 from 665 reviews) costs from $101 per boat for up to two people, without transfers. Our longtail boat guide covers the ride in detail.

What Is a Longtail Ride Like?

Expect:

• open sides;
• engine noise;
• basic seating;
• sea breeze;
• some spray;
• more noticeable movement when the sea is choppy.

Longtails used for tourist trips may also have:

• padded seats;
• a canopy;
• a ladder;
• a cooler;
• drinks.

Quality varies a lot from boat to boat, so look at the operator’s photos of the actual boat before you book.

Speedboat: The Quickest Option

Speedboats are built to move fast. You will find them on:

• shared group tours;
• multi-stop itineraries;
• longer routes;
• full-day trips.

On the Koh Tan and Pig Island loop the crossing is short (about 15–20 minutes to Koh Tan), so speed alone is not a reason to choose one. A speedboat is still a good fit if you like an organised tour with set stops, lunch and a guide.

Choose a speedboat if you want:

• quick transfers;
• an organised group format;
• more stops in the day;
• less time on the water on longer routes.

Our pick: the Pig Island and Koh Tan speedboat trip (4.5/5 from 5,627 reviews, from $42 per person) includes hotel transfers, snorkel gear and a buffet lunch on Koh Tan; the 50-baht Pig Island fee is paid in cash on the beach. The speedboat tour with hotel pickup and a snack (4.7/5 from 273 reviews) starts lower, from $34 per person.

What Is a Speedboat Ride Like?

Speedboats feel fast and exciting, but they are not automatically smooth. In choppy water a speedboat can bounce hard, so a quicker boat is not always the more comfortable one.

The ride depends on:

• the state of the sea;
• the size of the boat;
• where you sit;
• the captain;
• how full the boat is.

Seats toward the back usually move less than the bow.

Catamaran: The Most Space and Comfort

A catamaran has two hulls, which gives it a wider, flatter deck. If comfort is your priority, that width makes a real difference.

Many catamaran tours offer:

• more deck space;
• wider seating;
• more shade;
• room to move around and talk;
• a toilet on some boats;
• a swim ladder;
• kayaks;
• paddleboards;
• a water slide;
• food and drinks.

That is why families and groups often pick them.

Our pick: the Koh Madsum and Koh Tan speed catamaran (4.5/5 from 107 reviews, from $64 per person) leaves from Bang Kao with hotel transfers, a light meal on board, kayaks, paddleboards, a water slide and the Pig Island fee included. The half-day catamaran trip to Koh Tan and Koh Madsum (4.2/5 from 165 reviews, from $67 per person) is the alternative, with kayaks and a slide on board.

What Does a Pig Island Catamaran Tour Feel Like?

It feels more like a small cruise. The boat is part of the day, not just the way between the islands. You may spend time:

• relaxing on deck;
• swimming off the boat;
• kayaking;
• paddleboarding;
• eating lunch on board.

For many people that makes the trip feel more like a treat than a transfer.

Which Is Fastest?

The speedboat. The usual order is:

1. Speedboat
2. Catamaran (speed catamarans run close to a speedboat; larger cruising catamarans are slower)
3. Longtail

On the short Pig Island route the difference is a few minutes each way, so it seldom decides the booking. Our speedboat vs longtail comparison has the crossing times from each pier.

Which Is Most Comfortable?

Usually the catamaran. Its wider platform gives you:

• more space;
• a steadier feel;
• better seating;
• more facilities.

Individual boats vary, though. A well-kept private longtail with padded seats and a canopy can feel more comfortable than a full shared speedboat.

Which Is Best If You Get Seasick?

Usually the catamaran, because the two hulls make it steadier. No boat removes motion entirely.

If you get badly seasick:

• choose the shortest route;
• sit near the middle of the boat;
• watch the horizon;
• take your usual seasickness remedy before you board.

Pig Island is a good trip for nervous sailors because the crossing is short.

Which Is Best for Families?

The catamaran or a private longtail.

Catamaran

Better for:

• space;
• a toilet, on the boats that have one;
• shade;
• kayaks, paddleboards and a slide.

Private longtail

Better for:

• flexibility;
• a smaller group;
• your own schedule.

A speedboat is still fine for families; it suits those who want the day organised for them.

Which Is Best for Toddlers?

The catamaran. The extra space and facilities make the day easier with small children. A private longtail can also work if the boat has good shade and you want to set your own pace.

Check:

• the minimum age;
• that child-size life jackets are on board;
• whether there is a toilet;
• the shade;
• how you board.

Which Is Best for Couples?

A private longtail. It feels more intimate and has more character. Pick a catamaran if comfort matters more to you, or a speedboat if you want a simple organised tour.

Which Is Best for Groups?

A catamaran or a private speedboat. For a large group, space matters, and a catamaran gives everyone room to move. A private speedboat suits a group that wants extra stops or a longer route; our private boat tours guide compares the charter options.

Which Is Best for Snorkeling?

The itinerary matters more than the boat. All three stop at Koh Tan, so compare:

• the time at the snorkeling stop;
• group size;
• how you get into the water;
• the gear provided;
• whether a guide swims with you.

Catamarans often have the easiest swim access.

Which Is Best for Pig Island?

All three. Koh Madsum is close to Samui’s south coast, so no boat has a real access advantage. Choose the boat for the kind of day you want.

Which Is Best for Koh Tan?

All three again. If snorkeling is the main reason you are going, the way you get into the water matters more. The catamaran usually wins on comfort and the private longtail on flexibility.

Which Is Best for Ang Thong?

A speedboat or a catamaran. Ang Thong Marine Park is much farther from Samui than Pig Island, and longtails are not practical for the open-water crossing. Our island trips from Koh Samui guide compares it with the closer islands.

Which Is Best for Koh Tao?

A speedboat or a catamaran. On a long crossing, speed matters, and longtails do not make dedicated Koh Tao day trips.

Which Is Most Photogenic?

The longtail. Its shape is part of the picture people bring home from Thailand.

Which Feels Most Luxurious?

The catamaran, especially when the day includes:

• drinks;
• lunch on board;
• a private charter;
• the sunset.

Which Feels Most Adventurous?

The longtail. You sit low and open to the sea, close to the water.

Which Feels Most Efficient?

The speedboat.

Which Usually Has the Best Shade?

The catamaran. Shade on longtails and speedboats depends on the boat.

Which Usually Has a Toilet?

The catamaran is the most likely to have one. Some speedboats do, and most small longtails do not. Ask the operator about the exact boat, because GetYourGuide listings seldom say.

Which Is Easiest to Board?

Catamarans are often the easiest. A longtail may mean:

• wading out from a beach;
• low seating;
• climbing a ladder.

Speedboat boarding varies. If anyone in your group has limited mobility, ask the operator directly before you book.

Which Is Best for Older Travellers?

The catamaran. Room to move and easier boarding usually matter more than speed.

Which Is Best for a Private Tour?

• Longtail for Pig Island and Koh Tan.
• Speedboat for a longer route with more stops.
• Catamaran for comfort or a large group.

Which Is Cheapest?

On GetYourGuide’s current “from” prices, the usual order is:

1. Shared longtail, from $28 per person, transfers and island fee included.
2. Shared speedboat, from $34–$42 per person.
3. Private longtail, from $101 per boat for up to two people (about $51 each for a couple), without transfers.
4. Shared catamaran, from $64–$67 per person.
5. Private speedboat, from about $380 per boat; the half-day private speedboat to Pig Island has only 9 reviews so far (4.6/5), so read them before you book.

Check what each price leaves out: some trips charge the 50-baht Pig Island fee in cash and some private boats do not include hotel transfers. Our Pig Island tour prices guide compares the totals.

Which Is Best for Sunset?

A catamaran or a private longtail.

Catamaran

Best for:

• drinks;
• deck space;
• a sociable group.

Longtail

Best for:

• a quieter evening for two;
• photos;
• the traditional feel.

The shared Pig Island and Koh Tan sunset trip with dinner (4.2/5 from 734 reviews, from $46 per person) is the easiest evening option to book; our Pig Island sunset tours page covers it.

Which Is Best in Rain?

The catamaran usually keeps you drier. What matters more is the sea: strong wind and waves affect safety and comfort far more than light rain does. For how the seasons affect the crossing, see our guides to the best time to visit Pig Island and Pig Island in September.

Which Is Safest?

Safety depends on the operator more than on the type of boat. Look for:

• life jackets for everyone, in the right sizes;
• a well-maintained boat;
• an experienced captain;
• a sensible number of passengers;
• a clear policy on bad weather.

Does Boat Type Affect Price?

Yes. Private boats and larger boats cost more, but group size changes the sums. For two people, a $101 private longtail costs less per person than a shared catamaran, and you set the pace.

Longtail vs Speedboat: The Simplest Choice

Choose a longtail for atmosphere and a speedboat for speed.

Speedboat vs Catamaran: The Simplest Choice

Choose a speedboat for a quick, lower-priced day and a catamaran for comfort.

Longtail vs Catamaran: The Simplest Choice

Choose a longtail for a small, private trip and a catamaran for facilities.

Best Choice for First-Time Visitors

Couple

A private longtail.

Family

A catamaran or a private longtail.

Solo traveller

A shared speedboat.

Large group

A catamaran.

Snorkeling first

Choose the itinerary first, then the boat.

Seasick traveller

A catamaran, on the shortest route you can find.

What Should You Check Before Booking?

Ask:

1. Which boat is used?
2. How many passengers will be on board?
3. Is there shade?
4. Is there a toilet?
5. Is the tour private?
6. How long is the snorkeling stop?
7. Are hotel transfers included?
8. Is lunch included?
9. Is the Pig Island fee included?
10. What happens if the weather is poor?

The answers tell you more about the day than the boat type alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which boat is best for Pig Island?

A longtail for atmosphere, a speedboat for a quick organised tour and a catamaran for comfort.

Which is fastest?

The speedboat.

Which is most stable?

Usually the catamaran.

Which is best for children?

A catamaran or a private longtail.

Which is best for couples?

A private longtail.

Which is best for groups?

A catamaran or a private speedboat.

Which is best for seasickness?

Usually the catamaran, although the state of the sea matters more than the type of boat.

Which has a toilet?

Catamarans are the most likely to have one; ask about the exact boat.

Which has the best snorkeling access?

Catamarans often have easier swim platforms, but it varies by boat.

Which is cheapest?

A shared longtail, from $28 per person on GetYourGuide. For one or two people, shared tours usually cost less than a private boat.

Which is most traditional?

The longtail.

Which is best for long-distance trips?

A speedboat or a large catamaran.

Which Boat to Book

No single boat is best for every trip from Koh Samui.

• Longtail for tradition, privacy and atmosphere.
• Speedboat for speed and efficient shared tours.
• Catamaran for comfort, space and facilities on board.

On the short Koh Tan and Pig Island route, a longtail has the most character and a catamaran is the most comfortable. A speedboat makes most sense if you want an organised tour or a route that covers more distance.

Compare our current Pig Island tours from Koh Samui to see longtail, speedboat and catamaran trips side by side, and check the calendar for your dates, because departures and prices change.