Koh Madsum vs Koh Tan

What is Koh Madsum?

Koh Madsum is the island sold as Pig Island. You will also see it spelled Koh Mudsum, Koh Mat Sum or Ko Matsum.

It became famous for the pigs that live around the beach and wander into nearly every visitor’s photos. A stop here is relaxed. You usually have time to:

• see the pigs
• take photos
• swim
• walk along the beach
• sit in the shade
• buy a drink or a snack if the beach stalls are open

Visitors pay a 50 baht landing fee on the island, which some tours include and others collect in cash; our guide to getting to Pig Island explains how it works. For most travellers the pigs are the reason to go.

What is Koh Tan?

Koh Tan is the neighbouring island, a short hop from Koh Madsum, also written Koh Taen or Ko Taen. Among Koh Samui visitors it is known for shallow reef snorkeling.

Most Pig Island tours stop at Koh Tan before or after Koh Madsum. Depending on your tour, you may:

• snorkel
• swim
• kayak
• paddleboard
• have lunch
• spend some time ashore

What you do at Koh Tan varies more from tour to tour than what you do on Koh Madsum, so read the itinerary. Our Koh Tan island guide covers the island itself in more detail.

Which island has the pigs?

Koh Madsum. That is the easiest way to keep the two apart.

If you have seen photos of pigs walking along a tropical beach near Koh Samui, the island is almost certainly Koh Madsum. Koh Tan has no pig beach.

Which island is better for snorkeling?

Koh Tan. It is the usual reef stop on combined tours.

You can swim around Koh Madsum, but it is the pigs-and-beach part of the day. If snorkeling matters to you, make sure your tour names Koh Tan. Our snorkeling guide to Koh Tan and Pig Island covers gear, reef life and timing.

Why do tours combine Koh Madsum and Koh Tan?

The two islands give you different halves of a day out.

What Koh Madsum adds

• pigs
• beach
• photos
• swimming
• relaxed time ashore

What Koh Tan adds

• snorkeling
• reef
• fish
• more active time in the water

They are close enough that both still fit into a half-day trip, which is why the two-island format is so common. The Pig Island & Koh Tan Snorkeling by Speed boat trip is the most-reviewed version we track: from $42 per person, rated 4.5/5 from more than 5,600 reviews.

Which island has the better beach?

For most first-time visitors, Koh Madsum is the beach stop. The main Pig Island beach has pale sand, shallow water, the pigs and plenty to photograph.

Koh Tan has coastline and beaches too, but short tours usually stop there to snorkel and give you little time on the sand. If beach time is your priority, Koh Madsum usually wins.

Which island is more photogenic?

Koh Madsum. Pigs, sand, turquoise water and longtail boats pulled up on the beach make it one of the most unusual photo stops around Koh Samui.

Koh Tan is pretty, but you go there for the water and the reef, not for photos.

Which island is better for families?

For most families, both together.

Children tend to love Koh Madsum because the pigs are obvious and memorable. Koh Tan then adds swimming, snorkeling and fish, so the day is not one long beach stop.

Which is better for young children?

If you must choose one, Koh Madsum is usually easier with very young children. They can stay on the beach, see the pigs, paddle in the shallows and skip open-water snorkeling altogether.

Koh Tan suits children who are old enough to enjoy snorkeling with a life jacket.

Which is better for couples?

Both work well together. Couples often like a private longtail, Koh Tan snorkeling, photos on Pig Island and some beach time.

A private two-island charter suits you if you want to avoid a large group. The private longtail to Pig Island with snorkeling costs from $101 for up to two people and is rated 4.3/5 from 664 reviews.

Which is better if you do not swim?

Koh Madsum. You get the main experience without going into the water.

At Koh Tan the main activity is snorkeling, so non-swimmers may spend more time waiting on the boat. You can still enjoy the stop from the deck, but Koh Madsum is the stronger half of the day for you.

Which is better for strong swimmers?

Koh Tan. If water time is what you want, the reef stop matters more.

Koh Tan is still easy holiday snorkeling. If you want a full day focused on snorkeling, consider the Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan day trip from Samui instead; it is a much longer boat ride, so check the itinerary for the snorkeling stops.

Which island feels more touristy?

Koh Madsum usually feels busier because the pigs draw many day-trippers to the same stretch of beach.

Koh Tan can feel calmer, although the popular reef stops may still have several boats at once. Crowds on both islands depend on the season, the time of day, the weather and when the tour boats run.

Which island is quieter?

Often Koh Tan, but not always.

A private boat lets you adjust your timing, but neither island becomes private because you booked a private charter. Other boats will still be there.

Which island is better for a half-day trip?

Both together. The islands are close to Koh Samui and to each other, so a half-day fits:

1. the boat transfer
2. snorkeling at Koh Tan
3. the stop on Koh Madsum
4. beach time
5. the return to Koh Samui

That gives you far more than a trip to one island. Our half-day vs full-day comparison looks at the longer options.

Which island is better for a full-day trip?

Neither island needs a full day on its own. A full-day charter makes sense when it adds:

• longer snorkeling
• extra islands
• lunch
• kayaking
• sunset
• a slower private pace

If the route is only Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, a half-day is usually enough.

Which is better for a private tour?

The two together again. A private longtail suits this route because the distances are short and speed adds little. You can often adjust:

• the departure time
• the order of the stops
• your time snorkeling
• your time on Pig Island

For families and groups a private boat can work out good value per person; our private vs group comparison runs the numbers.

Koh Madsum only: who should choose it?

Choose Koh Madsum on its own if:

• you mainly want the pigs
• you do not care about snorkeling
• you want the shortest possible boat trip
• you have very young children
• you are fitting the trip into a tight schedule

A direct Pig Island visit is still fun. You just get less variety.

Koh Tan only: who should choose it?

Choose Koh Tan on its own if:

• you have already seen Pig Island
• you mainly care about snorkeling
• you dislike animal attractions
• you want a quieter private outing
• your hotel offers a direct Koh Tan trip

For most first-time visitors there is little reason to skip Koh Madsum when it is this close.

Which island is better for snorkeling beginners?

Koh Tan. Many tours are set up for ordinary holidaymakers, not experienced snorkelers, and a mask, snorkel and life jacket are usually included.

If you are nervous in open water:

• tell the crew before you get in
• wear a life jacket
• stay close to the boat

What can you see at Koh Tan?

Depending on the day and where the boat stops, you may see:

• tropical reef fish
• coral
• small schools of fish
• sea cucumbers
• other shallow-water marine life

Visibility changes with wind, waves and recent rain, so the water will not look the same every day.

Can you snorkel at Koh Madsum?

Yes, technically. But if snorkeling is important, do not book a tour that only says “Pig Island”. Look for Koh Tan by name. That gives you a much better chance of the snorkeling you want; the snorkeling guide explains what you can expect off Pig Island’s own beach.

Can you swim with the pigs at Koh Madsum?

Sometimes the pigs walk into the shallow water, but it is not guaranteed.

Expect a beach where pigs roam the sand and sometimes the shallows. Do not book only for one particular “swimming pig” photo. Our guide to swimming with the pigs covers what to expect and how to behave around them.

How long do you need on Koh Madsum?

About 45 minutes to an hour is enough for most visitors, and that is what most shared tours give you. It is time to see the pigs, take photos, swim, walk the beach and sit for a while.

How long do you need at Koh Tan?

Around an hour is common on half-day tours. You may want longer if snorkeling is your priority, and a private boat can sometimes give you that flexibility.

Which island is easier to reach?

Both are easy from southern Koh Samui. Many tours leave from the Thong Krut area and reach the islands in roughly 15 to 20 minutes by speedboat, or 20 to 30 minutes by longtail, depending on the sea. That short crossing is a big reason the combined trip works so well. Our Thong Krut pier guide covers the meeting point.

What boat should you choose?

Longtail

Suits private trips, families, couples and anyone who wants the traditional Thai boat. Our pick: Private Longtail Boat to Pig Island with Snorkel, from $101 for up to two people, 4.3/5 from 664 reviews.

Speedboat

Suits structured shared tours and faster transfers. Our pick: the shared Pig Island and Koh Tan speedboat trip, from $42 per person, 4.5/5 from more than 5,600 reviews. If you want a speedboat to yourselves, the private speedboat to Koh Madsum and Koh Tan costs from $132 per person and is rated 4.4/5, but from only 17 reviews, so read them before you book.

Catamaran

Suits travellers who want extra space, kayaking, paddleboarding and more comfort on board. Our pick: Koh Madsum & Koh Tan Speed Catamaran Tour, from $64 per person, 4.5/5 from 107 reviews.

On a route this short a longtail makes a lot of sense, because speed is not essential. The speedboat vs longtail guide compares the two in detail.

Which island is better in bad weather?

Neither island is immune to rough seas. The short route helps, but operators may still delay, change, reschedule or cancel a trip. Wind and the state of the sea matter more than light rain.

Best time to visit both islands

For the most dependable conditions, late January through April is the easiest period. May through September can still bring many good boat days. October becomes more variable, and November is usually the least predictable month around Koh Samui.

The conditions on your day still matter more than seasonal averages. Our best time to visit Pig Island guide goes month by month.

Koh Madsum vs Koh Tan: simple decision guide

“I want to see pigs.”

Choose Koh Madsum.

“I want to snorkel.”

Choose Koh Tan.

“I have young children.”

Choose Koh Madsum, or both.

“I don’t swim.”

Choose Koh Madsum.

“I want the best half-day tour.”

Choose both.

“I want photos.”

Choose Koh Madsum.

“I want reef and fish.”

Choose Koh Tan.

“I only have one trip from Koh Samui.”

Choose both.

Frequently asked questions

Is Koh Madsum the same as Koh Tan?

No. They are two separate islands.

Which one is Pig Island?

Koh Madsum.

Which one is better for snorkeling?

Koh Tan.

Can you visit both in one tour?

Yes. It is the standard format for many trips from Koh Samui.

How far apart are they?

Close enough that tours routinely visit both on the same half-day itinerary.

Which is better for families?

The combined trip is usually best.

Which is better for non-swimmers?

Koh Madsum.

Which is better for a private boat?

Both together.

How long is the trip from Koh Samui?

From Thong Krut in southern Koh Samui, the islands are around 15 to 20 minutes away by speedboat in normal conditions.

Do you need a full day?

No. A half-day is enough for most visitors.

Can you see pigs on Koh Tan?

No. The famous pigs are on Koh Madsum.

Can you snorkel on Koh Madsum?

You can get in the water, but Koh Tan is usually the main snorkeling stop.

The bottom line

Koh Madsum and Koh Tan work best as two halves of the same short island trip.

Choose Koh Madsum for the pigs, the beach, photos and swimming. Choose Koh Tan for snorkeling, the reef, fish and water activities.

If this is your first Pig Island trip from Koh Samui, choose both. The islands are close enough that the second stop costs little extra time and gives you a much more varied half-day.

Compare our current Koh Madsum and Koh Tan tours from Koh Samui to find shared, private, longtail, speedboat and catamaran options, and check your exact date, because sea conditions can change the schedule.