Private or Group Pig Island Tour?

What Does a Shared Pig Island Tour Look Like?

A shared tour is the standard package most travellers see first. You book one seat per person and join other travellers on the same boat. A typical shared day runs:

1. hotel pickup;
2. road transfer to the south coast, 40 to 50 minutes from the northern beaches;
3. check-in at Thong Krut or Bang Kao;
4. boat to Koh Tan;
5. snorkeling on the reef;
6. Pig Island;
7. lunch or refreshments;
8. return boat;
9. hotel drop-off.

The operator sets the timetable, so everyone leaves together, snorkels together, returns to the boat at the same time and spends about the same time at each stop. The advantage is simplicity: one booking covers the whole day. The cheapest shared trip is a longtail, the Pig Island & Koh Tan Snorkeling w/Viewpoint Hike, from $28 per person with 4.3/5 from 873 reviews.

What Does a Private Pig Island Tour Look Like?

A private tour means you charter the whole boat for your group. On this route that is usually a traditional longtail, though private speedboats run too. Depending on the operator, you may choose:

• the departure time, usually from set morning or afternoon slots;
• which island comes first;
• how long you snorkel;
• how long you stay on Pig Island;
• when you head back.

The route is still Koh Tan and Koh Madsum, but the day feels much less like a packaged excursion. The second private longtail on the site, the Pig Island Private Longtail Boat Tour, costs from $137 for up to two people, holds 4.2/5 from 243 reviews and offers a choice of hotel pickup or meeting at the pier.

The Biggest Difference: Pricing Model

Many travellers see “private” and assume it must cost far more. For two people it often does not.

Shared tours

Priced per person. Five travellers buy five tickets.

Private longtails

Priced per boat. The charters on this site quote a base price for up to two people and price extra passengers when you book; neither publishes that supplement on its listing, so enter your full group at checkout and read the total.

Here is how the published prices compare by group size:

So on these listings:

• one traveller: shared is clearly cheaper;
• two travellers: the private longtail costs $17 more than two shared speedboat seats, before the taxi to the pier;
• four to six travellers: shared seats usually still cost less, and you book private because you want the boat to yourselves;
• seven travellers: a private speedboat costs within about $12 a head of a shared speedboat seat.

Compare the total for your group, never one shared ticket against one private charter. The Half-Day Private Speedboat Trip to Pig Island in that table costs $380 for up to seven with a private hotel transfer; it holds 4.6/5 from only 9 reviews, so read them before booking.

Which Is Cheaper for Solo Travellers?

The shared group tour. A solo traveller pays the full base price of a private charter, $101 or more, against $28 to $42 for a shared seat. Private only makes sense on your own if privacy, photography or complete control over the day matter more than the money. For most solo travellers, shared is the obvious choice.

Which Is Cheaper for Couples?

This is closer than many people expect. The private longtail charters on this site cover two people in their base price, so two of you pay $101 for your own boat against $84 for two shared speedboat seats or $56 on the shared longtail. The shared speedboat usually includes hotel transfers and lunch, though, and the $101 charter includes neither, so add a return taxi to Thong Krut and a meal on Koh Tan before you compare.

Private suits couples who value privacy, flexible timing, a traditional longtail and an escape from a large group.

Which Is Better for Families?

Private often works better. Children get tired, take longer to get ready, decide they do not like snorkeling, or want more (or less) time with the pigs. A private boat lets you adjust without keeping other passengers waiting. Families with several children should compare totals carefully: the charters price extra passengers at checkout, so a family of four or five may still pay less on a shared tour.

Which Is Better for Groups of Friends?

Private, if you want the day to yourselves. You get your own music and conversation, your own timetable, no strangers in the photos and no waiting for other guests. For seven people, the private speedboat costs about $54 a head against $42 on the shared speedboat, so the premium is small. For four to six, shared seats are usually cheaper, and a birthday or reunion is the kind of day where the private boat is worth the difference.

Couples: Choosing on Budget or Privacy

Choose shared if:

• price matters most;
• you do not mind other travellers;
• you want hotel pickup included;
• you want a straightforward package.

Choose private if:

• you want a quieter, more intimate day;
• you want a traditional longtail;
• you want to pick the timing;
• you dislike group tours.

For a honeymoon or anniversary, the private longtail is the more memorable day.

Hotel Transfers: An Important Difference

Shared tours usually include return hotel transfers. Private longtail charters usually do not: the $101 charter asks you to make your own way to Thong Krut, while the $137 one offers pickup or a pier meeting. The private speedboat includes a private transfer.

That changes the sums. If you stay in Bophut, Chaweng, Maenam or Choeng Mon on the north and north-east coast, a return taxi to the south coast is a real extra cost; ask your hotel for the fare before you compare. From Lamai or the south of the island, it matters much less. The getting to Pig Island guide covers the piers and transfer times.

Which Is More Flexible?

Private, and that is its biggest advantage beyond price. A shared tour follows a timetable; a private boat can usually adjust. Depending on the operator and the sea, you may be able to:

• snorkel for longer;
• shorten the Pig Island stop;
• visit Pig Island first, or Koh Tan first;
• choose a morning or afternoon slot;
• come back early.

Private does not mean unlimited. The captain still works to the charter length, fuel, safety rules and the weather, but you have more say than on a group tour.

Can a Private Tour Avoid Crowds?

Partly. A private boat cannot make Pig Island private, and other boats keep arriving. Timing helps: shared boats tend to land in waves, and a private afternoon slot can reach Koh Madsum when it is quieter. Expect quieter, not empty.

Which Is Better for Snorkeling?

The itinerary matters more than the format, because both stop at Koh Tan. The difference is control. On a shared tour you snorkel for the scheduled time; on a private boat you may stay in the water longer or move on early. If someone in your group loves snorkeling, private has the edge, and if nobody cares much you can cut the stop short. The snorkeling guide covers the reef itself.

Which Is Better for Pig Island?

Both reach the same beach. The difference is timing: shared tours tend to arrive in waves, while a private boat may let you arrive earlier or later, stay longer or leave sooner. If the pigs are the main point of your day, ask the private operator how much flexibility you have before you book.

Which Is Better If You Hate Waiting?

Private. On a shared tour you wait for hotel pickups, other passengers, the snorkeling group, people taking photos, lunch and boarding. None of it is excessive, but it is part of group travel. On a private boat you only wait for your own party.

Which Is Better If You Want Everything Organised?

Shared. A good shared tour bundles pickup, the boat, a guide, snorkel gear, life jackets, refreshments, lunch on many trips and the drop-off. You do not have to arrange anything separately, which suits first-time visitors.

Introverts and Social Travellers

Which is better for introverts?

Usually private. If you do not enjoy group introductions, crowded boats, waiting around strangers or group photos, your own boat is far more relaxed.

Which is better for social travellers?

Shared. If you are travelling solo, enjoy conversation and want a social day, a group tour can be the fun part.

Private Longtail vs Private Speedboat

Private does not always mean longtail. A private longtail suits the short Pig Island route, couples, families and smaller groups who want the traditional boat. A private speedboat suits larger groups, more stops and a faster, wider route. For the simple Koh Tan and Pig Island loop, a longtail is usually enough boat; the speedboat versus longtail guide compares the two hulls in detail.

Shared Speedboat vs Private Longtail

This is the comparison most couples and families end up making.

Shared speedboat

Choose it if price matters, you want hotel pickup, you want a fixed package with lunch, or you are travelling solo or as a couple on a budget.

Private longtail

Choose it if you are a couple or small family who values privacy, the traditional boat and flexible timing, and you can get yourselves to the pier.

Neither wins for everyone; the answer changes with the size of your group.

Does Private Mean Luxury?

Not necessarily. A private longtail can still be simple, open, noisy and basic. Private means your group has the boat to itself; it does not mean padded seats, a toilet, champagne or a premium lunch. Look at the boat photos. If you do want an upgraded boat, the Pig Island Private Luxury Longtail Boat Tour costs from $513 for up to six people; it has 5/5 from just 7 reviews, so treat the rating as early.

Does Shared Mean Crowded?

Not always. Some shared tours use small boats or cap the group size; others carry many more people. Check the maximum passenger count on the listing: a shared boat with eight guests feels completely different from one with thirty.

What Should a Private Tour Include?

A strong private tour may include the boat and captain, life jackets, snorkel gear, drinking water, insurance, a hotel transfer, a guide and lunch. Inclusions vary a lot, and some charters are simply boat, captain and basic gear. That can still be good value, as long as you know what you are paying for.

What Should a Shared Tour Include?

Look for hotel pickup and return, a guide, snorkel gear, a life jacket, drinking water, insurance, both Pig Island and Koh Tan, and lunch if the listing advertises it. Shared packages are easier to compare because they are more standard.

What Can Cost Extra?

• the 50 baht Koh Madsum landing fee, paid in cash on the beach on most tickets;
• a hotel-zone surcharge;
• lunch;
• a private transfer or taxi;
• drinks;
• towel rental;
• extra passengers on a charter.

Read the listing’s inclusions and exclusions before you book.

Which Option Is Better for Older Travellers?

Private helps if flexibility matters, but the boat matters too. A longtail can mean low seating, boarding from the beach and awkward steps, and a larger shared catamaran may be easier on the body: the Koh Tan and Koh Madsum Half-Day Tour by Catamaran costs from $67 per person with 4.2/5 from 165 reviews. Ask about boarding, a toilet, shade, seating and ladders, and do not choose private only because it sounds more comfortable.

Which Is Better for Toddlers?

Private often works better if the operator accepts young children, because you can slow down, come back early and avoid holding up a group. Check the minimum age, child-size life jackets, shade, a toilet and how you board. A larger group boat with better facilities can sometimes be the easier day.

Which Is Better If the Weather Looks Uncertain?

The cancellation policy matters more than the format. Shared tours run regular departures, which can make rescheduling easier, and private charters on GetYourGuide also carry free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Check the free-cancellation window, the operator’s weather policy, the refund rules and whether you can move the date. The best time guide shows which months are most likely to bring choppy water.

Does Private Mean You Choose Any Time?

Not always. Many private tours offer set slots, usually a morning and an afternoon, and only some allow a precise start time. If timing is the main reason you want private, confirm it before you pay.

Is an Afternoon Private Tour Better?

It can be. Shared tours tend to go in the morning, so an afternoon charter may reach Pig Island after the larger groups have left, and the light is softer. Afternoon weather can turn more unsettled, though. For the late-light version, see the sunset tours page.

Is a Morning Shared Tour Better?

Morning shared tours are popular because they fit hotel schedules, miss the worst of the heat, usually find calmer water and leave the afternoon free. For a first visit, a morning departure is the safest default.

How to Calculate Which Is Better Value

Shared

Ticket price × number of travellers, then add any island fees, transfer surcharges and extras such as lunch if it is not included.

Private

Boat price + extra-passenger charges + taxi or transfer + island fees + lunch, then divide by the number of travellers.

That gives you a per-person figure you can compare. Do not compare headline prices without doing this.

When Private Becomes Especially Attractive

Private is strongest when:

• there are two of you and you want your own boat;
• you are a family that needs its own pace;
• the charter includes a hotel transfer, or you are staying in the south;
• you want an afternoon slot;
• you want control over the snorkeling time;
• you dislike group tours.

When Shared Is Clearly Better

Shared is strongest when:

• you are travelling solo;
• you are a couple on a tight budget;
• hotel pickup matters, especially from the north coast;
• you want lunch and the logistics in one ticket;
• you do not need custom timing.

A Quick Decision Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a private Pig Island tour worth it?

For couples, families and groups who value flexibility and privacy, often yes. For solo travellers, a shared seat at $28 to $42 is far better value than a $101 charter.

Is private much more expensive?

For two people, not by much: $101 for a private longtail against $84 for two shared speedboat seats, though the private charter usually leaves out transfers and lunch. For four to six people, shared seats usually cost less.

Do private tours include hotel pickup?

Private longtail charters usually do not; some offer pickup as an option, and the private speedboat includes a transfer. Check the listing.

Are shared tours crowded?

It depends on the maximum group size, so check the passenger cap on the listing.

Can private tours avoid Pig Island crowds?

An afternoon slot can be quieter, but no tour can promise an empty beach.

Do both private and shared tours visit Koh Tan?

Yes. Both formats normally combine Koh Tan snorkeling with Pig Island.

Can you customise a private tour?

Usually to some extent, within the charter length, safety rules and the weather.

Which is better for children?

Private is often easier for families because you can change the pace.

Which is better for couples?

Shared is cheaper once transfers and lunch are counted; a private longtail is more intimate for a small premium.

Which is better for groups?

Private gets closer on price as the group grows; at seven people a private speedboat costs about $54 a head against $42 shared.

Is a private longtail luxurious?

Not necessarily. It is private, but the boat may still be traditional and simple.

Is shared better for first-time visitors?

Often, if you want hotel pickup, lunch and a fully organised day.

The Bottom Line

The choice between a private Pig Island tour and a shared group tour comes down to group size, budget and how much you care about controlling the day. Book shared if you are solo, a couple watching the budget, or someone who wants pickup and lunch in one ticket. Book a private longtail if there are two of you or you are a family who wants your own pace, and accept that for four to six people you are paying a little more for privacy.

Before you book, work out the full cost of both options, including the taxi to the pier, lunch and the 50 baht island fee, then check the current private Pig Island tours or compare all Pig Island tours from Koh Samui side by side.