Koh Madsum · Sunset
Pickup after lunch, the islands once the morning boats have left, and the sun going down behind Koh Madsum from the water.
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The Experience
Same two islands, a fraction of the people, and better light for every photograph you take.
Four steps that all happen after the morning fleet has gone home.
You get your morning back. Hotel transfers run from early afternoon down to the pier at Thong Krut Beach. Hotels and villas up in the hills sit outside the pickup area, and the operator arranges a meeting point instead.
The snorkelling stop comes first. Afternoon light in shallow water is lower and warmer than midday glare, and by this hour most of the morning groups have already been and gone.
The pigs are still there; the crowd is not. Kayaks are included and paddled around the island, though low tide, big waves or strong wind cancel that part outright while the rest of the trip runs.
The boat is off Koh Madsum for the sunset, which is the entire reason for the timing. Dinner is a full Thai set menu back on the mainland, with a vegetarian option if you flag it when booking.
Photo Gallery
The same sandbar, several hours and a great deal of quiet later.
The same two islands at three different hours, and what each one is actually like.
| Feature | QUIETEST BEACH Afternoon & Sunset Trip | Morning Departure | Midday Departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hotel Pickup | 13:00–14:30 — your morning stays free | 08:30–09:30 — an early start | Late morning |
| How Busy Koh Madsum Is | ✓ Emptying out as the morning fleet leaves | Filling up through the stop | Fullest hours of the day |
| Light for Photographs | ✓ Low, warm, and a sunset from the water | Good — soft early light over shallow water | Harsh overhead glare |
| Sea Conditions | Wind usually builds through the day | ✓ Typically the flattest water | Middling |
| How Active the Pigs Are | Often resting in the shade | ✓ Liveliest, before the heat | Variable |
| Meal Included | ✓ Full Thai set-menu dinner | Lunch on most listings | Lunch on most listings |
| Koh Madsum Landing Fee | ✓ Included in the ticket | Usually excluded — 50 baht cash | Usually excluded — 50 baht cash |
| Kayaking | ✓ Included, weather and tide permitting | Included on some listings | Included on some listings |
| Best For | Second visits, photographers, anyone with several days | One free day, uncertain weather, travelling with children | Nobody in particular — book either side of it |
| Check Availability | Browse Morning Trips | View Options |
More Options
Speedboat, longtail, full-day or private — every format that reaches Koh Madsum, side by side.
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MOST REVIEWED
SUNSET & DINNER
FOUR STOPS, ONE DAY
PRIVATE BOATThe Case for Going Late
Both arguments are good ones. Here is what each slot actually gets you, and the one thing the afternoon trades away.
The Pig Island fleet works mornings. Boats leave the south coast between roughly half past eight and half past nine, the beach at Koh Madsum fills up between ten and midday, and by early afternoon almost all of them are back at the pier. An afternoon departure walks into the space they leave behind.
That is the entire argument, and it is a strong one. The pigs do not go anywhere. The reef at Koh Tan does not change. What changes is how many other people are standing on a small crescent of sand with you, and how the light falls on all of it. Midday sun over shallow turquoise water is unflattering in a way that is difficult to photograph around; late afternoon is the opposite problem, which is to say no problem at all.
Two things, honestly.
Flatter water is usually a morning phenomenon in the Gulf. Wind tends to build through the day, so an afternoon crossing can be bumpier than the same route at nine in the morning, and the kayaking is the first casualty — low tide, big waves or strong wind and it is cancelled outright while the rest of the trip runs.
The pigs are also more active earlier. They come down to the water line when boats arrive and they are at their liveliest before the heat sets in. By late afternoon they are often exactly where you would expect a pig to be at the end of a hot day, which is lying in the shade. Whether that is a loss depends on what you came for.
On the trip featured here, dinner is a full Thai set menu at the operator’s own restaurant back on the mainland, and it is part of the ticket rather than an upsell. Water and soft drinks are included; alcohol is not. There is a vegetarian option if you flag it when booking.
This trip is also one of the few in the whole catalogue that includes the 50-baht Koh Madsum landing fee, so it is one of the few where you do not need to arrive with cash for it.
That is the short version. A single free day on Koh Samui with uncertain weather argues for a morning boat: calmer water, more margin if something needs rescheduling, and the afternoon still free. Several days, or a return visit, and the afternoon slot is the better experience by a distance.
The best time to visit guide works through the seasonal half of the same question, and which Pig Island tour is right for you puts the sunset trip beside the half-day and full-day options with the numbers attached.
Guest Reviews
Ratings and review counts are the tour operators' live figures on GetYourGuide and may shift slightly day to day.
"We had a wonderful day on our trip to Pig Island. 🐷🏝️ The island was beautiful, the experience was unforgettable, and we had so much fun feeding and seeing the pigs up close. Everything was well organized, and we really enjoyed the whole excursion. Thank you for the great experience and for such a lovely day! ❤️"
"Great excursion! Everything was superbly organized, the service was friendly, and we had a wonderful day. Absolutely recommended!"
"Such a fun day really enjoyed and felt like i got a lot for my money!"
"Genuinely the most beautiful sunset I’ve ever seen. There’s loads of fish to see when you go snorkelling, and lots of pigs and dogs on the island"
"A wonderful day. One of the best we've had in Koh Samui."
"They picked us up right on time. We arrived at the harbor in 10 minutes and left. The staff who accompanied us were very kind and competent. They offered us cans and water. First, we went snorkeling... a great experience. Then we went to Pig Island and, besides seeing the pigs, we relaxed a lot. On the way back, a Thai dinner with a great sea view was waiting for us."
"Pick-up on time, although perhaps they should advise of the time within a narrower time window. Despite being in the rainy season, we were able to snorkel and visit Pig Island. Highly recommended, although please note that there is a lot of wind during this time and kayaking is not recommended."
"Excellent organization of the excursion. Great team. Delicious food (also for the kids)."
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See All ReviewsAfternoon departure with snorkelling, kayaking, sunset from the water and a Thai set-menu dinner included, plus free cancellation up to 24 hours before. Starting from $46 per person.
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Timings, what the dinner is, and the one thing the afternoon slot trades away.
Hotel pickup runs between about 13:00 and 14:30, so you keep your morning. The trip ends after dinner rather than in the middle of the day, which is roughly a seven-hour commitment from the lobby and back.
Yes — the boat is off Koh Madsum for it, which is the entire reason for the afternoon timing. Watching it from the pier or a minibus would defeat the point, and the operators build the schedule around being on the water at the right hour.
A full Thai set menu at the operator's own restaurant back on the mainland, included in the ticket rather than sold as an upsell. Water and soft drinks are included; alcohol is charged separately. A vegetarian option is available if you flag it when booking.
On this trip, yes — which is unusual. Most Pig Island tickets exclude the 50-baht fee and expect cash on the beach. Worth knowing so you are not carrying small notes you do not need.
No. Kayaking around Koh Madsum is included but is cancelled outright in low tide, big waves or strong wind. The snorkelling, the island time, the sunset and the dinner all still go ahead when it is dropped.
Less so. They come down to the water line when boats arrive and they are liveliest before the heat sets in. By late afternoon they are often lying in the shade, which is what a pig does at the end of a hot day. The beach in exchange is far quieter.
Often, yes. Wind tends to build through the day in the Gulf, so an afternoon crossing can be bumpier than the same route at nine in the morning. That is the main argument for booking a morning boat if you only have one free day.
Hotels and villas up in the hills are not served by the minibus on this trip — the operator confirms an alternative meeting point instead. Everything on the coastal road is normally fine. Your exact pickup time comes through before the day.
Still have questions? Email us at info@kohsamuipigislandtours.com
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