Koh Samui: Elephant, Pig Island and Snorkel by longtail boat
About This Experience
The short version of the elephant-and-islands combination: four hours rather than six, with the morning split between an elephant nursery inland and a longtail boat out to the two islands off the south coast.
I Love Elephant Samui is a nursery and clinic project rather than a riding camp. You prepare vitamin balls, feed the animals, and watch them in a quiet setting. Riding is not offered and is not part of the visit.
From there it is down to the pier and onto a traditional longtail for Koh Tan, where the snorkelling is, and then Koh Madsum for the pigs and the white-sand beach. Gear and guide are included; the 50-baht island fee is payable in cash on arrival.
Highlights
- Elephant nursery and clinic visit — feeding and observation, no riding
- Traditional longtail boat between the islands
- Snorkelling at Koh Tan with equipment provided
- White-sand beach and the pigs on Koh Madsum
- Four hours in total — the short version of the combo trip
What's Included
- ✓ Hotel pickup and drop-off
- ✓ Visit to I Love Elephant Samui
- ✓ Longtail boat to Koh Tan and Pig Island
- ✓ Snorkelling equipment
- ✓ Tour guide
- ✓ Accident insurance
Not Included
- Pig Island entrance fee (50 THB per person, cash)
- Personal expenses
What to Bring
- Swimwear
- Towel
- Sun hat
- Reef-safe sunscreen
- Comfortable clothes
- Camera
- Cash
Good to Know & Caveats
- Elephant riding is not offered — the visit is feeding and observation only.
- Pickup times vary with your hotel and are confirmed by WhatsApp beforehand.
- Snorkelling visibility and marine life vary with the sea state and are not guaranteed.
- Guests who cannot swim should skip the snorkelling; the rest of the trip is unaffected.
- The boat leg is cancelled when conditions make it unsafe.
Not Suitable For
- Pregnant women
- People with animal allergies
Meeting Point
Hotel pickup and drop-off in Koh Samui are included. Pickup times vary with your hotel location and are confirmed by WhatsApp before the activity.
What Travelers Say
Rated 4.6/5 by 168 verified GetYourGuide travelers.
I loved it. You can tell that the elephants are protected, and everything is very respectful toward them. I highly recommend it.
— Ainara, Septemb
I highly recommend it to everyone! Great organization, and a friendly and hilarious guide. A great time!🫶🏻🐘🐷Very nice and positive ☺️
— Katarzyna, Septemb
The tour was excellent from start to finish. We were particularly impressed by how they handled an unexpected bite incident on Pig Island. You can’t predict accidents, but you can prepare for them—and this team really handled it perfectly. Everything needed for disinfection was available on site; we were accompanied all the way to the hospital, and our tour guide, June, stayed with us the entire time. Everything was taken care of afterward as well: transportation to the hotel and to follow-up hospital visits, coverage of expenses, and all communication. We didn’t have to worry about a thing—we’re incredibly grateful for that! The visit to the elephants was also unique. It was very important to us that the facility be ethically sound. The animals were well-cared-for, treated with respect, and not forced to do anything. Huge praise for June and the entire team: They were warm, funny, laid-back, calm, and incredibly caring. We’d recommend this trip to anyone —it an amazing experience ❤️
— Nicole, Septemb
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ride the elephants?
No. I Love Elephant Samui is a nursery and clinic project. You prepare food, feed the elephants and observe them — riding is not part of the visit and is not offered.
How long does the whole trip take?
About four hours, which makes it the shortest of the elephant-and-islands combinations sold from Koh Samui.
Is the boat a speedboat?
No — a traditional longtail. It is slower and sits closer to the water than a speedboat, and the crossing takes longer.
Is lunch included?
No. This is a half-day trip without a meal; the six-hour version from the same operator includes lunch at The Roof Samui.
Do I need cash?
Yes, 50 baht per person for the Pig Island entrance fee, collected on arrival.
Other Pig Island Trips
Koh Samui: Island Hopping Adventure in Coral and Pig Island
Koh Samui: Pig Island & Koh Tan Snorkeling by Speed boat
Koh Samui: Pig Island & Koh Tan Snorkeling w/Viewpoint Hike
Ko Samui: Pig Island Snorkeling and Koh Tan Speedboat Tour
Koh Samui: Private Longtail Boat to Pig Island with Snorkel
Koh Samui: Sunset Pig Island and Snorkeling Koh Tan w/Dinner
