Koh Tan + Pig Island

Koh Madsum, known as Pig Island, lies off Samui's south coast, twenty minutes by speedboat from Bang Kao pier. The pigs are the photo opportunity that's launched a thousand Instagram reels: happy, free-roaming, unbothered by tourists. The half-day pairs them with Koh Tan, the larger and quieter island next door, where the snorkelling is and where the boat moors for an hour while you swim and kayak. The light meal comes at the pier, not on the boat.

Pig Island sounds like a gimmick and partly is, but the pigs are real, free-roaming, and there's no entrance circus. Koh Madsum is a small private island whose owners decided to keep a herd of pigs that wander the beach. They're cleaned and looked after; their living is the visitors who come, take photos, and leave them peacefully. The whole stop is about 30–45 minutes.

Koh Tan is the bigger story. It's a five-minute hop further south, with about 5km of coastline, a small village of fishing families, and a couple of snorkel coves where visibility clears to around 4m. The boat anchors here for the longest stretch of the day. The kayak is included, and you can paddle out to the channel between Tan and Madsum, where there's a small reef.

Lunch is light: fried rice, noodles, a local Thai sweet, soft drinks. It's served at a small restaurant at the pier, not on the boat. On the morning slot you eat when you get back; the afternoon slot runs the day in reverse, so you eat first. If you want a proper lunch, plan it around the trip.

The afternoon slot is the underrated choice. The pigs are still there (just sleepier), the heat has gone out of the day, and the light over Pig Island goes properly orange before the ride back. It gets you home by 7pm, in time for dinner in Lamai or Bophut.

Best time of year: any month except October and November, when seas can be rougher. The trip runs almost daily; book 24h ahead in high season.

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