Is Pig Island Worth It? A Straight Review of Koh Madsum for Koh Samui Visitors

Is Pig Island worth it? It is one of the questions guests ask us most, and the fair answer is: it depends on what you expect and what else you do that day. Koh Madsum, the small island off Koh Samui’s south coast where a group of domestic pigs roams the beach, is a short, fun and slightly odd stop. As a whole day out on its own it is thin. As part of a day that includes snorkelling at Koh Tan, it works for most people.

Below is who tends to love it, who tends to come back underwhelmed, when it gets busy, the animal welfare side, and how to plan a day around it.

Quick answer: Yes, for families, first-time visitors and anyone who finds the idea of pigs on a tropical beach funny, as long as it is one stop in a longer day. Probably not, if you want an empty beach, wildlife in the wild or a long day centred on the pigs. Expect 30–60 minutes on the island, crowds at peak times and pigs that may well be asleep in the shade.

Quick facts

Time on the island	Usually 30–60 minutes is plenty
Getting there	15–30 minutes by boat from Thong Krut, or as a stop on a tour or catamaran
Landing fee	About 50 baht per adult if you arrive independently. Included on the Samui Journey catamaran
Busiest times	Visitors report peaks around 9–10 AM and 2–3 PM, when tour boats arrive
On the beach	Pigs, sand, shallow water, a beach bar and basic facilities, reported by recent visitors
Best paired with	Snorkelling at Koh Tan next door, a few minutes away by boat
Skip it if	You dislike crowds, animal smells or attractions built around feeding

What you get on the day

You step off the boat onto a sandy beach with palms behind it. Pigs of all sizes wander along the sand, lie in the shade or wade into the shallows to cool down. Visitor reports from 2024 describe a large population, many of them piglets. There is a beach bar, some shaded seating and, by recent accounts, toilets and kayaks for rent. Part of the island is private, so you stay on the public beach.

That is the experience. You watch the pigs, take photos, maybe paddle in the shallows, have a drink, and leave. It does not take long, and it is not supposed to.

Some myths worth clearing up. These are not wild pigs, and they are not the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas. They wade in to cool off; they do not swim out to boats. Any tour that promises otherwise is overselling.

Who will love it

• Children. Most kids think a beach full of pigs is the best thing they have ever seen. Supervise them closely; adult pigs are heavy.
• First-time visitors to Samui. It is easy, close and different from anything else on the island.
• Photographers with patience. Low angles, piglets in the shallows and the sea behind make good pictures, if you wait for the moment.
• Groups with mixed interests. Paired with Koh Tan, it gives the snorkellers their reef and everyone else something memorable to do.

Who probably won’t

• Travellers who want an empty beach. At peak times several boats land at once.
• Wildlife lovers looking for nature. These are farm animals living on a tourist beach. Interesting, but not wildlife watching.
• People sensitive to smells and mess. Some visitors mention droppings, a farmyard smell and litter, especially on busy days.
• Anyone booking a whole day just for the pigs. It is too short to carry a day on its own.
• Visitors uneasy about animal tourism. If attractions built around animals bother you, read the welfare section below before you decide.

Crowds and timing

Pig Island is popular, and the beach is small. Visitor reports, such as this family trip report from Nomadmum, describe the busiest periods as when the tour boats come in, roughly 9–10 AM and 2–3 PM. Outside those windows it can be much calmer.

• For the quietest beach, hire a private longtail from Thong Krut and leave before 8:30 AM, or go late in the afternoon.
• For active pigs, go early or late. Around midday the pigs tend to sleep in the shade, which is sensible of them and less fun for your photos.
• For calm seas, mornings are often smoother, and the months from January to August are generally better than the north-east monsoon season, about mid-October to early December.

Our catamaran visits in the afternoon, around 2:50 PM, after lunch on board. You will share the beach with other visitors at that time, and we would rather you knew that before booking.

Animal welfare: what to know before you go

This is the part that decides it for some people, so this is our view as a crew that brings guests there.

The pigs are domestic animals that depend on people. Some visitors and travel writers have raised concerns about crowding, about pigs being fed unsuitable food and about rubbish on the beach. Those concerns are fair. The pigs are also not caged, not ridden and not made to perform, and the visit can be calm when visitors behave well.

What makes the difference is behaviour on the beach:

• Bring no food for the pigs. Crisps, bread and sweets are bad for them. Pork and meat products are worse: the World Organisation for Animal Health warns that African swine fever can spread through contaminated food waste.
• Let them come to you. No chasing, lifting, riding or pulling piglets away.
• Leave sleeping pigs alone.
• Take every bit of rubbish back to the boat.

Our Pig Island rules guide goes through each of these, with what to do if a pig bites. If an operator encourages feeding with your own snacks or guarantees “swimming with pigs”, choose a different one.

How to make the day worth it

Pig Island is a good half-hour. The rest of the day is what makes the trip feel worth it.

Koh Tan snorkelling

Koh Tan is a few minutes away and has a shallow reef close to shore, good for beginners. Most longtails and tours stop at both. See our Koh Tan snorkelling guide.

The Five Islands

The limestone stacks of Koh Si Koh Ha, where swiftlets nest, are seen from the boat on the catamaran route. Our Five Islands guide explains why you look from the water rather than land.

On the south coast

If you go independently from Thong Krut, have lunch at one of the seafood restaurants on the waterfront and stop at Laem Sor Pagoda, a gold-tiled chedi on the shore nearby, on the way back.

Ang Thong instead?

If you want big scenery and a hike, Ang Thong National Marine Park is the other classic boat day. It is a different trip, with a park fee and a seasonal closure. Our Ang Thong or Pig Island guide compares the two.

DIY or tour: what it costs

Going independently is cheaper for a group, and more flexible. A rough budget for two people: a taxi to Thong Krut and back (about 500–950 baht each way, per car), a longtail for a few hours (about 1,500–3,000 baht per boat) and the landing fee (about 50 baht each). That comes to roughly 2,600–5,000 baht for the pair, before lunch, and you sort out every part yourself.

Shared tours start at about 1,450 baht per person, with or without transfers and lunch. The catamaran costs more per person but bundles the day: hotel transfers, the Five Islands, a long stop at Koh Tan with snorkel gear, kayaks and paddleboards, lunch, drinks and the landing fee. For a family of four on a budget, a longtail is usually the better deal. For people who want one day where nothing needs arranging, the catamaran is the easier answer.

Realistic expectations

• The pigs may be asleep. That is normal, especially around midday.
• The beach is a working tourist stop, not a deserted island.
• You will not swim out with the pigs. They paddle in the shallows.
• Expect some smell, some droppings and other boats.
• Bring cash for the landing fee and a drink if you go independently.
• Weather can cancel any boat day. Book early in your stay so there is time to reschedule.

For everything else about the island, including how to get across and what to pack, see our main Pig Island Koh Samui guide and the Pig Island tour page.

So, is Pig Island worth it?

For families, first-timers and anyone who likes something a bit silly on holiday: yes, as a stop in a day that also includes the sea and a reef. For travellers chasing solitude or nature, or who feel uneasy about animal attractions, spend the day elsewhere. Koh Tan alone, or a land day, may suit you better.

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