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Last updated 25 October 2026 · By the Pig Island Samui team
Koh Madsum is the small island off Koh Samui’s south-west coast that everyone calls Pig Island. Around a dozen free-roaming pigs live on its white-sand beach, next to a simple restaurant, kayaks and a viewpoint. Boats take about 15 to 30 minutes from Thong Krut pier. Landing costs about 50 THB per person, in cash.
We have run boat trips around the Gulf of Thailand islands since 2006. This guide is what we tell our own guests before they step off the boat. It covers the good parts and the parts brochures skip, such as crowds, basic toilets and pigs that would rather sleep than pose.
Where is Koh Madsum, and how big is it?
Koh Madsum lies just off the south-west corner of Koh Samui, in Surat Thani province. It sits right beside Koh Tan, a larger, quiet island with a few fishing homes and a shallow reef. A third island, Koh Rap, is close by. Most tours combine two or all three.
Boats leave from Thong Krut pier on Samui’s south-west tip, or from Bang Kao on the south coast. A longtail takes about 15 to 30 minutes. A speedboat is quicker. Most tours include a minibus transfer from your hotel to the pier.
The island is tiny. A published list of the Samui islands puts it at roughly 0.3 km². Neighbouring Koh Tan is about 7.5 km² by the same count. Visitors spend almost all their time on the one main beach. The rest is wooded hillside and rock.
Koh Madsum at a glance
How do you spell it? Every version of the name
Thai names are written in English by ear, so this island has many spellings. You will see Koh Madsum, Koh Mad Sum, Koh Mat Sum, Ko Matsum, Koh Mudsum, Koh Mad Som and Koh Mutsum. In Thai script it is เกาะมัดสุม. “Koh” and “Ko” both simply mean island.
Maps and booking sites mix these freely. They all point to the same place. “Pig Island” is a nickname that visitors gave it, not an official name. Other places also get called Pig Island. Check which pig island is which before you book.
The wooden sign above stands on the beach and reads “Mad Sum Island”. It is the one photo almost every visitor takes. Get it early, before the next boat lands.
How did the pigs come to live on Koh Madsum?
Pigs are not native to the island. Nobody has published a full, checked history of how they arrived. What exists are local stories, and they do not all agree. Here are the three you will hear most.
- The rescue story. A local man bought a small family of pigs at a market to save them from slaughter. He brought them over by boat and let them roam. Some tellings name him “Mr Kitt”.
- The swimming story. The first pigs swam across from Koh Tan, the bigger island next door, and stayed.
- The shop owner’s account. In a 2020 interview with a Thai business newspaper, the owner of the island’s shop gave his version. He said his group brought six pigs over about four years earlier to eat food scraps. He also said they meant to keep the herd at about 11, because too many would not be good.
The third account is the only first-hand one we have found, but we cannot confirm it either. What is clear is simpler. These are domestic pigs living loose on a beach, and people on the island feed them. Visitors usually count 10 to 12, sometimes with piglets. Read our honest look at how the pigs live and how to visit kindly.
What is on Koh Madsum?
Not much, and that is part of the appeal. Expect a small beach stop, not a resort day.
- The beach. White sand and shallow, calm water on the side where boats land. Small children can paddle here with an adult close by.
- A beach restaurant and bar. Cold drinks, snacks, fruit and simple Thai dishes. It also sells small bags of pig food. Payment is cash only.
- Kayaks. Kayaks are kept on the beach. Many tours include them, so ask before you pay extra.
- A viewpoint. There is a lookout above the beach. Go in the morning or late afternoon, as the climb is hot at midday.
- Shade and loungers. A few sun loungers and trees. Shade fills quickly when several boats arrive together.
- Toilets. Basic, often flushed with a bucket. Bring tissues and hand gel.
You will also meet dogs on the beach. There is no cash machine, so bring baht from Samui. Do not plan on charging a phone or taking a fresh-water shower. Bring what you need.
What about staying the night? A villa resort, listed online as The Treasure Koh Madsum, was built on the island. Recent guest reviews are hard to find, and some operators now say there is nowhere to stay. We cannot confirm it is taking guests at the time of writing. Plan to sleep on Koh Samui. If you want a night on an island, Koh Rap rents tents for about 900 THB per person.
What are the rules around the pigs?
We know of no printed rulebook on the beach. These are the rules our crews brief before every landing, and most local guides say the same.
- Let the pigs come to you. Stand or crouch still and keep your voice low.
- Feed only the food sold on the island or brought by your guide, and only a little.
- Offer food from a flat, open palm. Never tease a pig with it.
- Keep children beside you and hold small hands near the pigs.
- Wash or gel your hands after touching a pig and before you eat.
- Do not chase, corner, lift or ride a pig.
- Do not wake a sleeping pig or lure one into the sun for a photo.
- Do not share crisps, sweets, alcohol or anything salty or spicy.
- Do not step between a mother and her piglets.
Is there an entrance fee for Koh Madsum?
Yes. Expect about 50 THB per person, cash, paid on the island (last checked October 2026). Some operators say children go free. Koh Rap charges about the same.
Check whether your tour already covers it. Our Small-Group Longtail and Sunset tours include the fee. The shared speedboat and the private longtail do not. Bring small notes, as change can run short when several boats land.
What does a visit look like, hour by hour?
This is a typical morning on a shared trip. Times are approximate. The order of stops changes with tide and weather, and the captain decides on the day.
- 08:15Hotel pickup. A minibus collects you. The drive to the south-west coast depends on where you stay.
- 09:00Thong Krut pier. Life jackets on, safety briefing, and you board.
- 09:15The crossing. About 15 to 30 minutes by longtail, less by speedboat.
- 09:45Koh Madsum. Pay the fee if needed, then meet the pigs while they are most active. Swim, kayak or sit in the shade.
- 11:00Snorkel at Koh Tan. Shallow coral close to shore, with masks provided.
- 12:15Lunch. Thai food at a beach restaurant on Koh Tan.
- 13:15Back across. Return to Thong Krut and your minibus.
- 14:00Hotel drop-off. Back in time for an afternoon by the pool.
Prefer the afternoon? The Pig Island Sunset Tour picks up between 13:00 and 14:30. It ends with dinner at a beach restaurant and a sunset crossing.
How do you get good photos without bothering the pigs?
- Go early. The pigs are livelier in the morning. By midday most of them sleep in the shade.
- Get low. Crouch to pig height a few steps away and let them walk into the frame.
- Use burst mode. One quick burst beats calling a pig over and over.
- Shoot the shallows. A pig wading at the water’s edge is the classic shot. A phone pouch keeps sand and salt out.
- Take the sign first. The “Mad Sum Island” sign is easiest to photograph before the next boat lands.
- Leave sleeping pigs alone. Never drag or tempt a resting pig into the sun for a picture.
Which way of visiting Koh Madsum suits you?
Here are the six common options, with our prices and the honest trade-offs.
| Way to visit | Price (THB) | Time | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shared speedboat | 1,450 adult / 1,250 child | 4–5 h, morning or afternoon | First visits, tight budgets, quick crossings | Bigger group; island fee not included |
| Small-group longtail | 1,750 / 1,550 | About 08:15–14:00 | A traditional boat and a smaller group, max 12 | Slower and splashier in chop; fee included |
| Sunset tour | 1,550 / 1,350 | Afternoon pickup 13:00–14:30 | Couples and photographers | Pigs often rest in the afternoon heat; fee included |
| Private longtail | 5,950 per boat | 5–6 h, pickup 08:30 or 14:00 | Families who want their own pace | Island fee not included |
| Private speedboat | 11,950 per boat | 5–6 h, pickup 08:30 or 14:00 | Groups who want speed and more beach time | Highest price, best split across a group |
| DIY longtail from Thong Krut | Roughly 1,500–3,000 per boat, agreed locally | As agreed with the boatman | Independent travellers with their own transport | No transfer, lunch or snorkel gear unless agreed; check life jackets; fee extra |
DIY boat prices are what local boatmen have quoted in recent years. They vary by season, group size and haggling.
For most first-timers we suggest the shared speedboat tour. It is the best value and has hotel pickup and lunch. Want a slower, more local feel? Choose the small-group longtail. Families and groups of four or more often save by sharing a private longtail.
When should you go to Koh Madsum?
January to April is driest and calmest. May to September is hot, with showers, but seas on the south coast are usually fine. October to December is Samui’s wettest period. Trips still run when it is safe, and the captain makes the call.
Ang Thong Marine Park closes every year from 1 November to 15 December. Pig Island trips keep running in that window, weather permitting. That makes them a good day out when the marine park is shut. Morning trips usually get the calmest water and the liveliest pigs.
