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Last updated 25 October 2026 · By the Pig Island Samui team
The best day trips from Koh Samui are Pig Island (Koh Madsum) and Koh Tan for an easy half day, Ang Thong Marine Park for limestone scenery, and Koh Tao for the clearest snorkelling. Add pink dolphins off Khanom, a day on Koh Phangan, or your own private boat. Here is how they compare.
Which Koh Samui day trip is right for you?
We have run boat trips around the Gulf of Thailand islands since 2006. Some of these trips are ours, some are run by our sister sites, and two are on land. Prices below are per adult unless stated.
| Trip | Time | Price from | Best for | Book or read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pig Island & Koh Tan | 4–6 hours | 1,450 THB | Families, half days, first-timers | Pig Island tours |
| Pink dolphins & Pig Island | About 6 hours | 2,250 THB | Wildlife fans | Dolphin tour |
| Ang Thong Marine Park | Full day, 8–10 hours | About 1,500 THB + park fee | Scenery, kayaking, hiking | angthongmarinepark.com |
| Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan | Full day from Koh Phangan | 2,200 THB + island fee | Snorkelling | Koh Tao day trip |
| Koh Phangan | Day or overnight | Ferry about 300–400 THB each way | Beaches, a change of scene | kohphangan.com |
| Private boat charter | Your choice | 5,950 THB per boat | Groups, privacy, custom routes | Private boats |
| Na Muang waterfalls | 2–3 hours | Na Muang 1 free | A cool break inland | On Samui, by car or scooter |
| Big Buddha temple | About 1 hour | No tour needed | Culture, short visits | On Samui, north-east coast |
Prices and fees checked October 2026. Park and island fees are usually paid in cash on the day.
Pig Island and Koh Tan: the easy half day
Koh Madsum, better known as Pig Island, sits just off the south-west coast of Koh Samui. Boats leave from Thong Krut pier, and the crossing takes about 15–30 minutes by longtail. On the island, pigs wander a white sand beach. There is a beach restaurant, kayaks and a short walk to a viewpoint.
Next door is Koh Tan, with small fishing villages and a shallow reef close to shore. It is one of the easiest places near Samui for beginners to snorkel. Most of our tours visit both islands and include a meal.
The Pig Island speedboat tour runs morning or afternoon, takes 4–5 hours and costs 1,450 THB per adult. The small-group longtail tour takes a maximum of 12 guests and includes the island fee. If you want a quieter beach, Koh Rap is a third island nearby, reached on some private trips.
Be realistic. The island is small, facilities are basic, and midday can be busy. The pigs are animals, not props, and on hot days they often sleep. Read our Koh Madsum guide before you go.
Ang Thong Marine Park: the big scenery day
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is a group of 42 limestone islands about 30 km west of Samui. The cliffs, caves and forest look very different from the sandy south islands. It became a national park in 1980.
A day here is long. Pickup is usually between 07:30 and 08:30, and you are back in the late afternoon. Speedboats take about 45–60 minutes each way; big boats can take up to two hours. Most tours include snorkelling, kayaking and a buffet lunch.
Two highlights need some effort. The Pha Jun Jaras viewpoint on Koh Wua Ta Lap is a steep climb of about 500 m, with ropes. Most people need 30–45 minutes. On Koh Mae Ko, stairs lead up to a lookout over the Emerald Lake (Thale Nai). It is a protected saltwater lagoon, and swimming in it is not allowed.
The national park fee for foreigners is 300 THB per adult and 150 THB per child, in cash. It is usually not included in the tour price. The park closes every year from 1 November to 15 December. Tours from Samui and Koh Phangan are on our sister site for Ang Thong tours. For a closer look at how it compares, read Pig Island or Ang Thong?
Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan: the snorkelling day
Koh Tao is the island most people mean when they talk about clear water in the Gulf. Koh Nang Yuan, just off its north-west coast, is three small islands joined by sandbars. A short, rocky path climbs to a well-known viewpoint.
Our sister site runs a Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan day trip. Note that it runs from Koh Phangan, not Koh Samui. Check-in is at Thong Sala pier at about 08:30, and you are back around 16:00. It costs 2,200 THB per adult and 1,600 THB per child. The day includes snorkel stops such as Shark Bay, lunch near Sairee Beach, and time on Koh Nang Yuan.
Koh Nang Yuan charges a separate entry fee of about 250 THB per adult, paid in cash. Plastic bottles are banned on the island, so leave yours on the boat. From Samui, this trip works best if you stay a night or two on Koh Phangan. Some Samui operators also run their own Koh Tao trips.
Koh Phangan: a different island for a day
Koh Phangan is the nearest large island to Samui, to the north. Ferries and catamarans to Thong Sala take about 30–60 minutes, depending on the boat. Fares are usually about 250–430 THB each way. The Haad Rin Queen from Big Buddha pier is the main regular boat that lands at Haad Rin.
A day trip is possible, but Phangan is bigger than it looks. Roads are hilly and some of the best beaches are a long ride from the pier. Many visitors stay at least one night. For beaches, transport and where to stay, use kohphangan.com, our sister guide. It also has a full guide on getting from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan.
Pink dolphins at Khanom
Off the mainland coast at Khanom, south-west of Samui, lives a small population of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins. Adults turn pink as they age, so locals call them pink dolphins. Guides describe sightings as most likely in the early morning.
Our Pink Dolphins and Pig Island tour takes about 6 hours by speedboat. You look for dolphins off Khanom, snorkel at Koh Tan, visit Koh Madsum and have lunch on a mainland beach. It costs 2,250 THB.
We cannot promise dolphins. Some days you see a group close by; other days, a few fins in the distance. Boats should keep their distance and slow down near the animals. The trip relies on calm seas, so it is less reliable in the October to December monsoon.
Private boat charters
A private boat lets you set the route, the start time and the pace. It also stops being expensive once you split it four or five ways.
- Private longtail to Koh Madsum and Koh Tan: 5,950 THB per boat, 5–6 hours
- Private longtail to three islands, including Koh Rap: 8,450 THB per boat
- Private speedboat to Koh Madsum and Koh Tan: 11,950 THB per boat
- Private sailing catamaran for 8 hours, with sunset sailing: 27,000 THB per boat
For speedboats and yachts further afield, to Ang Thong, Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, our sister company Speedboat Samui handles private charters. Its listed speedboat prices start at about 19,000 THB per boat.
Two options on Samui itself
Not every day needs a boat. Two land trips are worth a few hours, especially when the sea is rough.
Na Muang waterfalls. Inland in the south of the island, there are two falls. Na Muang 1 is about 18 m high, a short walk from the car park, and free. Na Muang 2 is about 80 m high, the tallest on Samui. It needs a steep, rooty hike with ropes, and some visitors report a small fee. Rocks are slippery, and people have died after falls there, so take great care.
Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai). This 12 m golden seated Buddha, built in 1972, sits on a small island joined to the north-east coast by a causeway. Cover your shoulders and knees; beachwear is not allowed. It pairs well with an evening at nearby Fisherman’s Village.
What should you bring on any boat day?
Whichever trip you choose, the basics are the same. Boats are hot, bright and wet, and most islands have only basic shops.
- Cash in small notes for park and island fees, drinks and tips
- Reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses
- A towel and a dry layer for the ride home
- A dry bag for your phone and passport copy
- Reef shoes for rocky landings and coral shallows
- Motion-sickness tablets, taken before you board
Tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you book, so lunch can be planned around them.
How should you plan your week?
Most visitors manage two boat days in a week without feeling rushed. Here is the order we suggest:
- Day 1–2Settle in Beach time, Big Buddha, a quiet evening.
- First calm dayThe long trip Ang Thong or Koh Tao, while you have the most energy.
- Mid-weekRest Waterfall or pool day.
- LaterThe easy trip Pig Island and Koh Tan, morning or sunset.
Keep the half-day trip for near the end. It fits around packing and flights, as morning tours are usually back by about 14:00. Read our best time to visit guide for the season, and our how to get to Pig Island page for piers and pickup.
