Koh Madsum and Koh Tan Snorkeling Trip

After reading some reviews we were a little unsure as to whether we should book this trip. However we are so glad that we did as it was a very good experience from start to finish with our tour guides Happy Samui. The staff on the boat were attentive, smiled throughout and were helpful, offering to take photographs and reassuring passengers who were somewhat anxious about travelling by boat. Our lunch was basic but tasty . The pigs seemed happy and content though appreciated us giving them some water, some were greedier than others and they appeared very relaxed around tourists, not in any distress. We took water for the pigs with us after reading other peoples reviews and glad that we did. Well worth the visit to this island, a lovely afternoon spent.

The "tour" was outsourced to Funny Day which we were avoiding from their other reviews. There was no real guide, just people to take you from placed to place, no information given, no description of what was happening, you just had to go with it. We were picked up with others quite early to go to one pier, waited an hour only to then be driven another hour to the complete other side of the island for our half day tour with people who were already there waiting with us from the beginning. One main staff member spoke English well enough to make jokes and generally tell us what was happening next. "This is Pig Island, we'll be here two hours then lunch". But the tour didn't run as per itinerary so we went and spent a boring 2 hours on Pig Island where you can't walk too far, just in a specific part of the island with pigs, and pig faeces. We could only kayak for 20 mins, not sure why. There was nothing to do. Then a bland lunch right before going 15 mins to another area to snorkel immediately after eating. Snorkelling was fine, there were some fish that came when fed. Then we went back. Trip was unnecessarily long and not very fulfilling.

The pickup was on time. First, guests were picked up by air-conditioned van from various stations in the nearby area at the hotel. After that we were taken to a pier. All guests, including guests who had booked another trip, were gathered there. After a waiting time of about 30 -45 minutes, the guests, i.e. us who had the trip to Pig Island, were transported to a Toyota Pick UP truck. Until then everything is okay, but the journey on the PickUP truck takes a whole hour, whereas the way should actually only be 15min away by car. Arriving at the pier we continued with the speedboat, which was designed for max 10-20 people. It was not a relaxed ride, more the feeling of a fast taxi, but still ok for us. Once on Pig Island, numerous tourists walked around. Was that the pigs? A desert island or insider tip?! = misrepresentation. After a bit of pig watching and expensive coffee, which was good, we had about 11.30 the cold lunch and a plastic bottle of water. I didn't see Coke or Fanta. When we had filled our stomachs with rice and chicken we went to a spot in the sea. Close to the nearest island. There we finally went into the water and we were allowed to snorkel and see the parrots fish... Parrot fish? The water was murky and there was little to see of snorkeling and fish or coral. After a few minutes our snorkeling trip was disrupted by an Israeli jet ski group. I swam back to the boat and we all went back to the pier. This whole trip had taken max 3 hours with boat trip and stay in the water and on the island. Our return trip to our hotel was again done with the Toyota Pick Up Truck. Our assumption was confirmed, it was only 15 min drive.:-) unfortunately not recommended. Nevertheless 3 stars of courtesy

Exactly as expected! Pig Island….well it’s a beautiful spot but what do pigs do? They s**t and p••s constantly, especially when the public are feeding them all day!! 🤣🤣 A complete circus and the stupid people are in the sea petting them swishing around in their sewage!! That aside, the tour staff were incredibly polite and accommodating, making sure everyone was looked after. Lunch was nice and plenty of it too. We had a short time kayaking which got us away from the pigs••t. Had to laugh as the majority seemed to enjoy this 🤣 Snorkelling was at 2nd stop and was only for 20 mins or so. The trip was described as a snorkelling trip so was a bit disappointed. Think carefully if you would like a “finer” day out to this beautiful area.

Well done from start to finish! Were picked up at the hotel and driven to the beach, where we were to take the boat from. Funny guide and helpful people! Lots of pigs to see on Pig Island, and lots of fish to see during snorkeling! Some also said they saw turtles!