Island Hopping Koh Samui: Which Day Trip Should You Choose?

Published 1 November 2026 · 9 min read

The night before your first boat day, the question is always the same: which island, which boat, and how early is that alarm? Island hopping from Koh Samui is the best part of a holiday here for most people, but the trips are very different from each other. One is a gentle four hours with pigs on a beach, another is a full day crossing open water to Koh Tao.

I have lived on Samui for years and sent friends, parents and very seasick cousins on all of these. This guide compares Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Nang Yuan, Pig Island and the pink dolphin trip, with honest notes on sea time, early starts and weather, so you can pick the right one the first time.

What are the best island hopping day trips from Koh Samui?

The four main island hopping day trips from Koh Samui are Ang Thong Marine Park, Koh Tao with Nang Yuan, Pig Island (Koh Madsum) with Koh Tan, and the pink dolphin trip that combines Khanom, Koh Tan and Pig Island. The big difference between them is not the islands but the length of the day and how much open sea you cross.

Here is the quick comparison, using the tour pages as the source:

If you only have one boat day, I would choose between Ang Thong and Koh Tao. If you have small children or someone who gets queasy, start with Pig Island and see how everyone feels before committing to a full day.

Most visitors manage two island days in a week without feeling rushed. Three is possible, but put a beach or pool day in between, because early pickups add up.

Is Ang Thong the best island hopping trip from Koh Samui?

For most first-time visitors, yes. Ang Thong National Marine Park has 42 islands, the Emerald Lake inside an old volcanic crater, a viewpoint over the archipelago and monkeys on the beaches, and it is the one trip that looks like nothing else around Samui.

There are three ways to go. The big boat Ang Thong tour from ฿1100 leaves from Nathon Pier after a 07:30 hotel pickup. The crossing to the park takes about 1.5 hours, which is slower than a speedboat but much steadier, and breakfast and a buffet lunch are served on board. You stop at Wua Talap for the viewpoint trail and monkeys, then at Mae Ko for the Emerald Lake, with kayaking as an option.

The speedboat tour from ฿1890 covers the same park faster, with snorkelling at Wua, kayaking at Tamarin Beach included, the Emerald Lagoon and Wua Talap, plus lunch at an island restaurant. It suits people who want more time in the water and less time sailing.

The VIP version from ฿3890 is a small-group speedboat trip, capped at 16 people, that runs on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from Maenam Pier. The national park entrance fee is included, and the route adds snorkelling at Koh Wao, kayaking at Koh Sam Sao and a buffet lunch on Koh Phaluai.

The honest downsides: the viewpoint climbs are steep and hot, the Emerald Lake stairs are busy when several boats arrive together, and on windy days the sea can be lumpy. The park is usually closed every year from 1 November to 15 December, and no Ang Thong tours run in that period. Plan around those dates if Ang Thong is high on your list.

My own pick for a first visit is the big boat. The slow crossing sounds like a minus, but it gives you time to have breakfast on board, watch the islands appear on the horizon and arrive rested. The speedboat makes more sense if you are short on days or already know you get bored on long sailings.

Choose the big boat for a calm, good-value day, the speedboat for more water time with kayaking included, or the VIP trip if you want a small group.

Is the Koh Tao and Nang Yuan trip worth the long boat ride?

Yes, if snorkelling and clear water matter more to you than limestone scenery. Koh Tao and Nang Yuan have the clearest water and the best snorkelling of all the day trips from Samui, but it is also the longest open-water crossing.

The day starts with an 08:00 hotel pickup, check-in and a light breakfast at the pier, and departure by speedboat at 09:00. According to the schedule you are snorkelling by 10:20. The Koh Tao and Nang Yuan speedboat tour starts from ฿1890 and includes snorkelling gear, a buffet lunch on Koh Tao, soft drinks, an English-speaking guide and hotel transfers both ways.

The highlight is Koh Nang Yuan: three small islands joined by a sandbar of over 50 metres. The bay known as Japanese Gardens, beside the sandbar, is a calm spot for beginner snorkellers with corals, sergeant fish and groupers, and with some luck a sea turtle. There is also a hike to a viewpoint over all three islands.

The downsides are real. This is a long speedboat ride across open water, the start is early, and Nang Yuan gets busy around the middle of the day when many boats arrive. Anyone prone to seasickness should take a tablet before leaving. I will cover this trip in much more detail in a separate guide, but in short: worth it for water lovers, tiring for small kids.

How does it compare with Ang Thong? Think of it this way: Ang Thong is about views from above, cliffs, the lake and the viewpoint, while Koh Tao and Nang Yuan are about what you see with your face in the water. Couples who snorkel a lot usually prefer Koh Tao. Groups with mixed swimmers, or anyone who wants the classic postcard of Samui's marine park, usually prefer Ang Thong.

Is Pig Island the easiest island trip from Samui?

Yes. The Pig Island tour to Koh Madsum and Koh Tan takes about 4 hours with a short boat ride, which makes it the easiest island trip from Samui for families, older travellers and anyone nervous about the sea.

There are two programmes. The morning trip leaves the pier at 10:00 for Koh Madsum, where you relax on the white sand, take photos with the pigs and go kayaking, then moves to Koh Tan around 12:30 for snorkelling, with lunch back at the pier. The sunset trip runs the other way round, starting at 14:00 with Koh Tan, then Pig Island, and dinner at the pier.

The Pig Island tour costs ฿1490 for adults, ฿1190 for children aged 4 to 9, and infants up to 3 go free. Hotel pickup and drop-off, snorkelling gear, life jackets and drinking water are included. For a deeper look at what the island is really like, read the real story on Koh Madsum.

What you give up: the snorkelling at Koh Tan is good, but not Koh Tao level, and the scenery is pretty rather than dramatic. As a first boat trip, or a second gentle day after a big Ang Thong outing, it works very well.

Can you really see pink dolphins from Koh Samui?

Usually, yes. The pink dolphin trip heads to the coast of Khanom on the mainland, where one of the region's largest populations of Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins lives, and the chances are quite high, though sightings cannot be guaranteed.

The day lasts about five hours. After pickup, the speedboat leaves at 10:00 and you are watching dolphins around 10:45. Then comes snorkelling at Koh Tan at 11:45 and Pig Island at 12:30 with kayaks and photos, before lunch at a beachfront restaurant back on Samui.

The pink dolphins tour costs ฿1790 for adults and ฿1290 for children aged 4 to 9, with children under 4 free. It runs three times a week, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. Island entrance fees, kayaking, lunch and insurance are included, and the dolphins are watched at a distance with no feeding or touching.

I like this one because it is two trips in one: wildlife plus the Pig Island beach. It is a good pick if your kids are bored by long sailing days but love animals. Just remember that it only runs three days a week, so book early in your stay.

For snorkelling and the sandbar choose Koh Tao; for a short family morning choose Pig Island; for wildlife and a beach in five hours choose the dolphin trip.

What about diving at Koh Tao, Nang Yuan or Sail Rock?

If you want to go below the surface, a dive day is the best version of island hopping from Samui. The diving programmes start from ฿4790 and cover Nang Yuan, Koh Tao and Sail Rock, and Sail Rock is for certified divers only.

For beginners, the Nang Yuan programme is the gentle choice: hotel pickup, a catamaran to Nang Yuan, a full safety briefing with a professional dive instructor and two dives, with free time on the beach in between. It costs ฿5990, and companions who do not dive can snorkel instead.

Sail Rock is the best-known underwater pinnacle in the Gulf of Thailand, about 15 km north of Koh Tao, with a vertical wall that drops to over 30 metres. Barracuda and big schools of fish are common, and whale sharks are seen there too. It is a serious dive, so bring your certification.

Diving days are long and you need to be well rested. Do not plan a dive the morning after a late night out, and ask the instructor how long to wait before your flight home.

Which trip suits seasick travellers, kids or late risers?

Match the trip to your weakest sailor, not your keenest. Short trips with short crossings, like Pig Island, are the safe bet for anyone who struggles on boats.

• Prone to seasickness: Pig Island, or Ang Thong by big boat, which is slower but steadier than a speedboat. Take a tablet before you board, not once you feel bad.
• Young children: Pig Island (infants free) or the dolphin trip. Both are half days with animals, swimming and an early finish.
• Late risers: the Pig Island sunset trip, with pickup from 12:30.
• Snorkellers: Koh Tao and Nang Yuan, without question.
• Photographers and first-timers: Ang Thong, for the viewpoints and the Emerald Lake.
• Small groups who want comfort: the Ang Thong VIP trip.

About weather: the sea around Samui is generally calmer for much of the year, but during the rainy season, usually around October to December, trips can be rescheduled or cancelled for safety. Book your sea days early in your holiday so there is room to move them.

Practical tips for island hopping days

A few small things make a big difference on boat days. Bring a copy or photo of your passport, because tour insurance needs the number.

1. Eat a light breakfast and sit near the back of a speedboat if you feel queasy.
2. Pack reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, a towel and swimwear.
3. Wear shoes with grip for viewpoint climbs on Ang Thong and Nang Yuan.
4. Use a dry bag or waterproof pouch for your phone.
5. Keep the evening after a full-day trip light, because you will be tired.

If you are not sure which trip fits your dates, message us on WhatsApp or send a booking request from the tour page, and we will help you plan the order of your island days.

Frequently asked questions

Can you do more than one island hopping trip in the same week?

Yes, and many guests do two or three. The best plan is to leave a beach day between boat days, because pickups are early and the sun is strong. Combine one full day, like Ang Thong or Koh Tao, with one shorter trip such as Pig Island.

Which island day trip from Samui is cheapest?

The big boat to Ang Thong Marine Park starts from ฿1100, which is the best value for a full day. The Pig Island tour starts from ฿1490 for a shorter half-day trip. Prices include hotel pickup and food.

Is island hopping from Koh Samui safe for children?

Yes, with life jackets and some planning. Pig Island and the dolphin trip are the easiest options for young children, since they are shorter half days. Full-day speedboat trips can be tiring and bumpy for small kids.

What happens if the weather is bad on my tour day?

Boat trips can be rescheduled or cancelled when the sea is unsafe. This is why it is smart to book sea trips early in your stay. Keep your plans flexible during the rainy months.

Do I need to know how to swim to go snorkelling on these tours?

Life jackets are provided on the boat trips, and many beginners snorkel while wearing one. Calm spots such as Japanese Gardens at Nang Yuan are good for first-timers. Tell the guide if you are not a confident swimmer.

Can I visit Koh Phangan on a day trip as well?

Koh Phangan is close to Samui and many people go for the Full Moon Party. It is a different kind of trip from the island hopping tours in this guide. Ask us on WhatsApp if you want to combine it with your plans.

Should I bring cash on island trips?

A small amount is useful for extra drinks or snacks at island beach bars. Lunch and drinks on board are already included on the main tours. Keep the cash in a waterproof bag.

Updated 1 November 2026.