Featured Anchorage #5
Southeast Asia Pilot – September 2025
Koh Taen & Koh Madsum (Thailand)
09°22.450N, 99°57.441E
Mooring buoys
Picking up moorings at an anchorage such as Koh Taen, instead dropping your anchor, is increasingly necessary as authorities scramble to preserve coral. Where we suggest you pick up a mooring, be prepared to move if asked to do so by the mooring’s owner or a local authority. In some anchorages, you may find moorings that aren’t mentioned in these pages because they weren’t there when the anchorage was last surveyed. Whichever case, it’s your responsibility to check moorings in terms of their availability, condition and suitability for your yacht. Be aware that some moorings are suitable for small, light boats only.
Overview
With a few bungalows and a restaurant ashore, Koh Taen is a pleasant and secluded overnight spot or an ideal day destination from the main island, Koh Samui. There are trails through the mangroves leading to bat caves ashore. Make sure to have provisions on board. The restaurant may be open only when the day trippers are about.
⇒ Approaching from the east, beware unmarked rocks just past Lamai Beach. Anchor between the islands in 5-6 metres on a muddy bottom, clear of the fringing reef on Koh Taen’s east coast. The approach from the west is clear and deep, following Koh Taen’s north coast.
⇒ Koh Madsum (AKA Pig Island) is worth a visit too, with its long, pristine white sand beaches. Either go while the day trip hordes are on the island – it’s amusing to watch everyone trying to take selfies with the wandering ‘wild’ pigs while you sip an ice-cold beer at the Mad Sum Bar – or wait till they’ve gone by late afternoon and have it (and the pigs) all to yourself.
⇒ How did the pigs arrive on Koh Madsum? They didn’t always live there. For the low-down on how the pigs got to this tiny island, visit this link.
⇒ Southeast Asia Pilot – 7th Edition has detailed coverage of over 600 anchorages across nine countries. Available now in print and digital editions.
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Southeast Asia Pilot and Phuket Publicity Services do their best to ensure that the information on this website is accurate. However, good seamanship demands that seafarers check critical information carefully with relevant sources to ensure it is up to date.FacebookLinkedInInstagram
