Your Travel Guide to Thailand
All information & tips to prepare your trip in Thailand
All you need to know to visit Koh Samui
Southern Thailand
668 km from Bangkok
Province of Surat Thani
Thai pronunciation : Go samouï
- Budget
- 5/5
- Recommended stay
- At least 3 days
- Sightseeing
- 3/5
Travel guide to visit Koh Samui
Koh Samui island is probably one of the busiest in Thailand. It is also the only one with an airport with Phuket airport. Known for its nightlife, it also offers visitors a beatifuk coastline with white sand beaches and turquoise waters. The sea is sometimes a little rough. This is the ideal destination for people who love to party, love hot weather, the beach and nightlife (especially at Chaweng Beach). But Samuiisland is also a nice destination for family vacation, it offers many water activities and tours, massage parlors or spas. To discover a more authentic Samui, go inside the land in the mountain. You will fruit trees and cooc trees and some nice viewpoints. There is anyway a few temples and a huge Buddha that you can see from the window of the plane when you land or take off. On the beach, you will mainly be between tourists and expats. You will also find almost every type of cuisine: European, Asian, American... in restaurants.Each beach has its peculiarities and its adepts. The most popular because it is close to all entertainment including bars and nightclubs is Chaweng Beach. Lamai a little further is calmer even the churning of the ocean is more shy and swimming more enjoyable. Favorite of backpackers, the island has become over the years a little more upscale destination . The prices are still reasonable compared to our Western standards but no longer as attractive for backpackers. Anyway during low season you can get very good deals with prices cut by a half or more.
Generally, November and December are particularly rainy in Samui, it is better to come here on other months if you can. But weather is lesser and lesser predicatble.
For all the options for getting around Koh Samui, see our section on getting around in Koh Samui.
Contents
- How to get to Koh Samui?
- What to visit in Koh Samui?
- What to do in Koh Samui?
- Recommended tours and excursions in Koh Samui
- Hotels and guesthouses in Koh Samui
- Which beach to choose in Koh Samui
- How to get around in Koh Samui?
- Weather in Koh Samui
- Frequently asked questions about traveling to Koh Samui
Accommodations in Koh Samui
In Koh Samui, the liveliest and busiest area is Chaweng Beach. It is also where the hotels are the most expensive and guesthouses the rarest. If you want to sleep it is better book your room in advance. Then you have Lamai, a little further in the South. This beach is the backpackers' favorite. The accommodation rates are lower and there is a lot of guesthouses and small complex of bungalows with a friendly atmosphere. Otherwise, Hat Bophut and Mae Nam, less attractive except for Bophut Fishing Village, which is not really a fishing village anymore but is quite popular with tourists. There you will also find a few reasonably priced accommodation and luxurious complex options. Nathon is like the capital of the island with the piers. It is not not the most pleasant area in Koh Samui but there are few hotels or guesthouses.Which beach to choose to stay in Koh Samui?
Each beach of Koh Samui has its own atmosphere: find out which one suits your budget and wishes, with their pros and cons.
Find accommodation in Koh Samui
My recommendations
People often ask me which accommodation I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations in Koh Samui.
Practical information about Koh Samui
Koh Samui has an airport but flights are quite expensive compared to other destinations in Thailand. To save money, man travelers prefer to go to Surat Thani by plane and take the ferry from there or buy a bus + ferry ticket (online booking HERE).How to go to Koh Samui ?
Koh Samui has its own airport. It belongs to the company Bangkok Airways which has a monopoly on flights that land there. A monopoly that allows it to charge much higher prices than on lines with competition for the same distance traveled. Bangkok Airways offers direct flights to Samui from the 2 airports in Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Muang), Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Phuket. The prices are rather expensive compared to the average price of domestic flights in Thailand. However, the more in advance you book, the lower the price will be unless there is an exceptional promotion that would allow you to have an even better rate. Otherwise, you can reach the island by boat from Surat Thani (well, Donsak is a 1h30 drive from Surat Thani) accessible by plane, train (from Bangkok, I recommend a sleeper on a night train because the journey is long, you can book your train tickets to Surat Thani here) or bus. There are bus + boat packages from Bangkok, some of which leave from the Khao San Road district (book online HERE) and take the ferry to Chumphon. But these are quite long trips. Otherwise, you can create your own flight combinations to Surat Thani (the most common with the most boat departures), Nakhon Si Thammarat or Chumphon then ferry to Ko Samui. This is a good compromise to reach the island without a too long journey (count 5-6 hours of travel) while escaping the high price of direct Bangkok Airways flights. There are transfers to the Donsak pier from Surat Thani station, from the city or from Surat Thani airport, it's up to you to choose the most convenient for you.
Beware of thefts in the luggage in the bus's hold during the ferry crossing or the night bus journey.
Otherwise from the neighboring islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, between the different companies, you have the choice mainly between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui. Lomprayah, Seatran and Phantip offer bus + boat packages to Samui departing from Krabi, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta or Khao Lak in particular.
Please note that the direct flight Chiang Mai - Surat Thani by Air Asia changes schedule regularly and is not always on an arrival time that allows you to follow up with a ferry to Koh Samui. So check your dates.
How to get around in Koh Samui ?
There are several options for getting around Koh Samui, with both a small public transport network and individual transport solutions.
Different ways to get around
-
Local buses from the airport(starting point opposite Airport's Metting point)
Two lines connect Samui Airport to Nathon, passing by the island’s main beaches:- Blue Line: Airport -> Choeng Mon -> Bo Phut -> Maenam -> Nathon (about 1h10)
- Red Line: Airport -> Chaweng -> Lamai -> Lipa Noi -> Nathon (about 1h30)
Departures every 30 minutes, with a flat fare of 120 THB per trip.
-
Taximeters
Despite government efforts, Koh Samui’s taximeters still rarely turn on their meters, and the prices they quote — even after negotiation — remain quite high, despite competition from ride-hailing apps. -
Motorbike taxis
Less common, but a practical and affordable option for short rides, especially if you’re traveling alone. -
Songthaews (shared taxis)
These converted pickup trucks run along the main roads connecting the island’s eastern beaches. You can hop on and off anywhere along the route.
Tip: always negotiate the price with the driver before getting in! -
Scooter rental
The most popular option, giving you the greatest freedom to explore the island at your own pace — provided you are properly licensed and insured. However, it’s also the most dangerous way to get around Koh Samui, as motorbike accidents are very common and keep local hospitals busy. -
Car rental
Ideal for families or groups, but always check the car’s condition before driving off (take photos) and prefer international rental companies, especially those located at the airport, to avoid insurance issues. You must hold a valid international driving permit to rent a car in Thailand. -
Ride-hailing apps (Grab and others)
Grab, Thailand’s equivalent of Uber, lets you easily book rides via smartphone. InDrive is also available on Samui, but Bolt is not yet active or is only minimally present. -
Shared minivans
These provide transfers from the airport or piers to hotels, usually for 100 to 200 THB per person. -
Bicycles
Not very common on the island, as many roads are steep or not well suited for cycling, and rental shops are rare. I tried it myself and wouldn’t recommend it — not because of the terrain, but because the traffic makes it quite unsafe.
Festivals in Koh Samui ?
Here is a list of the main festivals held every year in Koh Samui. Their dates are published as soon as they are official on the Festivals in Thailand page.
Must-visits in
Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
วัดพระใหญ่My opinion : 5/5
in the North of the island, close to the airport. It is quite impressive.
Wat Plai Laem
วัดปลายแหลมMy opinion : 5/5
This Buddhist and Chinese temple is especially remarkable for its large statue of the goddess Guanyin and its 18 arms. Located near the Big Buddha, it may be interesting to add to the big Buddha visit.
Koh Taen island
เกาะ แตนMy opinion : 5/5
This small island and its neighbor Koh Matsum are located in the south of Koh Samui, about twenty minutes by boat. Still wild, there is a reef where you can snorkel among multicolored fishes. It is a half day or full day trip tour still preserved from mass tourism.
Hin Ta Hin Yai
หินตา หินยายMy opinion : 4/5
Located on the seafront between Lamai and Hua Thanon, these rocks have the shape of a penis and a vagina and attract many tourists who want to photograph them.
Koh Samui Summit
พระพุทธ ทีปังกรMy opinion : 5/5
On the highest point of Koh Samui when the weather is good you have a magnificent view over the island. At the top, there is a temple, Wat Theepangkorn with a large standing Buddha image on a large esplanade that gives access to the view. Few people know it but the best view is not there...
Ang Thong National Marine Park
อุทยานแห่งชาติหมู่เกาะอ่างทองMy opinion : 5/5
The Ang Thong National Marine Park is an archipelago of about 42 islands offering breathtaking sceneries. All the islands are uninhabited and undeveloped except two: Koh Paluay, inhabited by gypsies of the sea and Koh Wua Talap where the park office and the bungalows for those who would like to spend the night there are located. There are also two lovely beaches, the Buaboke Cave and the most famous viewpoint of Ang Thong. The other must-see of any excursion in the park is Thale Nai, a beautiful emerald saltwater lake. Admission to the park costs 300 baht per person. All Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao agencies offer boat trips to the Ang Thong Marine Park with snorkeling and diving but it is Koh Samui which is the nearest island.
Koh Matsum
เกาะมัดสุมMy opinion : 3/5
Known now as the pig island since a small family of wild pigs has been introduced on the island to make it more popular with tourists, Ko Madsum is almost always associated with visiting or at least snorkeling off Koh Taen, the neighbor island.
Overlap Stone
My opinion : 4/5
This large rock which seems to be threatening to fall into the void at any time offers a very nice viewpoint on Lamai Beach and has become one of the best known viewpoints in Ko Samui. Only problem, it is not so easy to get there.Other places to see in Koh Samui
Wat Khunaram
Khao Hua Jook Pagoda
Wat Sila Ngu
Khao Chedi
Secret Buddha Garden (Tarnim Magic Garden)
Lamai Viewpoint
Laem Sor Pagoda
Samui Elephant Sanctuary
Koh Phangan island
Weather & climate in
Koh Samui has a tropical savanna climate. The island has only one month of true dry season (February). The climate is hot and humid for most of the year but the island is on average less humid than Phuket. The rainiest months are October and especially November. The rest of the year, given the tropical climate, showers are brief.The best mome,nt to come to Koh Samui is from January to April but Samui is also enjoyable during the months of July and August. At this time of the year Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are the islands of Thailand where the weather is the best. The months of October and especially November (sometimes until mid-December) are not recommended for a stay in Ko Samui.
How to ask the way in Thai to Koh Samui ?
I want to go to Koh Samui / Yak pai thi Go samouï.Where is Koh Samui? / Go samouï yu thi nai?
10 Best Activities and Guided Tours to Do in Bangkok
Bangkok is very often your first port of call—or rather, airport of arrival—in Thailand. It is a highly eclectic city packed with unforgettable activities. I have curated a selection of what I consider to be the 10 best things to do in...