Koh Samui Travel Guide: Koh Samui is arguably one of Thailand's most visited islands. Besides Phuket Airport, it's the only other island with its own airport. Known for its vibrant nightlife, it also offers visitors a stunning coastline with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The sea can sometimes be a bit rough. Koh Samui is the ideal destination for those who love to party, warm weather, beaches, and nightlife (especially on Chaweng Beach). But Koh Samui is also perfectly suited for family holidays. There are numerous water sports and excursions available, as well as massage parlors and spas. To discover the authentic Samui, a trip to the mountainous hinterland is highly recommended. There you'll find fruit trees, kookaburras (a type of moss), and some beautiful viewpoints. There are also several temples and a giant Buddha statue, which you can even see from the airplane window during takeoff and landing. On the beaches, you'll mainly encounter tourists and expats. The restaurants offer almost every cuisine imaginable: European, Asian, American, and much more. Each beach has its own charm and its regulars. The most popular beach is Chaweng Beach, as it's close to all the entertainment options, such as bars and nightclubs. Lamai Beach, a little further away, is quieter; even the surf is gentler, making swimming more pleasant. The island, once a favorite among backpackers, has evolved into a slightly more upscale destination over the years. Prices are still reasonable compared to Western standards, but not quite as attractive to backpackers. However, very good deals with discounts of half or more can be found during the off-season. November and December are generally particularly rainy in Koh Samui, so if possible, a trip during other months is recommended. However, the weather is becoming increasingly unpredictable. You can find all the information you need about getting around Koh Samui in our section "Getting Around Koh Samui".

Accommodation on Koh Samui: The liveliest and busiest place on Koh Samui is Chaweng Beach. Here, hotels are the most expensive and guesthouses the fewest. If you want to stay overnight, you should book your room in advance. A little further south is Lamai, a particularly popular beach with backpackers. Accommodation is cheaper, and there are many guesthouses and small bungalow complexes with a friendly atmosphere. Hat Bophut and Mae Nam are less attractive, with the exception of the fishing village of Bophut, which, while no longer a true fishing village, is very popular with tourists. Here, too, you can find some budget accommodation as well as luxury resorts. Nathon, with its piers, is considered the island's capital. While not the most pleasant place on Koh Samui, it does offer a number of hotels and guesthouses. Which beach is right for your stay on Koh Samui? Every beach on Koh Samui has its own charm: Find out which beach best suits your budget and preferences, and what its advantages and disadvantages are. Map. Check out our guide to Koh Samui beaches. Find accommodation in Koh Samui. Select destination Amphawa Ayutthaya Bang Saphan Bangkok Buriram Cha Am Chachoengsao Chaiyaphum Chanthaburi Chiang Dao Chiang Khan Chiang Mai Chiang Rai Chonburi Chumphon Dan Sai Hat Yai Hua Hin Kalasin Kamphaeng Phet Kanchanaburi Khao Lak Khao Sok Koh Chang Koh Jum Koh Kood Koh Lanta Koh Larn Koh Lipe Koh Mak Koh Phangan Koh Phayam Koh Phi Phi Koh Samet Koh Samui Koh Sichang Koh Tao Koh Wai Krabi Lampang Lamphun Loei Lopburi Mae Hong Son Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Phanom Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Si Thammarat Nan Nang Rong Nong Khai Pai Pak Chong Pattaya Phang Nga Phang Nga Phayao Phetchabun Phetchaburi Phitsanulok Phrae Phuket Prachuap Khiri Khan Pranburi Railay Ranong Ratchaburi Rayong Roi Et Samut Songkhram Sangkhlaburi Sattahip Sukhothai Surat Thani Surin Tak Trang Trat Ubon Ratchathani Udon Thani all categories from 300 THB from 300 to 500 THB from 500 to 1000 THB from 1000 to 2500 THB from 2500 to 5000 THB plus 5000 THB // Prices not available in the city selection are retained ("All prices are now only available") function findAccommodationCategories(citySelect) { var option=citySelect.options[citySelect.selectedIndex]; var price=parseInt(option ? option.getAttribute("data-price") : 0,10) || 0; var categories=citySelect.form.elements["categories"]; if(!categories) return; for(var i=0;i<categories.options.length;i++) { var val=categories.options[i].value; categories.options[i].disabled=!(val=="all" || val=="-" || (Math.pow(2,parseInt(val,10))&price)); } } (function() { var forms=document.querySelectorAll("#form-accommodations form"); var form=forms[forms.length-1]; if(form && form.elements["cities"]) findAccommodationCategories(form.elements["cities"]); })(); My Recommendations I am often asked which accommodations I recommend in Thailand. Here are my recommendations for Koh Samui. Samui Paradise Chaweng Hotel, Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach, 8.4/10. Book now. More details. Baan Sawan Samui Resort, Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach, 9.4/10. Book now. More details. Lub d Koh Samui Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach, 9.0/10. Book now. More details. Secret Garden Beach Resort & Restaurant, Koh Samui, Bo Phut, 8.6/10. Book now. More details. Buathong Place, Koh Samui, Lamai Beach, 9.0/10. Book now. More details. Ampha Place Hotel, Koh Samui, Mae Nam, 9.0/10. Book now. More details. View all accommodations on 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, many travelers prefer to fly to Surat Thani and take the ferry from there, or book a combined bus and ferry ticket (book online HERE).

How do you get to Koh Samui? Koh Samui has its own airport. This belongs to Bangkok Airways, which holds a monopoly on flights there. This monopoly allows them to charge significantly higher prices than other airlines for the same route. Bangkok Airways offers direct flights to Samui from Bangkok's two airports (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), as well as from Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, and Phuket. Prices are quite high compared to average domestic flights in Thailand. However, the earlier you book, the cheaper it will be, unless there's a special offer with an even better price. Alternatively, you can reach the island by boat from Surat Thani (Donsak is about a 1.5-hour drive from Surat Thani). From Surat Thani, you can reach the island by plane, train (from Bangkok, I recommend a sleeper car on the night train, as the journey is long; you can book train tickets to Surat Thani here), or bus. There are bus and boat combinations from Bangkok, some of which depart from the Khao San Road district (book online HERE) and take the ferry to Chumphon. However, these journeys are quite long. Alternatively, you can create your own flight combinations: to Surat Thani (most common with the most boat departures), Nakhon Si Thammarat, or Chumphon, and from there take the ferry to Koh Samui. This is a good compromise to reach the island without too long a journey (allow 5–6 hours) while avoiding the high prices of Bangkok Airways direct flights. There are transfers to Donsak Pier from Surat Thani railway station, the city, or Surat Thani airport – you decide which option is most convenient. Be aware of luggage theft on the bus during the ferry crossing or overnight bus journey. From the neighboring islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, you mainly have the choice between Koh Phangan and Koh Samui with various operators. Lomprayah, Seatran, and Phantip offer bus and boat packages to Koh Samui, particularly from Krabi, Phuket, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lanta, or Khao Lak. Please note that the direct flight from Chiang Mai to Surat Thani with Air Asia is subject to frequent schedule changes, and the arrival time may not always allow for onward travel by ferry to Koh Samui. Therefore, please check your travel dates. [arrow_circle_right] View all travel options to Koh Samui

How do you get around Koh Samui? There are several ways to get around Koh Samui, using both a small public transport network and private transport. Local buses depart from the airport (departure point opposite the airport meeting point). Two lines connect Samui Airport with Nathon, passing the island's main beaches: Blue Line: Airport → Choeng Mon → Bo Phut → Maenam → Nathon (approx. 1 hr 10 min) Red Line: Airport → Chaweng → Lamai → Lipa Noi → Nathon (approx. 1 hr 30 min) Departures every 30 minutes, fixed fare 120 THB per trip. Metered taxis: Despite government efforts, meters on Koh Samui are still rarely functional, and fares – even after negotiation – remain quite high despite competition from ride-hailing apps. Motorbike taxis: Less common, but a practical and inexpensive option for short trips, especially for solo travelers. Songthaews (shared taxis): These converted pickup trucks operate on 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, offering the greatest freedom to explore the island at your own pace—provided you have the necessary license and insurance. However, this is also the most dangerous way to get around Koh Samui, as scooter accidents are very common and local hospitals are overstretched. Car rental: Ideal for families or groups. However, always check the vehicle's condition before driving off (take photos) and favor international rental companies, especially those at the airport, to avoid insurance issues. You will need a valid international driving permit to rent a car in Thailand. Ride-hailing apps (Grab and others): Grab, the Thai equivalent of Uber, allows you to conveniently book rides via smartphone. InDrive is also available on Samui, while Bolt is either not yet active or only has a limited presence. Shared taxis offer transfers from the airport or piers to hotels, usually for 100 to 200 THB per person. Bicycles are not very common on the island, as many roads are steep or poorly suited for cycling, and bike rentals are rare. I tried it myself and wouldn't recommend it—not because of the terrain, but because the traffic makes it quite dangerous.

Samui Festival: This festival usually takes place in September. More about the Samui Festival

Other sights on Koh Samui: Wat Khunaram with its mummified monk figure wearing sunglasses. The building is simple, but the sight of the well-preserved mummy in a meditation pose with sunglasses is quite amusing. The Khao Hua Jook Pagoda with its golden chedi temple is located near Chaweng Beach. Situated on a hill, the Khao Hua Jook Pagoda offers a beautiful view of the airport runway and the lake. Wat Sila Ngu: This small, still largely unknown temple has a red hall with magnificent relief sculptures. It is located on Hua Thanon Beach in the south of Koh Samui and can be reached from the main road or via a staircase from the beach. Khao Chedi: This small temple, not far from the Laem Sor Pagoda, sits atop a small hill in the south of Koh Samui and impresses with its charm and elegant white Buddha statues. From here, there is also a beautiful view of the islands of Koh Taen and Koh Matsum, as well as Bang Kao Bay. Secret Buddha Garden (Tarnim Magic Garden) ★★★ This small, private garden has made a name for itself on Koh Samui. Buddha statues and Buddhist figures are nestled amidst a beautiful landscape of rocks, trees, and waterfalls. The garden is an enchanting place, but no longer a hidden gem, as it is visited by many people daily. However, a visit is especially worthwhile if you have the opportunity to experience it all to yourself. Lamai Viewpoint ★★★ This small viewpoint offers a breathtaking view of Lamai Beach. It is located directly above the Grandpa and Grandma Rocks and is often overlooked by tourists because the access is somewhat hidden. Laem Sor Pagoda ★★ Situated on the rocky coast at the southern tip of the island, it features a golden chedi and was built from thousands of golden bricks. Samui Elephant Sanctuary ★★★★ This respectful elephant sanctuary opened in early 2018. It is the first elephant sanctuary on an island that previously only had elephant trekking camps. A visit there offers a wonderful encounter with elephants without being unintentionally involved in their mistreatment. The island of Koh Phangan, located opposite Koh Samui, is so beautiful that you should definitely spend several days and nights there to truly explore and enjoy it. However, it is also possible to take a day trip and visit the main sights and beaches, go snorkeling, etc. – either as part of a tour through a travel agency or independently. Be sure to check the ferry schedules between Samui and Koh Phangan.

How do you ask for directions to Koh Samui in Thai? I want to go to Koh Samui / Yak pai thi Go samouï. Where is Koh Samui? / Go samouï yu thi nai?