Koh Samui
A tropical resort island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for the white-sand beaches of Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut, palm-covered hills, the golden Big Buddha, and the dramatic Ang Thong Marine Park nearby — easy to slow down on, or to island-hop from.
Koh Samui right now · November
In season now: 🌧️ Rainy season
Coming up
- 🏮Loy Krathong~Nov 15in 13 days
- 💦SongkranApr 13–Apr 15in ~23 weeks
- ⛵Samui Regatta~May 25–Jun 1in ~29 weeks
Travel videos from Koh Samui
Videos belong to their respective creators
Koh Samui 4K — white beaches & clear water
▶ Explore World 4K
Koh Samui — tropical paradise
▶ Thai walk 4K
Koh Samui cinematic (4K)
▶ Tomaz R.
Koh Samui cinematic travel film
▶ Michal Pastorek
Walking tour of Fisherman's Village, Koh Samui
▶ Mike Abroad (Abroad In Thailand)
Bophut Beach, Fisherman's Village night market & fire show
▶ Travel With Kim C
Scenes of Koh Samui
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
Top spots
1Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
A 12m golden Buddha on an islet in the northeast — close to the airport and an island landmark.
2Chaweng Beach
The island's busiest beach — a long white-sand strip lined with restaurants, bars and hotels.
3Lamai Beach
A popular but more laid-back beach than Chaweng, near the Hin Ta & Hin Yai rock formations.
4Bophut (Fisherman's Village)
A charming strip of old wooden shophouses with cafés, boutiques and a popular Friday walking-street market.
5Ang Thong National Marine Park
An archipelago of 42 islands in emerald seas — reached by day trip for kayaking and viewpoints.
6Lipa Noi
A calm, shallow west-coast beach famous for sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
When to visit Koh Samui
Best months & festivals — filled = recommended
🏖️Best beach months
Calm and mostly sunny.
⛵Drier mid-year
🌧️Rainy season
Peaks in November.
Key events & festivals
- 💦
SongkranApr 13–Apr 15
The Thai new-year water festival.
- ⛵
Samui Regatta~May 25–Jun 1
A week of international yacht racing.
- 🏮
Loy Krathong~Nov 15
Lanterns floated out to sea under the full moon.
What to eat in Koh Samui
Signature local dishes to try
🦐Grilled seafood
Just-landed fish and shellfish over charcoal - a beachfront-shack specialty.
🥗Som tam
Spicy-sour green-papaya salad, pounded to order - a street-stall classic.
🍗Gai yang
Charcoal-grilled marinated chicken, eaten with sticky rice and som tam.
🥥Coconut
Samui is the coconut island - chilled coconut water and sweets everywhere.
About Koh Samui
- 🌤️ Best season
- Calmest, sunniest months are Feb–Apr and Jun–Sep. Rainy season is Oct–Dec (peaking in Nov) — opposite to Phuket on the Andaman coast.
- ✈️ Getting there
- ~1h15 flight from Bangkok to Samui Airport (USM); also reachable by ferry + bus via Surat Thani.
- 🛵 Getting around
- Songthaews (shared pickups) and rented scooters are the norm; Grab is limited.
- 🕒 Time & currency
- Indochina Time (UTC+7). Currency: Thai baht (THB).
Tips & hidden gems
💡 Picking your beach
Chaweng = lively with lots of bars/shops; Lamai = relaxed; Bophut (Fisherman's Village) = stylish; Maenam & Lipa Noi = quiet with great sunsets.
💡 Island-hop to Ang Thong
Ang Thong National Marine Park — emerald lagoons and karst islands — is a classic day trip with kayaking and viewpoint hikes.
💡 Full Moon Party is next door
The famous Full Moon Party is on neighbouring Koh Phangan each month — an easy boat trip from Samui.
💡 Scooters & rainy-season seas
Scooter accidents are common — carry an international permit, wear a helmet, check insurance. Around November, rough seas can cancel boats.
Travel essentials
Payments, transport, connectivity and safety — before you go
Payments
Cards and PromptPay QR in cities; cash for street stalls and rural areas.
Getting around
Grab and Bolt dominate; great for airport transfers.
SIM / eSIM
Tourist SIMs (AIS/True) at airports; eSIM available.
Plugs & voltage
Types A/B/C, 220V.
Tipping
Not required, but rounding up or 20–50 baht is appreciated.
Tap water
Don't drink the tap water — buy bottled.
Safety
Generally safe; watch for scams and pickpockets in tourist spots.
Suggested routes
Slow beach day
~1 day / beach-focused
Swim, eat and do nothing on the white sands of Chaweng and Lamai.
- 1Swim at Chaweng or Lamai
The island's busiest beach — a long white-sand strip lined with restaurants, bars and hotels.
- 2Visit the Big Buddha
A 12m golden Buddha on an islet in the northeast — close to the airport and an island landmark.
- 3Dinner at Bophut
A charming strip of old wooden shophouses with cafés, boutiques and a popular Friday walking-street market.
Island-hopping day
~1 day / boat tour
A boat day out to Ang Thong Marine Park's emerald coves and hidden lagoon.
- 1Ang Thong Marine Park day trip
An archipelago of 42 islands in emerald seas — reached by day trip for kayaking and viewpoints.
- 2Kayak & snorkel
- 3Hike to a viewpoint
Island drive — half day
~half day / scooter or car
Loop the island by scooter or car — Big Buddha, viewpoints and Fisherman's Village.
- 1Big Buddha
A 12m golden Buddha on an islet in the northeast — close to the airport and an island landmark.
- 2Hin Ta & Hin Yai rocks (Lamai)
A popular but more laid-back beach than Chaweng, near the Hin Ta & Hin Yai rock formations.
- 3Sunset at Lipa Noi
A calm, shallow west-coast beach famous for sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand.
Live highlights
Plan your trip to Koh Samui
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