Most people meet the Gulf islands through Koh Samui, since it has the only airport of the three. That makes it the practical base for a first night or two, whether or not it ends up being your favourite stop. It has beach resorts and international restaurants that Koh Tao and Koh Phangan don't, a Friday night market worth timing your evening around, and the boats onward to the quieter islands and to Ang Thong Marine Park.
This guide covers where to stay, how to get to Samui and onward from it, Ang Thong, the best months and what it costs. For the rest of the Gulf, see the Koh Phangan guide and the Koh Tao guide.
Koh Samui at a glance
- Where: the Gulf of Thailand, with Koh Phangan about 30 minutes north by boat and Koh Tao a further hour or two beyond that
- Known for: its own airport, resort beaches, Ang Thong Marine Park and the Big Buddha temple
- Main areas: Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut (Fisherman's Village) and Maenam
- Best months: February to September
- How long: one or two nights is enough if you're passing through to Phangan or Tao; three or more if Samui is your main stop
Where to stay on Koh Samui
| Area | Best for | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | First visits, the widest choice of places to stay, nightlife | Samui's longest beach and busiest strip, with everything from hostels to resorts within walking distance |
| Lamai | Similar to Chaweng at a lower price | Samui's second-biggest beach, a bit more laid-back than Chaweng |
| Bophut (Fisherman's Village) | A quieter, more characterful base | An old shophouse street turned into cafes and restaurants, with a walking street market, busiest on Friday evenings from about 5pm to 11pm (some listings add Monday and Wednesday) |
| Maenam | Budget stays, calmer water | The quietest and most affordable of the four, with a relaxed village feel |
For a first visit, Chaweng gives you the most choice and the easiest time meeting people. Bophut suits a calmer few nights, and Maenam if you're watching your budget.
Things to do on Koh Samui
Ang Thong Marine Park. A national park of 42 limestone islands west of Samui, reachable on a day trip by speedboat: kayaking, snorkelling and a steep climb to a viewpoint over the islands, with lunch included on most tours. Speedboat day trips from Samui are listed from about 1,700 baht and big-boat tours from about 950 baht. The park's own entry fee, 300 baht for a foreign adult (150 for a child), is charged on top and paid in cash at the park. The park usually closes from 1 November to 15 December, and the exact dates shift with the weather. See the Koh Phangan guide for the same park's day trips from that side of the Gulf.
The Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai). A 12-metre golden seated Buddha on a small connected island near Bophut, close to the airport. Entry is free, and the Naga Stairway up to the statue gives a view over Bophut Beach and across to Koh Phangan. Cover your shoulders and knees and remove your shoes at the temple buildings.
Diving day trips. Samui has far fewer dive sites of its own than Koh Tao, so most diving here is a day trip out to Sail Rock, between Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. Our Koh Samui diving section has prices and details, and the scuba diving in Thailand guide covers the rest of the country.
Getting to Koh Samui
Koh Samui has the only airport of the three main Gulf islands, which makes it the usual way in and out.
| From | How | About |
|---|---|---|
| Bangkok | Direct Bangkok Airways flight | About 1 hour 5 minutes, with frequent daily departures |
| Chiang Mai | Direct Bangkok Airways flight | About 1 hour 30 to 1 hour 45 minutes |
| Krabi | Direct Bangkok Airways flight | About 50 minutes |
| Surat Thani (mainland) | Fly into Surat Thani, then a joint bus and ferry transfer | About 2 to 5 hours in total, depending on the connection |
Bangkok Airways owns Samui's airport and flies the main nonstop routes, which is why direct flights cost more than flying into Surat Thani and taking the ferry. Surat Thani is the budget route: fly or take the train there, then a combined bus and boat ticket covers the rest, usually landing at Nathon or one of Samui's other piers.
Ferries from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
Samui is the hub for boats onward to the other Gulf islands, mostly leaving from Nathon or Bangrak (Big Buddha) pier.
| Route | Operators | About |
|---|---|---|
| Koh Samui to Koh Phangan | Lomprayah, Seatran | About 30 to 45 minutes, about 250 to 370 baht |
| Koh Samui to Koh Tao | Lomprayah, Seatran, Songserm | About 1.5 to 2.75 hours, from about 700 baht, sometimes routed via Koh Phangan |
Boats run several times a day outside the rainy season. In the Gulf's own rainy season, October to December and worst in November, crossings can be delayed or cancelled for a day or two at a time, so build in a spare day if you're catching an international flight straight after. The Koh Tao guide and Koh Phangan guide cover the onward islands in full.
Best time to visit Koh Samui
| Months | Weather and sea |
|---|---|
| February to April | Dry, calm and hot, with the best diving visibility |
| May to September | Warm with short showers, good for beaches and boat trips |
| October | Rain increasing as the monsoon builds |
| November | The wettest month, with rough seas and possible ferry delays |
| December | Improving through the month |
Koh Samui follows the same Gulf season as Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, which runs opposite to Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman coast. Our best time to visit Thailand guide compares every region month by month.
How much does Koh Samui cost?
Samui has more resorts and international-standard restaurants than Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, so it can cost more if you stray from the cheaper places in Chaweng and Lamai. As a rough guide:
| Item | Baht |
|---|---|
| Street food or a simple Thai dish | about 60 to 100 |
| Dinner at a tourist restaurant | about 200 to 400 |
| Large beer in a bar | about 100 to 150 |
| Ang Thong speedboat day trip | from about 1,700, plus the 300 baht park fee |
| Ferry to Koh Phangan | about 250 to 370 |
| Ferry to Koh Tao | from about 700 |
Outside diving, day trips and accommodation, budget about 1,000 to 1,500 baht a day, similar to the rest of the Gulf.
Koh Samui on our trips
Koh Samui doesn't get an overnight stay on our current trips, since it's mainly the airport gateway to the other islands, but three of our Thailand trips pass through it. Thailand in 2 Weeks and Thailand Express both fly in and go straight to the boat for Koh Tao or Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao Dive & Islands starts right at Samui's pier.
