Koh Samui is Thailand's second largest island, in the Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani province. A coconut-farming and fishing island until the 1970s, it is now one of the country's two main beach hubs alongside Phuket, with its own international airport and everything from backpacker bungalows to flagship resorts.
A ring road of roughly 50 km circles the island. The main beaches face north and east: Chaweng and Lamai are the two big commercial strips, while Bophut, Maenam, and the smaller northern bays are progressively quieter. Ferries from the mainland arrive on the west side at Nathon and nearby piers.
Getting there
Bangkok is the usual gateway. Samui has its own airport, with a price premium attached; the cheaper routes combine a flight, train, or bus to Surat Thani with a ferry crossing.
From Bangkok
Flight
1h 10mBangkok Airways operates the Suvarnabhumi route roughly hourly through the day into Samui's privately owned airport (USM). Fares run noticeably higher than other domestic routes, so booking early matters more here.
Check schedules on 12Go →Fly to Surat Thani + ferry
5–6hLow-cost carriers fly from Don Mueang to Surat Thani, where connecting coaches meet flights for the drive to Donsak pier and the 1.5-hour ferry crossing. Sold as a single through-ticket, this is usually the cheapest same-day route.
Check schedules on 12Go →Train or bus + ferry
12–15hOvernight sleeper trains run from Bangkok to Surat Thani (Phun Phin station), connecting by bus to Donsak and the ferry; overnight buses make the same run. Combined tickets cover the whole journey.
Check schedules on 12Go →
Samui airport also has direct regional international flights, including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Hong Kong, so the island can be reached without transiting Bangkok.
Airport transfer · The airport sits in the island's northeast corner, 10–20 minutes from Chaweng, Bophut, and Maenam by shared minivan or taxi. Vehicle ferries from Donsak arrive at Nathon or Lipa Noi on the west coast, roughly 30–45 minutes' drive from the east-coast beaches.
Weather by season
Samui runs on the Gulf calendar, roughly opposite to Phuket and the Andaman coast. It is driest from February to April, stays largely sunny with brief showers through the middle of the year, and takes its heaviest rain from October to December during the northeast monsoon.
Year-round climate
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Conditions by month
Seasonal averages for the Gulf coast. Tap through to the monthly weather guide for detail.
Dry season
Feb–AprThe most settled stretch: calm seas, long dry spells, and the warmest water. March and April are hot.
Mid-year window
May–SepWhile the Andaman coast is in monsoon, Samui stays comparatively dry, with short storms between long sunny spells. This is what keeps the island busy through the European summer.
Northeast monsoon
Oct–DecThe wet season, peaking in November, when multi-day rain, rough seas, and localised flooding are possible and some boat trips stop. January is transitional, drying through the month.
Where to stay
Where to stay
Where to stay on Koh Samui
The main beaches face north and east, with the ferry piers on the west. Tap an area to see where it is and a few hotels at each price level.
Chaweng
East coast, nearest the airportBest for: The main beach, nightlife, shopping
The island's longest and busiest beach, a several-kilometre arc of pale sand backed by the main resort strip: malls, restaurants, bars, and the bulk of the island's nightlife. The northern end is generally quieter; the centre is the liveliest place on Samui.
On the map
- Chaweng Beach
- Central Samui mall
Hotels to shortlist
Anantara Lawana Splurge
Villas at the calmer north end.
Chaweng Regent Beach Resort Mid-range
Beachfront near the north end.
Lub d Koh Samui Budget
Large beachfront hostel, central Chaweng.
Agoda · Affiliate link
Getting around
The 50 km ring road (Route 4169) circles the island and almost everything sits on or just off it. Songthaews run set routes along it during daylight for roughly 50–100 baht, then convert to charter taxis after dark.
Taxis on Samui rarely use meters and quote fixed fares that are high by Thai standards; agree the price before getting in. Grab and Bolt operate island-wide and usually undercut the taxi quote. Scooter and car rental are everywhere; the ring road is fast and accidents are common, so helmets matter.
Things to do
- Big Buddha & Wat Plai Laem. The 12-metre Big Buddha on its causeway islet and the ornate Wat Plai Laem next door are the island's most visited temples, in the northeast near the airport.
- Ang Thong National Marine Park. A day-trip archipelago of 42 limestone islands west of Samui, toured by boat and kayak; the viewpoint and inland lagoon at Koh Mae Ko are the signature stops.
- Fisherman's Village. Bophut's strip of old wooden shophouses turned restaurants and boutiques, busiest during the Friday walking-street market.
- Na Muang waterfalls. Two waterfalls in the island's interior a short drive off the ring road; the upper falls involve a steep walk.
- Hin Ta & Hin Yai. The famous grandfather-and-grandmother rock formations at the south end of Lamai, a five-minute roadside stop.
- Neighbouring islands. Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are both reachable by fast catamaran for day trips, though each rewards an overnight stay.
Local character & practical notes
Samui ran on coconuts for a century before tourism, and plantations still cover the interior hills. Hainanese-Chinese and southern-Thai heritage shows in the shrines around Nathon and Maenam and in the island's seafood-heavy cooking.
The island is a hub rather than a hideaway: it has international hospitals, schools, and a large resident foreign population, with infrastructure and traffic to match in high season. Temple dress rules apply as on the mainland.
Around each Full Moon Party, Samui's north and east coasts fill with visitors catching boats to Koh Phangan, and prices around those dates rise accordingly.