Koh Samui Travel Guide: Gulf Island with Beaches and Resorts

Koh Samui has its own airport and Thailand's best concentration of luxury resorts - plus fast ferry links to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Full guide.

Koh Samui at a glance

Koh Samui is Thailand’s third-largest island and one of the Gulf coast’s main resort destinations. It has a circumference road connecting all the main beaches, a domestic airport with good Bangkok connections, and a well-developed tourist infrastructure ranging from backpacker guesthouses to international five-star resorts.

The island is most useful as a hub for the Koh Samui–Koh Phangan–Koh Tao island chain. Ferries connect all three islands and make combination trips practical.

Beaches

Chaweng Beach - The longest and most developed beach on the east coast. The main nightlife, shopping, and restaurant strip runs alongside it. Good swimming, very crowded in peak season.

Lamai Beach - South of Chaweng. Slightly quieter and slightly cheaper, with a reasonable restaurant scene. The beach is attractive with some rocky outcrops.

Bophut and Fisherman’s Village - The north coast is calmer and more upscale. Fisherman’s Village is a well-preserved wooden shophouse streetscape with good restaurants and boutique shops. The Friday night market is worth attending.

Maenam Beach - Long, quiet, less developed north-coast beach. Affordable guesthouses and mostly local-patronised restaurants. The choice for travellers wanting to avoid the resort scene.

Mae Nam to Chaweng stretch - The east coast beaches around Choeng Mon are among the best on the island for swimming - sheltered, clear water, and fewer hotels than Chaweng.

Things to do

Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) - A 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island causeway in the northeast. Free access. Busy with day-trippers but worth a stop.

Ang Thong Marine National Park - A day trip by speedboat from Na Thon or Bang Rak piers. An archipelago of 42 islands with snorkelling, sea kayaking through sea caves, and a lagoon viewpoint. One of the most impressive day trips available from any Thai island. Book an Ang Thong day trip or browse tours in Koh Samui including cooking classes and island-hopping packages. For last-minute spots on Ang Thong or island day trips, browse our last-minute tours page.

Na Muang Waterfalls - Two waterfalls in the island’s forested interior. No. 1 is the larger and more visited; No. 2 requires a 30-minute hike and has a swimming pool. Reachable by scooter from most beaches in 20–30 minutes.

Koh Phangan day trip - A 30-minute ferry from Ban Rak or Maenam pier. Day trip by speedboat covers both the island’s beaches and a snorkel stop. Or just take the regular ferry for ฿200 one-way and explore independently.

Island hopping

Koh Samui is the transport hub for the southern Gulf islands:

Koh Phangan - 30 minutes by high-speed ferry, ฿200
Koh Tao - 1.5 hours by high-speed ferry, ฿400

A combination ticket (Samui → Phangan → Tao) can be booked at any pier or travel agent.

Practical information

Getting there - Bangkok Airways from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (1h15m) is the most convenient. Also flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Ferry via Surat Thani is the budget option.

Getting around - Rent a scooter (฿200–300/day) or songthaew (shared taxi pickup). Grab operates on Samui. For a pre-booked private transfer between Samui Airport and your hotel, Welcome Pickups offers fixed-price rides with a named driver.

Best time - February to August. October and November are typically the wettest months.

Where to stay

Chaweng suits travellers who want to be at the centre of the nightlife and restaurant scene, with options ranging from budget guesthouses to mid-range hotels. The Bophut and Maenam areas on the north coast are the quieter, more upscale end of the island - closer to Fisherman’s Village and better for families or couples who want beach access without the Chaweng noise. For full hotel picks across all budgets and areas, see our Koh Samui hotels guide.

Where to eat

Zazen Restaurant (Bophut) - Thai-European fusion directly on the beach. Consistently recommended for fresh seafood and the Friday night seafood barbecue, which draws visitors from across the island. Approximately ฿400–800 per person. Book ahead on Friday evenings.

Fisherman’s Village Friday Night Market (Bophut) - The weekly street food market runs the full length of the village from around 5pm. The range is broad: pad thai, rotis, grilled skewers, fresh coconut, mango sticky rice - approximately ฿60–150 per dish. The most atmospheric food experience on the island, and free to enter.

The Larder (Bophut) - Western breakfasts and deli-style lunches. Consistently popular with long-stay visitors for freshly baked bread, good coffee, and lunch boards. Approximately ฿200–400 per person. Not a dinner venue.

Dr. Frogs (Chaweng) - A long-running Italian restaurant in the centre of Chaweng. Wood-fired pizza, pasta, and a wine list longer than most places on the strip. Approximately ฿300–600 per person. A useful option in the main tourist zone when Thai food fatigue sets in.