Koh Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, part of Surat Thani Province and, at about 229 square kilometres, Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket.
Lying roughly 35 kilometres off the mainland, it has sandy bays on every coast and a hilly, forested interior that climbs to 635 metres at Khao Pom. Chaweng and Lamai on the east coast are the liveliest beaches; the north coast around Bophut, Mae Nam and Choeng Mon is calmer; and the west, around the old port town of Nathon, is the island's quiet working side, with sunsets over the sea.
Samui suits family holidays, couples and long winter stays alike. Pool villas on the hillsides, beach houses and condo apartments are common, and the island's own airport puts most areas within a short drive of the terminal. Boats link Samui with the mainland, with the neighbouring islands of Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao to the north, and with the limestone islands of Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park.
Chaweng, on the east coast and close to the airport, is the busiest area: a long beach backed by restaurants, shops and nightlife, with everything from compact apartments to large villas.
Lamai, further south, is lively too but a little more relaxed. Bophut on the north coast, with the old seafront quarter known as Fisherman's Village, has a village feel, good restaurants and easy access to the airport and the Big Buddha; it is popular with couples and families. Mae Nam and Choeng Mon are quieter beaches that suit families and longer stays.
The west and south coasts, from Nathon past Lipa Noi to Taling Ngam, are the calmest, with sunset views and fewer crowds. A car or scooter is useful there and for hillside villas anywhere on the island.
Thailand's Hotel Act of 2004 covers businesses that provide temporary accommodation for payment, and many condominium buildings set their own rules on short stays, so check the rules before booking.
The Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Chaweng and Lamai as Samui's bustling beaches and Bophut, Mae Nam and Choeng Mon as the more peaceful, laid-back ones. Chaweng's long curve of sand is the island's best known; Lamai, to the south, is a little shorter and more relaxed.
On the north-east tip, Bang Rak is often called Big Buddha Beach after the temple on the islet offshore. Lipa Noi on the west coast is one of the island's quieter stretches, facing the mainland and the Ang Thong islands.
Sea conditions change with the seasons. During the rainy months, waves and currents can be stronger, especially on exposed beaches, so check local warning flags before swimming and keep a close eye on children.
Wat Phra Yai, the Big Buddha temple, stands on Ko Phan, a small islet joined to the north-east coast by a causeway. Its golden seated Buddha, about 12 metres tall, was built in 1972 and can be seen from several kilometres away.
A couple of kilometres south of Lamai, the rock formations of Hin Ta and Hin Yai, the Grandfather and Grandmother rocks, are known for their suggestive shapes and are revered locally as bringers of luck and fertility. About 6 kilometres west of Lamai, Wat Khunaram keeps the preserved body of the monk Luang Pho Daeng, who died in 1973.
Inland, the two cascades of Na Muang waterfall lie about 12 kilometres from Nathon, and Hin Lat waterfall is a short distance from the town beside a forest monastery. Dress modestly, with shoulders and knees covered, when visiting temples.
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, established on 12 November 1980, protects an archipelago of 42 islands about 28 kilometres west of Samui, covering roughly 102 square kilometres of sea and land. Its steep limestone islands hold caves, sinkholes and inland saltwater lakes.
On Ko Mae Ko, steps climb to a viewpoint over Thale Nai, a saltwater lagoon ringed by cliffs, where swimming is not allowed. A steep trail on Ko Wua Talap, where the park headquarters is, looks out over much of the archipelago, and simple overnight stays are possible there.
The park drew international attention through Alex Garland's novel The Beach. Only approved boats may enter, and trips can be cancelled when the sea is rough, so it is worth keeping a spare day.
Archaeological finds suggest people lived on Samui more than 2,000 years ago, and oral tradition tells of fishermen from the Malay Peninsula settling the island around the 6th century. In the 19th century, Chinese immigrants, mostly from Hainan, started cotton and coconut plantations, and coconuts shaped the island economy for generations.
The island had no roads until the early 1970s. Its first tourists were mostly backpackers; visitor numbers grew through the 1980s, and the opening of the airport in 1989 brought much larger numbers in the 1990s. Today around 70,000 people are registered residents, and many more come to work.
Samui is also the name of the district that governs the island, the Ang Thong archipelago and nearby islets. Nathon, on the west coast, is the original capital and the site of the main piers.
Samui International Airport (USM), built and owned by Bangkok Airways, opened in 1989 in Bo Phut subdistrict, about 2 kilometres north of Chaweng. It is privately owned and receives flights from Bangkok and other cities in the region.
Overland travellers reach the island by car and passenger ferry from Don Sak pier on the mainland to Nathon or Lipa Noi, after a bus, train or flight to Surat Thani. Boats also run to Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao.
A ring road of about 51 kilometres circles the island, so most places are within an hour's drive. Taxis and songthaews (shared pick-up taxis) are common; many visitors rent a car or scooter. Thailand drives on the left, and helmets and a valid licence are required for scooters.
Samui has a tropical monsoon climate, with roughly 2,000 millimetres of rain a year and daytime highs between about 29 and 33 degrees Celsius. Its pattern differs from much of Thailand: the heaviest rain usually falls from mid-October to early December, with November the wettest month.
February to April is generally the driest stretch, and the middle of the year usually has moderate rainfall, well below the late-year peak. The dry months and the main holiday seasons are the busiest periods, so homes and villas for the main holiday weeks are worth booking early.
February to April is usually the driest period, and the middle of the year is also often fine. The heaviest rain normally falls from mid-October to early December, with November the wettest month, so that is the least reliable time for beach weather.
Chaweng is the busiest, with the most restaurants and nightlife. Lamai is lively but more relaxed. Bophut and its Fisherman's Village have a village feel that suits couples and families. Mae Nam, Choeng Mon and the west coast are quieter still.
Samui International Airport (USM) is about 2 kilometres north of Chaweng and close to Bophut and Choeng Mon. Lamai, Mae Nam and the west coast are further, but the whole island is circled by a ring road of about 51 kilometres.
Yes. Car and passenger ferries cross from Don Sak pier on the mainland, in Surat Thani Province, to Nathon and Lipa Noi on Samui. Many travellers combine them with a bus, train or flight to Surat Thani.
In Chaweng, Lamai or Fisherman's Village you can manage with taxis and songthaews. For hillside villas, the quieter coasts or exploring waterfalls and temples, a rental car is easier than a scooter for most visitors. Traffic drives on the left.
Yes. Quieter beaches such as Mae Nam, Choeng Mon and Bophut suit children, villas with pools are widely available, and day trips to waterfalls, temples and Ang Thong National Park make good outings. Watch for stronger waves in the rainy season.
Yes. Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park, 42 islands about 28 kilometres west of Samui, is reached by approved day-trip boats. Visitors climb to viewpoints on Ko Wua Talap and over the Thale Nai lagoon on Ko Mae Ko. Trips may be cancelled in rough seas.
The Thai baht (THB). Cards are accepted in many restaurants, shops and larger businesses, but cash is handy for markets, songthaews, small eateries and temple donations. ATMs are common around the main beaches.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .