KOH SAMUI TRAVEL GUIDE

Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s most popular places to go because of the international airport that connects many countries to the island.

It offers a wide range of experiences if you are looking for warm weather, good food, stunning beaches and unforgettable memories.

If you do want to be more active there are countless other things to do from the famous Buddhist temples, busy shopping markets and some of the best nightlife spots!

PLAN YOUR TRIP TO KOH SAMUI

A trip to Koh Samui is super easy to plan, have a look at these tips for a smooth trip to paradise.

BEST TIME TO GO

⚑ The best time to visit Koh Samui is from December to February, which is the dry season and when the weather is most pleasant.

The wet season is from September to mid-December, often marked by heavy rains and tropical storms.

February is the driest and least humid month and April is the hottest month and the most humid.

HOW TO GET THERE

✈ BY PLANE The fastest and easiest way is flying. There are many international flights directly into Samui International Airport and several daily flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui with Bangkok Airways. From the airport you can easily reach most of the main hotels within 30 minutes.

🚄 BY FERRY From Donsak Pier (40 km south of Surat Thani) you can get a ferry that departs every hour and takes about 90 minutes to reach the Nathon port in Koh Samui

WHERE TO STAY

There are a few main areas in Koh Samui where people normally choose to stay.

Chaweng is the touristic area in Koh Samui because of all the big hotels and resorts, some of them just in front of the beach. It’s also where most of the markets stalls, restaurants and bars are located and some of them open until the early hours of the morning.

Lamai in the south has the second largest beach in Koh Samui and it’s a little less crowded than Chaweng.

Bohput is the third largest area known for the Fisherman’s Village. The beach is ok (not as good as Chaweng or Lamai) and things are a bit cheaper in the local markets and in the street food vendors.

Nathon is where the main ferry port is located so you will most likely arrive here when taking the ferry. It has a few nice hotels with reasonable prices.

I stayed in Nora Buri Resort & Spa not far from Chaweng Beach for 7 nights and had a really nice time!

The resort was super comfortable and modern; food was great with a lovely breakfast every morning included in the room rate.  They have their own restaurant on site too.

The highlight was the private pool in the room with stunning views to the beach. I truly recommend this hotel. It’s also very near from the airport and easy to drive everywhere to other points in the island.

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HOW TO GET AROUND IN KOH SAMUI

There a lot of different ways to move around Koh Samui but scooters and motorbikes are the most popular with locals and tourists because the traffic is so busy!

🚲 SCOOTER Renting a scooter or motorbike is fairly cheap and petrol is also super affordable. Make sure you wear a helmet.

🚗 CAR In my case because I had my son with me (1 year old at the time) so I needed to have more safety and comfort so I opted to rent a car. The price was reasonable (car + car seat) and I got it straight from the airport which was really convenient too.

If you don’t want to rent a car and just do the occasional trip here and there then taxis are also a reasonable option. Most taxi drivers don’t use the meter so make sure you negotiate the price before.

🚌 SONGTHAEW The cheapest option is the Songthaew, which are basically a pick-up truck that can take easily 8 to 10 passengers. Again, make sure you set the price in advance.

WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK

Thai food is one of the best cuisines in the world with rich flavors and spices. In Koh Samui you can eat some incredible dishes although in most restaurants they will also have loads of western alternatives if you are not into Asian food. Here are some of my recommendations:

• Full Moon Restaurant
• Treehouse Silent Beach Restaurant
• Fisherman’s House Cafe
• Malee Kitchen Downtown
• Armando’s Beach Restaurant

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THINGS TO SEE AND DO

GO TO THE BEACH

Koh Samui is one of the best islands in Thailand if you’re looking for some quality beach time. Here are some of the main ones:

• Chaweng beach: the largest beach and the most popular one with everything you need to have the best time
• Bophut beach: located in Fisherman’s Village it’s relaxed and has a good selection of little restaurants and shops
• Lamai beach: less crowded compared to Chaweng as I mentioned before which is great for a quiet day
• Lipa noi beach: South of Nathon its super relaxed and it felt like a private beach. It’s famous for the Nikki Beach Club
• Taling Ngam beach: just 30 minutes from Nathon this beach is quiet and really beautiful. You can see the Ang Thong National Marine park in the distance.

HIN YAI AND HIN TA

Not far from Lamai Beach, Hin Yai and Hin Ta, also known as the Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks are a funny shaped rock formation and you will quickly see why! Can you tell??

BIG BUDDHA

The Big Buddha is a 12-meter golden Buddha statue surrounded by different shrines and other smaller Buddha’s. It has incredible views from the top and it’s free to visit.

To visit this temples remember to take something that covers your shoulders and knees (this is a requirement in pretty much any temple in Thailand).

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NA MUANG WATERFALLS

There are several waterfalls on Koh Samui but the two Na Muang waterfalls are the most beautiful ones. There is a small hike to reach the waterfalls and an area to swim. Unfortunately I did not have enough time to visit but if you do have the time do go!

MAGIC GARDEN

Secret Buddha Garden, also known as Magic Garden is a private sculpture park made by a retired farmer Khun Nim Thongsuk. The site features many statues of Buddha and other aspects of Thai Buddhism and waterfalls within the Garden.

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FISHERMAN’S VILLAGE

Fisherman’s Village is a lively walking street market with loads of little shops and street food just where the Bophut beach is located.

LAEM SOR PAGODA

On a hill at Laem Sor it’s the golden Laem Sor Pagoda just at the end of the beach of Bang Kao. It’s in a beautiful quiet area where I had the privilege to watch some Thai religious rituals.

WAT PLAI LAEM

This is the most famous Buddhist temple in Koh Samui which features an 18-arm image of the Chinese Goddess of Mercy and Compassion called Guanyin, the protector of women and children and the champion of the sick, the poor, the unfortunate and the disabled.

The other famous statue is a fat, laughing Chinese Buddha representing wealth and prosperity.

MUMMY MONK AT WAT KHUNARAM

Wat Khunaram temple is well known for the mummified monk, Loung Pordaeng, who’s displayed in a glass casket.

The body of the monk is worshiped by many Thai people who see death as an opportunity to be reborn in a next and better life.

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SNORKELING AND DIVING

Koh Samui is close to many popular dive sites with incredible marine life. Ang Thong National Marine Park is a popular place to go. Around the islands there are many shops offering all sorts of trips.

GET A MASSAGE

Getting a massage is one of my favorite things to do in Thailand. The prices are cheap compared to Europe and the quality is excellent.

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Koh Samui is a beautiful vacation destination for beach lovers, foodies and for an easy intro to Thai culture. I have also thought it was great as a family destination and to explore the island with a little baby. There is so much to do, see and experience on the island itself so I would say go for at least a week and you will love it!

📌 PIN ME!

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