TH
Koh Samui
The Gulf Island
The Gulf Island
Chaweng (the 7km east-coast beach; the most developed and most visited on the island) has the clearest water on Koh Samui in the dry season, a wide palm-backed sandy strip and the full apparatus of a mature beach resort: sunbeds and parasols, jet ski rental, beachside restaurants and bars, and the Chaweng Lake area behind the beach strip with the island’s main shopping, nightlife and medical facilities. The northern end of Chaweng (north of the Centara Grand) is less developed and quieter; the central section is the most lively and the most crowded. Chaweng Noi (the small bay immediately south, around the headland) is quieter and more scenic.
💡 Chaweng Beach (free; the longest and most developed beach on Koh Samui; lifeguard-patrolled in peak season) is best before 9am and after 4pm. The north end of Chaweng (from the Conrad Hotel north) is quieter than the bar-heavy central section. Stinger warning: jellyfish are common November–April.
Wat Phra Yai (the Big Buddha; a 12-metre golden seated Buddha on a small islet connected to the north coast by a causeway; free; open daily) is the most recognisable landmark on Koh Samui and the most photographed. The temple is genuinely active — monks reside in the buildings behind the main image and the morning chanting at dawn is open to respectful visitors. The causeway market sells temple offerings, handicrafts and local food. The Fisherman’s Village (Bophut, 2km west along the north coast) is the most atmospheric neighbourhood on the island: a row of traditional wooden Chinese shophouses on the beach, now restaurants, bars and boutiques, with the best walking street market on the island on Friday evenings.
💡 Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai; free; 9am–6pm; the 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island causeway in the north of Samui) is the most-photographed temple on the island. Dress code enforced (sarongs at the gate). The north cape villages of Mae Nam and Bo Phut (free to walk; quieter than Chaweng) are the best of the local food scene.
The Ang Thong Marine National Park (42 islands, 102 km² of protected marine park; 1h by speedboat from Koh Samui Nathon pier; day trip ฿900–1,500 per person; park entry ฿300) is the finest natural scenery accessible from Koh Samui: dramatic limestone islands rising directly from the Gulf sea, covered in jungle, with hidden lagoons (the saltwater lake on Ko Mae Ko, 450 steps from the beach, is the most spectacular), coral reefs and sea caves. The setting inspired Alex Garland’s novel “The Beach.” Day trips typically include kayaking, snorkelling, the lagoon climb and a beach stop on Ko Wua Talap (the park headquarters island).
💡 Ang Thong Marine National Park (angthongmarina.com; day trip from 2,200 THB from Bo Phut pier; includes snorkelling and kayaking; the archipelago of 42 islands that inspired Alex Garland’s “The Beach”). Book through any Samui travel agent the day before. The Emerald Lake on Ko Mae Ko (250m uphill; free with park entry) is the most photographed view.
Bophut (the north-coast neighbourhood 7km from Chaweng) is the most likeable corner of Koh Samui: traditional wooden Sino-Portuguese shophouses along a beach road, the Black Pearl restaurant (the finest dining on the island), the Coco Tam’s beach bar and the Friday Walking Street market (6–11pm; the best market on the island; local handicrafts, street food from ฿60, live music from a rotating cast of local musicians). The Bophut beach itself is calm, wide and less crowded than Chaweng, with good swimming in the dry season. The resort hotels in Bophut are smaller boutique properties rather than the large international chains that dominate Chaweng.
💡 Bophut Fisherman’s Village (free to walk; 10 min by taxi from Big Buddha) has the finest old wooden shophouses and quality restaurants on Koh Samui. The Friday Night Market (Walking Street; 6–10pm; free) is the best weekly market on the island — grilled seafood stalls are the highlight.
Koh Samui food ranges from the tourist-facing Thai dishes of the Chaweng beach restaurants to a genuinely excellent local food scene in the less-visited parts of the island. The morning market in Chaweng (the old bus station market, daily 6–10am) is the best local breakfast: khao tom (rice congee with pork or seafood; ฿40), khanom krok (coconut pancakes; ฿30), and fresh fruit smoothies from the blender stalls. The Nathon town market (the main town on the west coast ferry terminal; less touristic than Chaweng) has the most authentic southern Thai food on the island. For restaurants: the Black Pearl at Bophut (the finest restaurant on Koh Samui; contemporary Thai-international; book ahead), the Poppies Samui (Chaweng; the oldest established restaurant on the island), and the fresh seafood restaurants along the Fisherman’s Village waterfront.
Koh Samui has a strong cocktail and beach bar culture: the Ark Bar (Chaweng beach; full moon parties, fire shows nightly at 9pm), Coco Tam’s (Bophut; beanbags on the beach, cocktails at sunset) and the rooftop bars of the Samui Airport hotel cluster around the north cape. Full Moon parties (Koh Phangan, 1h by ferry; monthly) are a significant draw from Samui — ferries run late-night returns.
The ring road (Route 4169, 51km around the island perimeter) connects all the main beaches and the airport. Songthaews (shared red pickup trucks; ฿30–50 per person for most beach-to-beach journeys around the ring road) are the main local transport; they run from dawn to around 10pm. Grab is increasingly available and more reliable than flagging songthaews for specific destinations. Renting a scooter (฿200–300/day from any beach shop) is the most practical for independent exploration; the island roads are manageable in the dry season. The accident rate is high: wear a helmet, avoid night riding and do not ride after drinking.
Dec–Apr is the dry season on the Gulf coast: calm, warm (28–32°C), clear sea. Oct–Nov is the northeast monsoon: heavy rain and rough Gulf waters. May–Sep is transitional with mostly good weather. Opposite to Phuket and Krabi (Andaman coast).
Koh Samui is mid-range among Thai islands: cheaper than an equivalent Phuket resort stay, more expensive than Koh Tao. Bangkok Airways flight monopoly adds to arrival costs. Per person per day.
Taking the ferry+bus from Surat Thani (rather than Bangkok Airways) saves ฿1,500–4,000 per person on arrival and is only 2–3h longer.
The Koh Tao dive intro day trip (฿900 ferry + ฿2,000 dive session) is the best single-day experience from Koh Samui and makes diving far more affordable than at resort dive centres.
Six Senses Samui (Bophut headland; private pool villas; one of the finest spa retreats in Asia) and the Four Seasons Koh Samui (northeast coast; private plunge pools, jungle setting) are the two most acclaimed luxury addresses.
Three days: beach at Chaweng, the Ang Thong marine park and a day trip to Koh Tao for diving.
Morning at Chaweng beach. Afternoon scooter ride to Bophut (7km north): the Fisherman’s Village, the Big Buddha temple, the north cape viewpoint. Friday: the Bophut Walking Street market (6–11pm; best market on the island). Saturday: Lamai for the southern beach and the Grandfather/Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta/Hin Yai; natural rock formations; free; very popular for photos). Dinner at the Ark Bar beach club (nightly fire show 9pm) or Black Pearl Bophut (book ahead).
💡 Chaweng Beach morning. Big Buddha Temple (sarong at the gate; free). Bo Phut Fisherman’s Village for lunch (30 min by taxi from Chaweng). Friday Night Market (Bo Phut; 6–10pm; if visiting on a Friday).
Speedboat day trip from Nathon pier (8:30am departure; ฿900–1,500 per person; park entry ฿300). Kayaking through the islands. Ko Mae Ko lagoon climb (450 steps; allow 30 min; the saltwater lake view is extraordinary). Snorkelling. Return by 5pm. Evening: Chaweng market for street food or Coco Tam’s beach bar at Bophut for sunset cocktails.
💡 Ang Thong Marine National Park day trip (book the day before; departs Bo Phut pier; 2,200 THB; includes snorkelling and kayaking; Emerald Lake on Ko Mae Ko).
Lomprayah speedboat from Na Thon pier (8am; 2.5h; ฿900–1,000 return). Koh Tao: diving intro lesson (฿1,500–2,500 for a PADI Discover Scuba Diving session) or snorkelling at Shark Bay (free snorkel sites) and Mango Bay. The Chumphon Pinnacle dive site (leopard sharks, trevally) is 40 min by boat from Koh Tao. Return ferry by 5:30pm. Alternatively: Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan (1h; check the monthly full moon date at the time of your visit).
💡 Ferry from Na Thon pier to Koh Tao (2.5h; 700 THB; high season only). Koh Tao is the finest scuba diving and snorkelling island in the Gulf of Thailand. PADI Open Water certification from 9,500 THB at any of the 50+ dive schools.
The Bangkok Airways monopoly on Koh Samui flights keeps prices high (฿2,000–6,000 Bangkok–Samui).
Koh Tao (2.5h north by Lomprayah speedboat; ฿800–1,000 one-way) is the cheapest place to get a PADI Open Water certification in the world (USD 300–350; 3.5 days) due to intense competition among dive schools.
The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan (1h north by ferry; ฿200–300 return; the party on Had Rin beach at the full moon each month, 30,000–50,000 people) is simultaneously one of the world’s most famous beach events and one of the most chaotic.
The Ang Thong Marine National Park day trip (1h by speedboat; ฿900–1,500 per person; departs Nathon pier 8:30am) is best done at the start of your stay when you are least likely to have had too much sun.
Several Koh Samui gyms offer daily Muay Thai training sessions for visitors (฿500–800 for a 2-hour session including technique, padwork and sparring).
October and November bring the northeast monsoon to the Gulf of Thailand coast — the opposite of Phuket.
High-speed catamaran between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Chumphon (mainland connection). The most reliable way to reach Koh Tao (2.5h) and Koh Phangan (1h). Ticket purchase and timetable via the app.
Free
Fixed-price rides across Koh Samui: increasingly available and the only reliable non-overcharging taxi option. Essential for airport pickup (฿200–350 to most beach areas).
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Local restaurant guide for Koh Samui: the Chaweng morning market stall map, Bophut restaurant reviews and the Nathon local food guide are the most useful features.
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Dive site maps for Koh Tao and the Gulf: Chumphon Pinnacle (leopard sharks), Sail Rock (whale sharks seasonal), White Rock (coral) and Shark Bay (free dive). Essential for the Koh Tao day trip dive planning.
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Koh Samui beach conditions, festival dates (Full Moon Party calendar) and Ang Thong Marine Park day trip operators. Check the Full Moon Party date for Koh Phangan at the time of your visit.
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Download Koh Samui offline. The ring road and the roads from Chaweng to Bophut, Lamai and Nathon are the most used routes. Mark the Big Buddha, Bophut Village and the Nathon ferry pier before arriving.
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