⚠️ Entry rules and local regulations change without notice. Before booking, check entry requirements and local rules — visas, access, nature reserves, visitor quotas — with the official authorities.
Koh Samui is Thailand's third-largest island, tucked into the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Surat Thani Province. Famous for its coconut-palm-fringed beaches — Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam — the island has managed to preserve authentic areas despite well-developed tourism. The 12-metre Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) is the island's emblem. A few kilometres offshore, the Ang Thong archipelago (42 pristine islands protected as a national marine park) offers breathtaking scenery. Koh Tao (Turtle Island) and Koh Phangan (famed for the Full Moon Party) complete this trio of must-see islands in the Gulf of Thailand.
Coconuts, then tourists
Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island — 228 km², a round green hill in the Gulf of Thailand — and until the 1970s it lived from coconuts, shipping millions a month to Bangkok. The backpackers came first, then the airport in 1989, then the resorts; today it is a mainstream destination with an international airport, a ring road, and every grade of accommodation from hostel to villa, without the high-rise sprawl of Phuket.
The beaches are on the east and north coasts: Chaweng, the long, busy main strip with the nightlife; Lamai, smaller and calmer; Bophut with its Fisherman's Village of old Chinese shophouses; Maenam, quiet and local; Choeng Mon in the north-east corner. The interior is jungle, waterfalls and viewpoints, with the Na Muang falls and the Secret Buddha Garden the usual stops, and the Big Buddha at Bang Rak the island's landmark.
Samui is also the gateway to two islands: Koh Phangan, forty minutes away, famous for its Full Moon Party and, away from Haad Rin, for its yoga retreats and empty beaches; and Koh Tao, the diving island, two hours by boat. The Ang Thong marine park, a scatter of forty-two limestone islands, is the day trip.
December to August — the Gulf runs on its own calendar
Samui's seasons differ from the Andaman coast: the rains come in October–November, not in summer, so the island is at its best from late December to April, good from May to August with short showers, and wettest in October and November, when the sea is rough and the storms can be heavy. December–February is peak season. The Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan fills the ferries and the hotels once a month.
Fly direct, and check the visa rule
⚠️ EU citizens currently enter Thailand visa-free for 60 days, but a decision to reduce this to 30 days is awaiting publication — verify the rule in force before you travel. Samui airport, owned by Bangkok Airways, has direct flights from Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur; the cheaper route is a flight to Surat Thani and the ferry from Donsak, about two hours. Ferries also link Samui to Phangan and Tao.
The currency is the baht. Songthaews (shared pick-ups) run the ring road; scooters are everywhere and the accident rate is high — wear the helmet, avoid the hills in the rain. Eat the seafood at Fisherman's Village and the night markets, the southern curries, and the coconut in every form; the island's rum, made from local sugar cane and coconut, is the newer souvenir.
Essentials & your questions
| Capital | Nathon (main town) |
|---|---|
| Area | 228 km² |
| Language | Thai |
| Currency | Thai baht (THB) |
| Visa | Visa exemption 60 days (being cut to 30) — check before travel |
| Best time to visit | December – April |
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?
The best time to visit is December – April. The weather is ideal for outdoor activities.
Do I need a visa to visit Koh Samui?
Visa exemption, 60 days at the time of writing, being cut to 30 days by a decision awaiting publication — check the current rule before travel. Always check current entry requirements before travelling.
How do I get to Koh Samui?
Check the air and sea connections from your departure point — see the On the ground section above.
What are the highlights of Koh Samui?
The pearl of the Gulf of Thailand, coconut palms and dream beaches. Koh Samui is Thailand's third-largest island, tucked into the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Surat Thani Province.