Koh Samui

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is one of Thailand's leading resort islands, located in the western part of the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Samui is attractive by pristine beaches with palm trees, coconuts along the fine white sand and crystal clear water: Bophut, Chaweng Noi, Mae Name, Lamai, Taling Ngam. Along the beaches around the island, there are many resorts, hotels, spas, restaurants, nightclubs, bars and discos, from high-end to affordable. Besides water activities, you can hike into the forest, climb mountains, visit Samui Elephant Sanctuary, Tarnim & Magic Garden and Buddhist temples like Wat Plai Laem, Wat Phra Yai.

Travel guide

Time to visit

January to March is the ideal time for island hopping in Koh Samui with dry great beach weather. This time Koh Samui also welcome flux of tourists so beaches will be crowded.

Accommodation

Koh Samui is very popular with honeymooners and couples looking for a romantic stay away from it all. The majority of hotels and resorts have their own swimming pools with ocean views and stunning beaches, such as Banyan Tree Koh Samui being a typical example. Some hotels are also located within the mountains showcasing breathtaking views of the island and sea, like the Ritz-Carlton. In addition to these top properties, Koh Samui also has cute guesthouses and boutique stays for those looking to save money in this gorgeous destination.

Food

From hole-in-the-wall restaurants, coffee shops to internationally-acclaimed restaurants with fantastic beach dinner, every taste is catered to in Koh Samui.

Samui is known to have the best coconuts in Thailand, so why don’t you add this fresh fruit to your daily menu. Being an island, seafood is fresh because local fishermen go catching every day.

Transport options

Songthaews, Grab, NaviGo, taxis, motorcycles, motorcycle taxis, private cars, bicycles.

The cheapest method of moving around Koh Samui is by songthaews which cost about 1.5 USD. The problem is there are no predetermined routes and their prices depend on the distance you travel. Taxis in Koh Samui are uniformly yellow and maroon, but make sure to ask the driver to set the meter before you go. Compared to Grab, NaviGo, a ride-sharing app, is much more popular and cheaper, even 30% cheaper than taxis. Car and motorcycle rentals are also common. A daily motorbike rental costs 7 – 8 USD and the daily car price is about 30 USD depending on the type of car you hire.

How to get to Koh Samui

Air
The most convenient way to get to Koh Samui is by taking a 1-hour flight from Bangkok. There are also many flights to this beautiful island from Thailand’s major destinations, including Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, and Phuket.

Train or bus + ferry
Get a train or bus to Surat Thani from where you need to catch a ferry to Koh Samui. If you’re traveling from a nearby island, there are ferry from Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao to Koh Samui.

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