Ko Samui

Samui's weather patterns are a little different from the rest of Thailand. In Apr-Sep, when most of the country has its monsoon, Samui stays fairly dry, but from Oct-Dec, it's wet in Samui and drier elsewhere. The best time to visit is January and February, when it's dry and slightly cooler.

Ko Samui, like other places on the Gulf of Thailand, has an unusual 12-hour tide pattern. During summer the tide is low at daytime and high at night time, while in winter it is always high at daytime. Beaches are much wider at low tide, and the difference can be huge in places with shallow water. In some places the beach may be very narrow during high tide.

🌍 Samui International Airport (USM  ^IATA). The only airport on the island, this lovely private airport was built by Bangkok Airways, which is the sole domestic operator. They have near-hourly departures to/from Bangkok (BKK ^IATA), codesharing with Thai Airways for easy connections. Tickets are comparatively expensive, with advance bookings costing 3,000-5,000 baht one-way, while a walk-in booking may be a bit more. There are also daily flights to/from Phuket for 2,000-3,000 baht, Pattaya and two daily flights from Chiang Mai (but only one direct flight in the opposite direction). International connections are limited to Chengdu, Chongqing, Hong Kong and Singapore. Low-cost carrier Scoot will also fly from Singapore starting May 2024. (updated Feb 2023)

Visa-on-arrival and visa-free entry are available at Samui Airport for some nationalities. See Thailand for more information. If flying out of the airport, one nice feature is a courtesy corner which provides food and drinks for all passengers in a cosy sitting area. Awaiting boarding becomes rather more comfortable with food, drinks, and Wi-Fi provided free.

Ground transportation from the airport is readily available, but prices tend to be inflated. There's a minibus service at a fixed price per person, with booking at counter in arrival hall. The 20-minute minibus ride to Chaweng costs around 200 baht/person, but may take longer if it shuttles to multiple hotels. A faster taxi directly to your destination may cost 500 baht. Be sure to negotiate the rate to your destination before you get into the taxi as many drivers refuse to use their meters. Many larger hotels and resorts have free airport transfers included in their service, but you need to book in advance. NaviGo and Grab (see By ridehailing) are also available, with fixed prices.

If you're a couple or a family, you may be approached in the airport by some young women holding signs of some of the higher-end hotels. They will ask you where you're staying, and based on the answer, offer you a free taxi ride if you promise to attend a presentation for their hotel's timeshare during your stay.

Instead of flying directly to Samui, it's cheaper but less convenient to fly to a nearby airport on the mainland and connect to a ferry. There are three options:

• Fly to Surat Thani (URT ^IATA), which has frequent flights to both Bangkok airports and limited service direct to Kuala Lumpur on Air Asia. Seatran Ferry offers a bus & ferry service from the airport to Nathon Pier on Ko Samui for 400 baht. Travel time is three hours. Buses leave the airport six times per day.

• Fly to Nakhon Si Thammarat (NST ^IATA) from Bangkok-Don Mueang DMK ^IATA with Nok Air, then take a bus and catamaran with the Lomprayah Company.

• Fly to Chumphon (CJM ^IATA) from Bangkok-Don Mueang DMK ^IATA with Nok Air, then take a high-speed Lomprayah catamaran. This is a particularly good option if you'd like to do some island hopping, since the ferries stop at Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan along the way. Nok Air offer a combined flight and ferry ticket on their website.

From Surat Thani train station and Surat Thani Airport (URT), there are combined bus/ferry services to Ko Samui costing 200-300 baht. Some entail a 60 minute bus ride to Don Sak pier followed by a 90-minute ferry crossing, others a 30-minute bus ride with a longer ferry crossing. Tickets are sold by numerous agents who meet each train and airplane. Should cost certainly less than 300 baht even if bought this way (return combo boat + bus ticket on a more comfortable Seatran Ferry bought on the Nathon Pier on Samui officially costs 230 baht).

From Don Sak Pier, there are 2 ferry companies (each line has a departure every 60 min) and a smaller passenger boat. Songserm Travel and Seatran arrive at Nathon pier only. Raja Ferry goes serves both Nathon and Lipa Noi pier (9km south of Nathon). Raja ferries are cheaper, smaller and less comfortable.

If you choose for the Raja or Seatran ferry ("high speed") but book it as part of a package deal that includes pickup instead of directly with the company, insist that the name of the ferry company and departure times are written on your receipt and pay attention to where you're taken. Otherwise, the agent that picks you up might just as well drop you at a Songserm transfer "terminal" at a remote location outside town where you have little other options than to accept the slower Songserm ferry instead.

Raja Ferries also transport cars, so can be used should you decide to come with your own transport. Without a car, however, there are fewer options for transportation there, and songthaew/taxi drivers may be more reluctant to bargain. Songthaew transfer from the pier at Lipa Noi on Samui to either Chaweng or Lamai will cost 100 baht per person. Taxis will be more expensive, with initial asking prices of up to 1,000 baht.

Numerous ferry services are direct from mainland Surat Thani including Lomprayah catamarans and an express boat (3 departures daily, taking around 3 hours and costing 150 baht) and slow night boats (taking 6–7 hours).

Lomprayah offers a combined bus/high speed catamaran ferry service from Bangkok to Ko Samui which takes about 11 hours (5.5 of them by boat) and costs 1450 baht (or 1650 baht for a “VIP” bus, as of May 2022). The bus pauses in Hua Hin and then stops at Chumphon, where it connects with the ferry, which calls at Ko Nang Yuan, Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan on its way to Ko Samui. While the route may be more scenic (as it includes the long boat trip via 2 islands), and the ferry is comparable to Seatran, the entire route to Samui will take more time, and will cost more too.

Lomprayah, however, is a good (if not exactly cheap) option to get to Samui from Ko Tao or Ko Pha Ngan, as well as a reasonable one to get to those islands from Bangkok. Prices and departure times are available on their website. There are also regular speedboats and ferries of other operators.

Regardless of what port you are departing from the mainland or arriving on Samui, you will be offered a minibus transfer service to any place on the island for 150 baht. This seems to be a good option to avoid hassles especially when arriving late and in light of inflated taxi prices (May 2019).

The Lomprayah passengers can often be enough of a deterrent to make a repeat traveler choose the less expensive ferry, regardless of cost. Seatran is as likely to have hawkers and pushers aboard, but in fewer numbers.

Motorcycle taxis are always available for a comparable or slightly lower price to shared minibus down the arrivals pier. This can be a quick escape from shared transportation when exiting the ferry.

By day, Ko Samui's public transport is provided by songthaew, pick-up trucks with two rows of seats. They drive fixed routes at fixed prices per person until 18:00, ranging from 20-80 baht depending on distance. After 18:00, songthaews serve as normal taxis and prices must be negotiated first. Even if you pay for a trip, however, the songthaew may stop and pick-up more passengers on the way. Metered taxi service is operated by private taxi companies. The drivers, however, are very reluctant to use their meters, and, especially on popular beaches or entry points to the island, tend to ask foreigners much more than normal fare. Some, say, on Nathon pier, will even show you official-looking papers with "fixed" prices like 600-800 baht for a 25–30 km trip to Chaweng or Lamai Beach. This is not true, and once they know you're aware of that, it's usually possible to bargain (for this distance, you should bargain to at least 400 baht, or even better 300 baht (outdated bargain prices, in 2013 more likely prices around 500 to 600 baht from Nathon to Chaweng or Lamai), which is still higher than the Bangkok metered taxi price). On the popular beaches it may be impossible at all to get a reasonable fare sometimes. If so, just walk around to an area which is quieter and further away from luxurious hotels.

NaviGo Samui is a mobile taxi application similar to Uber and GrabTaxi. The fares are strictly metered and an estimate of the total fare can be seen before confirming the order. All taxis have cameras inside and the drivers speak good English. The service is a good, safe alternative to the regular Taxis to avoid unreasonable fares. At least on a public holiday, don't expect there to be any NaviGo drivers to pick you up from the airport.

Grab is also available, but tends to have fewer drivers than NaviGo.

Pickup trucks/public passenger pick-up vehicles (songthaews) also serve as group taxis.

To get from the Nathon Pier to Bophut/Chaweng take a brown one which runs at regular intervals and will cost 50 baht to or from Bophut (Just ask the driver if the taxi is going that way and get on board. Pay when you get off.

If you want to go to a particular place, then you hire a taxi or songthaew, and negotiate the price with them first.

Motorbikes can be rented virtually anywhere on Ko Samui for between 120-700 baht per day depending on the size and season (small 125 cc bikes should cost no more than 200 baht even during New Year). It is recommended to hire only from a reputable company as there have been reports of scams. Some places have been known to steal bikes that they have rented out. Also, rental motorbikes are not insured. If they tell you they have insurance, it's not true. If something happens, you can't claim for it. Read the rental agreement extra carefully, as too many (it's not typical for other parts of Thailand e.g. Chiang Mai) will state that you may not replace any broken/damaged parts yourself. This is a scam, as instead they will replace it for you for a price several times higher (sometimes also stated in the agreement) than it actually costs. They will check any old scratches and/or serial numbers, if noted in the agreement, and demand that price even if you have already replaced that part yourself! For the same reason, inspect the motorbike carefully and be sure any existing scratches/damages are written in the agreement before you have taken the motorbike. Take photographs of the bike.

Motorbike shops will likely want you to leave your passport as collateral. This is a common practice in Thailand, and, by itself, shouldn't raise much concern, however most government travel advisory services advise against leaving your passport anywhere as a deposit for obvious reasons. Combined with the scams and bad practices mentioned above, however, it may lead to a situation where your passport is held as a hostage until you pay what they want. For this reason, it's unwise to return your motorbike immediately before your departure. Leave at least several hours, or perhaps a day, to settle any problems if they arise. If the shop's demands are clearly illegitimate (the agreement you have signed has silly conditions and prices, the price they ask for damages is unreasonable, or the damage was clearly done before you rented the motorbike) - call Tourist Police. They will help your cause, although shop owners will try to convince you otherwise.

If hiring a motorbike doesn't appeal to you, then there are motorbike-taxis willing to take you around for a (negotiable in advance, as foreigners are commonly asked an exorbitant price) fee, as well as other modes of transportation.

Bicycles can be hired very cheaply on Ko Samui. One shouldn't cost any more than 50-100 baht per day.

There are many car hire options on Ko Samui, including the local arms of international companies such as Budget and Avis. Prices are fairly expensive (1,200-1,500 baht per day for a small car), but the convenience of a small, air-conditioned car may be worth it. You can pick up and drop off at the airport or some other locations. Driving is easy on the island as long as you are not in a hurry and having a car gives you easy access to almost all areas of the island. An international driving license is nominally required, although they will accept any valid driver’s license. But you may have issues in case of accident without the international license.

• Ban Lipa Yai. This village grows high quality fruits, including rambutan, durian, mangosteen and the famed langsat. 
• Bang Rak Beach. Also known as “Big Buddha Beach”, in northeast Samui, Big Buddha offers visitors good swimming and lovely views. The area has developed a lot and there are now plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars. 
• Bophut Beach. In the north of the island, is a popular starting point for diving tours. The place isn't in any way as developed as Chaweng but there are still plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars. 
• Chaweng Beach. The major beach on Ko Samui and one that has developed tremendously since the early 1990s. The beach used to be home to just a sprinkle of wooden bungalows but now the place is swamped with hotels, pizza joints, pubs, and go-go bars. Samui’s nightlife is becoming legendary but unfortunately does not always attract the highest standard of tourist. Chaweng’s once hippie-only backpackers have given way to a lot of lager louts. Chaweng is the place to be if you are one of them. 
• Choeng Mon Beach. In the northeast corner of Samui just 10 minutes from Chaweng. Unlike the latter, it is a perfect place for relaxing. 
• Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks. These odd-looking rocks at the south end of Lamai Beach bear a striking resemblance to male and female genitalia and they have turned into one of the island’s biggest attractions. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local. 
• Hin Lat Waterfall. Easily accessible by car. Some of the numerous tiny levels have a large basin for swimmers. 
• Lamai Beach. Like Chaweng, Lamai has been transformed from a hippie hangout into a fun, party place packed out with bars and exciting nightlife. The beach though, is still in better condition than Chaweng and the place doesn’t get quite so crowded. But if it’s a quiet relaxing location you are after, then the tourist downtown, known as Lamai Beach, won’t be the ideal place for you. The quieter northeast end of the beach is lined by both good-quality luxury resorts and low-cost guesthouses and bungalows, which front along the highway towards Chaweng. 
• Mae Nam Beach. This quiet beach, in the north of the island, is decent enough for swimming and sunbathing especially for families with children due to the shallow water. 
• Na Mueang Waterfall. A local road leads to the Na Mueang 1 Waterfall just off Rte 4169. A walk of about 30 minutes ends up at the more scenic Na Mueang 2 Waterfall. Purple rocks surround the stream of water, which gushes in from an impressive height of around 79 m. 
• Old House. This Chinese-style house, almost 200 years old, hints at Samui's distant cultural past. Grandpa Si and Grandma Maen Hancharoen, the present owners, open the house to visitors. 
• 🌍 Silver Beach (Crystal Beach). Beautiful beach which is normally a little less crowded than other nearby options. (updated Feb 2023)

• Monkey Shows. These shows can be observed at the open-air theatre on the main road behind Bophut beach. The entertainment also includes performing elephants. However, the capturing and training of otherwise wild animals is at best ethically questionable. 
• Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo (In the southeast near Na Thian Beach south of Lamai). Daily, 09:00-18:00. The undersea world of the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other vibrant aquatic animals such as turtles and colourful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. For those who are daring enough, they can have their photograph taken with the animals. 
• Samui Butterfly Garden / Insect Museum (In the southeast near Laem Set, off Rte 4170). There is a huge collection of butterflies, some a quarter of a metre wide. In the nearby Insect Museum, you can see a variety of rare bugs and a bee house. 
• Buffalo Fighting Festival: One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is the Buffalo Fighting Festival which is held on special occasions such as New Year's Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are beautifully decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest, which lasts just two rounds, monks spray the buffalos with holy water. The winning owner typically takes home millions of baht in prize money.
• Ten Stars Samui Art Party: A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their new, original artworks. The annual event, hosted at various high-end resorts and other high-end venues on the island, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists.
• Samui Triathlon: The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world.

• Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui. This chedi (pagoda) at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Ko Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles which gives off a golden aura is quite impressive. 
• Wat Khunaram Ko Samui (In the island's southeast corner off Rte 4169). This temple is the island’s most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master who was able to predict his own death. 
• Wat Phra Yai (Also known as Big Buddha Temple) (In the island's northeast). Has a 15 m tall statue of the Buddha. It was built in 1972. 

Snorkeling or diving directly off Ko Samui itself is generally mediocre, since the shallow bays and sandy beaches tend to lead to silt in the water and poor visibility. However, the islands around Samui, notably Ko Tao (~1 hr away) and Ang Thong National Marine Park, offer some of the best diving in the world, surrounded by crystal clear water (distances of up to 10–30 m) and stunning coral. The best time year of the year to dive in the Ko Samui is between Jun-Aug, it is still perfectly possible to dive virtually all year round.

If you're a serious diver, you're probably better basing yourself in Ko Tao itself or going on a liveaboard tour, but if you just want a casual day trip, there are many dive shops on the island offering them in Chaweng. The dive boats tend to leave from the pier at Bophut and Bang Rak.

Ko Kra & Ko Losin: These two small islands to the southeast of Samui don't get too many divers due to their remoteness. Blacktip sharks, manta rays and hard to find loggerhead turtles can be seen.

Samran Pinnacles: Since the currents in this area are often quite strong, this site is recommended for experienced divers only. Due to the currents, the site is a haven for larger pelagics such as barracuda and jacks.

• Ten Stars Samui Art Party. A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their artwork. The annual event, hosted at various resorts and other venues, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists. (updated Sep 2017)
• Koh Samui THA Midnight Run. The Ko Samui Midnight Run is a charity run organized by the Thai Hotel Association (THA) and the Thai Association of Ko Samui (TAKS). It is a yearly event usually held in March. With up to 2000 participants, the run is one of the biggest on Samui and in Thailand. Participants will run 5 or 10 km around the buzzy and lively streets of Chaweng Beach. The first run was held in 2013. Entry fee, 500 baht. (updated Sep 2017)
• Samui Regatta. A sailing race held every year. The tournament is internationally known and competitors come from as far away as Australia, Singapore, Japan and China. The event began in 2002. Entry fee, 22,500 baht; each crew member, 5,500 baht. (updated Sep 2017)
• Samui Triathlon. The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world. (updated Sep 2017)

Chaweng Beach is famous for its beer bars staffed by pretty hostesses. Buy them a 'girlie drink' and you'll be in entertaining company. Beer bars can be found all over Chaweng. The bars offer pool, Connect4 and other popular bar games. Since the nightlife on Chaweng can devolve into serious debauchery at times, the local law enforcers are strict in regards to closing times. The official closing time in "entertainment zones" is 01:00, that on practice is usually somewhere between 01:00 and 02:00.

At karaoke bars customers can either choose a private room or sing in the main lounge for everyone to hear. There are Thai songs and international songs. There may be pretty hostesses available to sit for a pleasant chat. These bars are especially popular with Asian tourists.

Chaweng Beach is packed out with nightclubs playing mostly commercial pop and electronic music and serving exotic cocktails.

There is a distillery that brews 5 flavours of rum on one of the side roads on the South Coast of the island, which offers tours during the sugar cane season and free samples any time. The flavours are natural (sugar cane), lemon, orange, pineapple and coconut. Natural and coconut are quite tasty, lemon has a very strong pleasant citrus flavour, and you won't miss anything if you don't try the other two. They also have a delicious mixer to serve with consisting of lime juice, cinnamon and other spices. Worth heading to if you're in the area or just for the novelty of sampling authentic Thai rum. Very friendly staff.

For those who are just a little sick there are countless clinics and pharmacies in all major tourist areas. Emergency calls for ambulance service can be direct to a hospital or to Samui Rescue Foundation (077 42 1444) or Samui Tourist Police (077 42 1281) or 1155. The public hospital is in Nathon (077 42 1230). There are four private hospitals in the Chaweng area.

• Bandon Hospital Samui, Samui Ring Rd, Bophut (next to BigC), ☏ +66 77 24 5236. 
• Bangkok Hospital Samui, 57 Moo 3, Samui Ring Rd, Chaweng, Bophut, ☏ +66 77 42 9500, fax: +66 77 429540. 
• Samui International Hospital, 90/2 Moo 2, Chaweng Beach Rd, Bophut, ☏ +66 77 42 2272, +66 77 23 0781-2, fax: +66 77 230049, info@sih.co.th. 
• Thai International Hospital Samui, Samui Ring Rd, Bophut (opposite Tesco/Lotus), ☏ +66 77 24 5271-6.