Koh Samui Travel Guide: Gulf Island with Beaches and Resorts

A guide to Koh Samui — the best beaches, what to do, where to stay, and how to get between Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao.

Koh Samui at a glance

Koh Samui is Thailand’s third-largest island and one of the Gulf coast’s main resort destinations. It has a circumference road connecting all the main beaches, a domestic airport with good Bangkok connections, and a well-developed tourist infrastructure ranging from backpacker guesthouses to international five-star resorts.

The island is most useful as a hub for the Koh Samui–Koh Phangan–Koh Tao island chain. Ferries connect all three islands and make combination trips practical.

Beaches

Chaweng Beach — The longest and most developed beach on the east coast. The main nightlife, shopping, and restaurant strip runs alongside it. Good swimming, very crowded in peak season.

Lamai Beach — South of Chaweng. Slightly quieter and slightly cheaper, with a reasonable restaurant scene. The beach is attractive with some rocky outcrops.

Bophut and Fisherman’s Village — The north coast is calmer and more upscale. Fisherman’s Village is a well-preserved wooden shophouse streetscape with good restaurants and boutique shops. The Friday night market is worth attending.

Maenam Beach — Long, quiet, less developed north-coast beach. Affordable guesthouses and mostly local-patronised restaurants. The choice for travellers wanting to avoid the resort scene.

Mae Nam to Chaweng stretch — The east coast beaches around Choeng Mon are among the best on the island for swimming — sheltered, clear water, and fewer hotels than Chaweng.

Things to do

Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) — A 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island causeway in the northeast. Free access. Busy with day-trippers but worth a stop.

Ang Thong Marine National Park — A day trip by speedboat from Na Thon or Bang Rak piers. An archipelago of 42 islands with snorkelling, sea kayaking through sea caves, and a lagoon viewpoint. One of the most impressive day trips available from any Thai island. Book an Ang Thong day trip or browse tours in Koh Samui including cooking classes and island-hopping packages.

Na Muang Waterfalls — Two waterfalls in the island’s forested interior. No. 1 is the larger and more visited; No. 2 requires a 30-minute hike and has a swimming pool. Reachable by scooter from most beaches in 20–30 minutes.

Koh Phangan day trip — A 30-minute ferry from Ban Rak or Maenam pier. Day trip by speedboat covers both the island’s beaches and a snorkel stop. Or just take the regular ferry for ฿200 one-way and explore independently.

Island hopping

Koh Samui is the transport hub for the southern Gulf islands:

Koh Phangan — 30 minutes by high-speed ferry, ฿200
Koh Tao — 1.5 hours by high-speed ferry, ฿400

A combination ticket (Samui → Phangan → Tao) can be booked at any pier or travel agent.

Practical information

Getting there — Bangkok Airways from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (1h15m) is the most convenient. Also flights from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Ferry via Surat Thani is the budget option.

Getting around — Rent a scooter (฿200–300/day) or songthaew (shared taxi pickup). Grab operates on Samui. For a pre-booked private transfer between Samui Airport and your hotel, Welcome Pickups offers fixed-price rides with a named driver.

Best time — February to August. October and November are typically the wettest months.

Where to stay

Budget: The Tango Beach Resort (Maenam, approximately ฿800–1,500/night) — Simple beachside bungalows on the quiet north coast. Away from the Chaweng strip, with a more relaxed atmosphere and direct beach access. Fan-cooled and air-conditioned rooms available, well-suited to travellers who prioritise beach access over nightlife proximity.

Mid-range: Bo Phut Resort & Spa (Bophut, approximately ฿2,500–5,000/night) — Boutique hotel a short walk from Fisherman’s Village and the Friday night market. Well-regarded for service quality at a price point that sits comfortably below the larger Bophut resort properties. Pool, spa, and beach access.

Upscale: Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort (Bophut, approximately ฿5,000–10,000/night) — On the calmer north coast with views toward Koh Phangan. The spa is one of the better-reviewed on the island and the restaurant is reliable for an upscale dinner without travelling to Chaweng. Boats to Fisherman’s Village depart from the resort pier.

Luxury: Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui (north coast, approximately ฿18,000+/night) — One of the most dramatic resort settings in Thailand: hillside villas descending to a private bay on the northeast coast, with unobstructed sea views from most rooms. Pool villas are the standard offering. The category benchmark on Koh Samui for travellers with no budget constraint.

Prices listed are approximate as of 2026; peak season (December to February, July to August) sees rates at the upper end of the ranges above.

Where to eat

Zazen Restaurant (Bophut) — Thai-European fusion directly on the beach. Consistently recommended for fresh seafood and the Friday night seafood barbecue, which draws visitors from across the island. Approximately ฿400–800 per person. Book ahead on Friday evenings.

Fisherman’s Village Friday Night Market (Bophut) — The weekly street food market runs the full length of the village from around 5pm. The range is broad: pad thai, rotis, grilled skewers, fresh coconut, mango sticky rice — approximately ฿60–150 per dish. The most atmospheric food experience on the island, and free to enter.

The Larder (Bophut) — Western breakfasts and deli-style lunches. Consistently popular with long-stay visitors for freshly baked bread, good coffee, and lunch boards. Approximately ฿200–400 per person. Not a dinner venue.

Dr. Frogs (Chaweng) — A long-running Italian restaurant in the centre of Chaweng. Wood-fired pizza, pasta, and a wine list longer than most places on the strip. Approximately ฿300–600 per person. A useful option in the main tourist zone when Thai food fatigue sets in.