Ko Samui

Tropical Vibes and Relaxed Luxury

Koh Samui presents a calm coastal setting with white sand beaches and clear blue waters. The island features small fishing villages, coconut groves and hills covered in tropical plants. Local markets sell fresh seafood and regional fruits while street food stalls serve simple Thai dishes. Visitors can explore temples, relax by the shore or take short boat trips to nearby islands. Daily life centers on community gatherings at markets and quiet evenings near the water. The pace remains steady with opportunities for swimming, walking trails and casual exploration of local culture.

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Island in Thailand

$$$

$	Cheap
$$	Medium
$$$	Expensive, upscale
$$$+	Very expensive, luxury

See price details

Safety: 6.4

General Safety:	7
Health & medical:	6
Accessibility:	5
Tap water:	5

Read details

4/5

English is widely spoken in tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants. You might find locals with basic English skills even in smaller markets and transport services.

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Last update: 12 Oct 2026

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Ko Samui Summary

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‘Best for’ scores:
The specific interest scores show where this place really shines – whether it's ideal for hiking, food & drink experiences, museums or other activities. These highlights help you understand what makes the destination special at a glance.

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Excellent for tropical beaches and island activities. Relax on palm-lined shores, visit temples and waterfalls, enjoy boat trips and experience lively night markets.

Place score

7.4

Best at:

Islands

Sea

Beaches

Street food

Natural sites

Personal score

Suited for

👶 8

Families

🧓 6

Seniors

❤️ 10

Couples

💻 9

Digital Nomads

Thailand – Quick facts

Guide Etiquette Holidays Other

Power Grid:	220 V, 50 Hz Plug: Type A , Type B Type A: Type B: Read about power adapters
Currency:	Thai Baht (THB) £1 ≈ THB 44.95
Cashless info:	Rating 5/5 Cashless payments are widely accepted in Thailand, especially in major cities. Mobile payments such as Line Pay, GrabPay, and Apple Pay are common. Save with a travel credit card
eSIM providers:	Best value: Saily Flexibility: Airalo Read our in-depth comparison

Tipping:	Tipping is not mandatory in Thailand, but it is appreciated. In restaurants, leaving 10% is common. Taxi fares are rounded up, and small tips for hotel staff are encouraged.
Public drinking:	Public drinking is generally not allowed in Thailand, though alcohol is available in licensed venues like bars and restaurants. Laws around drinking in public can be strictly enforced in some areas.
Public smoking:	Smoking is prohibited in many indoor public spaces, including shopping centres and restaurants, but designated smoking areas are common.

Songkran (13–15 April)	Thai New Year celebrated with water fights
Father's Day (King Bhumibol Memorial Day) (5 December)	Honours the late King Bhumibol, with ceremonies across the country

Emergency contact:	Emergency Numbers: 191 (Police), 1155 (Tourist Police), 1669 (Ambulance), 199 (Fire)
Taxi apps:	Grab, Bolt
Other:	Thailand is known for its vibrant culture, beautiful beaches, and rich history. Popular activities include visiting temples, experiencing the vibrant nightlife, and enjoying the country’s diverse cuisine.

Best times to travel

The best times to travel section shows how the months compare for a visit, so you can find the time of year that fits what you want to do.

Background colours of the months:
The colour shows the typical temperature: yellow (hot), green (mild) and blue (cold). How strong the colour is shows the travel season: full colour means high season, soft colour means shoulder season and soft-striped means off season.

Weather symbols:
Each month has one symbol showing what the weather is typically like, such as hot and sunny, freezing or a rainy or snowy season. Use them to quickly spot months that match the weather you want, or to avoid the ones that don't.

Crowdedness:
The people icon shows how busy the place usually is. The more people, the more crowded it gets.

Additional notes:
The grey info boxes point out special things worth knowing, like recurring weather issues or seasonal events.

for Ko Samui, Thailand

🔥

Jan

🔥

Feb

🔥

Mar

🔥

Apr

🌦️

May

🌦️

Jun

🌦️

Jul

🌦️

Aug

🌦️

Sep

⛈️

Oct

⛈️

Nov

⛈️

Dec

High season:	Jan. - March, July - Aug., Dec.
Shoulder season:	April - June, Sep.
Crowdedness:	8 (Very crowded)

Tap on a month for more info Hover over a month for more info

Climate details

Gulf of Thailand monsoon: wettest October to December, opposite to the Andaman side (Phuket), which is wettest May to October

Ferries and boat trips are often cancelled in rough seas, mostly November to December

Don't miss

🕉️ Visit the iconic Big Buddha Temple at Wat Phra Yai
🚤 Explore Ang Thong National Marine Park by boat
🏖️ Relax on the white sands of Chaweng Beach
🪨 Discover the unique Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks
🌺 Hike to Secret Buddha Garden for serene views

You've been here?

Why travel to Ko Samui?

Ko Samui offers a mix of everything: soft sandy beaches, clear waters and lively beach towns. You can unwind at a beachside spa, explore temples like Wat Phra Yai with its Big Buddha or party at the famous beach clubs. The island's natural beauty is also a huge draw, with waterfalls, rainforests and coral reefs waiting to be explored.

🏯Places worth seeing

1 Big Buddha
2 Fisherman's Village Bophut Walking Street
3 Wat Plai Laem
4 Tarnim & Magic Garden - Secret Buddha Garden
5 Hin Ta & Hin Yai (Grandma and Grandpa Rocks)
6 Chaweng Yai Beach

🎡Places for activities

1 Samui Elephant Sanctuary Bophut
2 Pink Elephant Water Park
3 Wat Phra Yai
4 Samart Payakarun Muay Thai Gym
5 Wat Khunaram
6 Namuang 3 Waterfall

🏞️Natural landmarks

1 Silver Beach
2 Haad Bophut
3 na muang
4 Lamai Viewpoint
5 Hin Lad Waterfall

🛍️Shopping

1 Central Festival
2 Night Market
3 Maenam Walking Street
4 The Wharf
5 Lamai Fresh Food Market

🎈Events

Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan
Samui Regatta
Samui Bike Week
Songkran (Thai New Year)
Loy Krathong Festival
Buffalo Fighting Festival
Samui Green Market
Fisherman’s Village Festival
Samui Coconut Festival
Thai Food and Culture Festival

Explore on map

Open map view

Knowledge before you go

Rent scooter or car. Roads connect all beaches and attractions easily.
Visit Chaweng Beach for vibrant nightlife, water sports and beachfront dining options.
Book Ang Thong Marine Park tour early for snorkeling, kayaking and emerald lagoons.
Catch Friday Walking Street night market in Fisherman's Village for street food, crafts and live music.

How to travel to Ko Samui

Ko Samui is accessible via Samui International Airport (USM), which offers direct flights from Bangkok and regional hubs. Alternatively, you can take a ferry from Surat Thani or Don Sak pier on the mainland.

Access summary

From Samui Airport (USM): Taxi or shuttle to beaches, around 20–40 minutes.
From Bangkok: Frequent direct flights to Samui, roughly 1–1.25 hours.
From Surat Thani: Bus plus ferry combinations usually 3–5 hours total.

Check your route from anywhere

Where to stay in Ko Samui

Ko Samui offers a wide range of accommodations, from luxury beachfront resorts to budget bungalows. Chaweng is lively with nightlife, while Lamai and Bophut offer a more laid‑back vibe.

Hotel recommendations

*by rating and popularity. Commissions have no influence on the rankings.

Hansar Samui Resort

9.2

Nora Buri Resort & Spa

8.7

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

9.1

SALA Samui Chaweng Beach Resort

9.3

Mantra Samui Resort - Adults Only

8.7

COSI Samui Chaweng Beach

8.9

Amari Koh Samui

8.7

NH Collection Samui Peace Resort

8.9

Escape Beach Resort

8.5

Holiday Inn Resort Samui Bophut Beach By IHG

9.3

Explore more accommodations

How to get around Ko Samui

Getting around Ko Samui is easy with taxis, songthaews (shared pickup trucks) and scooter rentals. Renting a scooter is a popular option but be cautious as traffic can be unpredictable. Some hotels offer shuttle services.

Budget snapshot

Costs compared to home

We calculate the average costs when travelling to destinations and compare those with the living costs at your home. With this you can get an estimate of how expensive or cheap the destination is for you.

To customise this, you can set up which location and price level are used for the calculations in your account settings.

-60 %

Daily expenses in Ko Samui are around 60% lower than the average across United States. That means you'll spend a lot less on meals and getting around.

Exchange rate trend

The exchange rate price factor shows how expensive or cheap a currency currently is compared to its historical average. It's a quick way to see if a country is currently more or less affordable due to exchange rate changes.

-3 %

Your exchange rate (GBP to THB) is 3% better than in recent years. That means travelling now costs around the same compared to the past.

Travel costs

To help you plan your trip, we provide estimated daily costs per person (when travelling as a pair) for different travel styles. These numbers give you an idea of what you might spend each day at this destination, including accommodation, food, transport and activities.

Additionally, we also provide average hotel costs for different travel styles to give you an estimate for the accommodation only.

Please note that these are only estimates. The real costs depend on booking times, season and other factors.

Daily cost summary

Travel style categories explained:

Backpacker:
Staying in hostels or budget hotels, cooking your own meals or eating cheap and choosing low-cost activities.

Mid-range:
Staying in mid-range hotels, eating at a mix of restaurants and casual spots and enjoying a variety of activities.

Luxury:
Staying in luxury hotels, dining out at high-end restaurants and enjoying premium experiences without worrying about the price.

	Backpacker	Mid-range	Luxury
💵 Total costs per day, including accommodation	£33	£68	£185
🏨 Accommodation per night, per person	£15	£38	£90
🍝 Food per day	£14	£25	£77
🚕 Transportation per day	£4	£5	£18

Food & Drink

🍽️ Restaurant Dinner, per person	£10
🍛 Lunch Set, per person	£2.20
🍟 Fast food combo	£5.50
🍝 Preparing your own food, per day	£5
☕ Cappuccino	£1.80
🍺 Beer in a restaurant, 0.5 l	£1.80

Transportation

🚌 Public transport ticket	£0.75
🚕 Taxi Ride, 10 km / 6 mi	£11
⛽ Petrol, 1 l	£1

Other

🎞️ Cinema ticket	£4.80
👩‍⚕️ Doctor's consult	£22
🤧 Cold medication	£2.70
💇 Basic haircut	£4.10

Safety information overview

General safety

Ko Samui is generally safe for tourists. Use common sense, avoid isolated areas at night and watch out for petty theft in crowded places. Traffic can be chaotic, so be cautious if riding a scooter.

Health & Medical

There are good medical facilities on Ko Samui, including international-standard clinics and hospitals. Mosquito-borne diseases exist but are not common. Basic travel health precautions are recommended.

Accessibility

Many resorts and tourist areas are wheelchair accessible. However, natural attractions and some beaches may have limited accessibility. Public transport is not well adapted for accessibility needs.

Tap water

Tap water is not safe for drinking. Stick to bottled water, which is inexpensive and widely available. Many hotels provide complimentary bottled water in rooms.