Koh Samui travel guide
Our Koh Samui travel guide is written by the team that runs our day trips: islands and boat trips, elephants, beaches, itineraries and the best time to go. For the weather before you travel, see the Thai Meteorological Department.
30 Best Things to Do in Koh Samui: Islands, Temples, Beaches and More
The 30 best things to do in Koh Samui, grouped by type: island boat trips, temples, nature, beaches, food, family ideas and rainy-day options, with practical tips for each.
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Plan your tripKoh Samui in January: Weather, Sea, Crowds and the Best Boat Days
January is when Samui's weather turns: less rain, calmer seas and more sun. See the numbers, how crowds and prices change through the month, the 2027 dates and the best boat days.
Plan your tripKoh Samui in December: Weather, Sea Conditions, Christmas Crowds and What to Do
December is the tail of Samui's rainy season. See the real rain figures, what the monsoon does to boat trips, how busy Christmas and New Year get, and what to do on good and wet days.
Beaches & areasThings to Do in South Koh Samui: Laem Sor, Thong Krut, Taling Ngam and the Quiet Coast
Laem Sor Pagoda, Thong Krut's pier for Koh Tan and Pig Island, seafood lunches and Taling Ngam sunsets. A local guide to Samui's quiet south coast, with tips on getting around.
Plan your trip7 Best Koh Samui Day Trips, Ranked by Type of Traveller (With Comparison Table)
Pig Island and Koh Tan, Ang Thong, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, a 4x4 safari, elephants or Namuang Waterfall? Seven day trips from Samui ranked by type of traveller, with time, cost and best months.
Islands & boatsBoat Tours Near Me on Koh Samui: Which Pier, How Far, and How to Book for Tomorrow
Already on Koh Samui and looking for a boat? Which pier serves which islands, how far each is from Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam and Lipa Noi, and how to book a boat for tomorrow.
Plan your tripKoh Samui Tours: How to Choose the Right One (Types, Prices and What to Check)
Boat trips, 4x4 safaris, elephant visits, cooking classes, diving and island day trips: what each Koh Samui tour type costs, what is included, who it suits and how to check the operator.
Islands & boatsBang Kao Pier, Koh Samui: Where It Is, How to Get There and What Leaves From It
A local guide to Bang Kao Pier on Koh Samui's quiet south coast, where the Samui Journey catamaran departs: location, drive times from the main beaches, what is nearby and why most guests take the hotel pickup.
Islands & boatsIs Pig Island Worth It? A Straight Review of Koh Madsum for Koh Samui Visitors
A straight answer on Pig Island (Koh Madsum): who enjoys it, who leaves disappointed, when it gets crowded, the animal welfare questions, and how to build a day around it that feels worth the trip.
Islands & boatsHow to Get to Koh Tan (Koh Taen) from Koh Samui: Boats, What’s on the Island and Staying Overnight
Koh Tan (Koh Taen) is a quiet island just south of Koh Samui with no cars and very few residents. How to get there from Thong Krut, what you will find, whether to stay the night and how to add Pig Island.
Islands & boatsHow to Get to Pig Island (Koh Madsum) from Koh Samui: Every Option, Prices and Timing
Every way to reach Koh Madsum (Pig Island) from Koh Samui: a longtail or speedboat from Thong Krut, a shared tour, a kayak and the catamaran, with costs, timing, seasons and mistakes to avoid.
Plan your tripKoh Samui Water Activities: 10 Best Things to Do on the Water (and How to Stay Safe)
The ten best water activities on Koh Samui, including snorkelling at Koh Tan, kayaking, paddleboarding, banana boats and diving, with jet ski scam and sea safety tips, and the easiest way to do several in one day.
Plan your tripWat Plai Laem Guide: The 18-Armed Guanyin and Feeding the Fish
A visitor's guide to Wat Plai Laem, the lakeside Thai-Chinese temple near the Big Buddha: who the 18-armed Guanyin is, the Laughing Buddha, feeding the fish, dress code and practical tips.
Plan your tripNamuang Waterfall 1 vs 2: Which to Visit, Swimming & Safety Tips
Namuang 1 or Namuang 2? Koh Samui's two famous waterfalls compared by height, walk, swimming and risk, with plain safety advice for the upper falls and tips on when to go.
Plan your tripBig Buddha Temple on Koh Samui (Wat Phra Yai): Dress Code, Hours & How to Visit
Visiting the Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) on Koh Samui: what you'll see, the dress code and etiquette, the best time to go, how to get there and what to pair it with nearby.
Plan your tripKoh Samui Jeep Safari vs ATV vs Island Tour: Which Land Tour Is Right for You?
Jeep safari, ATV tour or classic island tour? A straight comparison of Koh Samui's land tours: who drives, what you see, safety and insurance points, and which suits families, couples and thrill-seekers.
Islands & boatsKoh Tan Snorkelling for Beginners: Fish You’ll See & How to Snorkel Safely
A first-timer's guide to snorkelling at Koh Tan off Koh Samui: the fish you are most likely to see, a 15-minute routine for beginners, and the safety issues that matter, from sunburn to jellyfish.
Islands & boatsFive Islands Bird Nest Story: The Swiftlets Behind Koh Samui’s Cliffs
The story behind Koh Samui's Five Islands: how edible-nest swiftlets build nests from saliva, why bird's nest fetches such high prices, how collecting is licensed in Thailand, and what to look for from the boat.
Islands & boatsSeasick on a Boat Trip? How a Catamaran Compares to a Speedboat in Koh Samui
Prone to seasickness? How a catamaran compares with a speedboat on Koh Samui, why the route and season matter, and what health sources advise before and during a day on the boat.
Elephants & familiesKoh Samui Boat Trip With Kids: Is a Catamaran Day Safe? (Under 5 years Free)
Is a catamaran day trip safe for children? A practical family guide to life jackets, sun, seasickness and the questions to ask before booking a Koh Samui boat trip with kids.
Islands & boatsPig Island Rules: Can You Feed or Swim With the Pigs? (Responsible Visitor Code)
Can you feed the pigs on Pig Island, swim with them or pick them up? Straight answers, the reasons behind them and a short responsible visitor code for Koh Madsum.
Plan your tripKoh Samui in November: Weather, Sea Conditions & Which Trips Still Run
November is Koh Samui's wettest month. See what the weather and sea are like, which trips still run and how to plan a November stay around the monsoon.
Islands & boatsKoh Samui Catamaran Trips Compared: Full-Day vs Half-Day, Prices & What’s Included
How much does a catamaran trip in Koh Samui cost? Half-day, full-day and private charter prices side by side, with what is included and the extras to check before you pay.
Islands & boatsAng Thong Marine Park Closed? Day Trips That Still Run in November & December
Ang Thong Marine Park is closed from 1 November to 15 December 2026. See the official dates, what is shut and which Koh Samui day trips still run while it is closed.
Beaches & areasWhere to Stay in Koh Samui: Chaweng vs Lamai vs Bophut vs Maenam vs Choeng Mon
Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Maenam, Choeng Mon or the west coast? Compare Koh Samui's main areas for beaches, nightlife, families and transport, plus tour pickup times for each.
Beaches & areasKoh Samui Night Markets and Walking Streets: Which Night, Where, and What to Expect
Which Koh Samui night market runs on which night? A guide to the walking streets and food markets in Bophut, Lamai, Chaweng and Nathon, with clear notes on where schedules are uncertain.
Beaches & areasFisherman’s Village, Bophut: A Visitor’s Guide to Koh Samui’s Old Waterfront
A visitor's guide to Fisherman's Village in Bophut, Koh Samui's old waterfront, covering the Friday Walking Street, the beach by day, what to eat and how to get there.
Beaches & areasBest Beaches in Koh Samui: Which One Suits You, and When to Swim
Koh Samui's beaches differ more than most visitors expect. Compare Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon, Bophut, Maenam and the west coast by style, and see where it's safest to swim in each season.
Plan your tripWhat to Do in Koh Samui on a Rainy Day: 12 Practical Ideas
Twelve practical things to do in Koh Samui on a rainy day, how to tell passing showers from a storm, and what the weather means for boat trips and tours.
Plan your tripKoh Samui 5-Day Itinerary: A Relaxed Day-by-Day Plan
A relaxed five-day Koh Samui itinerary with timings: a catamaran island day, a 4x4 island safari, elephants, Fisherman's Village and a flexible fifth day to cover the weather.
Plan your tripKoh Samui 3-Day Itinerary: A Day-by-Day Plan With Timings
A realistic three-day Koh Samui plan with timings: a catamaran day to the southern islands, a 4x4 day of temples and waterfalls, then a lighter day with elephants and the north coast.
Plan your tripKoh Samui Honeymoon Things to Do: Romantic Day Trips and Experiences
Romantic things to do on a Koh Samui honeymoon: a day at sea, a hands-off elephant sanctuary, temples at golden hour, and a sample five-day plan for couples.
Elephants & familiesKoh Samui with Kids: Family-Friendly Days Out by Age Group
Family days out on Koh Samui sorted by age group, toddlers to teens, with a sample four-day plan and the safety points parents ask us about most.
Elephants & familiesSamui Elephant Kingdom: What to Expect on Your Visit
Before you visit Samui Elephant Kingdom, an ethical elephant sanctuary we proudly support, read how the visit of about three hours runs, when hotel pickup is, what's included and what to wear.
Elephants & familiesEthical Elephant Sanctuary Koh Samui: How to Choose a Responsible Visit
Words like "sanctuary" and "ethical" are not regulated. Find out what welfare organisations say a responsible elephant visit looks like, the red flags to avoid and the questions to ask before you book.
Plan your tripBest Time to Visit Koh Samui: Weather and Sea Conditions Month by Month
Koh Samui's weather runs on a different clock from Phuket. Check rainfall, heat and sea conditions month by month, and plan your boat days around the rainy season.
Islands & boatsWhat to Bring on a Boat Trip in Koh Samui: A Practical Packing Checklist
A packing checklist for a Koh Samui boat day: what to wear to pickup, what goes in your bag, what is already on board and what you can leave at the hotel.
Islands & boatsBest Snorkeling in Koh Samui: Where to Go by Boat and From the Beach
Where to snorkel around Koh Samui: Koh Tan and Ang Thong by boat, Coral Cove and Silver Beach from the shore, and which spot suits your swimming level and travel dates.
Islands & boatsAng Thong or Pig Island? How to Choose the Right Koh Samui Day Trip
Torn between Ang Thong Marine Park and a Pig Island catamaran? We compare effort, time at sea, fees, seasons and the kind of traveller each day trip suits best.
Islands & boatsKoh Samui Boat Trips Compared: Catamaran Day Trip vs Ang Thong vs Speedboat vs Private Charter
Catamaran day trip, Ang Thong Marine Park, speedboat tour or private charter? We compare every type of Koh Samui boat trip on comfort, pace, extra costs and who each one suits.
Islands & boatsKoh Tan Snorkelling Guide: Reefs, Technique and Reef-Friendly Tips for Koh Samui’s Southern Island
A practical how-to for snorkelling at Koh Tan, the island south of Koh Samui: what the reef is like today, beginner technique, safety and reef etiquette, and the best season to go.
Islands & boatsFive Islands Koh Samui (Koh Si Koh Ha): Limestone Cliffs, Swiftlet Nests and How to See Them
The Five Islands (Koh Si Koh Ha) are steep limestone islets off Taling Ngam, home to valuable swiftlet nests. Why they are viewed from the boat, and how to get the best views and photos.
Islands & boatsPig Island Koh Samui (Koh Madsum): A Complete, Responsible Visitor’s Guide
Pig Island (Koh Madsum) is a small island off Koh Samui's south coast where free-roaming pigs live on the beach. How to get there, when to go, what to bring and how to visit responsibly.
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