Koh Samui is one of the coolest tropical holiday destinations in Thailand and in the world. This is a cosmopolitan melting pot, attracting budget travellers that sometimes stay for a month or two in simple beachside bungalows as well as the mega rich, dropping by for a weekend at a luxury resort or beach villa. Koh Samui is unique among Thailand’s islands in maintaining a broad appeal to everyone. This helps to foster the distinctive relaxed atmosphere that sets it apart.
Samui has a wide range of accommodation, great nightlife, action sports, and beautiful scenery. Experience first-class spas, holistic activities, ladyboy shows, Muay Thai (kickboxing) matches, Thai massage – it’s all here.
Koh Samui has a tropical monsoon climate. Humidity is high and temperatures average around 28°C and the one thing you will rarely feel is cold. The island offers world-class diving sites with optimum conditions between March and August. The hottest time is between March and April (avg. 30° C plus). September till November sees the heaviest rainfall and the weather can be unpredictable. The best time to go to Koh Samui is December to February, for cooler temperatures, little rain, calm seas, and light winds.
Most difficult part of choosing where to stay in Koh Samui is to choose which beach you would like to stay in. If you’re into nightlife, Chaweng and Lamai are definitely the places to go. If you’re in for a quieter beach experience, try Mae Nam or the South Coast. A good compromise is Bophut. Choeng Mon is a good choice if you’re looking for a quiet hideaway retreat. Nathon is in the central part of the island.
Koh Samui map and beaches
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng is not only the biggest but the most exciting and developed town on the island. Located on the east coast, its sandy beach is popular for all kinds of fun activities including banana boat riding and parasailing. Visitors can find just about everything here within easy enough walking distance so expect to see the usual business setups in the neighborhood such as dive shops, souvenir shops, internet cafés and tour companies. On top of that, Chaweng has the biggest selection of accommodation, spas, restaurants, bars and nightlife entertainments in Samui.
For resorts and hotels in Chaweng Beach, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Samui Chaweng Beach hotels page.
Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui
Lamai Beach
In the past, Lamai was a favourite location for backpackers with its beautiful beach, cosy and easy-going ambience and many budget and cheap accommodations scattered here and there, but that’s not the case anymore. As the second-largest beach on the island, Lamai is still quieter than Chaweng but lately there have been more sophisticated businesses opening up including luxury resorts and trendy cafés and restaurants. Visitors can enjoy much better nightlife and shopping opportunities than in the past, too. It is easy to visit some of Samui’s top attractions from Lamai Beach. Among them are Wat Khunaram and the
Grandma and Grandpa rocks.
For resorts and hotels in Lamai Beach, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Samui Lamai Beach hotels page.
Koh Samui Lamai Beach
Bophut
On northern coast of Samui lies Bophut, made up of two places: Bophut Beach, which stretches several kilometres between Big Buddha and Maenam beaches and the well-preserved Fisherman’s Village situated in the middle section of the beach. The undeniable charm of this picturesque village features old wooden Chinese shop-houses and fishing boats coming and going day after day. Bophut presents not only a glimpse of the past but modern comfort too. It features accommodations of all sizes and budgets. The beauty is that
the old and the new are blended well together and offer a peaceful alternative to visitors.
For resorts and hotels in Bophut, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Samui Bophut hotels page.
Bophut Beach
Maenam Beach
Visitors who desire a long powdery beach fringed by swaying palms should look no further than Maenam Beach. Located north of Chaweng and Bophut, Maenam is considered a haven for all, whether you are on a budget or have some cash to spend. Here you can check in to a very simple style room with fan or a luxury five-star pool villa or something in between, the choices are there! A stop at the pier in the middle of the beach can be interesting because this is where people head to for catching a ferry to Koh Phangan, famous for its Full Moon Party. Restaurants, tour and dive shops nearby the pier all add to the colourful scene at
Maenam Beach.
For resorts and hotels in Maenam Beach, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Samui Maenam Beach hotels page.
Koh Samui Maenam Beach
East and South Coasts
Travelers who would like to learn more about the island away from the usual touristy spots should explore Samui’s east and south coasts as the majority of these areas still maintain their exotic charm and a small-town atmosphere. You will also find interesting small beaches or in some cases the rocky bays looking out to beautiful islets nearby. Chaweng Noi Beach and Coral Cove on the east coast are actually quite close to the famous Chaweng and Lamai beaches. In the south, there are for example Hua Thanon, Laem Set and Thong Tanote beaches. Interestingly, many of the more upper-market resorts can be found here.
For resorts and hotels in East and South Coasts, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Samui Chaweng Noi Beach hotels,Coral Cove hotels and Hua Thanon beach hotels pages.
A Koh Samui Villa near Chaweng Noi Beach
Koh Phangan and Koh Tao
It’s true that you can’t separate the world-famous full moon party from Koh Phangan’s image but that’s not all that the island has to offer. Located north of Samui, Phangan has what it takes to become an incredible holiday destination with lovely beaches, tropical surrounding along with modern comforts. For those who are looking for more, a trip to Koh Tao (or Turtle Island) will suit you just fine. Koh Tao is a more peaceful, laid back and much less developed island than the better-known Samui and Phangan islands. Encompassed by rocky bays, beaches and plentiful coconut trees, Koh Tao is Thailand’s prime destination for scuba diving and a ‘secret’ paradise for many world travelers.
For resorts and hotels in Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, their room prices, latest deals and discounts as well as customer reviews refer to Koh Phangan hotels and Koh Tao hotels pages.
Koh Phangan (Phangan Island)