Region

Ko Samui

Stay 4–5 nights; base in Chaweng or Lamai and take day trips to Bophut, Choeng Mon, Bang Rak and Na Muang waterfall.

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Key facts · Thailand

Best months: Feb–Sep
Visa: Depends on your passport
Currency: Baht (THB, ฿)
Language: Thai (own script)
Plugs: A · B · C · O · 220 V
Time zone: UTC+7 all year

Month by month hereIn detail ↓

Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…

Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.

Ko Samui is Thailand's second-largest island, known for palm-fringed beaches, coconut groves, and a central rainforest. Base in Chaweng for nightlife and convenience, or Lamai for a quieter beach; day-trip to Bophut, Choeng Mon, Bang Rak, and Na Muang waterfall.

Where to sleep

5 places in this region

Sleep base

ChawengCity guide
Main beach with nightlife, restaurants, and bars; crowded in high season.
Best Jan–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Chaweng →
LamaiCity guide
Quieter than Chaweng, with Grandmother and Grandfather rocks and good swimming.
Best Jan–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Lamai →

Day trip

BophutCity guide
Fisherman's village with restaurants and diving tours; ~20 min from Chaweng.
Best Jul–Aug, Jan–Mar
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bophut →
Choeng MonCity guide
Relaxed beach in the northeast corner; ~15 min from Chaweng.
Best Feb–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Choeng Mon →
Bang RakCity guide
Big Buddha Beach; ~25 min from Chaweng.
Best Feb–Sep
JFMAMJJASOND
Open Bang Rak →

Plan the nights

How to split the nights, day-trips and what to do with your bags

Open Plan the nightsClose Plan the nights3 partsNights · Day-trips · Bags

Night sequences

4 nights: Chaweng 4, day-trip to Bophut and Choeng Mon
5 nights: Chaweng 3 + Lamai 2, day-trip to Na Muang waterfall

Motorbike rental scams are common: inspect the bike, photograph damage, and never leave your passport as collateral.
Taxi drivers often refuse to use meters; negotiate the fare before the ride.
Songthaews switch to taxi pricing after 18:00 — negotiate the fare.Songthaews switch to taxi pricing after 6:00 PM — negotiate the fare.
Chaweng and Lamai beaches can be overcrowded in high season (Jan–Feb).

Day-trips door to door

To	From	Door-to-door p50	Last return	Note
Bophut	Chaweng	20 min	unknown	Songthaew or taxi, ~20 min.
Choeng Mon	Chaweng	15 min	unknown	Bike or taxi, ~15 min.
Bang Rak (Big Buddha)	Chaweng	25 min	unknown	Songthaew, ~25 min.
Na Muang Waterfall	Lamai	30 min	unknown	Motorbike or taxi, ~30 min.

Bags between cities

Luggage forwarding is not common on Ko Samui; most hotels will hold bags for a fee. Check with your hotel before arrival.

When to go

Months and weather

Open When to goClose When to go2 partsSeasons · Climate

Seasons at a glance

From each city's month table

Pick a month to see where to go.

Only good-now countries

Show all 12 months, country by countryHide the 12-month table

Country	JJan	FFeb	MMar	AApr	MMay	JJun	JJul	AAug	SSep	OOct	NNov	DDec
Chaweng	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	ok
Lamai	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	ok
Bophut	go	go	go	ok	ok	ok	go	go	ok	ok	×	×
Choeng Mon	ok	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Bang Rak	×	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	go	×	×	×
Thailand (country-wide)	go	go	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	ok	×	ok	go	go

Go: the good monthsFair: workable, mixedPoor: heat, rain or hazeAvoid: storms, floods, closuresno data yet

Computed from each country’s own data; hover a country name for the source. Advisory countries are left out.

Climate strip

Month by month

Zone	J	F	M	A	M	J	J	A	S	O	N	D
Ko SamuiGulf of Thailand	ok	best	best	best	best	best	best	best	best	wet	wet	wet

best: dry, mildok: workablewet: daily rain

Ko Samui: Dry season Feb–Sep; rainy season Oct–Dec with heavy downpours. Best months: Jan–Feb (dry and slightly cooler).

Samui's weather differs from the rest of Thailand: it stays fairly dry Apr–Sep when the Andaman coast has its monsoon, and gets wet Oct–Dec when the rest of the country is drier.

Getting in and passes

Arrival times and regional passes

Open Getting in and passesClose Getting in and passes1 partGet in

Get in

Door-to-door p50, 2026 estimate

From	How	p50	Note
Bangkok (BKK)	Direct flights to Samui International Airport (USM)	1 h 15 min door‑to‑door	Tickets pricey; advance booking cheaper.
Surat Thani (URT)	Bus to Nathon Pier + ferry	3 h total	Cheapest option; buses run 6×/day.
Chumphon (CJM)	Bus to Don Sak + high‑speed catamaran	3 h 30 min	Stops at Ko Tao and Ko Pha‑Ngan.

Eat and move on

Regional food and where to go next

Open Eat and move onClose Eat and move on1 partGo next

Go next

Ko Pha‑ngan travel guide

planned

Ferry from Nathon pier, ~45 min

Popular for Full Moon parties.

Planning aids

Built from this guide's own data

Open Planning aidsClose Planning aids2 partsIn numbers · Going in…

Region in numbers

Where to sleep: 2 bases
Day trips: 4, 15 min to 30 min
Nights suggested: 4–5 nights
Ways in: 3 listed
Best months: Feb–Sep

Going in…

Pick a month for the weather in each zone of the region, plus the country-wide rating and holidays.

Pick a month.

Explore Thailand Up to Thailand

Deep dive

Photos, reading and every source

Open Deep diveClose Deep dive1 partSources

Sources

officialSamui Airport – official site
officialSeatran Ferry – official
secondaryWikivoyage: Ko Samui, revision 5290871 (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Ask about Ko Samui

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