Traveling to Koh Samui is a bit of a long one. You have a few options here, you could fly to either Bangkok or Phuket International airport and get a connection flight to Koh Samui, both are about an hour long. Alternatively, depending on where you are in Thailand, you have some options. If you are in Krabi, you can take a coach to the Surat Thani pier and grab a ferry across to Koh Samui. You can also do the same form Bangkok, although the trip is a bit longer. Alternatively, there is an overnight ferry with beds from Bangkok to Koh Samui if you’re feeling adventurous.
If this is your first time going to Thailand, there are a few things you should know. The first is that, packing any warm clothes will most likely be a waste, especially if you’re going to any of the islands. It’s always 30 – 40 degrees celsius with humidity at roughly 1 million percent! This place is a sauna! Secondly, while the islands do have some incredibly luxurious hotels, this will not be a luxurious holiday for the most part. You’re really not doing it right unless you put on some shorts, some sunscreen and grabbing a scooter to tour the island with.
One big advantage when going to any of the Thailand islands is that just about anyone can do it, whether you’re on a budget or feel like going for a splurge, they really do cater for everyone.
Where to stay | Koh Samui
As of writing this article (2023), Koh Samui has become an incredibly source of tourism and investment. It is almost impossible to go anywhere without encountering some sort of construction. That being said, you have a few options in terms of locations to stay depending on what you want from your holiday. Flying into Koh Samui, you will land in the North-east of the island which is also the busiest in terms of things to do and places to stay. The airport is situated between Chaweng beach which is great for bars and shopping, and Fisherman’s village which, of late, has become the more upmarket place to go and spend the night out.
Fisherman’s village is home to the famous CocoTam’s beach bar & restaurant which has evolved tremendously over the last 5 years, taking over much of the strip. Go out for a drink on the beach or have a (normally incredible) bite to eat at one of their restaurants at night and you will be entertained by incredible music and the best firework shows on the island. Koh Samui is also one of those places where you could pitch up to without having booked any accommodation and fairly easily find a place to stay for the night.
Looking for something calmer?
The south of the island is the complete opposite, and is home to both the most basic and the most incredible hotels on the island. Part of the Hilton Group, The Conrad is the ultimate in luxury accommodation and perfect for a romantic getaway in complete isolation from the crowds. Built on its own corner of the island, there’s nowhere where you will expierence a higher level of privacy than here. https://www.hilton.com/en/hotels/usmksci-conrad-koh-samui/
The west?
Unless you’re a Kanye fan, the west probably won’t appeal to you much. Nathon is the island’s main commercial pier, brining in supplies from the mainland of Surat Thani and offers some shopping spots, but isn’t really cheaper or better than what can be found on the rest of the island, so really not worth the effort. There isn’t much to see here either, however one hidden gem lies just south of Nathon that only the locals know about.
Situated at Lipa Noi is another pier with large ferries, and these allow you to take your motorbike or car across to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan for barely any money at all. You might wonder why I am even mentioning this? Normally, should you want to go to a neighboring island, you would need to book a taxi and a boat and then when you get to the other side, rent a scooter again or make use of taxi’s, however this allows you to drive straight to the pier, drive on to the barge with your vehicle and drive off the other side. Complete freedom!
If you make an early morning of it, you can get on the ferry from Koh Samui at 7am and be on the ground in Koh Phangan at 8:45am, in time for breakfast. This gives you the whole day to explore the island and the many attractions she has to offer, while getting back on the return ferry by 4pm and home in time for dinner. A second major island trip at about $15 per person, and one I highly recommend.
Beaches, did anyone say beaches? Head to the North!
The north of the island, not too far from Fisherman’s Village is home to Mae Nam. While it’s not that popular with the local expats due to all of its traffic, it does have some hidden gems in terms of both restaurants, accommodation and beaches. The Treehouse is one great example that offers both dining and accommodation while overlooking the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, and is especially beautiful at night.
Mea Nam’s real treasures lie on her sandy beaches. These are some of the few beaches on Koh Samui that have been planted with palm trees, offering a good balance of sun and shade, while the calm waters will sooth you to sleep. Perfect for those lounging beach days, just reading a book.
Looking for something in-between? Head to Lamai
Towards the east of the island and home to the largest part of (mostly french) expats lies Lamai. She is host to a good standard of high quality hotels at affordable rates, not too far from the busy parts of Chaweng and home to good restaurants and beautiful beaches. Silver Beach is popular among tourists, families with children and locals, a hidden gem where you can grab lunch, book a place to stay and even get a massage on the beach!
What to do
As a first-timer going to Koh Samui, you might feel a little bit lost in terms of what to do. It’s quite a lot different from something like Phuket which has a ton of daily activities one can book to always stay busy. Koh Samui is a lot more relaxed. My number one piece of advice would be to rent a scooter (no license required), it truly lets you experience the island in a way you just won’t be able to with any other method of transport. Koh Samui is about exploring.
The island has a 55km ring-road that goes around it, with two pointy sections at opposite ends sticking out, taking the total coastal roads to about 100km. That’s a lot of places to see, and trust me when I say, you won’t go very far without something grabbing your attention, whether it be a traditional buddha structure, a historic church, an incredible view point, a restaurant that just draws you in, beaches that beg you to stop for an ice cream or a local waterfall to go swim in.
I’ve made a list of my favorite attractions below, the type that I go back every year to experience:
- Coco Tams Beach Bar – Fisherman’s Village, best at night
- A massage at Cyan Spa – Fisherman’s Village, anytime from 11am
- A drive through Bophut – Great for lunch or dinner. Go hungry, there are some incredible restaurants on the way
- Silver Beach – Lamai. Vibey, energetic and a great place to eat, stay and swim
- Sunset at Bang Kao – I’ve experienced the most incredible sunsets at the south of the island. Some photos below.
- A swim at Na Mueang Waterfall – Wat Khunaram
- Beaches and hidden restaurants – Mae Nam
- Shopping and bars – Chaweng
- Big Buddha – BoPhut
- A trip to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan