Gulf of Thailand · Thailand's second-largest island

Koh Samui

Palm-fringed beaches, the golden Big Buddha and grown-up island comfort — the Gulf's holiday island, reached by train and ferry from Ban Krut.

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Chaweng beach
Big Buddha
Fisherman's Village
Waterfalls
Ang Thong marine park
Beach clubs
Coconut groves
Island ring road
Introduction

The Gulf's holiday island

Koh Samui is the biggest and most comfortable of the Gulf islands — an international resort island with its own airport, a 50-kilometre ring road, and beaches for every taste: lively Chaweng, mellow Lamai, boutique Bophut and the quiet coves of the south and west.

Chaweng Noi beach on Koh Samui

It's still recognisably the coconut island it was before tourism: inland the jungle climbs to waterfalls and grandmother-and-grandfather rocks, and the old Hainanese shophouses of Fisherman's Village now hold some of the island's best restaurants.

Transport

Tickets & connections

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Tours

Tours & activities

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Quick facts

Koh Samui

  • Reached via Chumphon or Surat Thani — combined train + ferry tickets exist
  • Thailand's second-largest island (about 230 km²)
  • Chaweng and Lamai are the classic beaches; Bophut is the boutique choice
  • The 12-metre golden Big Buddha guards the north coast
  • Gateway to Ang Thong National Marine Park's 42 islands
Big Buddha temple on Koh Samui
Getting there

Getting there from Ban Krut

From Ban Krut you connect by train south to either Chumphon or Surat Thani. From Chumphon, Lomprayah high-speed catamarans island-hop via Koh Tao and Koh Phangan to Samui. From Surat Thani, ferries leave from Donsak pier — buy a combined bus-and-ferry ticket in town or at the station.

Ferries at Donsak pier

The Chumphon route is the scenic island-hopper (about 2 hours by train + 3½–4 hours by boat). The Surat Thani route has more departures and works better with the sleeper trains.

Ferries also carry cars from Donsak if you're driving. Flying is possible via Bangkok or Surat Thani airport plus ferry.

Good to know

Koh Samui

  • Buy combined tickets (train + bus + ferry) — they connect properly and cost less.
  • The night ferry from Surat Thani town is a budget classic — mattress on deck, arrive at dawn.
  • Songthaews circle the ring road at fixed prices; agree before boarding.
  • High season is December–April; the Gulf's rainy months are October–November.
See & do

See & do on Samui

The Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
Landmark

The Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)

Samui's 12-metre golden Buddha has watched over the north coast since 1972. Climb the naga staircase at sunset when the statue glows and the airport's planes drift past.

Chaweng & Chaweng Noi
Beach

Chaweng & Chaweng Noi

Six kilometres of powder sand with everything from beach bars to luxury resorts. Chaweng Noi, over the headland, is the quieter, prettier little sister.

Na Muang waterfalls
Nature

Na Muang waterfalls

Two purple-granite falls in the jungle interior — Na Muang 2 is a short sweaty climb rewarded with a natural pool deep enough to swim.

Lipa Noi & the west
Quiet coast

Lipa Noi & the west

The west coast keeps the Samui of twenty years ago: shallow, glass-clear water, sunset views over the Five Islands and barely a beach chair in sight.

Ang Thong Marine Park
Day trip

Ang Thong Marine Park

Forty-two jungle-covered islands an hour offshore — kayak through lagoons, climb to the Emerald Lake viewpoint, snorkel from the boat. Book a day tour from any beach.

Sunset at Fisherman's Village
Evening

Sunset at Fisherman's Village

Bophut's old wooden shophouses hold wine bars, seafood grills and boutiques. Come Friday evening for the walking street market, stay for the lanterns on the water.

Food

Island kitchens

Samui's food scene runs the full range: southern Thai curries heavy with turmeric and coconut from the island's own groves, beachfront seafood barbecues where you pick your fish from the ice, and a genuinely international restaurant row in Fisherman's Village.

Don't leave without trying kua kling (dry-fried curry), sea snails with chilli dip at a local place on the ring road, and a young coconut drunk on the sand — this was Thailand's coconut capital long before it was a resort.

Kua klingSeafood barbecueCoconut everythingSouthern curriesBeach bar cocktailsFresh fruit shakes
Beach seafood barbecue
Markets

Walking streets & night markets

Every evening a different part of the island hosts a walking street: Fisherman's Village on Fridays is the biggest and best, Lamai runs a lively Sunday market, and Chaweng's night food parks grill seafood every night of the week.

For daytime browsing, the morning market in Nathon town shows the island's local face — southern snacks, batik, and the ferry-port bustle that tourism never quite replaced.

Night market food stalls
Where to stay

Where to stay

Pick your beach first — each coast has its own character and getting between them takes time on the ring road.

Koh Samui

Chaweng & Lamai

The classic east-coast strips: the longest beaches, the most restaurants and nightlife, and resorts at every price from hostel to five-star.

Koh Samui

Bophut & the north

Fisherman's Village charm, calmer water and easy airport access — the grown-up choice, with boutique resorts between the old shophouses.

Koh Samui

South & west

Lipa Noi, Taling Ngam and the southern capes are for peace: sunset-facing villas, empty sand and the Five Islands on the horizon.

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Travel guides

Travel guides

Step-by-step transport guides for this stretch of the Gulf coast.