Koh Samui

The driest and sunniest months are February to April. Rain is heaviest from October to December, when the sea can be rough and some boats stop running.

The biggest event near Samui is the Full Moon Party on Ko Pha-ngan, held every month. Many visitors take a boat from Samui for the night, and boats and rooms fill up early.

• Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha) is a large golden Buddha statue on a small island linked by a short causeway in the north. It is easy to reach and a good place for sunset.
• Wat Plai Laem is a colorful temple on a lake with a giant white statue of Guanyin. It is next to a second temple with a many-armed statue.
• Hin Ta and Hin Yai are two rocks on the coast that look like human shapes. They are a short stop near Lamai.
• Na Muang Waterfall is a waterfall in the interior of the island. Visit after rain, when there is water in the pools.
• Wat Khunaram is a temple on the south coast with a monk who is preserved in a glass case. It is an unusual stop that many visitors remember.
• Secret Buddha Garden is a garden of statues in the hills. It is quiet and shaded.
• Lamai Beach is a long beach on the southeast coast. It is calmer and more relaxed than Chaweng.
• Chaweng Yai Beach is the busiest and best-known beach, with white sand and many shops, restaurants and bars.

• Fisherman's Village walking street: On Friday evenings, the old village in Bophut closes to traffic for a market with food and crafts.
• Sunset on the water: Watch the sun go down from the beach at Bophut or the north coast.
• Island boat tour: Join a day tour to the islands and snorkel in the clear water.
• Thai cooking class: Many schools run half-day classes with a market visit.
• Waterfall swimming: After rain, swim in the pools at the interior waterfalls.

Boat trips are the main day trips from Samui. They are listed from closest to farthest.

• Ko Pha-ngan: about 30 to 60 minutes by ferry. Quiet beaches and the famous Full Moon Party.
• Ang Thong Marine Park: about 1.5 to 2 hours by boat. Limestone islands, lagoons and kayaking. Most people go on an organized day tour.
• Ko Tao: about 1.5 to 2 hours by high-speed ferry. Known for diving and snorkeling. Stay overnight if you can.

Islands and parks near Samui:

• Ko Pha-ngan is the next island north, known for its beaches and its full moon party.
• Ko Tao is a small island for diving and snorkeling.
• Ang Thong Marine Park is a marine park of limestone islands.
• Khao Sok National Park is a rainforest national park on the mainland, far inland from Samui.

• By air: Samui Airport (USM) is in the northeast and has direct flights from Bangkok and a few other cities. The flight from Bangkok takes about 1 hour. The airport is a small open-air terminal. Tickets are often more expensive than flights to the mainland.
• By air and ferry: Surat Thani Airport (URT) is on the mainland and has cheaper flights. A combined bus and ferry transfer to Samui takes about 2.5 to 3 hours.
• By ferry: Car and passenger ferries leave from Donsak on the mainland and take about 1.5 hours. High-speed boats also run from Ko Pha-ngan and Ko Tao.
• By bus and train: Combined tickets from Bangkok include a bus or train to Surat Thani and a ferry. The trip takes about 12 hours or more.

• Songthaew: Pick-up trucks run around the ring road. Agree on the price before you get in, as drivers do not use meters.
• Taxis: Taxis are expensive and often do not use meters. Agree on the fare in advance.
• Motorbike rental: Very popular, but accidents are common. Rent only if you have experience, a license and insurance.
• On foot: Beach areas are walkable. The island is large, so you need transport between them.

• Is a car worth it?: A rental car or motorbike gives freedom to see the island. For a resort stay on one beach, you can use songthaews and taxis.
• Driving side: Traffic drives on the left.
• Ring road: The main road circles the island. Side roads to waterfalls and viewpoints can be steep and wet in the rainy season.
• Safety: Wear a helmet on a motorbike. Police check licenses on the ring road.

Samui has fresh seafood and southern Thai dishes with coconut. Look for grilled fish, curries with coconut milk and tropical fruit. Many resorts serve international food.

The best eating areas are the night markets in Chaweng, Lamai and Nathon, and the street food stalls in Bophut. Beach restaurants offer seafood with a sea view, and prices are higher there than at the markets.

Samui is safe for tourists. The main danger is traffic.

• Motorbikes: Many visitors are hurt in scooter accidents. Wear a helmet, and avoid riding at night or after drinking.
• Sea conditions: Currents can be strong during the rainy season. Swim only where flags show it is safe.
• Scams: Jet ski operators sometimes claim damage. Photograph the machine before you ride.
• Water: Drink bottled water.
• Temples: Cover your shoulders and knees at temples. Do not speak or write badly about the monarchy, which is a serious crime.

For a long time Samui was a quiet island of coconut farms and fishing villages. Coconuts were its main export. Roads and an airport arrived in the late 1980s, and tourism grew quickly from that time.

Some of the island's older character remains in places like Wat Khunaram and Wat Plai Laem, where local people still come to pray.

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