Koh Samui
A tropical resort island in the Gulf of Thailand, known for the white-sand beaches of Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut, palm-covered hills, the golden Big Buddha, and the dramatic Ang Thong Marine Park nearby — easy to slow down on, or to island-hop from.
Travel videos from Koh Samui
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Koh Samui 4K — white beaches & clear water
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[4K] Koh Samui — the jewel of southern Thailand
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Thailand 4K — Koh Samui
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Beauty of Koh Samui in 4K
▶ World in 4K
Amazing Thailand — Koh Samui 4K HDR
▶ REAL THAILAND 4K
Koh Samui 4K nature relaxation
▶ Beautiful World 4k
Top spots
1Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
A 12m golden Buddha on an islet in the northeast — close to the airport and an island landmark.
2Chaweng Beach
The island's busiest beach — a long white-sand strip lined with restaurants, bars and hotels.
3Lamai Beach
A popular but more laid-back beach than Chaweng, near the Hin Ta & Hin Yai rock formations.
4Bophut (Fisherman's Village)
A charming strip of old wooden shophouses with cafés, boutiques and a popular Friday walking-street market.
5Ang Thong National Marine Park
An archipelago of 42 islands in emerald seas — reached by day trip for kayaking and viewpoints.
6Lipa Noi
A calm, shallow west-coast beach famous for sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons
About Koh Samui
- 🌤️ Best season
- Calmest, sunniest months are Feb–Apr and Jun–Sep. Rainy season is Oct–Dec (peaking in Nov) — opposite to Phuket on the Andaman coast.
- ✈️ Getting there
- ~1h15 flight from Bangkok to Samui Airport (USM); also reachable by ferry + bus via Surat Thani.
- 🛵 Getting around
- Songthaews (shared pickups) and rented scooters are the norm; Grab is limited.
- 🕒 Time & currency
- Indochina Time (UTC+7). Currency: Thai baht (THB).
Tips & hidden gems
💡 Picking your beach
Chaweng = lively with lots of bars/shops; Lamai = relaxed; Bophut (Fisherman's Village) = stylish; Maenam & Lipa Noi = quiet with great sunsets.
💡 Island-hop to Ang Thong
Ang Thong National Marine Park — emerald lagoons and karst islands — is a classic day trip with kayaking and viewpoint hikes.
💡 Full Moon Party is next door
The famous Full Moon Party is on neighbouring Koh Phangan each month — an easy boat trip from Samui.
💡 Scooters & rainy-season seas
Scooter accidents are common — carry an international permit, wear a helmet, check insurance. Around November, rough seas can cancel boats.
Suggested routes
Island-hopping day
~1 day / boat tour
- 1Ang Thong Marine Park day trip
- 2Kayak & snorkel
- 3Hike to a viewpoint
Island drive — half day
~half day / scooter or car
Live highlights
Live24/7👁 26ラマイビーチ｜クリスタルベイ｜サムイ島 ライブ
Live24/7👁 9ボプット フィッシャーマンズ・ビレッジ｜サムイ島 ライブ
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