Koh Samui
Covers Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Bali, Palawan, the Maldives, Mauritius, the Seychelles and Zanzibar, with visa and park rules checked at the source.
UpdatedThis page carries dated prices, schedules or seasonal facts checked on the date above, and that window has now passed. Re-check the sources at the foot of the page before you book.
Koh Samui is Thailand's second-best-known island and the opposite of Phuket in one useful way: its weather. Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand, so the southwest monsoon that roughs up the Andaman coast from May to October hits it much more gently. Its own wet season comes later, from about mid-October to early December. If you are planning a July or August trip to Thailand, start here.
Samui is smaller and calmer than Phuket, about 88 square miles (229 km2). Thailand's Ministry of Tourism counted 3.3 million overnight tourists on Samui in 2025, about a quarter of Phuket's total, and 2.0 million of them were foreigners. On Kayak, the cheapest well-reviewed 4-star hotel in Chaweng was $84 on January 13, 2027 and $58 on July 14, 2027, taxes in. That is more than Phuket, and the flights cost more too.
At a glance
- Best for
- Couples and families who want resort comfort and calm water, especially in July and August
- Skip it if
- You can only travel from mid-October to early December, or you want the cheapest beach in Thailand
- Getting there
- Fly to Samui (USM) from Bangkok or Singapore, or fly to Surat Thani and take the ferry from Don Sak
- Hotel, mid-January
- $84 for the cheapest well-reviewed 4-star in Chaweng on January 13, 2027 ($58 on July 14)
- Island size
- About 88 sq mi (229 km2), about 22 miles (35 km) northeast of Surat Thani town
In this guide
How Koh Samui scores
Six factors, scored 0 to 10 the same way for all 64 islands. How we score
- WeatherData · 20%9.0
- Beaches & seaEditors · 25%8.0
- Things to doEditors · 25%7.0
- Getting there from the USData · 10%2.0
- ValueData · 10%9.3
- Room to breatheData · 10%1.6
Weather month by month
Best months by our weather score: February, March, June. Daytime highs, rain and sunshine are 2016–2025 averages at Samui International Airport (Open-Meteo historical weather archive); sea temperatures are 2022–2025 averages for the nearest sea area (Open-Meteo marine archive).
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 82 | 83 | 86 | 88 | 88 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 84 | 83 | 82 |
| Sea °F | 83 | 84 | 86 | 89 | 89 | 88 | 87 | 87 | 86 | 87 | 85 | 83 |
| Rain (in) | 5.3 | 2.4 | 1.7 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 2.9 | 3.9 | 3.3 | 5.2 | 9.0 | 11.3 | 8.7 |
| Weather score | 8.4 | 9.8 | 10.0 | 9.0 | 8.7 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 8.1 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 6.7 |
The numbers behind the score
- Gateway airport
- Samui International Airport (USM)
- US nonstops
- None. No US nonstops to Samui (USM), a private airport owned by Bangkok Airways. Connect via Bangkok (BKK) or Singapore (SIN), or fly to Surat Thani and take the ferry from Don Sak.
- Distance
- 8,514 mi from Los Angeles, 8,947 mi from New York
- Passport
- Needed for US citizens
- Hotel, one night
- $84 on Jan 13, 2027 · $58 on Jul 14, 2027 (Chaweng)
- Visitors a year
- 3,281,286 overnight visitors (2025)
- Bringing a dog
- Possible: Dogs must enter Thailand through an airport with an Animal Quarantine Station (Bangkok, Phuket or Chiang Mai), not Samui: import permit 7+ business days ahead, microchip, vaccines at least 21 days before departure, original USDA-endorsed certificate valid 10 days, 500-baht fee, then continue by road and ferry.
Hotel prices: Cheapest hotel rated 4 stars or better with a Kayak guest score of 8.0+ from 100+ reviews (The Canale Samui Resort on both dates), 1 night, 2 adults, Kayak 'Nightly total - Including all taxes + fees', checked 2026-10-20. The brief's plain rule (cheapest 3-star-or-better) gave $21 in January and $17 in July; the stricter rule is used for all six Asia islands because Thai and Balinese 3-star floors fall below the checker's $20 minimum.. Visitor figures: Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports, Domestic tourism statistics Q1-Q4 2025, Southern region workbook, Ko Samui sheet (January-December 2025).
Where Koh Samui ranks
Who Samui is for, and who should skip it
Samui suits couples and families who want a resort island without Phuket's scale. Villas with private pools are the standard honeymoon booking, and the main beaches are sandy and gently sloping in the dry months. The airport is small and close to Chaweng, so arrival day is short.
Skip it if you are counting every dollar. Samui's airport is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, which has long been the only airline flying to it from the Thai mainland, and fares reflect that. Koh Lanta is cheaper and quieter. Skip it, too, if your dates fall in November: that is Samui's wettest stretch, and Phuket or Lanta is the better bet then. Our Thai island ranking sets the four side by side.
Where to stay: Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut or Choeng Mon
- Chaweng. The east-coast strip where development on the island began, with the most hotels, restaurants and nightlife, and the longest beach. We priced rooms here. On Kayak on October 20, 2026, the cheapest 4-star-or-better hotel with a guest score of 8.0 or higher was $84 for January 13, 2027 and $58 for July 14, 2027 (The Canale Samui Resort on both dates), taxes and fees included. The cheapest 3-star listing was $21 in January and $17 in July.
- Lamai. South of Chaweng, a little quieter, with a good beach of its own.
- Bophut and Fisherman's Village. On the north coast, the island's most populous district, with one of the island's most popular night markets.
- Choeng Mon. A small bay at the northeast tip, with calm water and a short ride to the airport.
Beaches: calm, sandy and seasonal
Chaweng is the best all-round beach: long, sandy and usually calm from January to September. Lamai is similar but shorter. Choeng Mon is the easiest for small children, a sheltered bay with shallow water. On the north coast, Bophut and Maenam are quieter and more spread out, better for a long walk than for a big swim.
From mid-October to December the northeast monsoon brings onshore wind and rain to the east coast. The sea gets choppy and murky, and some days you will not swim. We score Samui's beaches 8 out of 10: very good sand close to the hotels, with a short but real wet season.
Things to do beyond the beach
- Ang Thong National Marine Park. A group of 44 islands west of Samui, reached on day-trip boat tours, with kayaking and viewpoints.
- Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai). The island's best-known temple and its most photographed landmark.
- Na Muang waterfall. The most visited of Samui's waterfalls. Wear proper shoes: visitors have been seriously injured or killed in slips and falls at the island's waterfalls.
- Fisherman's Village night market in Bophut, one of the island's most popular.
- Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Ferries connect Samui with its two smaller neighbors for day trips or a few nights of diving.
That is several good days, which is why we score things to do 7: well behind Bali and Phuket for culture and variety, ahead of Phi Phi.
When to go
Samui's driest, calmest stretch runs from about January to September. The Thai Meteorological Department describes rainfall on the southern east coast peaking from November to January, and on Samui itself the heaviest rain usually falls from mid-October to early December. That reverses the Andaman pattern, which is why Samui is our July pick and a poor choice in October. The climate table on this page has each month from our dataset.
Getting there from the US, and entry rules
No US airport flies nonstop to Samui. The usual route is a long-haul flight to Bangkok, then about an hour on Bangkok Airways. Scoot has flown Singapore to Samui since May 2024, which helps if you route via Singapore. The budget alternative is to fly to Surat Thani on the mainland and take a car and passenger ferry from Don Sak to Nathon or Lipa Noi, Samui's main piers.
Entry is the same as anywhere in Thailand. Since September 15, 2026, US citizens get a 30-day visa-free tourist stay, down from 60, with up to 30 more days available by application in Thailand. Your passport needs 6 months of validity, and you must file the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online within 72 hours before arrival. The proposed tourist entry fee, now set at 450 baht (about $13), was not being collected as of October 20, 2026. See our passport rules guide.
What a trip costs
A night in a well-reviewed 4-star Chaweng hotel ran $58 to $84 on our test dates. Budget about the same again for a private pool villa night if that is the point of your trip; we did not price villas. The bigger cost is the last leg: the Bangkok Airways hop or the ferry route adds time or money that Phuket's direct international flights do not. Baht conversions on this page use the European Central Bank reference rate of October 19, 2026, about 33.6 baht to the dollar.
Tickets and tours you can book
Koh Samui: Mr. Ung's 4WD Wild Jungle Safari Tour with Lunch
Transfers from the main beaches, lunch and entrance fees are included.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Koh Samui: Mu Ko Ang Thong Park Cruise with Kayaking Option
Pickup, breakfast, lunch and snorkel gear are included; the park fee (300 THB adult, cash) is not. The cheapest Ang Thong option, on a large shared boat.
Rating as shown on GetYourGuide
Angthong National Marine Park VIP Small Group Tour
Transfers, park fees, lunch and gear are included. About five times the big-boat price, for a much smaller group; run by a dive company.
Rating as shown on Viator
Booking through these links supports this site at no cost to you. Prices move by date, so we do not print them here; the official prices we checked are in the page above.
Frequently asked questions
What is the rainy season in Koh Samui?
Samui's wettest period is late in the year, from about mid-October to early December, with the east-coast rain peak running into January. That is the reverse of Phuket, which is wettest from May to October.
Is Koh Samui good in July?
Yes. July and August fall in Samui's drier season while the Andaman coast is in its monsoon, which makes Samui the best Thai island for a summer trip.
How do you get to Koh Samui from the US?
Fly to Bangkok and connect on Bangkok Airways to Samui, or connect in Singapore on Scoot. The cheaper but slower route is a flight to Surat Thani and a ferry from Don Sak pier.
Do Americans need a visa for Koh Samui?
Not for tourism up to 30 days. Thailand cut its visa-free stay for US citizens from 60 to 30 days on September 15, 2026. File the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card within 72 hours before you land.
Which beach is best in Koh Samui for families?
Choeng Mon, a small sheltered bay with shallow water at the northeast tip, is the easiest for young children. Chaweng is good too in the dry months but busier.
Further reading
Official sources
- Thailand Ministry of Tourism and Sports - Domestic tourism statistics 2025 by province (official) – Ko Samui 2025: 3,281,286 overnight tourists (2,036,674 foreign), 475,982 same-day visitors; checked October 20, 2026
- Tourism Authority of Thailand newsroom - New 30-day visa exemption rules from September 15 (official) – United States in the 30-day group; checked October 20, 2026
- Thailand.go.th - Thailand Digital Arrival Card (official) – Free online card, within 72 hours before arrival; checked October 20, 2026
- Khaosod English - Thailand moves ahead with 450-baht tourist entry fee (October 9, 2026) – Fee not yet approved or collected; checked October 20, 2026
- Royal Thai Consulate-General Chicago - Bringing pets to Thailand (official) – Quarantine stations at Suvarnabhumi, Phuket and Chiang Mai airports only; permit and vaccine rules; checked October 20, 2026
- Kayak - Chaweng hotels, January 13 and July 14, 2027 – Cheapest 4-star+ with 8.0+ score from 100+ reviews: $84 (Jan) and $58 (Jul); cheapest 3-star+: $21 and $17; taxes and fees in; checked October 20, 2026
- Wikipedia - Ko Samui – Chaweng development, Bophut, Fisherman's Village, Wat Phra Yai, Na Muang falls safety, Ang Thong (44 islands), Don Sak ferries, heaviest rain mid-October to early December
- Wikipedia - Samui International Airport – Privately owned by Bangkok Airways; Scoot Singapore route from May 13, 2024; no US routes
- Wikipedia - Climate of Thailand (citing the Thai Meteorological Department) – Southern east-coast rainfall peak November to January; northeast monsoon mid-October to mid-February
- European Central Bank - Euro foreign exchange reference rates – October 19, 2026 rates used for baht conversions
