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Koh Samui Travel Guide
Buy Thai BahtKoh Samui at a glance
Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island and sits in the Gulf of Thailand rather than the Andaman Sea, which gives it a different rhythm and a different weather calendar from Phuket or Krabi. It is popular with Indian couples for weddings and honeymoons, well set up for a relaxed beach stay, and a genuine base for Koh Phangan and Koh Tao if the trip extends further.
Samui International Airport sits between Bophut and Chaweng in the island's northeast, close to the main tourist areas. Bangkok Airways holds the only direct-flight route to the island, which keeps ticket prices higher than flying into Phuket or Krabi, so book early if budget matters. Taxis run on fixed zone-based pricing rather than meters despite most cars having them fitted, THB 400 to 500 to Chaweng, Bophut or Choeng Mon and more for Lamai, Maenam or the southern beaches. Pay at the counter and hand the receipt to your driver rather than negotiating roadside. A shared minibus is THB 100 to 150 per person.
Ang Thong National Marine Park is the standout day trip, a full-day boat trip through a cluster of limestone islands and hidden lagoons with kayaking and a viewpoint hike. Closer in, the Big Buddha Temple and Wat Plai Laem combine easily into a half day, Fisherman's Village in Bophut has a well-regarded Friday walking street market, and Lad Koh Viewpoint and Na Muang Waterfall round out a round-island tour.
Day 1: arrive, settle in, Chaweng beach in the afternoon, the Chaweng Night Market for dinner. Day 2: Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem in the morning, Lad Koh and Na Muang in the afternoon, dinner in Fisherman's Village, which is at its best if it lands on a Friday. Day 3: the full-day Ang Thong boat trip. A fourth or fifth day suits a Koh Phangan or Koh Tao day trip, or simply more beach time.
Where to stay
A single ring road loops the island, so orientation is straightforward wherever you base yourself.
Chaweng
The island's most developed and lively beach, with the widest choice of hotels, restaurants and nightlife. The default first-timer base.
Lamai
The second most popular beach, a mix of relaxation and entertainment, generally quieter than Chaweng.
Bophut (Fisherman's Village)
A calmer, more boutique feel with a good food scene, popular with couples who want less of Chaweng's energy.
Choeng Mon
Smaller and more secluded, on the island's northeastern tip, a good choice for a quieter resort-focused stay.
Paying in Koh Samui
For the baht itself, how much cash to carry, the ATM situation and the LRS and TCS numbers, see the Thailand travel guide.
Before you fly it is worth reading what an ATM withdrawal in Thailand actually costs, since a Thai operator fee applies on top of whatever your Indian bank charges.
Cards work at resorts and larger restaurants. Carry around THB 2,500 to 3,500 for local transport, markets and smaller vendors. Since taxis run on fixed or negotiated pricing rather than meters, having small notes ready avoids awkward change disputes.
What Koh Samui actually costs
Set the length and style of your trip to see what to budget, in baht and rupees.
Indicative, excluding international flights and accommodation, per person per day. Converted at the verified mid-market rate on 21 September 2026, THB 100 ≈ ₹288, not a Matrix board rate.
Budget roughly ₹8,600 to ₹18,700 per person per day on the ground for a mid-range trip, two sharing a room, excluding flights.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Night market meal | THB 60-150 |
| Casual restaurant main | THB 200-450 |
| Airport taxi to Chaweng | THB 400-500 |
| Shared airport minibus | THB 100-150 |
Getting around
A single ring road loops the whole island, so orientation is straightforward even without local knowledge. Renting a car or scooter is common among longer-stay visitors, though Samui's road accident rate is a genuine consideration and a rental car is the safer choice if you are not experienced with local road conditions.
Taxis, songthaews and ride-hailing cover point-to-point trips between beaches. Expect to agree a fixed price before getting in rather than relying on a meter, since Samui taxis are priced by zone or negotiated even though most have meters fitted.
Common mistakes in Koh Samui
Expecting metered taxi fares
Samui taxis are fixed-zone or negotiated. Agree the price before getting in rather than assuming a meter will run, even though most cars have one fitted.
Visiting in October or November expecting Phuket's dry season
Samui's wet season runs later than the Andaman coast. October and November are genuinely the months to avoid here, which catches out travellers applying Phuket's calendar.
Booking flights without checking the fare premium
Bangkok Airways' effective monopoly on the direct route keeps prices higher than comparable flights to Phuket. Book early if budget matters.
Renting a scooter without real experience
Samui's ring road and accident rate make a rental car the safer choice for most visitors.
Treating Ang Thong as a half-day outing
It is a full-day boat trip with kayaking and a viewpoint hike, and it does not compress into an afternoon.
Koh Samui FAQs
Four to five days covers settling in, the Ang Thong day trip and genuine beach time comfortably.
Roughly THB 400 to 500 on the fixed zone-based pricing used at the airport taxi counter, about ₹1,150 to ₹1,440. Samui taxis do not use meters despite having them fitted, so pay at the counter rather than negotiating roadside.
No. Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand rather than the Andaman Sea, and its wet season runs later, October and November specifically, rather than matching Phuket's May to October pattern.
Yes, it is genuinely popular for both among Indian couples, with a strong range of resorts set up specifically for wedding and honeymoon packages.
Ang Thong National Marine Park is widely considered the standout, a full-day boat trip through limestone islands and hidden lagoons with kayaking and a viewpoint hike.
Yes, both are reachable by short ferry and work as a day trip or an overnight extension if diving or the Full Moon Party is a priority.
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