Koh Samui Holidays

A crowd-pleasing combination of lively entertainment and soft sand beaches, Koh Samui is the original holiday island.

Koh Samui is a name-drop-worthy island of palm trees, emerald-tinged waters and sultry weather that elicits a languid, lazing-by-the-pool kind of pace. There’s sunshine and tropical warmth almost all year round because it avoids the main monsoon season. This means you can pack light: swimwear, SPF and plenty of room for souvenirs.

Koh Samui is a microcosm of Thailand’s beaches. Travellers love it for the white-gold sands, tourist-friendly towns and variety of hotels complete with infinity pools and world-class restaurants. Waterfalls and walking trails inland give you a taste of Thailand’s tropical and rugged mainland, and offshore, you can go kayaking and snorkelling around the karsts in Ang Thong National Marine Park. Even if you’ve opted for a resort tucked away on a quieter part of the island, the night markets and live music bars of Chaweng and Lamai are just a taxi ride away.

Talk to us and we’ll help craft a personalised itinerary for your Koh Samui holiday.

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Koh Samui Hotels

Our recommendations for the best places to stay in Koh Samui

Rocky's Boutique Resort

Perfect for a romantic escape, this atmospheric hideaway offers a quiet setting and delicious cui...

Bandara Resort & Spa

This family-friendly resort on Bo Phut Beach is perfect for a laidback break.

Silavadee Pool Spa Resort

A hillside hideaway with picture-perfect views, ocean-view dining and a focus on wellbeing.

Anantara Lawana Koh Samui Resort

This chic sanctuary oozes calm and class in a peaceful setting at the top of Chaweng Beach.

Banyan Tree Samui

A stunning resort in a secluded location with captivating views of Lamai Bay.

Melati Beach Resort & Spa

A stylish, family-friendly resort with great kids' facilities and activities.

Saii Koh Samui Choengmon

This collection of private plunge pool villas is a peaceful island escape.

SALA Samui Choengmon Beach Resort

This chic resort has sleek private pool villas and a seamless combination of indoor/outdoor livin...

Santiburi Koh Samui

This luxury beachfront escape combines a stunning tropical setting and plenty of fun activities.

Garrya Tongsai Bay Samui

An elegant eco resort with exceptional service and luxurious spa treatments in a tranquil natural...

Cape Fahn Hotel

A seriously cool new Cape & Kantary boutique hotel on a private island just off Koh Samui’s Choen...

Centara Villas Samui

In an enviable setting on a private white-sand beach, the Centara Villas Samui is a great-value r...

Centara Reserve Samui

Redesigned, upgraded and rebranded, Centara Reserve Samui is a polished and welcoming beachside b...

Holidays in Koh Samui

Koh Samui's Highlights In A Half Day

There’s more to Koh Samui than its gorgeous beaches as you’ll discover on this half-day journey around the island’s best-known sights. Top of the list is Wat Phra Yai, also known as Big Buddha Temple, on its own little island reached by a short causeway. Its star attraction is its impossible-to-miss 12-metre-high golden statue of Buddha, in a seated pose that represents purity. Take in the hilltop view over the sparkling sea and marvel at one of natures peculiar wonders - Grandma and Grandpa Rocks. Finally, you’ll visit Wat Khunaram and its slightly macabre claim to fame: the mummified body of a monk who died there in 1973, displayed in a glass case, and have some time to do some shopping in Nathon, the island's capital.

• Duration: half day
• Daily departures
• Operates year round
• Private experience

Good to know
Bring plenty of cash, as the prices at Nathon’s market are good value compared to those in the main tourist areas.

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Koh Samui Jeep Safari

See a side of Koh Samui that most visitors don’t even know exists on this adventure-filled safari by all-terrain 4x4. The imaginative itinerary includes a mix of headline destinations and off-the-beaten-track gems that even the locals rarely get to. You’ll stop to admire the 12-metre-high gilded statue of Buddha at Wat Phra Yai - a real island landmark - and the mummified body of a monk in a glass display case at Wat Khunaram. But you’ll also make two visits to the majestic waterfalls at Na Muang - once to splash in the pools at the bottom and later to take in the striking outlook from the top - and follow sandy tracks to a stunning viewpoint only insiders know about. You’ll discover a verdant secret Buddha garden high in the hills, from where you can see for miles, and find that even lunch comes with stunning views.

• Duration: full day • Time: 8am to 4.30pm • Operates Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
The trip is suitable for all, but the path to the waterfall is quite steep, so wear comfortable clothing and shoes, and carry your belongings in a backpack to leave your hands free.

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Koh Phangan Cruise

A cruise on a traditional Burmese “junk” sailing boat is a memorable way to spend a day exploring the beauties of Koh Samui’s laidback neighbour, Koh Phangan. Three times a week, the characterful wooden Chantara heads off to some of the island’s loveliest spots, such as Koh Ma reef; blessed with crystal-clear waters, it’s a top snorkelling destination, and there’s a dizzying abundance of underwater colour and life, from tropical fish to sea anemones. After a Thai-style buffet lunch, the Chantara stops at Thong Nai Pan beach where you can relax with a cooling drink, maybe have a massage, and appreciate the tranquillity of this secluded bay. As the journey back to Koh Samui begins, you’ll have a final opportunity to soak up the natural beauty of the island’s rugged coastline, stunning coves and deserted beaches - and maybe take just a few more photos.

• Duration: full day
• Time: 10.30am to 6pm
• Operates on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday
• Operates year round
• Group experience

Good to know
Bring plenty of sun cream, but snorkelling gear and towels are provided.

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Get to know Koh Samui and those important practicalities when planning your perfect holiday.

Capital
TIME DIFFERENCE

GMT +7 hours

CURRENCY

Thai Bhat

FLYING TIME TO DESTINATION

Bangkok 11½ hours

RELIGION

The most common religion in Thailand is Buddhism

LANGUAGE

Thai; over 73 languages are spoken throughout Thailand

Where is Koh Samui?
Koh Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand just off the mainland’s east coast. It’s around 435 miles south of Bangkok, reachable by just over an hour's flight. To neighbouring Koh Phangan, it's between 20 minutes to an hour by ferry or speedboat.

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Beach resorts
Most resorts are found on the east coast, meaning you’re rarely more than 20 minutes away from the island’s points of interest. Chaweng is the busiest beach resort and stretches over three miles of glorious white sand – the longest beach on Koh Samui. By comparison, Lamai is considered somewhat sleepy, especially in quieter seasons. This makes it the perfect place to sit out at one of the many picturesque beachfront restaurants that offer a romantic moonlit dinner on the seashore. Choose a resort on the quieter northern shores – for example, in Bo Phut – and you’re just a 20-minute ride south to lively Chaweng or Lamai.

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