Island guides
Know before you go.
In-depth guides on getting around, weather, prices, safety, culture and itineraries — researched and checked by our local team.
Start here
- Getting Around Koh Samui: Overview
- How to Get to Koh Samui
- Koh Samui First-Visit Essentials
- Koh Samui: The Complete Overview
- When to Visit Koh Samui
- Where to Stay in Koh Samui: Area Chooser
Guides by topic
Itineraries
9 guides
- 3 Days in Koh Samui: First-Visit Plan
- 5 to 7 Days in Koh Samui: The Classic Week
- Koh Samui Rainy Day (Simple Plan)
- Koh Samui for Couples: A Long Weekend
All 9 guides: Itineraries →Show all 9
Geography & distances
13 guides
- Airports: on-island and nearest mainland
- Climate and seasons (affects travel times and sea crossings)
- Distance to Koh Phangan
- Distance to Koh Tao
All 13 guides: Geography & distances →Show all 13
- Distance to the mainland (Donsak)
- Island size: 228.7 km2 vs 247 km2 (source discrepancy)
- Location: Gulf of Thailand, Surat Thani Province
- Main piers
- Neighbouring islands overview
- Population
- Shape, dimensions and highest point
- Size ranking among Thai islands (source discrepancy)
- Time zone, currency and phone code
Weather & seasons
6 guides
- Best Time to Visit Koh Samui for Different Goals
- Koh Samui Weather and Climate: How the Island's Seasons Work
- Sea Temperature around Koh Samui
- Storms, Flooding and Weather Safety on Koh Samui
All 6 guides: Weather & seasons →Show all 6
Getting around
10 guides
- Airport transfers (arriving at USM)
- Car rental (factual notes)
- Ferry arrival logistics (what to expect at the piers)
- Grab and ride-hailing apps
All 10 guides: Getting around →Show all 10
Money & costs
19 guides
Prices and budget ›- ATM withdrawal fee for foreign cards
- Accommodation price bands (context only, no recommendations)
- Ang Thong National Marine Park entrance fee
- Bargaining / haggling norms
All 19 guides: Money & costs →Show all 19
- Beer and drinks
- Cash vs card - what to expect
- Currency
- Ferry, mainland (Donsak/Surat Thani) to Koh Samui, foot passenger
- Indicative daily travel budget
- Local Thai restaurant meal
- Ride-hailing apps (Grab/Bolt)
- Scooter rental (125cc automatic)
- Songthaew (shared pickup truck) fare
- Street food meal
- Taxi (street taxi)
- Temple entry (Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem etc.)
- Tipping norms
- Tourist SIM card
- Western / international restaurant meal
Safety
17 guides
- Beach swimming safety: rip currents, seasons and jellyfish
- Drink spiking awareness and nightlife safety
- Embassy and consular support: what your embassy can and cannot do
- Emergency phone numbers in Thailand and Koh Samui
All 17 guides: Safety →Show all 17
- Jet ski and scooter damage dispute scam: the pattern and how to protect yourself
- Licence, IDP and helmet requirements for riding a scooter
- Monsoon storms and ferry safety in the rough season
- Petty theft and protecting your belongings
- Road safety basics: driving on the left and local road behaviour
- Scooter and motorbike accident risk on Koh Samui
- Snakes on Koh Samui: realistic risk and what to do
- Stray dogs on Koh Samui: caution without fear
- Sun and heat safety on Koh Samui
- Taxi and songthaew fares: negotiation norms on Koh Samui
- Tourist Police: what they do and how they help visitors
- Travel insurance: why it matters on Koh Samui
- Visa & entry requirements for Thailand (Koh Samui arrivals)
Health & medical
11 guides
- Dengue fever on Koh Samui: risk and prevention
- Drinking water and food hygiene on Koh Samui
- Emergency medical care: calling 1669 and what to expect
- Heat illness: recognising and treating heat exhaustion and heatstroke
All 11 guides: Health & medical →Show all 11
- Hospitals and medical facilities on Koh Samui: the factual picture
- Jellyfish sting first aid: the vinegar protocol
- Medical travel insurance and evacuation cover
- Motorbike injuries and insurance: where tourist claims fail
- Pharmacies on Koh Samui: availability and what to know
- Rabies and animal bites: dogs, cats and monkeys
- Vaccinations for Thailand: what is recommended
Accessibility
8 guides
- Accessibility reality check: what to expect on Koh Samui
- Accessible shopping and indoor venues: Central Samui mall and supermarkets
- Beach access for limited mobility: which beaches are easiest
- Getting around without a scooter: transport for limited mobility
All 8 guides: Accessibility →Show all 8
Family & kids
11 guides
- Baby and Child Practicalities: Pharmacies, Supermarkets, Supplies
- Best Family Beaches (Calm, Shallow Water)
- Chaweng and Lamai with Older Children and Teens
- Free Activities for Kids (Overview)
All 11 guides: Family & kids →Show all 11
Couples & romance
9 guides
- Ang Thong Marine Park Day Trip (Shared Experience)
- Beach Dinners (Category Overview)
- Couples Photo Spots (Cross-Reference)
- Fisherman's Village Evening Stroll (Bophut)
All 9 guides: Couples & romance →Show all 9
Rainy day
13 guides
- Browsing Covered Fresh Markets
- Café Culture and Long Coffee Breaks (Category)
- Central Samui Mall (Factual Landmark)
- Cinema on Koh Samui (Existence)
All 13 guides: Rainy day →Show all 13
- Muay Thai Fight Nights (Indoor Public Event)
- Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo (Commercial - Flagged)
- Spa and Massage Culture (Category Overview)
- Temple Visits Between Showers
- Thai Cooking Classes (Category Overview)
- Understanding Samui Rain: Short Showers vs All-Day Rain
- Wat Lamai Folklore Museum (Lamai Cultural Hall)
- Watching the Storm from a Beach Restaurant
- Why Viewpoints Are a Bad Idea in the Rain
Nature & wildlife
10 guides
- Birdlife: hornbills, sea eagles and swiftlets
- Ethical wildlife viewing: general guidance
- Irrawaddy (pink) dolphins near Khanom
- Jellyfish and box jellyfish safety
All 10 guides: Nature & wildlife →Show all 10
Sunset spots
1 guide
Sunrise spots
1 guide
Photo spots
1 guide
Local knowledge
18 guides
- 'Chao Samui': The Islanders' Own Identity
- Buffalo Fighting Tradition
- Coconut Island Heritage
- Expat Communities: Where Foreigners Live on Samui
All 18 guides: Local knowledge →Show all 18
- Fun Fact: Thailand's Second or Third Largest Island?
- Fun Fact: The 'No Traffic Lights' Claim
- Fun Fact: The Coconut Supply Chain of Old Samui
- Hua Thanon: The Muslim Fishing Village
- Island History Quick Facts
- Island Time: How Daily Rhythm Works Outside the Tourist Zones
- Monkey Coconut-Picking Tradition
- Nathon: Chinese-Thai Heritage and the Old Capital
- Ring Road Orientation: Everything Is Described by Coast
- Seasonal Sea Differences: East Coast vs West Coast
- Songthaew Etiquette and Haggling
- What Does 'Samui' Mean? An Honest Mystery
- Where Locals Eat: Fresh Markets and Night Markets
- Why Sunsets Are West and Sunrises Are East: Using the Compass on Samui
History
12 guides
- Chinese and Hainanese heritage in Nathon
- City status (2012), population growth, and Samui today
- Early settlement of Koh Samui
- Full Moon Party and the regional party economy (1985 onwards)
All 12 guides: History →Show all 12
- Isolation until the 20th century
- Landmarks of the era: Big Buddha (1972) and the mummified monk (1973)
- Regular car ferries (1980) and the tourism boom
- Samui Airport opens (25 April 1989)
- The coconut era: 'Coconut Island'
- The first backpackers (early 1970s)
- The ring road (Route 4169), 1967-1973
- Where the name 'Samui' comes from
Culture & etiquette
16 guides
- Alcohol rules: sales hours, age 20, dry days
- Bargaining etiquette
- Beachwear vs streetwear: dress norms on Samui
- Cannabis: medical-only since June 2025 (important update)
All 16 guides: Culture & etiquette →Show all 16
- Head and feet: Thailand's body taboos
- Monks and women: the no-contact rule
- Photo etiquette and tipping basics
- Public affection norms
- Respect for the royal family
- Respecting Buddha images
- Respecting Samui's Muslim community
- Shoes off indoors
- Smiles, 'mai pen rai', and saving face
- Temple etiquette: dress, shoes, and behaviour
- The national anthem at 8am and 6pm
- The wai: Thailand's greeting
Language & local terms
26 guides
All 26 guides: Language & local terms →Show all 26
Environment & responsible travel
12 guides
- Ang Thong National Marine Park rules
- Beach cleanups and community efforts
- Box jellyfish: a real but manageable risk
- Coconut palms: landscape, livelihood, and preservation
All 12 guides: Environment & responsible travel →Show all 12
Shopping & local products
6 guides
- Bargaining Culture at Markets
- Cash, Cards and Payment Norms
- Coconut Heritage and Coconut Products
- Handicrafts, Textiles and Typical Souvenir Types
FAQ
9 guides
All 9 guides: FAQ →Show all 9
Plan your trip
- Samui todayFerry, weather and road notices with sources
- Getting hereFerries, piers and the airport
- Bangkok → SamuiFly, bus + boat or train compared
- Weather by monthRain, sea and what's open
- Where to stayWhich beach area suits you
- SnorkelingBest spots and sea seasons
- Prices and budgetWhat things cost, with a trip calculator