Among the other tourist hotspots, the holiday island of Koh Samui is one of the most popular destinations in Thailand. There are plenty of reasons to consider this dreamy island when planning your holiday. Today we're presenting our top 10 reasons why you should visit Koh Samui.
Unspoilt natureTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
In most glossy magazines, Koh Samui is often reduced to its beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. But Samui is actually a wonderfully varied paradise of coconut palms and a huge variety of exotic plants and untouched patches of rainforest.
At over 635 metres above sea level, you can experience this unique nature, with incredible animal sounds, impressive waterfalls, remote viewpoints, and hidden hiking trails. Of course, it's the most fun off-road.
Take a look here: Island safari excursion for cruise passengers
International cuisineTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Samui is a culinary destination with plenty of first-class international restaurants. From trendy fusion creations to authentic Thai cuisine, Koh Samui offers a huge variety of incredible taste experiences.
Whether romantic on the beach, tucked away in a treehouse, or with a sensational view over the sea, the choice of remarkable restaurants on Koh Samui is huge. The international cuisine is richly varied and includes, for example, German, French, Italian, English, Indian, Israeli, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Scandinavian restaurants.
What matters is knowing where to find the best deal for your wallet and your taste.
All price rangesTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Price ranges on Koh Samui go from affordable to exorbitant. Right behind the most opulent and gigantic high-end villas you'll often find the simplest corrugated-iron workers' huts. This creates a stark contrast between rich and poor for travellers.
You can book clean, nice bungalows from around 600 THB a night. The average price per hotel night is around 1200 THB, which of course also depends on the season. Naturally, there are also places with indescribable locations that can easily cost 25,000 THB or more per night!
Food is no different, of course. A local Thai dish from a street food stall costs around 80 THB. In "name-brand" international restaurants, you'll pay that much just for a non-alcoholic drink alone. Not to mention the 7% service tax or sales tax added to the bill.
Which price range you move in always depends on your own expectations. If you're undecided, we're happy to recommend a restaurant or food stall.
Generally speaking, the price level on Samui is a bit higher than on the mainland. Islanders call this phenomenon the "island surcharge", since many products first have to be shipped over to Koh Samui by ferry, which is a costly process.
The people of SamuiTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Every country has friendly locals, but the people of Samui have something really special about them. The islanders are traditional, friendly, and helpful — or at least come across that way.
Maybe it's the way you get invited to a delicious meal like part of the family. Or maybe it's the traditional Thai greeting, the wai, which is how we tourists get welcomed.
The national motto is "mai pen rai", which roughly means "never mind" or "no worries". The people of Samui in particular live this friendly, relaxed philosophy of life to the full. It's not for nothing that Thailand is called the "Land of Smiles". You might occasionally run into someone who doesn't smile right away or offer help unprompted, but that's pretty rare. The people on Samui are consistently friendly, helpful, and open.
Unique night marketsTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
The varied night markets on Koh Samui are part of Thai culture and a must for every Thailand traveller. From daily night markets to weekly travelling markets, they're spread across the whole island and are a fantastic place to visit.
Whether it's souvenirs, a Thai dish, a cheap cocktail over a nice chat, or just a simple stroll, the atmosphere is indescribable and there's something for everyone.
If you want to know more about the markets, read our article: Top 10 Markets on Koh Samui
Geographic locationTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Geographically, Koh Samui is one of the safest spots in Thailand and is largely protected from tsunamis. Thanks to its safe location in the Gulf of Thailand, just 35km from the mainland, there's really nothing to worry about on that front.
Even if a strong earthquake or tsunami were to occur, the effects would be minimal, since the distance to any possible epicentre is very great. Any resulting waves would have barely any impact on the island. So Koh Samui is a geographically safe travel destination!
So much to doTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
We can confirm 100 percent that this island never sleeps. There's simply always something to experience, celebrate, or discover here. Whether young or old, big or small, there's something for every interest and age group.
Koh Samui offers the complete package, and you're sure to find something for every taste. You just have to know where! The selection is so huge it would go beyond the scope of this article :-)
On this page you can book all the top excursions: Koh Samui excursions, beaches, waterfalls, viewpoints, and much more
Great weatherTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Thailand is one of those lucky countries that always has nice, warm weather. The average temperature is around 32 degrees all year round. During the monsoon season there are also cooler days, and temperatures can drop to as low as 24 degrees.
Depending on the region, the rainy season falls in different months across Thailand. On Koh Samui it's usually between June and July, and from late October to mid-January, and there can sometimes be heavy or prolonged showers.
That said, even the monsoon season doesn't mean bad weather for visiting Koh Samui, since it's still warm. Some roads, waterfalls, and streams briefly turn into raging torrents, turning the island into an unforgettable adventure. Don't worry, though — the surprise doesn't last long, and as soon as the rain stops, the water disappears just as fast as it came.
Stunning beachesTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
Koh Samui has an indescribable selection of more than 25 gorgeous sandy beaches and bays, perfect for relaxing, snorkelling, or partying. The water stays a warm 30 degrees on average all year round.
Most beaches lie along stretches of coast with breathtaking views over the picturesque scenery. The unforgettable sunrises and sunsets turn the beaches into scenes straight out of the Arabian Nights.
Beach types range from fine sand to rocks, from left completely natural to lined with sun loungers, and from hidden away to bustling with visitors. Experience your beach in a quiet atmosphere or while partying with like-minded people.
A special bonus is the spectacular underwater world. But see for yourself and join an excursion: Water Excursions
The complete packageTop 10 reasons to visit Samui
If you're travelling to Thailand for the first time, the island of Koh Samui is the perfect place to get to know Thai life and culture. Let yourself be enchanted by the island's fantastic flair.
This paradise-like coconut island simply has everything your heart could desire, but be warned — Koh Samui is addictive!
Samui is unique and offers boundless variety. Whether we're talking about the overall infrastructure, the untouched nature, the countless dreamy beaches, the bars and nightclubs, the huge selection of national and international restaurants, shops, massage parlours, supermarkets, or the luxurious high-end villas and resorts.
On top of that, you can experience an unforgettable adventure or excursion every single day. You'll find a great selection here: Best Excursions on Koh SamuiThe best tours on Koh Samui Explore now
In most glossy magazines, Koh Samui is often reduced to its beautiful sandy beaches and crystal-clear water. But Samui is actually a wonderfully varied paradise of coconut palms and a huge variety of exotic plants and untouched patches of rainforest.
At over 635 metres above sea level, you can experience this unique nature, with incredible animal sounds, impressive waterfalls, remote viewpoints, and hidden hiking trails. Of course, it's the most fun off-road.
Take a look here: Island safari excursion for cruise passengers
Samui is a culinary destination with plenty of first-class international restaurants. From trendy fusion creations to authentic Thai cuisine, Koh Samui offers a huge variety of incredible taste experiences.
Whether romantic on the beach, tucked away in a treehouse, or with a sensational view over the sea, the choice of remarkable restaurants on Koh Samui is huge. The international cuisine is richly varied and includes, for example, German, French, Italian, English, Indian, Israeli, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, and Scandinavian restaurants.
What matters is knowing where to find the best deal for your wallet and your taste.
Price ranges on Koh Samui go from affordable to exorbitant. Right behind the most opulent and gigantic high-end villas you'll often find the simplest corrugated-iron workers' huts. This creates a stark contrast between rich and poor for travellers.
You can book clean, nice bungalows from around 600 THB a night. The average price per hotel night is around 1200 THB, which of course also depends on the season. Naturally, there are also places with indescribable locations that can easily cost 25,000 THB or more per night!
Food is no different, of course. A local Thai dish from a street food stall costs around 80 THB. In "name-brand" international restaurants, you'll pay that much just for a non-alcoholic drink alone. Not to mention the 7% service tax or sales tax added to the bill.
Which price range you move in always depends on your own expectations. If you're undecided, we're happy to recommend a restaurant or food stall.
Generally speaking, the price level on Samui is a bit higher than on the mainland. Islanders call this phenomenon the "island surcharge", since many products first have to be shipped over to Koh Samui by ferry, which is a costly process.
Every country has friendly locals, but the people of Samui have something really special about them. The islanders are traditional, friendly, and helpful — or at least come across that way.
Maybe it's the way you get invited to a delicious meal like part of the family. Or maybe it's the traditional Thai greeting, the wai, which is how we tourists get welcomed.
The national motto is "mai pen rai", which roughly means "never mind" or "no worries". The people of Samui in particular live this friendly, relaxed philosophy of life to the full. It's not for nothing that Thailand is called the "Land of Smiles". You might occasionally run into someone who doesn't smile right away or offer help unprompted, but that's pretty rare. The people on Samui are consistently friendly, helpful, and open.
The varied night markets on Koh Samui are part of Thai culture and a must for every Thailand traveller. From daily night markets to weekly travelling markets, they're spread across the whole island and are a fantastic place to visit.
Whether it's souvenirs, a Thai dish, a cheap cocktail over a nice chat, or just a simple stroll, the atmosphere is indescribable and there's something for everyone.
If you want to know more about the markets, read our article: Top 10 Markets on Koh Samui
Geographically, Koh Samui is one of the safest spots in Thailand and is largely protected from tsunamis. Thanks to its safe location in the Gulf of Thailand, just 35km from the mainland, there's really nothing to worry about on that front.
Even if a strong earthquake or tsunami were to occur, the effects would be minimal, since the distance to any possible epicentre is very great. Any resulting waves would have barely any impact on the island. So Koh Samui is a geographically safe travel destination!
We can confirm 100 percent that this island never sleeps. There's simply always something to experience, celebrate, or discover here. Whether young or old, big or small, there's something for every interest and age group.
Koh Samui offers the complete package, and you're sure to find something for every taste. You just have to know where! The selection is so huge it would go beyond the scope of this article :-)
On this page you can book all the top excursions: Koh Samui excursions, beaches, waterfalls, viewpoints, and much more
Thailand is one of those lucky countries that always has nice, warm weather. The average temperature is around 32 degrees all year round. During the monsoon season there are also cooler days, and temperatures can drop to as low as 24 degrees.
Depending on the region, the rainy season falls in different months across Thailand. On Koh Samui it's usually between June and July, and from late October to mid-January, and there can sometimes be heavy or prolonged showers.
That said, even the monsoon season doesn't mean bad weather for visiting Koh Samui, since it's still warm. Some roads, waterfalls, and streams briefly turn into raging torrents, turning the island into an unforgettable adventure. Don't worry, though — the surprise doesn't last long, and as soon as the rain stops, the water disappears just as fast as it came.
Koh Samui has an indescribable selection of more than 25 gorgeous sandy beaches and bays, perfect for relaxing, snorkelling, or partying. The water stays a warm 30 degrees on average all year round.
Most beaches lie along stretches of coast with breathtaking views over the picturesque scenery. The unforgettable sunrises and sunsets turn the beaches into scenes straight out of the Arabian Nights.
Beach types range from fine sand to rocks, from left completely natural to lined with sun loungers, and from hidden away to bustling with visitors. Experience your beach in a quiet atmosphere or while partying with like-minded people.
A special bonus is the spectacular underwater world. But see for yourself and join an excursion: Water Excursions
If you're travelling to Thailand for the first time, the island of Koh Samui is the perfect place to get to know Thai life and culture. Let yourself be enchanted by the island's fantastic flair.
This paradise-like coconut island simply has everything your heart could desire, but be warned — Koh Samui is addictive!
Samui is unique and offers boundless variety. Whether we're talking about the overall infrastructure, the untouched nature, the countless dreamy beaches, the bars and nightclubs, the huge selection of national and international restaurants, shops, massage parlours, supermarkets, or the luxurious high-end villas and resorts.
On top of that, you can experience an unforgettable adventure or excursion every single day. You'll find a great selection here: Best Excursions on Koh Samui
