# Koh Samui: map, what to do and when to go

A tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand with white-sand beaches, seaside temples and a marine park a day trip away by boat.

Canonical: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/
Language: en. Extended author commentary and itinerary notes may remain in Portuguese. Dates below belong to individual sources; this is not live availability.

## Direct answer
- **Koh Samui: how do I get to the island?** Samui International Airport (USM) is in the Bo Phut subdistrict, north of Chaweng.
- **Koh Samui: how many days should I stay?** I'd stay four days on Koh Samui.
- **Koh Samui: which beach should I stay on?** I'd sleep in Chaweng only if nightlife is part of the plan.

## The north: Big Buddha, Wat Plai Laem and the evening in Bophut
Start early at Wat Phra Yai, which opens at 6 a.m.: climb to the Big Buddha's terrace before the heat, with shoulders and knees covered.
- Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha)
- Wat Plai Laem
- Fisherman's Village
- Secret Buddha Garden
- Khao Hua Jook Pagoda

## The south loop: rocks, fishing village, temples and a waterfall
Leave Chaweng around 6:30 a.m. on Route 4169 heading south and stop for a few minutes at the Lad Koh viewpoint.
- Hin Ta Hin Yai
- Wat Khunaram
- Laem Sor Pagoda
- Wat Sila Ngu
- Hua Thanon
- Nathon

## Wat Phra Yai (Big Buddha)
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-wat-phra-yai
Bo Phut · Up to half an hour
The temple occupies Koh Faan, a small islet off the northeast coast that residents joined to Samui with a stone causeway after wooden bridges that lasted two or three years. The 12-meter golden Buddha statue, built in 1972, is the island's best-known image. A staircase leads to the statue's terrace, from which you can see the sea as far as Koh Phangan, and there are a few souvenir shops around it. It is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., according to the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office. It is a place of worship: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes off where signs ask.
Check access

## Wat Plai Laem
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-wat-plai-laem
Bo Phut · Up to half an hour
Founded in 1880 on the northern tip of the island, on Route 4171, between the Big Buddha and Choeng Mon, the temple became known for the modern statues over the lake: a white, many-armed Guanyin, reached by stones and a marble bridge, and a Sangkajai, the pot-bellied monk whom Chinese worshippers visit to ask for abundance. There is also a Buddha footprint and ponds where visitors feed fish. Admission is free.
Check access

## Fisherman's Village
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-fisherman-s-village
One to two hours
Bophut's old fishing village has become a narrow street of wooden houses by the beach, with seafood restaurants, clothing and souvenir shops and bars. On Fridays, from late afternoon, the street closes for the Bophut Walking Street, the busiest food and crafts market in the north of the island. On other days shops and restaurants operate as usual, and late afternoon is the best time to stroll there.
Check access

## Chaweng Beach
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-chaweng-beach
Bo Phut · Half a day or more
Samui's longest beach has about 6 km of white sand and coconut palms, in four stretches: North, Central, South and Chaweng Noi. It faces east and gets the sunrise head-on. Behind it runs the street of hotels, restaurants, shopping centers and bars that makes Chaweng the center of the island's nightlife. Around the rocks at the ends there are snorkeling spots.
Check access

## Lamai Beach
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-lamai-beach
Half a day or more
South of Chaweng, Lamai has about 4 km of sand in a curve of coconut palms, calmer than its neighbor, with bars, restaurants and hotels at all prices. In some stretches the water gets deep quickly and the waves are strong, so it pays to watch the sea before going in. On Sundays, the Lamai Walking Street takes over the streets near the beach from late afternoon.
Check access

## Hin Ta Hin Yai
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-hin-ta-hin-yai
Up to half an hour
At the southern end of Lamai, sea and wind have carved two formations into the granite that resemble male and female genitalia, known as the Grandfather and Grandmother rocks. Local legend tells of an elderly couple shipwrecked there on the way to a marriage proposal. Admission is free, and the path passes several souvenir stalls. The view of the sea from the rocks is what makes the visit worth more than a photo.
Check access

## Wat Khunaram
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-wat-khunaram
Na Mueang · Up to half an hour
Near kilometer 13 of Route 4169, next to the Na Muang waterfalls, this temple displays in a glass case the body of Luang Pho Daeng, a revered monk who died on May 6, 1973, at age 79, seated in meditation. According to the story told at the temple, he had announced his own death. Locals leave flowers and incense in front of the case; it is a place of worship, so dress appropriately and keep quiet.
Check access

## Na Muang Waterfall
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-na-muang-waterfall
One to two hours
Two falls at the foot of the central massif, in the south of the island. The first, 30 to 40 meters high, has a paved road to its edge, a wide pool for swimming and a rest area with restaurants; the rocks on the bottom call for care. The entrance to the second, about 80 meters high, is 500 meters further along Route 4169, and from there it is about a 30-minute walk to the fall. In the rainy season the water volume is greater.
Check access

## Laem Sor Pagoda
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-laem-sor-pagoda
Taling Ngam · Up to half an hour
On the island's southwest point, between Taling Ngam and Na Mueang, the chedi covered in yellow tiles stands on rocks by the sea and holds relics of the Buddha. It was built by Luang Pho Daeng of Wat Laem Sor, a monk born on the island in 1891 who died in 1976, who is not the same Luang Pho Daeng displayed at Wat Khunaram. It is open at all times, and early-morning light on the yellow and the sea is the most sought after for photos. From the airport it is about 50 minutes by car.
Check access

## Wat Sila Ngu
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-wat-sila-ngu
Maret · Up to half an hour
Also called Wat Ratchathammaram, it stands beside Route 4169, about 1 km from Hin Ta Hin Yai, near Hua Thanon. The golden seaside chedi, which locals call Phra That Hin Ngu, received relics on June 12, 1935, and is the center of an annual festival commemorating the visit of King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit in 1962. It is open from sunrise to sunset and fits easily into the southern route.
Check access

## Hua Thanon
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-hua-thanon
Up to half an hour
A Muslim fishing village between Lamai and Na Thian, organized around the Nurul Ihsan mosque. At the end of the street, colorful boats nose onto the beach and fish dries on mats. The fishermen go out around 10 p.m. and return between 4 and 8 a.m.; the catch goes to the Hua Thanon market, and what is left is salted and dried. It is a residential community: visit discreetly and in clothing that covers shoulders and knees.
Check access

## Nathon
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-nathon
Up to half an hour
The island's oldest community and its main port, on the west coast. The Don Sak ferries from the mainland arrive here, and so do the district offices, the market and a street of local shops. It is not a beach destination, but it shows everyday Samui and is the sunset coast.
Check access

## Wat Lamai
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-wat-lamai
Maret · Up to half an hour
Inside Lamai's temple, a two-story wooden house has housed a folk museum since 1986, created with the support of the National Office of Culture. It gathers lanterns, ceramics, bird cages, brass utensils and the tools of coconut farming, the island's oldest activity, plus a Dong Son-style bronze drum.
Check access

## Secret Buddha Garden
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-secret-buddha-garden
Taling Ngam · One to two hours
Also called the Magic Garden, it is a private sculpture garden high on Khao Pom, the island's tallest hill. The farmer Nim Thongsuk began building it in 1976, at age 77, and kept going until he died: there are statues of the Buddha, angels, musicians, animals and his parents, among streams and boulders. The access road leaves Route 4169 right opposite Wat Khunaram; it is steep in places and not suitable for anyone with little motorbike experience. Admission is charged.
Check access

## Lad Koh Viewpoint
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-lad-koh-viewpoint
Up to half an hour
A viewpoint over the coastal rocks between Chaweng and Lamai, with a walkway that descends close to the water and a pavilion for sitting and looking at the sea. It is a stop of a few minutes on the way between the two beaches.
Check access

## Khao Hua Jook Pagoda
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-khao-hua-jook-pagoda
Up to half an hour
On top of the hill of Wat Sawang Arom, near Chaweng, the Si Sukhot Khiri chedi holds a Buddha footprint and relics. From there you can see the airport, the Chaweng lagoon and the beach. Admission is 20 baht per person, according to the municipality.
Check access

## Hin Lad Waterfall
https://nilopelomundo.com/en/place/koh-samui/#g-lugar-hin-lad-waterfall
One to two hours
A stepped waterfall formed by the Lipa Yai stream, near Nathon, off Route 4172. The first pool is next to the entrance; the prettiest stretch, with stone slabs and three pools, is about 2 km up the trail. The trail crosses private land and has little signage, and the municipality recommends going with a guide. It is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., with a 10 baht parking fee.
Check access

**Koh Samui: how do I get to the island?**
Samui International Airport (USM) is in the Bo Phut subdistrict, north of Chaweng. It is private, was built by Bangkok Airways and has open-air terminals roofed with palm leaves. Bangkok Airways connects the island to Bangkok (Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang), Phuket, Krabi, Chiang Mai and a few international destinations, such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong; check the year's routes on the airline's website. In the arrivals hall there are fixed-price shuttle minibuses charged per person, taxis and hotel transfers; to Chaweng it is about 20 minutes by minibus. The cheaper alternative is to fly to Surat Thani (URT) on the mainland and continue by bus and ferry. Ferries leave from the Don Sak pier: Seatran and Songserm arrive at Nathon, and Raja Ferry, which also carries cars, arrives at Lipa Noi. Operators such as Seatran sell a combined bus and ferry ticket from Surat Thani airport. Lomprayah links Chumphon, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan to Samui by catamaran, arriving at Nathon or at the Pralarn pier in Mae Nam.

**Koh Samui: how many days should I stay?**
I'd stay four days on Koh Samui. The first for the north of the island, with the Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem in the morning, beach in the afternoon and the evening in Bophut; the second for the south loop by road, from the Lamai rocks to the fishing village of Hua Thanon, the Na Muang waterfalls and the Laem Sor chedi; the third for the boat to Ang Thong marine park; and the fourth for Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, if you like snorkeling, or for Koh Phangan. Three days cover the two road days and Ang Thong, which is the trip I wouldn't leave out; with less than that, the island becomes just beach and hotel.

**Koh Samui: which beach should I stay on?**
I'd sleep in Chaweng only if nightlife is part of the plan. For dinner on foot and a quiet night, Bophut; for children and for the boats to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, Mae Nam; for the programs in the south, Lamai.

**Koh Samui: when is the best time to go?**
February to April; it is the driest period according to the 1991 to 2020 normals (64 mm in February). From May to September it rains 100 to 134 mm a month, and October to December is the wettest period, with 445 mm in November, when Ang Thong park is closed. Late December and January are the months when hotels are fullest, even with rain.

**Koh Samui: what is the trip to Ang Thong marine park like?**
An archipelago of 42 limestone islands about 30 km west of Samui, protected since 1980 and a Ramsar site since 2002. It can only be reached with licensed operators, on a day trip: according to the TAT, the speedboat takes about 45 minutes to Koh Wua Ta Lap, and the total trip ranges from 1 hour 30 minutes to 2 hours 30 minutes depending on the boat and the sea. On Koh Wua Ta Lap are the park headquarters and the steep trail of about 500 meters, with support ropes, that takes 25 to 30 minutes to the viewpoint over the islands; on Koh Mae Ko, a viewpoint shows Thale Nai, a saltwater lake ringed by cliffs, and Koh Sam Sao is the kayaking spot. Admission is 300 baht for adult foreigners (May 2026), and the park closes every year during the monsoon, generally from November 1 to December 15, with the date set each year by the Department of National Parks depending on the weather. Check the year's notice and whether the fee is included in the tour price.

**Koh Samui: how do I get to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao?**
Koh Phangan, the neighboring island to the north, whose main town is Thong Sala, can be reached by fast boat from the piers in the north of Samui, such as the Big Buddha, Bang Rak and Pralarn in Mae Nam, or from Nathon; Lomprayah lists 45 to 90 minutes each way on its routes, depending on the stops. As a day trip, check the last boat back before setting out. Koh Tao, the northernmost of the three islands, is one of the diving and snorkeling centers of the Gulf of Thailand, with good diving almost all year, except in November. Lomprayah catamarans link Samui to Koh Tao, with a stop at Koh Phangan; the time depends on the route, so check the schedule for the day. One-day snorkeling tours from Samui combine Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan; those who want to dive at an unhurried pace usually sleep on Koh Tao.

**Koh Samui: how do I get around the island?**
On the island, the 51 km ring road links everything. Songthaews, pickup trucks with two benches in the bed, run fixed routes with a per-person fare during the day; after 18:00 they work like taxis, with a price agreed beforehand. Taxis rarely turn on the meter: agree the fare before getting in. Grab works on the island, with a fixed price in the app. Renting a motorbike is common and cheap, but it is the riskiest way to get around: the roads have potholes, insurance on a rented bike often covers little and many rental shops ask for your passport as a deposit. Without a motorcycle license or an International Driving Permit, don't rent one: without the permit, insurance may not be valid in an accident. A rental car, including from the international chains, is safer for the loop around the island and for the steep roads of the interior.

**Koh Samui: do I need cash?**
The currency is the Thai baht (THB). Street markets, songthaews, fruit stalls and temples want cash, in small notes. Prices as of October 2026: admission to Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is 300 baht for adult foreigners and 150 for children aged 3 to 14 (a May 2026 figure, according to the Thai National Parks guide), and is usually charged separately from the boat trip; the Khao Hua Jook viewpoint charges 20 baht and the parking at Hin Lad waterfall 10 baht, according to the municipality; Wat Plai Laem does not charge admission, according to the TAT. In simple restaurants, check the menu with prices before ordering, and for taxis and motorbike taxis agree the fare before setting off.

**Koh Samui: is it a safe destination?**
Samui is a calm destination for most visitors, and the most concrete risks come from traffic and the sea. The motorbike is the most cited risk: wear a helmet, do not drive after drinking and have travel insurance that covers motorbikes. In Lamai there are stretches of deep water and strong waves; watch the sea before going in. There are also box jellyfish in the Gulf: of the seven deaths from this animal recorded in Thailand between 1999 and 2015, six were on Koh Samui and Koh Phangan. Respect the beach warnings, prefer to swim where there is a station with vinegar and, in case of a sting, pour vinegar on the skin and seek medical care. At the waterfalls, the rocks are slippery and there have been serious accidents. At night, in the bar areas of Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut, agree the price of the ride back before getting into a taxi or motorbike taxi, and avoid deserted beaches. On bus and ferry trips from the mainland, do not leave valuables in luggage stored in the hold. Dengue has caused outbreaks on the island: use repellent. Tap water is not potable. The Tourist Police can be reached at 1155, and there is a public hospital in Nathon and private hospitals in the Chaweng and Bophut area.


## In the Nilo app
- Plan these 3 days on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/guide/koh-samui/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-itinerary
- Mark your hotel on the map: https://nilopelomundo.com/en/app/map/koh-samui/?utm_source=llm&utm_medium=markdown&utm_content=door-stay

## Full editorial guide (Portuguese)
https://nilopelomundo.com/llm/koh-samui.md