{"id":1526176,"date":"2022-08-26T06:57:08","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T06:57:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/?p=1526176"},"modified":"2023-06-15T15:07:23","modified_gmt":"2023-06-15T15:07:23","slug":"koh-samui","status":"publish","type":"travelguides","link":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/thailand\/koh-samui\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ultimate Koh Samui Travel Guide"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

\n <\/i>Exploring Koh Samui<\/span><\/a> \n <\/i>Where to stay<\/span><\/a>\n <\/i>How to get around<\/span><\/a>\n <\/i>How to get there<\/span><\/a>\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you visit Koh Samui?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Koh Samui is Thailand\u2019s second-largest island (Phuket<\/a> takes the crown) and is situated in the Gulf of Thailand alongside Koh Phangan<\/a> and Koh Tao<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just like it\u2019s neighbours, Koh Samui is surrounded by stunning, white-sand beaches and endless activities. This makes the island an extremely popular destination, attracting a wide audience, from budget backpackers to wealthy holidaymakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unsurprisingly, Koh Samui is also one of the more developed islands in Thailand and even has its own airport, Samui Airport (USM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be deterred by the development and higher prices though, the island still has much to offer with its amazing sights and beaches!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also read:<\/strong> Top 10 Things to Do in Koh Samui<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to stay on Koh Samui<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The island is a bit like a genie, it can grant whatever you desire, whether it be a luxury resort or a budget bungalow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a mixture of accommodation in most locations the choice of where to stay really is yours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location #1: Chaweng – the place with great shopping, restaurants and nightlife<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Chaweng
Swim, dine, repeat! At Chaweng Beach you won’t be bored for a second<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

First up is Chaweng Beach<\/a>. Situated in the northeast corner of the island, it\u2019s close to Samui Airport, making it super accessible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you\u2019ve reached Chaweng you don\u2019t really ever have to leave!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being the most developed area on the island, it has everything you\u2019ll need, from a huge shopping complex, lively bars to restaurants catering to every taste.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also couldn\u2019t go without mentioning the 7 km long fine white sand beach which despite being popular still manages to preserve a tranquil and relaxing feel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location #2: Lamai Beach – it has pretty much everything you need<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Lamai
Crystal clear waters at the more peaceful Lamai Beach<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

If hordes of humans in one place aren\u2019t your thing, then Lamai Beach<\/a> could be a good substitute for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It still captures the upbeat vibe of its northerly neighbour, Chaweng, but on a smaller scale. The area still offers plenty of entertainment, with all your necessary conveniences nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll easily find ways to occupy your nights in one of the many beachside bars or restaurants offering great dining.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location #3: Bophut – the best of the new and the old<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Fisherman
Tourist strolling along the main street of Bophut, also known as the Fisherman’s Village <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Bophut<\/a>, on the north coast, is a brilliant blend of the old and the new, giving you a glimpse into the history of the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This fisherman’s village has taken on a cosmopolitan feel due to the boutique shops and chic restaurants. The 2 km beach is split with the east side hosting a scattering of cheaper hotels whilst the west features those 5-star luxury resorts most of us can only dream of.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get around Koh Samui<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Due to how developed Koh Samui is, it\u2019s probably one of the easiest islands to travel around. You will find taxis, songthaews, motorbikes, and even ride sharing apps such as Grab or Navigo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Songthaew<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Inside
Inside seating of a Songthaew<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Songthaews are pick-up style trucks with benches in the back which are able to fit between 8-10 people. These essentially act as Koh Samui’s bus service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Koh Samui has a main ring road that covers 51 km and goes through most major best towns with the exception of Choeng Mon. This makes them a great option to get around the island.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To use a Songthaew all you have to do is hail one down from the side of the road and check that it’s going to your intended destination. Once you’re near where you want to be, you simply ring the bell inside or ask the driver to stop. Pay the driver and enjoy your day!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taxi<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Grab
Getting around Koh Samui by Grab Taxi<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You’ll find taxis almost everywhere across Koh Samui, just roaming the streets waiting for their next passenger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unlike other Thai islands, ride sharing apps like Grab are available. We highly recommend using a ride sharing app first before a conventional taxi as prices can sometimes be up to 30% cheaper!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Renting a motorbike or car<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"Motorbike
Travellers driving a motorbike on Koh Samui<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

You can also rent a car or a motorbike and drive yourself around the island, but be sure to have your international driver\u2019s license with you and be aware of the local road laws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A motorbike at 250 THB ($7.70)–300 THB ($9.20)\/day is significantly cheaper than a car at around 800 THB ($24.50)\/day depending on the car, but you certainly compromise on comfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to get to Koh Samui<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Leaving from<\/th>Duration<\/th>Prices from<\/th><\/th>See details<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
Bangkok<\/td>h 10min-15.5 hours<\/td>from 760 THB ($23.50)<\/td><\/td>Bangkok to Koh Samui<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Koh Phangan<\/td>30-90 minutes<\/td>from 205 THB ($6.30)<\/td><\/td>Koh Phangan to Koh Samui<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Koh Samui Airport<\/td>15 minutes-1 hour<\/td>from 100 THB ($3.10)<\/td><\/td>Koh Samui Airport to Koh Samui<\/a><\/td><\/tr>
Koh Tao<\/td>h 30m<\/td>from 625 THB ($19.10)<\/td><\/td>Koh Tao to Koh Samui<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Exploring Koh Samui Where to stay How to get around How to get there Should you visit Koh …<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9026,"featured_media":4535055,"parent":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[97,166],"travelguides_tag":[],"class_list":["post-1526176","travelguides","type-travelguides","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-thailand","category-koh-samui"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travelguides\/1526176","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travelguides"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/travelguides"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9026"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1526176"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travelguides\/1526176\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4535055"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1526176"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1526176"},{"taxonomy":"travelguides_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.geckoroutes.com\/de\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/travelguides_tag?post=1526176"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}