Koh Samui, beach by beach — and every island trip worth taking

Koh Samui: Mu Ko Ang Thong Park Cruise with Kayaking Option

The classic, good-value way to see Ang Thong. A big boat is slower than a speedboat but far steadier, with room to move about and shade on deck — a real advantage for families and anyone prone to seasickness. Kayaking is offered as an add-on, so check which option you are booking.

• Full day in Ang Thong National Marine Park on a large, stable boat
• Viewpoint and Emerald Lake stops, with optional kayaking
• The most-reviewed Ang Thong trip in the GetYourGuide feed

Pig Island by Speed Boat with Buffet Lunch

The most-booked short boat trip from Samui, with several thousand reviews. A speedboat runs from the south coast to Koh Tan for snorkelling and on to Koh Madsum, where the resident pigs trot along the sand. It only takes half a day, so it fits easily around beach time.

• Meet the pigs on the beach at Koh Madsum
• Snorkelling stop off Koh Tan
• Buffet lunch included

Koh Samui: Mr. Ung’s 4WD Wild Jungle Safari Tour with Lunch

The best-reviewed land tour on the island. An open-backed 4WD climbs tracks that ordinary rental cars and scooters should not attempt, linking the sights of Samui’s mountainous middle in one day. Expect a bumpy, dusty, fun ride; check the listing for the exact stops on your date.

• Open 4WD up steep tracks into the island’s interior
• Typically includes a waterfall, hill viewpoints and the Secret Buddha Garden
• Lunch included

Koh Samui: Half-Day Highlight Tour + Elephant Camp Option

A quick, inexpensive orientation loop of the ring road’s best-known sights, ideal for your first or second day. We would skip the optional elephant-camp add-on and visit one of the island’s observation-only sanctuaries separately instead.

• The island’s main landmarks by air-conditioned minivan
• Temples, viewpoints and the famous rocks in one loop
• Low price and thousands of reviews

Samui: Angthong National Marine Park Day Trip by Speedboat

The speedboat version of the Ang Thong day: a quicker crossing and a slightly shorter day than the big boats, at a higher price. Speedboats ride hard when the sea is choppy, so they are not ideal for bad backs, pregnancy or very young children.

• Faster crossing means more time in the park
• Snorkelling, the Emerald Lake and the Ko Wua Talap viewpoint
• Well over a thousand reviews

From Samui: Ko Tao and Koh Nang Yuan Speedboat Day Trip

A long day, but the snorkelling around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan is the best within reach of Samui. The open-sea crossing can be rough outside the calm months, and trips are cancelled in bad weather — book early in your stay so there is room to reschedule.

• Snorkelling stops around Koh Tao
• Time on Koh Nang Yuan’s sandbar and viewpoint
• Speedboat crossing from Samui

Koh Samui: Elephant Sanctuary Entry and Feeding Experience

A short, affordable sanctuary visit focused on feeding and watching the elephants rather than riding them. As with any animal attraction, read the latest reviews before booking and favour places with no riding, no shows and limited hands-on contact.

• Meet and feed rescued elephants
• Short visit that suits young children
• No riding

Koh Samui: Thai Cooking Class with Samui Local Family

The top-rated food experience on the island. You cook a full Thai meal with a local family and eat what you make — a good choice for a rainy day, and something you can actually take home with you.

• Hands-on cooking in a family home
• Classic Thai dishes made from scratch
• A perfect 5.0 rating from hundreds of reviews

Chaweng Beach

Samui’s longest, liveliest beach

Several kilometres of pale sand on the east coast, backed by the island’s biggest concentration of hotels, restaurants, shops and nightlife. Chaweng is busy and commercial, but the beach itself is beautiful and everything is within walking distance.

Lamai Beach

The relaxed second beach, with deeper water

Samui’s second resort beach is a wide curve of sand south of Chaweng with a calmer, more low-key town behind it. The water gets deep quickly, which makes for good swimming, and the Hin Ta & Hin Yai rocks sit at its southern end.

Fisherman’s Village, Bophut

Old wooden shophouses and the Friday walking street

A single beachfront lane of old Chinese-Thai wooden shophouses in Bophut, now filled with restaurants, boutiques and small hotels. On Friday evenings it becomes the island’s best-known walking street market.

Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)

The golden landmark of the north-east coast

A 12-metre gold-coloured seated Buddha on a small islet joined to Samui by a causeway. Built in 1972, it is the island’s best-known landmark and is visible from planes on the approach to the airport.

Na Muang Waterfalls

Samui’s two best-known jungle falls

Two waterfalls in the island’s forested interior. Na Muang 1 is a short walk from the car park and has a natural pool; Na Muang 2 is higher and reached by a steeper uphill walk. They are at their best during and just after the rainy season.

Ang Thong National Marine Park

42 limestone islands, a viewpoint and an emerald lake

A protected archipelago of 42 jungle-covered limestone islands west of Samui. Day trips combine the climb to the Ko Wua Talap viewpoint, the Emerald Lake on Ko Mae Ko, kayaking under the cliffs and snorkelling.