The shape of a trip

Everything we know, mapped as one trip

Every guide we've written, drawn along a single line in the order a trip actually happens, from when to come to what to pack.

  1. When to come 17
  2. Getting there 6
  3. Where to stay 26
  4. Getting around 4
  5. Day-by-day plans 18
  6. Things to do 43
  7. Nightlife 9
  8. Travel tips 19
The line runs in the order a trip actually happens, not the order we happened to publish these guides.
A diagram of every Samui69 guide arranged along a line in the order a trip happens: when to come, getting there, where to stay, getting around, what to do, nightlife, and practical tips, each hub with its related guides listed below it.
When to come 17
Getting there 6
Where to stay 26
Getting around 4
Day-by-day plans 18
Things to do 43
Nightlife 9
Travel tips 19

How long have you got

How long have you got?

Three honest trip lengths, and what actually fits into each one without turning the trip into a checklist.

3 days

Long weekend

Enough for one coast, a beach day, a temple and waterfall loop, and a first taste of the nightlife, no interior detour required.

7 days

One week

A full loop of the ring road, a boat trip out to Ang Thong, and evenings free for Bophut's markets and Chaweng's bars.

14+ days

Two weeks or more

Room to add Koh Phangan by ferry, work a few mornings from a coworking space, and still leave slow beach days on the table.

When to come

When to come

One row, twelve months: a rain glyph that swells toward the monsoon, and a sea-state dot that shifts from calm to rough by coast.

  1. Jan Shoulder, Mixed
  2. Feb Dry, Calm
  3. Mar Dry, Calm
  4. Apr Dry, Calm
  5. May Shoulder, Mixed
  6. Jun Shoulder, Mixed
  7. Jul Dry, Mixed
  8. Aug Dry, Mixed
  9. Sep Shoulder, Mixed
  10. Oct Wet, Rough
  11. Nov Wet, Rough
  12. Dec Wet, Mixed

Rain stays lowest from February to April, builds through the middle of the year, and peaks in the November monsoon, while the east and west coasts turn rougher before the sea settles again each December.

See the season in full
When to come
When to comeWetRough
JanShoulder (125 mm)Mixed
FebDry (65 mm)Calm
MarDry (115 mm)Calm
AprDry (85 mm)Calm
MayShoulder (130 mm)Mixed
JunShoulder (135 mm)Mixed
JulDry (115 mm)Mixed
AugDry (100 mm)Mixed
SepShoulder (120 mm)Mixed
OctWet (295 mm)Rough
NovWet (445 mm)Rough
DecWet (265 mm)Mixed

Every guide, by question

The trip, question by question

Every guide grouped under the question it answers, from when to come to what to do after dark, so you can go straight to the part you're planning.

When to come

17 guides

See all 17 in this guide

Getting there

6 guides

Where to stay

26 guides

See all 26 in this guide

Getting around

4 guides

Day-by-day plans

18 guides

See all 18 in this guide

Things to do

43 guides

See all 43 in this guide

Nightlife

9 guides

See all 9 in this guide

Travel tips

19 guides

See all 19 in this guide

What we'd tell a friend

What we'd tell a friend

  1. Fares are not metered or posted, so agree the price with the driver (or another passenger) before boarding.

    Getting Around Koh Samui

  2. No area is unsafe, but a few are easy to mismatch.

    Where to Stay in Koh Samui

  3. Red flags mean don't swim — they're not a suggestion.

    Travel Tips

  4. December and early January bring the best all-round weather but the highest prices and busiest beaches of the year.

    Best Time to Visit Koh Samui

  5. Stick to venues with visible price lists, count change in well-lit areas, and avoid any bar tout who insists on walking you somewhere.

    Nightlife Guide 2026

Where these guides lead

Guides that take you somewhere

Four kinds of places these guides send you toward, each with its own count and the guides that lead you in.

34

places

Beaches

Every coast has a different mood, from Chaweng's nightlife-lined sand to quiet coves on the west side where the tide barely moves.

11

places

Waterfalls

The mountainous interior hides cascades and swimming pools most beachgoers never see, best reached once the wetter months set in.

30

places

Temples

From golden Buddhas on causeway islands to quiet village wats, Samui's temples are as much a part of the island as its beaches.

24

places

Trails

Ridge walks and jungle routes through the interior give a different view of the island than any beach ever will.

Checked and re-checked

Checked and re-checked

Fares change, visa rules change, ferry timetables change. Here's what we re-checked most recently, and how many guides carry a checked date at all.

142 of 150 guides carry a checked date.

The full list

Every guide, A to Z

The complete list, in case you already know what you're looking for: every guide on the site, alphabetically, with its type and read time.

A

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

K

L

M

N

O

P

R

S

T

V

W

Before you ask

Questions before you plan

How many days do I need on Koh Samui?

Three days works for a stopover, but it means picking one coast and skipping the interior. Five days is the length most first-time visitors should aim for, adding a full-day Ang Thong Marine Park boat trip and a spare afternoon. A week or more lets you slow the pace and add Koh Phangan or Koh Tao.

When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?

February and March are usually the safest bet: rainfall drops to its lowest point of the year, the sea stays calm for swimming and boat trips, and daytime temperatures sit comfortably in the high twenties. Avoid banking on sunshine around October and November, when the island sees its heaviest monsoon rain.

Do I need a scooter to get around Koh Samui?

Not necessarily. There is no public bus network, so most visitors mix Grab or taxis for short daily hops with a rented scooter or car for reaching waterfalls, temples and viewpoints off the ring road. Families and first-time visitors often stick to Grab and taxis alone.

Where should I stay on Koh Samui?

Chaweng suits first-time visitors who want beach, restaurants and nightlife within walking distance. Bophut and Maenam make a quieter, more walkable base. The west coast, around Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi, trades convenience for some of the island's best sunsets and a genuinely remote feel.

Is Koh Samui safe for visitors?

Generally, yes. Violent crime against tourists is rare; the real risks are scooter accidents, rip currents on east-coast beaches during monsoon swell, sunburn and heat exhaustion, plus a handful of well-known rental and jet-ski scams. A helmet, sunscreen, checking the flags and filming a rental before you ride cover most of it.

Can I visit Koh Phangan or Koh Tao from Koh Samui?

Yes, both are a short ferry or speedboat ride from Samui's own piers. Ten days is roughly the minimum for comfortably combining all three islands, since a week alone is tight for adding both. Many visitors base themselves on Samui and take a day trip north instead of changing hotels.