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Koh Samui, by people who live here

Every place on one map

Koh Samui map, by tambon

A map of Koh Samui with every beach, waterfall, temple and trail. Filter by category or tambon, search by name, and see what sits near each place before you go.

136 places in 7 tambons

Category

Tambon

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Places in view

136 places in view

Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors, base tiles by Protomaps, terrain from Mapterhorn, and tambon boundaries from OCHA's Common Operational Datasets. Found a wrong pin? Tell us

At a glance

Koh Samui at a glance

Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket, about 35 km north-east of Surat Thani town. The official area is 228.7 km². Our OpenStreetMap coastline measures 237 km², about 4% more, because the two figures come from different methods. The Route 4169 ring road runs about 51 km around the coast and links every main beach town.

Hills fill the middle of the island and the roads stay near the sea. Khao Pom is the highest point: our elevation model reads 632 m, the figure usually cited is 635 m. Chaweng and Lamai face east, Bophut and Maenam north, Nathon, Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam west. The airport sits in the north-east, 2 km from Chaweng.

Land area (OSM coastline)
237 km²
North to south by east to west
21 × 20 km
Highest point (elevation model)
632 m
Tambons
7
Ring road, Route 4169
about 51 km

The seven tambons of Koh Samui

Samui is split into seven tambons, the local districts. Each card counts the places we have mapped there and opens the map on that area. Where we wrote an area guide, it is linked underneath.

  • Maenam แม่น้ำ

    A long quiet beach, Bang Po, the Golden Mount temple, a Chinese temple, Tan Rua falls, and the Hog Trail through the hills.

    6 beaches, 1 waterfall, 3 temples, 3 trails

  • Bo Phut บ่อผุด

    Fisherman's Village, the Big Buddha at Bang Rak, Wat Plai Laem, Chaweng's beaches and nightlife, Choeng Mon, and the airport.

    10 beaches, 1 waterfall, 7 temples, 4 trails

  • Maret มะเร็ต

    Lamai's beach and viewpoints, Hua Thanon fishing village, the red temple Wat Sila Ngu, and Overlap Stone.

    6 beaches, 1 waterfall, 6 temples, 2 trails

  • Na Mueang หน้าเมือง

    Na Muang's waterfalls, the Secret Buddha Garden, the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram, and Samui 360 viewpoint.

    2 beaches, 4 waterfalls, 5 temples, 8 trails

  • Taling Ngam ตลิ่งงาม

    A sunset coast facing the Five Islands, Thong Krut's boats to Koh Tan, Phang Ka bay, and the white Wat Khao Chedi.

    5 beaches, 5 temples

  • Lipa Noi ลิปะน้อย

    A quiet sunset coast: Lipa Noi beach, Tong Yang bay, waterfalls at Hin Lad and Tartain, and Khao Pom, the island's highest point.

    2 beaches, 2 waterfalls, 1 temple, 3 trails

  • Ang Thong อ่างทอง

    Nathon's port town and sunset strip, Wat Chaeng, the Hainan shrine, and a ridge trek above Hin Lad forest temple.

    3 beaches, 2 waterfalls, 3 temples, 2 trails

Distances

Distances between the main hubs

Read across a row to see how far each hub is from the others, measured between our map pins. Airport to Chaweng is about 2 km, Chaweng to Lamai about 7, Nathon to Chaweng about 14. Use it to judge how long your daily trips from a base will be.

Straight-line km between map pins. Roads bend round hills and bays, so driving distance is longer and drive times are approximate.
From / to Samui Airport (USM)ChawengBophutMaenamNathonLipa NoiLamai
Samui Airport (USM) 2.3 km4 km7.3 km14 km16 km9 km
Chaweng 2.3 km 5.2 km8.3 km14 km15 km6.7 km
Bophut 4 km5.2 km 3.3 km11 km13 km11 km
Maenam 7.3 km8.3 km3.3 km 8.1 km11 km13 km
Nathon 14 km14 km11 km8.1 km 4.6 km15 km
Lipa Noi 16 km15 km13 km11 km4.6 km 13 km
Lamai 9 km6.7 km11 km13 km15 km13 km
Samui Airport (USM)
Chaweng
2.3 km
Bophut
4 km
Maenam
7.3 km
Nathon
14 km
Lipa Noi
16 km
Lamai
9 km
Chaweng
Samui Airport (USM)
2.3 km
Bophut
5.2 km
Maenam
8.3 km
Nathon
14 km
Lipa Noi
15 km
Lamai
6.7 km
Bophut
Samui Airport (USM)
4 km
Chaweng
5.2 km
Maenam
3.3 km
Nathon
11 km
Lipa Noi
13 km
Lamai
11 km
Maenam
Samui Airport (USM)
7.3 km
Chaweng
8.3 km
Bophut
3.3 km
Nathon
8.1 km
Lipa Noi
11 km
Lamai
13 km
Nathon
Samui Airport (USM)
14 km
Chaweng
14 km
Bophut
11 km
Maenam
8.1 km
Lipa Noi
4.6 km
Lamai
15 km
Lipa Noi
Samui Airport (USM)
16 km
Chaweng
15 km
Bophut
13 km
Maenam
11 km
Nathon
4.6 km
Lamai
13 km
Lamai
Samui Airport (USM)
9 km
Chaweng
6.7 km
Bophut
11 km
Maenam
13 km
Nathon
15 km
Lipa Noi
13 km

Straight-line km between map pins. Roads bend round hills and bays, so driving distance is longer and drive times are approximate.

Getting around

Getting around the island

  • The ring road

    Route 4169 loops about 51 km around the coast. Driving it non-stop takes 1.5 to 2 hours, and most visitors spend 4 to 6 hours with stops. Side roads climb inland to temples, waterfalls and viewpoints.

    Getting around guide

  • Songthaews and taxis

    Songthaews, the shared pickup trucks, cost 50 to 100 THB a hop and stop running around 9 to 10 pm. Grab and Bolt work island-wide. Street taxis rarely use a meter, so agree the fare first.

    Taxi and Grab guide

  • Scooters

    Rentals run about 150 to 450 THB a day. You need a motorcycle licence or an IDP with the motorcycle class. The Nathon to Maenam hill and the Chaweng to Lamai stretch are the known danger spots.

    Scooter rental guide

  • The airport

    Samui Airport (USM) is small and open-air, in the north-east. Taxis from the arrivals counter use fixed zone fares, about 500 THB to Chaweng and up to 1,500 THB to the far west coast.

    Airport guide

  • Ferry piers

    Nathon is the main mainland gateway. Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Maenam serve Koh Phangan, and Lipa Noi has the only car ferry, to Donsak. Thong Krut has longtail charters to Koh Tan.

    Ferry piers guide

Questions

Koh Samui map questions

How big is Koh Samui?

Koh Samui covers 228.7 km² by the official figure, which makes it Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket. Our OpenStreetMap coastline measures 237 km², a difference of method. On our map it is roughly 20 km across in both directions, and the ring road around it is about 51 km.

How long does it take to drive around Koh Samui?

The Route 4169 ring road is about 51 km and takes 1.5 to 2 hours non-stop by car or scooter. Plan 4 to 6 hours with stops for beaches, temples and food. Traffic is heaviest through central Chaweng and Lamai in the evening.

Where is the airport on the map of Koh Samui?

Samui Airport (USM) is in the north-east, about 2 km from Chaweng and 4 km from Bophut in a straight line. Airport taxis charge fixed zone fares, about 500 to 1,500 THB. Grab and Bolt cannot pick up inside the terminal.

Which side of Koh Samui is best to stay on?

The east has the long beaches, nightlife and most hotels: Chaweng is the busiest, Lamai a little calmer. The north suits a quieter base near the Koh Phangan ferries. The west faces the sunset and is quietest, but 25 to 40 minutes from the airport.

Where is Koh Samui in Thailand?

Koh Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, part of Surat Thani province, about 35 km north-east of Surat Thani town. Koh Phangan and Koh Tao lie to the north. There is no bridge, so you arrive by plane or by ferry.

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