A slice of paradise in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui boasts pristine coastlines that melt into lush rainforest-covered hills, and the island maintains a laidback charm that invites visitors to kick their shoes off and unwind. Cultural treasures await around every corner, from towering golden Buddha statues to intricate, mosaic-covered temples. With an array of luxury hotels, you can holiday stress-free: lounge on secluded beachfronts, dive into crystal-clear waters and indulge in the thriving fine-dining scene. When the sun sets, explore vibrant night markets and lively local towns, relaxing at rustic beach bars with a pina colada in hand. Whatever you’re looking for, Koh Samui truly has something for every traveller.
Where to eat and drink on Koh Samui
SESUN Grill & Beach Bar
A kaleidoscope of colour on Hyatt Regency Koh Samui‘s beachfront, SESUN Grill & Beach Bar is an ode to Mediterranean flavours. Think yellowtail kingfish carpaccio in a zesty sauce, perfectly seared yellowfin tuna and a detox salad with a uniquely sweet citrus dressing, all paired with stunning Gulf of Thailand views.
The Cocoon Viewpoint Restaurant
Guests may come to The Cocoon for the panoramic island and ocean views – a result of the restaurant’s prime hillside location – but they stay for the menu and the ambience. Featuring European classics, Thai favourites, tropical cocktails and live music, it’s the perfect spot to while away an afternoon.
Kapi Sator
The Michelin Guide’s first Bib Gourmand restaurant in Koh Samui, Kapi Sator serves authentic Southern Thai food using locally sourced ingredients. While seafood specials are based on the daily catch, flavour-packed staples like Wagyu beef roasted curry and an eight-hour, slow-simmered pork stew are hard to resist.
Nahm Restaurant & Bar
With an open-air design stretching out to the sea, Nahm boasts unbeatable sunset views. Watch the sky melt into hues of purple, orange and pink as you dine on shared plates like pork dumplings in shrimp chili oil and salmon ceviche paired with passionfruit and a coriander marinade.
NAMU
Perched on the beachfront at W Koh Samui, NAMU offers Japanese dining paired with traditional Thai ingredients. Marvel at the sunset while Chef Takayuki Ono serves up melt-in-your-mouth salmon sashimi, mushroom miso broth with flaky fish and tender steak with a selection of sauces, ensuring every bite is unique.
Coco Tam’s
With a prime beachside location in Fisherman’s Village, Coco Tam’s features a double-storey open-air design, with a bar serving up tropical cocktails. Lounge on bean bag sun beds or grab a table to snack on light bites. Be sure to visit at night to see arguably the island’s best fire show.
Koh Samui by season: when to go
Despite its three distinct seasons – dry season, hot season and rainy season – Koh Samui’s weather is largely warm and full of sunshine, ensuring guests can visit at any time of year for a relaxing beach holiday.
Dry season – December to February
Dry season is generally considered the best time to visit Koh Samui. While the sun shines consistently and rainfall is minimal, the heat is more moderate and light winds lead to cooler days, the perfect conditions for lounging comfortably on the beach. Visit for Christmas or New Year and enjoy beachfront parties and fireworks that often last late into the night. Chinese New Year is also celebrated during this period. While it isn’t a public holiday in Thailand, the streets are nonetheless flooded with lively parades, performances and parties.
Hot season – March to August
During hot season, temperatures rise to their peak, but the island’s wealth of watersports ensures visitors can easily cool off. Jet skiing, paddleboarding and snorkelling are especially popular during this time, with warm waters keeping you comfortable all day. In April, Songkran begins – a three-day festival celebrating the Thai New Year. While religious ceremonies take place in the temples, street parties welcome a new era with playful water fights. In late May, Samui Regatta draws over 500 competitors for yacht races and beach parties.
Rainy season – September to November
While this season brings more rainfall, the days remain pleasantly warm. Showers are typically brief, leaving ample dry moments well suited to exploring outdoors. Na Muang Waterfall and the lush jungle landscape surrounding it are especially impressive during this time. In November, Loy Krathong honours the goddess of water with a breathtaking celebration. Locals and visitors release floating lanterns onto the water, lighting up rivers and canals in a mesmerising display.
Where to stay on Koh Samui
Explorar Koh Samui
A relatively new addition to the island’s northern shores, Explorar Koh Samui promises immersive relaxation with an adults-only retreat. Re-opened just two years ago after extensive refurbishments, the resort embodies a unique ethos of flexibility, radical self-care and modern wellness. An onsite co-working space allows guests to merge business and pleasure, extending their stay in idyllic island paradise. Whether working or not, enjoy the freedom to unwind in style: sample Mediterranean flavours at beachfront Odyssey restaurant, sip cocktails while you escape the heat at the swim-up bar or lounge on the beach, just steps from the central infinity pool.
Hyatt Regency Koh Samui
Minutes from the famous shores of Chaweng Beach lies Hyatt Regency Koh Samui. Here, sleek contemporary design merges seamlessly with striking ocean views and a distinct family-friendly vibe. Emerge from the lobby’s minimalist luxury and follow a winding path through manicured gardens down to the isolated beach, strolling past tiered pools inspired by the island’s Na Muang Waterfall. Families can send little ones to the onsite kids’ club while couples unwind by the adults-only pool. A visit to Veriō Spa is a must, where tailored wellness programs allow you to leave the world behind as you nourish your body, mind and spirit.
W Koh Samui
Enter a sanctuary far removed from the everyday at W Koh Samui, where you’re greeted on arrival by a striking circular water feature that blends seamlessly with the horizon from the lobby’s elevated position. Perched on the island’s northern end, Thailand’s first W hotel features 74 private pool villas cascading down the hillside to a secluded stretch of golden sand. Savour upscale Thai flavours and international bites at two restaurants and sip signature cocktails while watching the nightly fire show at WOOBAR. With a “whenever, wherever” service philosophy, your every need is catered to, no matter how big or small.
Exploring other islands
While Koh Samui is a popular destination all on its own, it’s also the largest in an archipelago comprising more than 80 islands, allowing you to easily explore beyond Koh Samui’s shores.
Koh Phangan
Just a 30-minute ferry ride away lies Koh Phangan, known for its thriving wellness scene as well as the famous Full Moon and Half Moon beach parties. Visit to dance the night away, or spend your time lounging at secluded resorts that offer an extra dose of peace and quiet for your beach holiday.
Koh Ang Thong National Marine Park
Koh Ang Thong National Marine Park features 42 largely uninhabited islands. Hop aboard a boat and spend a full day marvelling at the untamed natural beauty. Kayak through crystal-clear waters past towering limestone cliffs, discover hidden emerald lagoons and snorkel amid thriving marine life. On land, you can climb to the peak of natural mountains and soak in stunning views of the surrounding islands or relax on white-sand beaches with the ocean lapping at your toes.
Koh Tao/Nang Yuan
Often visited in conjunction with one another, Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan are known for their colourful coral reefs and abundant marine life. Take a speedboat from Koh Samui and spend the day snorkelling in crystalline water and exploring these smaller islands.
Family affair: an island paradise for the little ones
Koh Samui is widely recognised as one of Thailand’s most family-friendly destinations. Rather than bustling cities and busy clubs, this island features peaceful small towns and laidback beach bars, making it an ideal retreat for travellers of all ages.
Animal-loving little ones will adore a visit to Samui Elephant Sanctuary, a haven set in lush forested land. Here, these gentle giants roam freely, cool off in the mud and rumble through the trees. Guests can feed the elephants and observe their natural behaviour in a truly unforgettable experience. For adventure-seekers, a quad biking tour through the jungle is a must. Younger children can ride as passengers while older kids can take the wheel as you navigate dirt roads lined with towering palm trees, seeking out hidden waterfalls.
On hot days, cooling off in the ocean is a must. Thankfully, a perfect beach day is on the cards for the whole family. With its soft, pristine sands and calm, shallow waters, the island’s beaches are perfect for little ones to splash around safely.
Alternatively, you can explore further afield with guided tours that take you beyond Koh Samui’s shores. Hop on a boat and venture to nearby islands, where you can lounge on the sand or hike up to breathtaking viewpoints. For a full-day getaway, visit the incomparable Ang Thong Marine Park, where older kids can snorkel and uncover the wonders beneath the waves.
While the island has plenty to offer, you don’t need to travel far for family fun. Many resorts on Koh Samui offer kids’ clubs packed with engaging activities. While little ones make friends and learn about the island under the care of local experts, parents can steal a moment of relaxation, perhaps with a refreshing drink in hand.
Things to do on Koh Samui
Visit Big Buddha Hill
Easily one of the island’s most recognisable tourist attractions, Wat Phra Yai temple features a towering golden Buddha first constructed in 1972. Make your way up the stairs – guarded by intricate mosaic dragons – and marvel at stunning ocean and island views from the platform at the statue’s base.
Explore Wat Plai Laem temple
Built over a lake, Wat Plai Laem features a collection of statues and shrines, including an 18-armed effigy of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. Marvel at the buildings’ intricate designs, and keep your eye out for local wildlife, including turtles, fish and the massive Asian water monitor lizard.
Wander through Fisherman’s Village
Once a thriving fishing community, Fisherman’s Village has been transformed into a popular walking street, with rustic shophouses converted into modern seafood eateries, boutique hotels and busy beach bars. On Fridays, the road closes and the night market commences, featuring street food vendors, stalls selling local handicrafts and live performances.
Take a cooking class
Take culinary exploration to the next level with local guidance on the methods behind Thai cooking. With individual burners promising a hands-on experience, learn to create popular bites like fried wontons and green papaya salad, along with traditional dishes not often served in restaurants, like a flavour-packed local seafood soup.
Venture to Pig Island
On Koh Madsum island just off Koh Samui’s southern coast, you’ll find pristine soft sands, crystal-clear water and dozens of rumbling pigs. On their idyllic island home, these gentle creatures spend their days napping in the sun, swimming in the ocean and following visitors around on the hunt for food.
The surprising thing: the coconut is a key symbol of the island’s rich history
Long before it was a popular tourist destination, Koh Samui served as a refuge for Chinese and Malaysian sea traders to escape unpredictable storms in the Gulf of Thailand. As the Hainanese traders returned to the island again and again throughout the 1800s, they brought with them coconut plants that easily thrived in the tropical environment. Coconut production quickly became a mainstay of the island’s economy, and Koh Samui rightfully earned the nickname “Coconut Island”.
At its peak, Koh Samui had more coconut trees than the rest of Thailand and is still said to have more varieties of coconut than anywhere else in the world. Although the coconut groves have decreased as the island’s infrastructure grows, coconut plantations still cover a large chunk of the island’s inland landscapes.
Coconuts have also become a symbol of the island itself, representing its flourishing environment, natural abundance and cultural heritage. Fresh young coconuts are a staple on menus across the island, allowing travellers to stay hydrated by sipping the refreshing juice. Locally made coconut oil is incorporated into many spa treatments and the husks are transformed into decorative pieces like mats and platters, used by restaurants and resorts across the island.
Of course, the coconut’s role in the local cuisine cannot be forgotten. Coconut milk is a key ingredient in many delicious curries, and a unique Thai coconut soup blends sweet and savoury flavours to create a dish that will make your tastebuds dance.
Discover Koh Samui
This article originally appeared in Issue 8 of Dream by Luxury Escapes.
