A palm-fringed island dotted with luxury resorts, white sandy beaches, and majestic temples, Koh Samui makes for the perfect destination, irrespective of whether you’re on your honeymoon, a romantic getaway, or a group trip with friends and family.
How to get there
Packing for Koh Samui
Where To Stay In Koh Samui and our favourite experiences
And the rainy weather did not stop us from enjoying our private pool and the rainbow that put quite a show for us:
https://www.instagram.com/p/BreaIJDgKd9/
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Dining to the sound of the waves
This is an experience like no other. Our experience included an indulgent 3 course meal by the beach and had our own little table, completely enveloped by twinkling fairy lights and music. Make sure you opt for an early dinner so you can relish starters and drinks as the sun sets, leaving the sky pink and orange. This one is perfect if you’re on your honeymoon!
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Sandbar Excursion
If you want to take your island getaway to the next level, then this one is for you. It is possible to book a picnic on a remote sandbar at Conrad Koh Samui. Hop on a boat and head to the sandbar for an afternoon of relaxation. Of course this is dependent on the vagaries of weather, so do check with the hotel before booking a tour!
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A cooking class
No holiday is complete without an experiential activity right? Our experience included a cooking class at our hotel and the chef taught us how to make Thai staples such as Tom Yum Soup and Pad Thai. Savi even made her own portion of mango sticky rice. Learning about local flavours is always our favourite part of visiting new countries. We’ve taken cooking classes in so many countries including Cambodia, Vietnam, and Peru and this will be filed under those cherished memories too.
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A rejuvenating spa treatment to wrap up your holiday.
We even had a romantic couples treatment including in our experience! There are dozens of treatments available at the spa – make sure you choose a treatment with care as Thai massages don’t use oil and can be quite harsh for people who like soft oil massages. Conrad Koh Samui has one of the most scenic spas we’ve visited. Don’t believe us? Check this out!
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Visit an ethical elephant sanctuary
Another unique experience we booked at our hotel included spending a day meeting, feeding, and hugging the most gorgeous elephants at the Samui Elephant sanctuary, Koh Samui’s first ethical sanctuary. Each of the elephants here has been exploited, blinded, hit by circus acrobats, or been cut by their owners in the past! But they’ve been rescued and given a new lease of life here! The volunteers protect and pamper them like their babies and the bond they share with the elephants is the cutest! The volunteers look after them ever so well and don’t leave any stone unturned to pamper them. On this note, I’d like to say – please make responsible choices regarding animals when you travel. Do your research and don’t visit places that exploit animals as extreme exploitation of animals is extremely widespread in Asia.
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More Things To Do & See In Koh Samui : Suggestions & Tips
- Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Street in Bophut is a lively street packed with shops, restaurants, and cafés. It comes alive in the evening and is the ideal place to grab a drink or two. It is also home to a couple of nice eateries including Fisherman House and Coco Tam. But both eateries and shops here tend to be overpriced for what they offer. If you’re hungry and have a car or scooter on you, we’d suggest driving just outside Fisherman’s Wharf Walking Street for much more reasonable and tastier options. Try Malee Restaurant for a scrumptious Thai meal at competitive prices.
- If you’ve relaxed to your heart’s content at your hotel’s beach and want to steer clear of over-crowded beaches in Koh Samui, then head to Mae Nam beach or Choeng Mon beach. You can reach Mae Nam beach via the main entrance of W Hotel but entrance is free and you don’t need to be a hotel guest to visit as this is a public beach. Expect great panoramas and fewer people – this is a gorgeous stretch of beach not many know about. Choeng Mon on the other hand is easily accessible and can be combined with a visit to Wat Plai Laem complex.
- Of course you cannot leave Koh Samui without visiting some of its stunning temples. There are dozens of temples – small and big – but we suggest visiting the incredible Big Buddha and the expansive Wat Plai Laem complex. Both temples are close to each other and it is easy to spend half a day just admiring the intricate architecture, swooning over the colourful details, and photographing the huge murals.
- No visit to any Thai island can be complete without seeing its night markets. Chaweng is the focal point of several small night markets. It is also the ideal place to party the night away. Make sure you relish the food at the night market outside Central Festival Mall and sample local beers as you walk around Chaweng checking out the bars and nightlife.
- Admittedly Koh Samui’s waterfalls are not the best you would’ve seen. Places like Bali and Luang Prabang have better waterfalls. But if you have an extra day, you can use it to check out the cascading Na Muang Waterfall or Hinlad Waterfall. There are also several smaller waterfalls you might spot along the way. Entry is usually free although local ‘guides’ try and extort money from tourists in the name of admission fees
- If you have 2-3 days to spare, we’d suggest heading out to a neighbouring island such as Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Despite their proximity, these islands provide a different experience from Koh Samui as they are much smaller and in general, more party oriented. This makes them ideal if you’re travelling in a group with friends. So do include them in your itinerary if you have some time.
That’s it. Everything you need to know to plan an epic trip to Koh Samui. Leave us a comment below with your favourite experience from Koh Samui or if you have any questions and we’ll try and help you out 🙂 Do read all our articles on Asia if you want to experience other amazing places. Here’s a video from our time in Koh Samui:
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You guys always have me racing to visit places I’ve never heard of! This place looks beyond charming.
So happy to hear that <3
Hi,
Is it convenient to combine a trip to Koh Samui and Langwaki?
Hi Sarika,
Not sure if that’s such a great idea. Both places have a very similar vibe. You might be better of combing a trip to Koh Samui and Bangkok or Koh Samui and Kuala Lumpur 🙂
Gee whiz the cost of this hotel is 13,000$ for about 6 nights! Eye wateringly expensive!
Hey look out for deals as the rate varies drastically. Alternatively there are some amazing apartments on Air BnB in Koh Samui if you’re on a budget 🙂
Hi,
How many days do you suggest for a trip to Koh Samui?
A week should be great 🙂
Hi I’m planning on a holiday with my husband in jan is krabi or Maldives better.
This time we need a relaxing holiday with water adventure.
Hi Maddhura,
Maldives will be better if you want to relax and enjoy luxury. You can read our articles here: https://www.bruisedpassports.com/category/maldives
Hi Savi & Vid.
Please help me choose a place for dec end or jan first week for a nice relaxing week Bali,Thailand,Maldives which will have good weather.
All the places have their own advantages 🙂 We’d suggest Bali
Hi ..we are planning a family holiday …to krabi and Phuket…is may ok to visit there?
Hey Niti – it gets very hot in May – otherwise its ok 🙂
Hi I am planning a 4 days trip to koh samui with my wife and 1 year old daughter. Can you please advise an Itinerary for the same?
Hi Ritesh,
All our suggestions for Koh Samui are in this article so you can easily plan an itinerary that fits your preferences
Hi Savi and Vid, I would like to know , would it be advisable to combine my trip to Koh samui with Phuket for 9 days long holiday
That sounds like a great idea 🙂
Is September a good to visit Kos Samui and Phuket? Fearing we will miss out on many water activities in this month.
It’s a good month but yes some activities are closed if it’s been raining a lot
What months are best to visit Thailand?
Our answer to that would be any and every month 🙂 jokes apart, November – April are the best months as it rains less compared to the rest of the year
Adventure Travel Quotes. “Fear is only temporary. “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” “Travel doesn’t become adventure until you leave yourself behind” “Climb the mountain so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. “Jobs fill your pocket but adventures fill your soul
Hi Savi & Vid,
We are a couple planning a trip in August and wanted to know whether Thailand would be a good place to visit during that time ,i.e., 12th Aug to 19th Aug. We are looking for good budget stays, any idea about weather and AirBNB suggestions.
Thanks.
Hey Nitin – great idea. There are lots of super affordable Air BnBs in Thailand – just make sure your read reviews before booking them 🙂
Hey , we are planning a 6-7 nights trip in August end. We have a 1 year old kid. Please recommend a place . We have been to Bali, Phuket and Krabi. Will you recommend koh samui ? Or any other location where we can relax and explore tha places at a slow pace.
Hello
Koh Samui is perfect to relax and explore at a slow pace 🙂
Hey Guys,
We are planning to stay at W Hotel in Koh Samui for couple of days with our 3 year old daughter along with 3 days in Phuket & Bangkok. Are 2 days enough to explore Koh Samui or would you recommend a minimum of 3 nights ?
Also how is the W Hotel in Koh Samui ?
Hey we’ve heard W in Koh Samui is a great hotel. We would recommend 3 nights if possible in Koh Samui 🙂
Thanks a ton. Any Hotel or Beach suggestion where to stay in Phuket.
Hey,
We could get only couple of nights in W Koh Samui.
Could you please let us know must visit places & things to do in Koh Samui (2 Days) & Phuket (3 days).
For Phuket, it would be really helpful if you could let us know which all Islands/Beaches to prioritise as it is our visit to Thailand.
Could you please let us know must visit places & things to do in Koh Samui (2 Days) & Phuket (3 days).
For Phuket, it would be really helpful if you could let us know which all Islands/Beaches to prioritise as it is our visit to Thailand.
Your article is very amazing, I am also a Travel Blogger, so you can read my article too.
“Koh Samui is a perfect romantic escape with its picturesque beaches, luxurious resorts, and breathtaking sunsets. The serene ambiance and intimate setting make it an ideal destination for couples in love.”
Hello Savi, thanks for the details. Inspired by the iternary, we are planning to visit Koh Samui and Krabi.
I understand that a ferry runs between the 2 locations. Would you be aware if they allow Car’s in this ferry? Do we need additional permits for this?
Thanks!
Hey Mansi – yes there is a car ferry. Usually you do not need permits if you are returning the car at the same location you rented it – however this keeps changing, so do check once with the car rental upon picking up the car 🙂
We are planning to visit Thailand in March 24 last week.
We have a 1.5 year old baby with us.
Is March a good time to visit and family friendly
YEs March is fine and it is definitely conducive to families