Samui has snow-white beaches, coconut palms, amazing rocks, islands and islets, crazy full moon parties, waterfalls and, of course, eternal summer. An important difference between Samui and other resorts in Thailand is the absence of large waves on the sea all year round. And the rainy season on the island is not as pronounced as on the entire territory. This is a “bounty” resort where you can endlessly enjoy gorgeous views of pristine nature, blue sea and white sand.
Koh Samui is the second largest island after Koh Samui. Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of about 230 square kilometers. The distance to the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is about 700 kilometers. To get from Samui to the nearest point of the mainland, you need to cover about 40 kilometers through the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
Tours to Koh Samui
Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow are given.
There is everything for vacationers here, but it is still worth noting that the infrastructure of the island is not as well developed as, for example, on the island, in and in other major resorts in Thailand. If you choose a tour to Koh Samui, you are making the right choice. Both couples in love looking for a romantic getaway and families with children should come here.
Weather
The climate of Koh Samui compares favorably with the climate of other resorts. The rainy season and the hot season are not so pronounced here. It is important to note that holidays on Samui will be comfortable not only in winter, but also in summer. There are no big waves and muddy seas on Koh Samui all year round. The greatest amount of precipitation falls from October to December, but short showers at this time of year are unlikely to ruin your holiday. The average annual air temperature on Samui is 30-31 °C, water temperature is 27-29 °C.
Hotels
The main feature of the island's hotels is the close location of the buildings or bungalows to the sea. In addition to five-star hotels offering luxurious holidays, you can even stay here in a small house without water or electricity.
The last option is suitable for those who want to immerse themselves in the atmosphere of nature untouched by civilization.
Beaches
The clean beaches of Koh Samui are covered with white sand and surrounded by coconut palms. In total, there are more than 30 beaches along the perimeter of the island. During your vacation, you can visit several beaches to get to know the island better.
The most beautiful beaches are located on the east coast, such as the famous Chaweng, the island's largest and busiest beach and the center of tourist life. Tourists with children will love Bangpo Beach. If you are looking for solitude, head to the deserted coastline of Talingngam Beach surrounded by rocks.
Interesting entertainment is available on the island's tourist beaches: kayaking, jet skiing, banana boat riding.
On the territory of little-visited beaches, any infrastructure may simply be absent. Only you, the clear sea and the gentle sun above your head!
Attractions
On Koh Samui there is something to do for both adults and children. If you don’t want to spend your entire vacation on the seashore, you can get acquainted with a large number of interesting sights of the island. Both older tourists and young people will feel comfortable here. For example, young people flock to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, where huge open-air discos are held: “Full Moon Parties”.
Those who have retired go to cozy Maenam Beach, where you can admire stunning sunsets. From Koh Samui you can go to many islands, such as the “turtle” island of Koh Tao, for diving or snorkeling.
The very beautiful island of Madsum awaits its guests on snow-white beaches that embrace the virgin tropical jungle. In the heart of Samui hide stunningly beautiful waterfalls, butterfly parks, and snake farms. Tourists with children will not be disappointed by visiting a tiger and leopard show, or an aquarium with tropical fish.
Sightseeing lovers won't miss the famous Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandmother and Grandfather) rocks, Big Buddha and many beautiful stupas and temples.
Kitchen
Thai restaurants on the island are located literally at every step. Wherever you stay during your holiday, you will always find a cozy place where you can enjoy authentic Thai cuisine and a welcoming atmosphere. A large number of cafes, restaurants and bars are located on the coastline, where you can not only eat delicious food, but also admire the views of the Gulf of Thailand. In addition to restaurants offering Thai cuisine, lovers of European, Russian, Indian, and Chinese cuisine will always be able to find an establishment that interests them.
If you want to get the full experience of Thai cuisine, we suggest you try some local dishes cooked on a makashnitsa (scooter equipped for cooking).
Transport
The island's public transport system is Songthaew. The Songthaew is a brightly colored truck equipped to carry passengers. But it is worth noting that during the day, songthaews, as a rule, follow a certain established route, while in the evening or at night they work exclusively as an individual taxi. Prices for trips during the day and at night are certainly very different. To avoid misunderstandings, be sure to check the cost with the driver before the start of your trip, and not at the place of arrival.
The remaining transport options to the island will invariably consist of a ferry crossing. The nearest city on the mainland is Donsak, from whose pier ferries and boats depart daily to Koh Samui. In an hour and a half, the ferry will take you to the bounty island. You can get to Donsak by bus from Bangkok.
Another option for getting from the capital of Thailand to Donsak is to take a train to Surat Thani, and from there take a regular bus to Donsak.
Souvenirs
On Samui you can buy natural pearls, which will be an excellent gift for you or your loved ones. Another gift option is natural coconut oil, which is produced on the island.
In addition to Phuket, another well-known Thai resort is the island of Koh Samui. Its territorial length is only 25 km in length and 21 km in width, but this does not prevent many of our compatriots from annually booking last-minute trips to Samui and having a full rest there. Samui is located only 700 km from the capital of Thailand, so tourists get there very quickly. You can fly there either from Bangkok (you will spend about an hour on the way) or from Pattaya (the route will take no more than 40 minutes). If you are determined to go on holiday to Koh Samui, then you definitely need to make allowances for the climatic features of this region. For example, it is not recommended to go to this island between October and December, because it often rains heavily and the sea is stormy from time to time. The most optimal time to visit this resort is considered to be from January to February, as well as from the second half of July to August.History of the resort
For the first time (about 1,500 years ago), the island was discovered by local sailors and founded their settlement on it, but official confirmation of the existence of Samui appeared only 1,000 years later - representatives of the Chinese Ming dynasty included it on their navigation maps. It is worth noting that Samui was actively used by China and Thailand as a trading port. This is evidenced by many historical facts, as well as the abundance of sunken Chinese ships with various cargoes of ceramic products on board. During World War II, the city survived occupation by Japanese troops. The island's current population is 35,000 people. Many people book tours to Koh Samui in order not only to relax, but also to get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the Chao Samui people - this is what the indigenous inhabitants of this island call themselves.
Beaches
The most suitable part of the island for recreation is the eastern part. This is where the best hotels in Koh Samui are located. Of course, in the West of the island there are also good beaches with developed infrastructure, but there are significantly fewer of them, because the coast there is more rocky. If you are visiting the island for the first time, be sure to visit the beach complexes of Lamai and Chaweng. Here you can see the sunrise in all its glory and capture it on camera. The southern part of Lamai Beach greets tourists with two cliffs, Hanai and Hinta (Grandmother and Grandfather). This is where you can meet not only vacationers from all over the world, but also local residents who also like to spend their leisure time here. No less famous beaches on the island are Mae Nam, Bo Phut, and Big Buddha Beach.
Hotel complexes
Hotels in Koh Samui have only three floors. Why? - you ask. It's very simple - more than 3.5 million palm trees grow on this island, which are considered a local treasure. Absolutely everything points to this. For example, Samui laws do not allow builders to construct a building taller than the size of a palm tree. That is why you will not find skyscrapers or large hotel complexes on the island. All hotels, bungalows and villas on the island are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay for tourists. Absolutely every hotel complex has a restaurant or cafe serving national cuisine, so you definitely won’t have to go hungry. It is worth noting that most restaurants are open until 10 pm (these are the rules on the island), but if you wish, you can find establishments with 24-hour service.
Entertainment and leisure
Resorts and prices in Koh Samui are ideal for 110% fun and relaxation. Tourists have access to both regular relaxation, which involves lying on the beach, and active pastime provided by various types of water transport. For example, diving enthusiasts will definitely love this resort complex, because the underwater world of Samui is very multifaceted and diverse. Here you will find virgin coral reefs, cliffs, grottoes, etc.
Denis
Koh Samui is the most picturesque resort in Thailand!
Koh Samui Island in Thailand in popularity confidently competes with. There is so much picturesque nature here, impenetrable jungles, snow-white beaches, smiling Thais that once you get here, you don’t want to go back. And for party lovers, a grand party is held every month on a nearby island, where you can have a blast until the morning so that you won’t have the strength to walk to the hotel.
The waters around Samui are not only rich in life, but also very transparent - depending on the time of year and the set (dive location), the visibility distance reaches twenty or even thirty meters. Therefore, diving in Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Nang Yuan is one of the most developed...
An excursion on the Red Baron yacht on Koh Samui is one of the most popular attractions for tourists. This is a sailing-motor yacht with a length of thirty and a width of almost seven meters, the largest pleasure boat on the island in terms of displacement. Usually people relax on board...
If you come to relax on Koh Samui, then an excursion to the islands of Koh Tao and Nang Yuan will definitely be included in the program of your stay there. And this is not surprising, because they are one of the most picturesque pieces of land in the middle of the water. All over the world you will find...
The cable car on Samui is a very exciting and extreme excursion for those who constantly lack adrenaline in their blood. For her alone it is worth visiting this island. The total length of all routes is more than 9 kilometers and 50 intermediate...
Koh Samui is two times smaller than Phuket, but confidently competes with it in the fight for the attention of tourists. This is facilitated by magnificent beaches with white coral sand, picturesque lagoons, mountain waterfalls and bottomless blue skies. One of the most sought after...
Thailand is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of the number of attractions per capita. And we will not be too far from the truth if we say that the Angthong National Marine Park near Samui is the main one of them. This is a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand...
Koh Samui is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the provinces of Thailand. Located in the southeastern part of the country. It is considered the most popular tourist center after Phuket, so thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Samui every year.
Koh Samui is a fairly large island with an area of almost 230 square meters. km. It is located 40 km from the southern part of mainland Thailand and is extremely rich in natural and cultural attractions.
Tourists are absolutely delighted with the snow-white beaches, coral reefs, ancient Buddhist temples, good tourist infrastructure and quite affordable prices. The island of Koh Samui is especially popular among Russians.
Geography
There are about 60 small islands around Samui that are part of the national marine park. All of them are uninhabited, overgrown with jungle. They try to keep them intact, only showing the curiosity to tourists as carefully as possible.
The total area of Koh Samui is 228.7 km². The central part is mountainous and also overgrown with jungle, and lowlands are located on the coast. A road runs along the coast, connecting beaches, settlements and towns in a circle.
On the southwestern coast of Koh Samui is the capital of the island, Nathon. It is also the main port, through which tourists enter the island and local fish catch is exported. The island administration, shops, etc. are located here.
Climate
Koh Samui in Thailand is one of the best places in the world for a beach holiday. It has amazing sand, sea, scenery and a great climate. The island has a lot of sun and warmth, but even in the rain there are plenty of people who like to relax on Koh Samui.
Conventionally, the entire year on the island can be divided into the Dry Season and the Rainy Season. The dry or high season starts from mid-December and ends at the end of March. At this time, the air temperature is about +30C, and the sea water is about +28C.
Light rains begin in April and continue throughout the summer. But prices are falling significantly, the number of tourists is decreasing, so this is a great time for an economical holiday. The air temperature rises by several degrees during the day.
From August to November, strong monsoons begin, rain pours in buckets, and the daytime air temperature fluctuates around +27C. You can no longer sunbathe on the beach, but there are tourists who like to philosophize in the hotel at this time. In December the rain stops.
Story
Historians believe that the first settlers appeared on the island of Koh Samui in the 6th century AD. These were fishermen from Malaysia and China. In the 17th century, during the Chinese Ming Dynasty, it was included on Chinese geographical maps.
The exact origin of the name “Samui” is unknown; there is a version that it came from the Chinese word “Saboey”, translated into Russian as “Shelter”. Indeed, for a long time the islanders lived autonomously from the whole world.
During WW2 Samui was occupied by the Japanese. At the end of the war, the island again lived autonomously for a long time, almost independently from Thailand. The first roads were built here only in the 70s.
And in the 80s of the 20th century, tourists from all over the world discovered the delights of Thailand in general, and Koh Samui in particular. Today, 45 thousand indigenous people live here; their main income comes from tourism, the collection of coconuts and rubber.
About 10 years ago, Samui received the status of an independent city, i.e. continues to be an autonomous entity. The presence of tourists on the island not only brings serious money, but also gives rise to conflicts due to damage to the once untouched nature.
Transport
1. International airport
This is the only airport on Samui, with the help of which the island maintains air communication with the outside world through air transportation of passengers and their cargo. It was built in the late 80s of the last century and is located next to Chaweng Beach.
Samui Airport was built by Bangkok Airways, which for a long time was the only air carrier on the island. Today the second air carrier, Airways International, appeared. Flights fly to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.
2. Ferry service
The second way to get to or from the island to mainland Thailand is to take a ferry or high-speed catamaran. Catamarans cover a distance of 40 km in 40 minutes, and ferries - in an hour and a half.
3. Island transport
The length of the island ring road is just over 50 km. It is completely paved, has a concrete surface and two lanes - one in each direction. Popular local road transport is songthaew, taximeters and motorcycle taxis.
Beaches
The best beaches on Koh Samui are Lamai, Maenam, Chaweng. They successfully combine natural beauty and convenience, as well as the presence of beach infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for shopping. There are more than 30 beaches on the island.
An excellent beach for those who relax without children and do not like large crowds of people. It is located in the north of Samui, has dense buildings (hotels, restaurants, bars) and high-quality beach infrastructure on its territory. There is a road nearby.
Cons of Bang Po: muddy bottom with many large stones and muddy water. Children will feel uncomfortable on the beach. There is coarse yellow sand and not too much entertainment; lovers of nightlife will find it a bit boring here.
Ban Tai
This place was chosen by parents with small children. There is a gentle shore and a clear entrance to the shallow sea. There are many palm groves providing natural shade. There is a restaurant and the Mimosa Hotel, where you can relax and spend the night.
A calm beach, where annoying sellers with goods or drunken youth with blaring music rarely come, there are practically no parties. This wonderful place for a relaxing family holiday is located in the north of Samui.
Mae Nam
Another family beach where you can rent inexpensive accommodation and stay for a few days. After sunset, all beach inhabitants move to local bars, but there is practically no vibrant nightlife here.
There are many palm trees on May Nam, saving vacationers from the hot sun. The sand here is yellow and soft, the sea is quite deep, but there are shallow places for kids. Young people don't stop here because... The mothers look at her with suspicion.
Chaweng Beach
One of the most beautiful and crowded beaches on Koh Samui. There is excellent infrastructure and a large number of hotels and resorts to suit every taste and budget. Tourists on the beach can find everything they need for life and a comfortable holiday.
In the center of Chaweng the sea is rapidly gaining depth. The sand is white and soft, a clean entrance to the water. Vacationers are offered a variety of water activities to choose from. Enjoy stunning sea views as well as good food restaurants and bars.
This is the second most popular beach on Koh Samui. It is very long, so it is divided into three parts. Its central part is perhaps the best. In addition to natural beauty, there is a Tesco hypermarket here.
One local resident served in this Buddhist temple almost his entire life and achieved holiness. When he died, his body did not rot and decompose, but immediately became mummified. The islanders are sure that this is a consequence of his holy life.
Since then, for many years, the mummy of this saint has been located near the Kunaram temple, and every believer or tourist can examine it and see the imperishable relics. Here you can get a wrist bracelet with special protection.
This temple was built quite recently using donations. Plai Laem is the most beautiful and largest Buddhist attraction on Samui. The architecture of the temple combines the styles of China, India and Thailand.
The three styles symbolize the three branches of Buddhism. There are no heresies or sectarians in Southeast Asia; everyone can adhere to the Buddhism that they like. In the center of the temple there is a statue of the Hindu deity Guanyin, the embodiment of mercy.
In the northwest, near the island of Koh Samui, you can see an archipelago in the sea, consisting of many microscopic islands. This is a national marine park, which is under state protection, requiring special environmental cleanliness to be maintained here.
Near the archipelago there is amazingly clean water that you can safely drink from your palms. The picturesqueness of the islands is so incredible that it is impossible to take your eyes off. Not only tourists come here, artists and directors cannot leave here.
In the center of Koh Samui, in the mountains covered with jungle, you can see a unique creation of human hands. In the middle of the 20th century, an old man lived here; after 70 years, he suddenly decided to create a large sculpture garden near his house.
These are sculptures of Buddha, other mythical deities, real and fantastic animals and birds, snakes and frogs, created by him from stone with his own hands. After the sculptor's death, he was buried with his wife in the same garden.
The island of Koh Samui is home to many insects: beautiful and disgusting to the human eye. To admire them or be horrified by them, you can go to the butterfly garden or the insect museum, located on the eastern shore of the island.
Here you will learn a lot about tropical insects and will definitely become interested in them. And as a gift, you will be invited to the local observation deck to enjoy the views of the beaches of this coast of Samui. Tourists left a lot of positive reviews about this place.
Next to the butterfly garden is the local zoo. It is small in size, but it contains real Bengal tigers, primates and unique tropical birds. Your children will absolutely love visiting this zoo.
Tigers give performances to visitors every day, but children will find it much more interesting to play with little tiger cubs and feed them milk from a bottle with a nipple. A visit to the zoo always brings special delight to children.
This natural attraction is located in the middle of the island in the mountains, in the middle of the jungle. There, one local river gives two beautiful waterfalls, and each of them creates several cascades. The safari park of the same name is located nearby.
After looking at the splendor of the stream of water falling from the rocks, you can go to the nearby elephant farm to ride elephants, watch the show of these natural giants, etc.
This is a significant center of religious and social life of the island for Thais. In fact, in front of us is a local cathedral. Buddhist rituals are regularly held here, festivals, holidays, bazaars, weddings and funerals are organized.
Lamai Temple is a place where foreigners must behave with emphatic respect towards the faithful. Local monks will tell tourists a lot of interesting things about the history of Samui. Next to the temple there is a pond with fish, children are allowed to feed them.
This is a huge zoo located in the center of the small island of Khao Pom, off the coast of Koh Samui. It is very similar to the biblical paradise, because... here, among beautiful trees and flowers, a person can walk next to wild animals.
These animals have long been fed with all sorts of delicacies, and they shamelessly beg people for more, but do not show aggression. Paradise Park is a wonderful natural attraction of Samui for a family holiday.
Entertainment
- SPA salons These are medical procedures, their goal is to improve the health of the patient’s body. For this, various medicinal and cosmetic preparations, massage, therapeutic diet, etc. are used. There are a large number of centers on Samui where spa treatments are performed.
- Elephant and horse riding. This is one of the main entertainments on Koh Samui, which both adults and children adore. Even more interesting is to communicate with a little elephant. There are also horse farms on the island, as well as horses that can give anyone a ride.
- Diving. The Gulf of Thailand is a great place to learn diving; many people there turn into real professionals. There is a beautiful underwater world here, simply delightful and a sight to behold.
- Thai massage. This is truly a fabulous massage that can completely relax your body. Many people come to Thailand just for this pleasure. Only here you can find a real and very inexpensive Thai massage.
- Excursions. To get to know this island better, excursions around Koh Samui will be a great help. You can create a route yourself, ask for help from a professional guide or a local resident. Get an unforgettable experience.
- Thai boxing. Today in Russia there are many fans of various martial arts, but Thai boxing is very special if you watch it in its homeland in Thailand or become a Thai boxer yourself. A very exciting sport.
- Wakeboarding. One of the most popular water sports in Thailand in general and Samui in particular. There are many sports camps on the island where you can get involved in wakeboarding.
- Water parks. This is a popular family entertainment that also takes place on Koh Samui. The local water park has a variety of roller coasters and other types of water activities, so you can spend the whole day here and not notice how time flies.
- Nightlife on the island. Young people from all over the world flock to the island's clubs and bars at night. All this is available in abundance on Koh Samui. Most of these establishments are located on local beaches, so some vacationers get stuck on them for several days.
- Golf. This sport is quite popular in Koh Samui. There are 18-hole golf courses, and there are smaller ones for mini-golf, football golf, etc. On vacation, such entertainment is a joy for both beginners and professionals.
Video tour of Koh Samui
But we ended up in Koh Samui by mistake. In recent years, even the Chinese have appeared on Koh Samui, but there are not as many of them yet as in other parts of Thailand.
Why do such different people go to Koh Samui?
1. Competent PR
2. Developed infrastructure
3. Pleasant climate and good beaches, especially for families with children
4. The island is big, there really is everything here: calm and active beaches, several clubs, supermarkets with markets, schools and kindergartens, mountains, waterfalls, temples - you can find something to do.
Everyone will find something to do here
Koh Samui is a big village. There are no high-rise buildings here like in Pattaya. If you live in an area where Thais live, you risk waking up to the crowing of someone else’s rooster.
Chickens, cats, and huge geckos constantly came to my porch, buffalos grazed in the field next to the house, and in the evenings I could hear the howling of dogs. I love animals, so this aspect of life on Koh Samui was a plus for me, but some may not like it.
Even if you live in a closed area in a modern apartment, there will still be a village outside it. If you go to Koh Samui expecting to end up in Dubai, then the island will disappoint you. You need to come here for relaxation and two-story houses.
Hi, neighbor! Season on Koh Samui
December 15-March — High season. Lots of people, prices go up. It can rain heavily until mid-January and it is often cloudy. From February there is mostly sun, from March to September only thin trickles remain from the large waterfalls, there may be no rain for a month. The northern beaches (Maenam) and Lamai can have waves in winter. Most of the houses are occupied or rented at inflated prices.
April May — Heat. Dry and very hot. It's really very hot. In the west of the island it sometimes rains, in the east the permanent sun shines. A house of any quality can be found without problems.
Lamai in May - almost no waves June August — Low season, because winterers and tourists have gone home. The weather is sunny, the sea is without waves on all beaches, you can find absolutely any accommodation at a discount - everything is free.
September-mid December — Rain season. This means that it rains one or more times a day, sometimes flooding the streets. Cloudy, gray, sometimes the sun appears before lunch. The sea may be stormy. In October-November it is quite possible to find a house or hotel at an affordable price; in December there are few good cheap options left.
Maenam beach (north of Samui) in December. The sea is dirty, there are algae on the shore How much money to take to Koh Samui
Let's figure out how much it will cost holiday on Koh Samui and how much money to take with you. For example, you are flying to Koh Samui together for 10 days.
Flights
360$-400$ — Minimum cost of a round trip to Koh Samui from Moscow for 1 person ( 300$-340$ tickets Moscow-Bangkok-Msk + 60$ bus+ferry to Koh Samui from Bangkok).
This is assuming you haven't missed any sales, bought your flight tickets to Bangkok in advance and are ready to spend the night on the bus.
A more likely scenario is from 500-650$ and more in two directions per person
Housing
7$ - room in a hostel
13-20$ - modest bungalow
17-20$ - a modest but clean hotel or house
20-30$ - condo
30-50$+ - good hotel
Total plus or minus $250-400 for two for 10 days and higher
During peak season, prices can be significantly higher; it is better to check the current prices for housing of the desired class on roomguru and booking.
Examples of housing prices on Koh Samui
Insurance
From 1100 rubles or 17$ per person for 10 days. For two - 34$
Most insurance companies have increased their insurance rates for Thailand due to frequent claims. This is where the largest number of insurance cases occur.
I bought my insurance through a website where you can compare prices and conditions of popular insurance companies, I chose the Liberty company. I didn’t regret it at all, because the insurance paid for itself after the first visit to the doctor.
I usually don’t get sick, but in Thailand, due to air conditioning and a local virus, I suffered with a cold for two months (I couldn’t speak). The treatment was worth it 400$ , all expenses were paid by the insurance company. ☞
One of the hospital bills paid for by an insurance policy Prices in cafes on Koh Samui
2$ /50-70 baht— Makashnitsa food (pad thai, tom yum, rice with chicken)
3-7$ / 100-250 baht- main course (soup, meat) in a cafe
2-4$ / 70-120 baht- salad
2-3$ / 50-100 baht- fruit shake
15-30$ / 500-1000 baht– dinner at a first-class fish restaurant on the shore
On average, lunch for two in a cafe (two dishes and two drinks) - 12-15$ /400-500 baht
If you plan only available in the cafe, expect to spend about 15$ /500 baht per person. Plus water, fruits, snacks
Total 20-25$ for food per person per day or $400-500 for two for 10 days.
You can also fit in 200-300$ for two if you eat at local eateries or evening markets. Food costs are too individual to predict.
Fish in garlic for 500 baht Alcohol
This cost item is different for everyone. Average bottle of beer in a store 50-70 baht
Transport
If you rent a bike, then 200 * 10 = 2000 baht + gasoline about 1000 baht
Total 90$ in 10 days for two.
If you actively travel around the island by public transport, it will be more expensive, but if you only go to the neighboring beaches a couple of times, and not wander around the island, it will be cheaper.
Entertainment
7-12$ /250-400 baht- massage session
2$ / 50-100 baht— entrance to observation decks
Temples - free
20$ / 700 baht adults/ 400 baht children - elephant safari at Na Muang 2 waterfall
If you travel around the island on a rented bike, visiting natural attractions, it will be cheap.
You can climb on the back of an elephant for 700 baht How much does a holiday to Koh Samui cost?
Minimum tickets 300-340$ , more often from 500-650$ per person, for two from 600$ to 1300$
Housing plus or minus $250-400 for two
Food and alcohol - from 400 to 1000$ for two or more
Transport (bike+gasoline) — 90$
Entertainment - from 0 to infinity
TOTAL: Minimum - 1400$ , average - 2000-2600$ and more on two in 10 days
If suddenly you found a tour to Koh Samui for $1000-1500 for two, then most likely it is more profitable to buy a tour and fly on a package trip, where the air ticket, hotel and transfer are already included in the price.
How much does winter accommodation cost?
The winterer's expenses will be significantly lower if he lives on the island for a long time, rents a house, knows all the inexpensive places, shops at markets and supermarkets, and prepares food at home.
While living on Koh Samui I spent 700-800$ per month(visa, house and scooter rental, food, fruit). This is with fairly modest requests.
For less modest requests, costs will be significantly higher. For example, if you rent a comfortable modern apartment or a house with air conditioning during the season, eat fruits and seafood, have lunch and dinner in a cafe for tourists, rent a car, then the amount of expenses will be from 80-100$ per day for two.
Winter on Koh Samui is warm and fun! Beaches of Koh Samui
There are many beaches on Koh Samui, but not all of them are equally suitable for swimming, although you can’t tell from the photos on the Internet.
Chaweng
Chaweng is the center of nightlife and resort life, where the main bars, discos and restaurants are located. Young people settle here.
In winter, the beach is not as good as in summer; there are noticeable ebbs and flows, there are reverse currents and waves. When there are no waves, the water is clear and clean, there is white sand at the bottom, the entrance to the sea is flat, and shallow near the shore.
It can be noisy if you live on the main street. If you want to buzz until the morning every night, then Koh Samui is not very good at it. Most establishments in Chaweng close at 3 am; dancing until the morning is held only on Saturdays and Wednesdays during the season.
Near Chaweng there is a small Festival Shopping Center, a Tesco Lotus supermarket, Big C and Makro supermarkets are also relatively close.
Evening in Chaweng Chaweng Noi
Lamai
The second most popular beach south of Chaweng. Length of Lamai beach - 5 km.
Lamai is a fairly large beach with developed infrastructure. Mostly married couples and Euro-pensioners relax here; there are also young people. There are enough Russians, as well as Italians, French and Germans.
Full of cafes and restaurants, including near the sea, there is a market (they sell fruits, vegetables and fish), Tesco Lotus and Makro supermarkets, McDonald's.
Near the sea you can rent a sun lounger. I usually went to swim at the rocks on the southern tip of Lamai - there are fewer people there during the peak season.
Lamai Beach on Koh Samui On the shore there is coarser yellow sand.
In winter and spring Lamai can have strong waves - this is perhaps the only disadvantage of this beach if waves are a problem for you.
Due to the waves, the water becomes cloudy and opaque, and algae may float.
Waves in April in Lamai Ban Tai
North of the island, beach in the Mimosa Resort&Spa area. I just spent the winter in this area. There is no point in living here without a bike.
In terms of infrastructure, there are two massage parlors, several cafes on the beach and on the road to the beach, 7/11 and two shops where you can buy nuts, fruits, shakes. The market is 7 minutes by bike. You need to go to the supermarket about 20 minutes to the beaches of Chaweng or Lamai.
Ban Tai and Mimosa Beach on Koh Samui But on Ban Tai the sea is very clean, there are no waves, the ebb and flow of the tides are not very noticeable, the entrance to the sea is flat, shallow near the shore. You need to go about 10 meters to a depth. Mostly families with children come here too.
White sand, palm trees stand right by the sea (it’s better not to sit under them, because coconuts fall regularly). Ban Thai is paradise in every sense of the word. Suitable only for those who like a very relaxing holiday.
Ban Tai Beach in March Which beach to choose?
Choosing a beach on Koh Samui is a top priority, especially if you are going on vacation for a week or two and do not know how to drive a scooter.
For my vacation I would choose:
Lamai— there is a market, supermarkets, cafe-bars, clothing stores, attractions nearby, there are foreigners, minus — during the season there may be waves and muddy water
Chaweng— supermarkets, parties, discos, youth recreation, minus — noisy during the season
Chaweng Noi or some small beach between Chaweng and Lamai. For example, Tongtakian(white sand, clear water, beautiful views) or romantic Coral Cove
For the sake of kitesurfing
Ko na Thiam in the southeast and the beach of the Orchid Resort hotel.
For families with children
Ban tai— cool and quiet, just right for kids, but there’s nothing to do there without a bike. Just a few cafes, two massage parlors, a couple of 7/11s
Maenam— there is a market, a cafe, many houses for rent. The downside is that there are no supermarkets. It's inconvenient without a bike. Personally, I don’t really like Maenam (the sea there is cloudy and opaque), but many people choose this area.
Chaweng Noi— there is infrastructure, a beautiful sea, there are a lot of people in the season
Some choose the gentrified Bophut and the Big Buddha area for their holidays, but I wouldn’t go there (the beaches and sea are so-so during the season).
There are also beaches in the west and southwest: for example, Taling Ngam(Imperial Hotel), but the infrastructure there is also tight. If you go there, then stay in a hotel or be sure to take a bike.
Suitable for wintering Lamai or Maenam. I wintered in the area Ban Thai and Mimosa Spa&Resort. I love that area, but that doesn't mean it's the best.
How to get to Koh Samui
There are no direct flights from Russia to Koh Samui yet, so Koh Samui is not the most convenient or cheap place to get here. The matter is complicated by the fact that Thai low-cost airlines and the Asian low-cost airline AirAsia do not fly to Samui.
IN Samui airport only flies Bangkok Airways- a decent Thai airline with indecently high ticket prices for Asia. One way ticket Bangkok-Samui will cost 90-100$ .
Cheap flights to Bangkok can be found using search engines Aviasales.ru and Skyscanner.ru (☞).
You can catch sales of air tickets to Bangkok or Phuket on the websites of Emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Shrilancan airlines, China Southern, Aeroflot, or subscribe to the corresponding groups on social media. networks that publish news about sales.
Direct flight Moscow-Bangkok lasts 9 o'clock. A flight with a transfer can last 11 or 18 hours.
Tickets Moscow-Bangkok-Moscow on sales they sell for 300-350$ per flight There and back again. Non-sale tickets cost 400-500$ V two sides.
Bangkok-Samui how to get there
1. Bus+ferry or train+bus+ferry, $40
Bangkok-Samui bus + ferry ticket costs 30-40$ one way, travel time - from 12 to 16 hours.
From Bangkok or Phuket you can buy a bus+ferry package to Koh Samui using local modes of transport (train, ferry, bus).
Of course, if funds allow, it is better to buy a plane ticket to Samui and not suffer. If you get back and forth from Bangkok to Koh Samui by land, and not by plane, it turns out save more than $100 per person, so many choose this method.
The distance from Bangkok to Samui is as much as 762 km! 2. Plane to Surat Thani+bus+ferry, from $30
This option is faster than the first. You can fly from Bangkok to the city of Surat Thani ( $19, 1 hour), from there go to the ferry crossing and take the ferry to Koh Samui. You can search for tickets from Bangkok to Surat Thani on the same Skyscanner.ru.
The problem with this method is that the plane from Russia arrives at the airport Bangkok Suvarnabhumi, and all local flights operate from the airport Bangkok Don Mung.
From Surat Thani we take a bus to the ferry terminal, after which we sail to Koh Samui. Single ticket costs 10-17$ , on the way from 3 to 5 hours.
This ferry will take you to Koh Samui Visa to Thailand
For Russians. A visa is not needed if the period of stay in Thailand is no more than 30 days. A free stamp is given at the airport.
If you plan to fly to Thailand without a visa with a one-way ticket, be sure to book a return ticket or buy a ticket from Thailand with a flight to a third country no later than 30 days.
Booking a ticket without payment is most often not accepted, and sometimes at the airport you are asked to present a paid ticket. To play it safe, you can visit the website airasia buy a cheap ticket to Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia - anywhere, just to show that you will fly from Thailand.
Visa conditions for winter workers are getting worse every year. It is no longer possible to wound as before, 6 times a winter. Look for up-to-date information on this topic. If you plan to spend several months in Thailand, it is better to get a Thai visa in Russia in advance.
For Belarusians. A visa is required, it can be issued at the consulate in Moscow or through intermediaries in Minsk for 80-150$ . They provide a single entry visa 60 days, you can extend it without leaving Samui for another 30 days behind 1900 baht (60$ ).
If you don’t want to apply for a visa in Moscow, you can do it in any country neighboring Thailand. For example, I received Thai visas in Malaysia and Vietnam.
If you fly with a visa in your passport, then your return ticket home may be in 60 days or even 90 days (the main thing is not more than 90).
Rental housing on Koh Samui
Hotel or holiday bungalow
If you are going on vacation for a couple of weeks, especially in high season, it is better to read in advance about the beaches and areas of the island (the text below describes all the beaches of Samui), choose a hotel on the desired beach, book it online to come and relax , rather than wasting time looking for a bungalow or hotel.
Daily housing on site costs the same as on the Internet on roomguru or on booking.
Examples of prices for bungalows and hotels
I heard that it's cheaper locally!
It's cheaper locally if you rent for several months. For daily rental of normal housing on site, the price is the same as on the Internet.
The coastline of popular beaches is lined with housing for tourists (bungalows, hotels, villas, several condo complexes). Why should Thais rent out such housing cheaply when they can afford it at a high price?
You yourself are unlikely to want to live on unpopular beaches, because it is dirty and there is no sea (there can be strong low tides in the southeast and west of the island).
There are exceptions, when complexes of modest houses, built a kilometer or two from the sea, are rented daily for 8-15$ , and you can only remove them on the spot if you know exactly where these houses are located. Without knowing where they are located, it is almost impossible to find them (I found such places only with the help of friends who live on the island and know the housing stock).
Such a simple room with air conditioning and a bathroom can be rented on the spot for $10-12, if you know where to look Long term house on Koh Samui
During the winter, they usually rent a house or apartment for several months. If this is your case, then there are two options.
Path 1 - do it yourself
1. Preparation
Find articles on the Internet about houses in Thailand, real estate agency websites that have examples of houses with addresses or linked to a map, make notes on your map in maps.me or on a Google map.
2. Hotel for 2-3 days
Prices for renting a house on Koh Samui
5000-7000 baht- tie-style houses in the south of the island, in Nathon or Maenam far from the sea
My tie-style house on Koh Samui for 8000 baht 12-14,000 baht- modern one bedroom houses with air conditioning, kitchen, refrigerator, in low season you can rent a house for the same price near the sea, in high season 2-4 km from the sea in side streets
15-18000 baht- a modest bungalow on the beach or a decent house with two bedrooms and a living room away from the sea
20-30,000 baht and above - a good house in the season near the sea
25-30,000 baht— modern spacious studio or apartment with European-quality renovation, swimming pool, sea view next to the beach
30-40,000 baht- modern house with 3 bedrooms, its own territory and a swimming pool near the sea
60,000 baht– villa in Lamai or Chaweng near the sea
House on Samui for 50,000 baht per month in season Public utilities
Internet - 500-600 baht per month (depending on the house, maybe free)
Electricity and water are usually paid separately. If according to the state prices, then 4 baht per kW, but prices may vary 5-10 baht per kW. You need to check with the owner and make sure that the electricity prices are indicated in the contract.
I paid for electricity 600 baht per month in a house where only a refrigerator and a fan worked, and my friends living in a house with air conditioning and a swimming pool - 5000 baht per month.
Car and bike rental
It’s sad without a bike on Samui. It can also become sad with a bike if you constantly fall off it, but without a bike it’s generally sad.
Prices for renting a motorbike on Koh Samui
5-9$ /150-300 baht per day depending on the bike model (Honda Click, Scoopy) and the arrogance of the lessor
12-30$ / 400-1000 baht for a Kawasaki or Yamaha motorcycle
90-130$ / 3000-4500 baht per month depending on the bike model
Car rental prices on Koh Samui
23-30$ / 800-1000 baht per day for a small car
30-35$ / 1000-1200 baht per day per pickup
30-40$ / 1000-1400 baht per day for a sedan
45-60$ / 1600-2000 baht per day for a jeep
350-600$ / 12-20000 baht per month depending on the class of car
You can rent it daily through international rental companies by comparing prices on rentalcars. If you need a car for a month, it is better to look for local small rentals.
Thais drive pickup trucks Public transport
Public transport on Samui includes songthaew and taxi. There are no tuk-tuks, buses or motorcycle taxis on Koh Samui.
Cost of travel to Songthaew 1.5-2$ / 50-60 baht, but drivers also ask tourists 3$ / 100 , And 6$ / 200 baht(depending on the arrogance of the driver).
Take small change with you. They don't give change for 100 baht. They pretend to forget. Negotiate the fare in advance.
You can get from the airport by taxi. From 10$ / 350 baht to nearby beaches 25$ / 800 baht to distant beaches. The transfer can be ordered directly at Samui airport or in advance on the Internet at.
Songthaew looks something like this, only with a roof, and instead of cages there are benches for passengers The advantages of living and relaxing on Koh Samui in Thailand
1. Good transport links with Russia. There are no direct flights from Russia to Koh Samui yet, but you can fly directly to the island from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and other cities in Thailand and Southeast Asian countries. Cheap air tickets can be found using search engines and.
2. Developed infrastructure. The presence of several large supermarkets (Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro), massage salons, restaurants and cafes for every budget. Many catering establishments have menus in Russian.
3. Delicious food
4. There are many markets where you can buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and inexpensive fish. If desired, seafood will be cut up in front of you and fried on a grill right at the market or supermarket.
Market in Thailand 5. There are raw food and vegetarian cafes and restaurants (if this is important to someone), and absolutely every cafe and every market has vegetarian dishes.
6. Service in Russian and English. The Russian-speaking community on Koh Samui is quite large, and naturally there are many companies and specialists offering services in Russian. For example, a motorbike will be driven straight to the ferry; you can order it in advance. On Samui, the organization of weddings, photo shoots and other events is on stream.
7. Many attractions, there will be a separate post about each attraction of Samui:
— stunning nature: tropical jungle, mountains, palm groves, long beaches
Jungle of Koh Samui — Na Muang waterfall and several smaller waterfalls:
Na Muang Waterfall (Waterfall 2) — Na Muang Safari Park, where you can ride elephants
I put 20 baht in the elephant’s trunk for the pleasure of standing next to him at Na Muang Safari Park and elephant riding — many observation decks and pools overlooking the sea
Pool with sea view 
Observation deck on Koh Samui — Nathon is the main city of the island, where you can see how the Thais live.
Thais drink a meter of beer at the bazaar in Nathon - all kinds of tours to other islands or other parts of the country, and the trip can be organized independently or you can buy an excursion from one of the travel agencies
8. The proximity of two other islands - Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Koh Phangan has gorgeous beaches, wildlife and... On Koh Tao - diving and snorkeling on a coral reef
Koh Phangan Island in Thailand 9. Medicine is well developed. There are pharmacies on every corner, there are several hospitals: Samui International Hospital, Bangkok Samui Hospital and Thai International Hospital in the Chaweng beach area, Bandon International Hospital in the Bophut area near the Big C supermarket, the municipal hospital in Nathon Samui Government Hospital (it is the cheapest, mostly local residents are treated there). In addition to hospitals, on the island of Koh Samui there are many private offices and clinics, where all the same doctors who work in hospitals at other times work.
10. Car and motorcycle showrooms, where you can buy or rent a car or motorcycle, both daily and for a long period.
11. Centers for the sale of Apple products and other gadgets, and prices are 20 percent lower than in Russia, and VAT can also be refunded later.
Apple showroom on Koh Samui 12. Kitesurfing. There are several schools on Samui where you can learn to kitesurf, and Hua Thanon Beach, where a branch of Thailand's largest kite school, KiteBoarding Asia, is located in the Samui Orchid Resort in the southeast of the island is an ideal place to learn. The beach is very wide, covered with soft sand without stones, it is convenient to launch from it, and the depth of the sea for 500 meters from the shore hardly reaches the waist. The cost of one lesson is 4,000 baht, 3 lessons - 11,000 baht. There is a Russian speaking instructor. There will also be a separate article with video about kiting on Samui.
Hua Thanon Beach, where kitesurfing is taught 
Kitesurfing on Koh Samui 13. I don’t know whether this is a plus or a minus, but there are simply an enormous number of Russians on Samui. For a month, I never spoke English to anyone (Thais barely understand English).
14. Affordable prices for housing and food. Of course, higher than in Bangkok or northern Thailand, but compared to Russia it’s quite good. You can find a house on Samui with any budget, especially if you look for it in advance and don’t wait for the high season (from November to February). Housing prices on Koh Samui start from 8,000 and above. You can rent a villa for 40,000 - 60,000 baht per month with a swimming pool and all amenities. A hotel on Samui can be booked in advance, but you will have to look for a house for long-term rent on the spot.
15. Almost everywhere there is Internet, and 3G speeds in some places reach 50 megabits, so Samui is suitable for long-term living and wintering if you need high-speed Internet access for work.
16. Beaches of Koh Samui- This is perhaps the main plus. Here everyone will find both a calm sea and a wave, both peace and grace, a party and movement. There are a great many beaches on Koh Samui, here I will list only the main areas and beaches:
Chaweng
East of the island. The center of nightlife and resort life, where the main bars, discos and restaurants are located, young people settle here. The beach is not as good as in other areas, there are noticeable ebbs and flows, there are reverse currents and waves. It can be noisy if you live on the main street. If you want to buzz until the morning every night, then Koh Samui is not very good at it. Most establishments in Chaweng close as early as 3 am; the main buzz until the morning occurs on Saturdays and Wednesdays.
Chaweng Beach on Koh Samui 
Party on Chaweng Beach 
Nightlife in Chaweng, Koh Samui Bang Rak
Northeast. Beaches starting from the Big Buddha statue.
Big Buddha statue Bophut
Northeast. There is a central street with cafes and restaurants, and a sufficient number of hotels. Personally, I don’t really like the beaches of Bophut because the water in the sea is cloudy.
Sea on Bophut Maenam
North. This is one of my favorite areas. The water on the beaches of Maenam is clean; the ebb and flow of the tides are not very noticeable here. This area is suitable for families with children. There are no clubs there as such, but there are bars, restaurants and cafes.
Waves and algae on Maenam in January. Bang Po
Northwest. Clean beaches with white sand, calm sea.
Having fun with friends on the beaches of Samui. In the photo with me is Igor Dzyuba, a friend and neighbor. Taling Ngam
Southwest. There are mainly hotels and villas of a higher price category here. The area around the Intercontinental Hotel has some of the best sunsets on Koh Samui.
Taling Ngam Beach on Koh Samui, Thailand 
Hua Thanon
Southeast. The beach is only suitable for swimming with children. There is a kitesurfing school, many hotels, a Muslim village and several overpriced cafes.
Muslim village 
Kiting on Koh Samui Cons of Koh Samui in Thailand
*Naturally, all these disadvantages are very conditional and, perhaps, for someone else, on the contrary, they will seem like advantages.
1. Prices are slightly higher than in other parts of Thailand, but lower than in Phuket and Pattaya
2. There are a lot of Russians, there is no feeling that you are abroad
3. Too civilized. There are relatively many cars and bikes, traffic jams in the evenings in the Chaweng and Lamai area. You can get stuck on the road for 20-30 minutes if you are driving a car.
4. A lot of people (depending on what you compare with, of course). Compared to Koh Phangan, there are a lot, and compared to the beaches of Odessa, there are no people at all on Samui.
5. There is no public transport. There are only taxis, the so-called songthaews, which are expensive and inconvenient to travel by. The solution is to rent a scooter.
6. Samui is an island, so you can only get out of it by plane or ferry (they run on a schedule from different piers several times a day), or rent a boat. That is, you cannot break away at any moment and go wherever your eyes take you; you have to take into account the ferry schedule.
7. Autumn is the rainy season, but depending on your luck.
8. Most vegetables and fruits are imported. On the island itself, only coconuts, durians, mangosteens, bananas and pineapples grow. The island is directly dependent on supplies from the continent, so fruit prices are higher than in other parts of the country.
9. As in all of Thailand, there are practically no dairy products on Samui, and prices for any cheese are unreasonably high. Moreover, cheese that is positioned as expensive (for example, Brie) costs a lot of money, but at the same time it is an ordinary salted processed cheese, painted.
Conclusion: Thus, the island of Koh Samui in Thailand is ideal for both short-term vacations and long-term stays, no matter how old you are, whether you are traveling alone, as a couple, as a family with children, or to hang out with a group. You can find both a quiet place and action, provide yourself with comfortable food and living conditions, and also not get bored by visiting various excursions and natural attractions.
Paradise islands to you! Sincerely,
