Koh Samui Travel Guide: Hotels & Excursions (2026)

White sand as far as you can see, palm trees leaning over the water, the smell of grilled satay at Bophut’s Friday night market: Koh Samui has a different beach ready for every type of traveller. We lived here ourselves for a year, in Choeng Mon, out of the 14 years we spent living in Thailand in total, and that local knowledge is baked into the tips below. With a dozen or so distinct beaches and an overwhelming range of hotels and excursions, choosing the right beach and activities matters just as much here as it does in Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

Where you stay shapes your whole experience of Koh Samui too. Chaweng is the longest and liveliest beach, with a wide choice of restaurants, bars and the famous Walking Street, while Choeng Mon is calm and family-friendly, with sheltered, shallow water and high-end resorts such as Six Senses Samui. In Hotels on Koh Samui: The Ultimate Beach & Hotel Guide (2026) we compare every beach, from charming Bophut to quieter Lamai and Maenam, and the best hotels for every budget.

Koh Samui has plenty to offer beyond the beach too. Ang Thong National Marine Park, an archipelago of 42 limestone islands with an emerald lagoon, is the best-known boat excursion, but just as worthwhile are a visit to the golden Big Buddha temple and the colourful Wat Plai Laem, or meeting rescued elephants at an ethical sanctuary. In The 10 best excursions from Koh Samui (2026) we rank the 10 best excursions, with prices, duration, and tips to help you decide what fits your trip.

Use these guides as your starting point: pick the beach and hotel that fit your travel style, then fill your days with the excursions that appeal to you most. You can fly from Bangkok in just over an hour to Samui International Airport, or save money by flying to Surat Thani and taking the connecting ferry; with a hotel booked and a few excursions on the schedule, you’ll arrive with a clear plan instead of an endless list of options. Still torn between Koh Samui and another island? Read Why we choose Koh Samui over Phuket.

Published on 2 August 2026.

Last updated on 17 August 2026.