Thailand’s islands and beaches are the stuff of many daydreams, and Ko Samui is one of the best known and loved beach-island-escape destinations. This island has become synonymous with enjoying oneself. The food is fantastic, there’s a huge choice of spas and wellness centres offering to pamper you to bits, there are great bars and every kind of beach idyll you might be dreaming of. Many of the best places to stay in Ko Samui offer all these things in the one place, but if you don’t quite have the budget for one of the more spectacular resort retreats there are still plenty of near perfect options.

What Not to Miss

• Most people are here for at least some beach-time. Ko Samui is quite a big island, with a coastline offering a beach for everyone, whether you’re looking for a party or a place to yourself. The busiest beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, and the quietest are probably those on the island’s northern coast. The water isn’t as clear as off Phuket, but the coconut palms are perfect and development is very limited now, so you’ll be really unlucky if your view is spoiled by building works.
• Ko Samui is within the Chumphon Archipelago, a group of 80, mostly uninhabited islands, of the Arg Thong National Marine Park, which is probably one of the world’s premier snorkelling destinations, and a fantastic place for divers and sea kayakers as well.
• If your time in the water has whetted your appetite for adventure the rainforest-skirted granite massif in the island’s centre is a fantastic place to explore.
• If you’re looking for a gentle activity you might want to visit the butterfly garden or Samui aquarium, with its amazing collection of tropical fish, colourful coral and graceful sea turtles.
• Or the mummified monk on display in What Khunaram, one of the island’s most popular temples...He was a very revered former abbot who was also a meditation master, and he’s presented sitting upright in a glass casket surrounded by flowers and incense…
• Or the snake farm
• Or the 15 metre Buddha statue at Bang Rak
• Or the Secret Buddha Garden, which was built by a 76 year old fruit farmer and offers some of the island’s best views
• There’s also an elephant camp.
• You might also want to visit some of the other islands of the archipelago.
• And you’ll definitely want to devote a fair amount of time to sampling the island’s cuisine in all its forms.

With so much to see and do, and all those beautiful beaches to enjoy it's not surprising that the best places to stay in Ko Samui are busy properties. So if you're planning to visit during peak season, do your homework and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Ko Samui

For Resort Perfection

• The Banyan Tree Ko Samui is a collection of stand-alone villas, separated by pockets of jungle, but all with sea views and access to a private beach. This is the kind of resort where nothing is too much fuss, and the added extras are impressive: we’re talking access to a complimentary private catamaran or a deep sea fishing trip.
• The Four Seasons Ko Samui is an almost impossibly romantic collection of villas - complete with plunge pools, breathtaking views and a luxuriant amount of space. There are 70 rooms and villas in all, with impressive facilities to go with them: a private beach with a beachside infinity pool, a wellness spa and a choice of places to eat and drink.

For The Beach

• The Vana Belle Resort sits just back from a stunning stretch of pristine beach, and its 80 rooms and suites offer views and peace. But, if you want it to be, this resort can be more than just a place to relax, it encourages guests to learn more about the local culture, and, as well as offering fitness classes, the resort also offers cultural activities.

For an Apartment or Private Villa

• If you’d prefer to stay in an apartment or private villa we recommend you visit our online partner, booking.com.

Travel Information

• Samui Airport is technically an international airport, but unless you’re travelling from Singapore, Hong Kong or China you’ll probably be arriving via Bangkok. From the airport it might be most convenient for you to travel to your hotel by ferry - which is certainly charming and a great way to start your visit to the island.
• If you’re thinking about hiring a car we recommend checking what our online partners, Rentalcars have to offer.
• This might surprise you but Ko Saumi’s weather conditions are a little different to the rest of Thailand’s. Here the rainy season comes late, with the monsoon rains falling between about October and December (rather than between April and September). The post monsoon season is probably the most pleasant time to visit, from between January and March. The maximum daytime temperatures don’t change much throughout the year, ranging between about 30°C and 33°C.

Still not sure which to book?

• Browse our list of the best places to stay in Ko Samui,
• expand your search to include neighbouring Ko Pha Ngan or Phuket,
• or Contact one of our friendly Gurus for advice.