Thailand's Gulf-coast island, and the answer whenever your dates fall in the months that don't suit Phuket or Krabi. Coconut palms, a ring road, and beaches that differ more than they look.
This is the single most useful thing to know about Samui, and it decides half the bookings we make.
Phuket and Krabi are dry November to April and wet May to October. Samui is roughly the reverse — its wettest stretch is October to December, and it's at its best from May to September when the Andaman side is under the south-west monsoon. So a Thai beach holiday in July isn't impossible; it just needs to be on this coast. The trade-off is a longer journey, since most people connect through Bangkok rather than flying direct.
A ring road, four very different beaches, and two islands worth the boat.
The two main beaches. Chaweng is longer, busier and has the nightlife; Lamai is smaller, cheaper and calmer.
Forty-two islands, a hidden emerald lake, and kayaking between limestone stacks. A full day and the best trip here.
Twelve metres of gold on the north-east tip, plus the eighteen-armed Guanyin statue nearby. Free, and quick.
Two falls in the island's jungle interior. The second needs a walk and is far better than the roadside one.
Thirty and ninety minutes by ferry. Phangan for beaches and the Full Moon Party; Tao for the cheapest diving courses in the world.
Bophut's old wooden shophouses, now restaurants and bars. Friday night walking street is the island's best evening.
A ring road connects everything. The beach you choose sets the tone entirely.
The longest beach and all the nightlife. Good sand, and noisy at the northern end.
Second-biggest, cheaper, and calmer. A good middle choice.
Fisherman's Village, calm water, and where families and couples do best.
Small coves in the north-east and the quiet south-west. Least happens here, deliberately.
May to September is the window here, which is exactly when the Andaman coast is at its worst.
The Gulf's rainy season runs October to December, peaking in November when it can genuinely rain for days. January to April is hot, dry and busy. May to September is warm, mostly dry with short showers, and noticeably cheaper than Phuket in its own peak. That inversion is why we send summer travellers here.
Koh Samui (USM), usually via Bangkok. Ferry from Surat Thani is the cheaper, slower alternative.
Songthaews on the ring road, or a taxi. Scooters are common and the roads are hilly and wet — we wouldn't.
Thai baht. Cards in hotels; beaches, ferries and markets are cash.
None needed for UK passports on stays under 60 days.
We'll pick the beach, check the season against the Andaman coast, and write the payment plan out in full.
Your dates decide it. Samui May to September, Phuket November to April. Booking the wrong coast for the month is the commonest Thailand mistake.
Bophut or Maenam in the north — calm, shallow water and much quieter than Chaweng.
If you want quieter beaches, yes. If you want the Full Moon Party, check the date — it changes the island completely for 48 hours.
Almost always via Bangkok. It adds a leg but the flights are frequent and short.
Flights, accommodation and transfers as one package. Every one can be reshaped — different dates, different board, a different airport, or a stopover on the way.
Guide prices, per person, based on two sharing, including return flights, accommodation and transfers. They indicate what a holiday of this type has typically cost and are not an offer or a quotation. Your price depends on dates, party, board basis, departure airport and availability, and is confirmed in writing before any payment is taken.
Ready-built itineraries with flights, transfers and internal hops booked as one package, ATOL protected. Every one can be reshaped around your dates.
12 nights · Apr–Oct · from £1,749pp
13 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,649pp
13 nights · Nov–Mar · from £2,099pp
13 nights · Dec–Mar · from £1,599pp
14 nights · Apr–Oct · from £1,849pp
15 nights · Apr–Oct · from £2,199pp
14 nights · Mar–Apr, Oct–Nov · from £2,999pp
12 nights · Nov–Mar · from £1,849pp
