Where Koh Samui is
Koh Samui lies in a different sea from Phuket: the Gulf of Thailand, off the east coast of the peninsula. It forms Ko Samui district of Surat Thani province. One city municipality (thesaban nakhon Ko Samui) runs the whole island, which has seven subdistricts (tambons).
| Subdistrict | What is in it | Residents, December 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Bophut | Chaweng, Bophut and Fisherman’s Village, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon, the airport | 20,521 |
| Ang Thong | Nathon, the main town and old pier in the west | 11,101 |
| Maenam | Maenam beach, the Lomprayah pier | 10,811 |
| Maret | Lamai, the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks | 9,489 |
| Taling Ngam | south-west | 6,802 |
| Na Mueang | centre and south, Na Mueang waterfalls | 6,339 |
| Lipa Noi | west, the car ferry pier | 5,936 |
| Whole island | 70,999 |
Source: DOPA, Ministry of Interior, house registration in December 2025. These are registered residents; foreigners on long-stay visas and seasonal workers are usually not counted.
Areas of Koh Samui: which one suits whom
Resort life is concentrated in the north-east around the airport: Chaweng and Bophut beaches, all the island’s private hospitals and most of the condominiums on the government registry. The west and south are quieter, and that is where the ferries from the mainland arrive.
| Area | Suits | Subdistrict | To USM airport | Condos on the Treasury registry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | a holiday on the longest resort beach, hospitals nearby | Bophut | 5.1 km | 19 for the whole subdistrict |
| Bophut | Fisherman’s Village, boats to Phangan, living near the airport | Bophut | 6.3 km | 19 for the whole subdistrict |
| Maenam | the quiet north, Lomprayah catamarans | Maenam | 9.5 km | 7 |
| Lamai | the second resort beach, 10 km further from the airport | Maret | 14.8 km | 1 |
| Lipa Noi | sunsets in the west, near the mainland ferry | Lipa Noi | 32.5 km to the pier | none |
Road distances from the OSRM router on OpenStreetMap data, 17.10.2026.
When to go to Koh Samui: seasons by month
Samui’s seasons differ from Phuket’s. According to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD), southern Thailand gets rain twice: the south-west monsoon (May-October) soaks the west coast, and the north-east monsoon (October-February) the east coast, which is where Samui lies. At the Ko Samui station May to September brings 102-134 mm a month, and November 445 mm.
| Month | Samui, mm | Rainy days | Phuket, mm |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | 127 | 11 | 50 |
| February | 64 | 6 | 24 |
| March | 116 | 6 | 81 |
| April | 83 | 8 | 135 |
| May | 132 | 14 | 237 |
| June | 134 | 13 | 249 |
| July | 117 | 14 | 240 |
| August | 102 | 15 | 309 |
| September | 118 | 15 | 350 |
| October | 295 | 19 | 336 |
| November | 445 | 19 | 178 |
| December | 263 | 14 | 82 |
| Year | 1,994 | 154 | 2,272 |
The average temperature stays at 26.8-29.2 °C all year; April and May are the hottest, with average highs of 31.8 and 32.9 °C. Source: TMD, 1991-2020 normals, Ko Samui and Phuket stations.
How to get to Koh Samui
Fly to the island. Samui airport (USM) is in the north-east, in Bophut subdistrict. By road it is 4.0 km to Choeng Mon, 5.1 km to Chaweng, 6.3 km to Bophut, 9.5 km to Maenam and 14.8 km to Lamai (OSRM, 17.10.2026).
Via the mainland. Fly to Surat Thani (URT), then drive 93.6 km to Donsak pier, about 1.5 hours without traffic. From Donsak the Raja Ferry car ferry sails to Lipa Noi pier every hour from 05:00 to 19:00 in both directions, about 1 hour 30 minutes (operator timetable, 17.10.2026). From 30 December to 30 April the operator adds extra sailings when cars queue at the pier.
Ferry fares. Fares are set by a Surat Thani province announcement of 06.06.2022 and move in steps with the diesel price:
| Raja Ferry line | Passenger, THB | Car, THB | Crossing time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Donsak-Samui (Lipa Noi) | 140-230 | 460-730 | about 1 h 30 min |
| Samui (Lipa Noi)-Phangan (Thong Sala) | 140-230 | 460-730 | about 1 h 30 min |
| Donsak-Phangan (Thong Sala) | 210-300 | 550-1,180 | about 2 h 30 min |
Catamarans. Lomprayah links Samui with Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Chumphon, and via Chumphon by bus with Bangkok. Its Samui piers are Nathon, Bang Rak (near the airport) and Pralan in Maenam. Lomprayah fares are dynamic, check them when you book. For the neighbouring island see our Koh Phangan guide.
Property on Koh Samui and official valuations
The Treasury registry lists 27 residential condominiums on Samui with unit titles issued. 19 of them are in Bophut subdistrict (Chaweng, Bophut, Bang Rak), 7 in Maenam and 1 in Maret (Lamai). Lipa Noi, Na Mueang, Taling Ngam and Ang Thong have none. Villas and houses on their own land are not on this registry, which covers condominiums only.
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| Condos on the registry | 27 |
| Median valuation | 46,500 THB/m² |
| Middle half of buildings | 39,400-51,900 THB/m² |
| Highest valuation | 75,550 THB/m², The Brew Condo Samui (Bophut) |
| The only building in Maret | Casa Vela Hotel Condominium, 71,500 THB/m² |
The official valuation is used for taxes and fees when a sale is registered; it is not a market price. We calculate it the same way as for Phuket: all residential units, median per floor, then per building, then per subdistrict. The 05.08.2024 snapshot is the latest in the Treasury open data catalogue as of 17.10.2026. Samui projects enter our sales catalogue only after we check them with the developer. If you are looking for a condo on the island, send a request: we will process it, shortlist projects for your budget and call you back.
A foreigner can buy a condo unit within the 49% foreign quota of a building’s floor area, but not land for a villa. How it works and how leasehold differs: freehold, the 49% quota and leasehold.
Living on Koh Samui: hospitals and schools
Hospitals. All six licensed private hospitals on the island are in Bophut subdistrict (HSS list as of 31.07.2026):
| Hospital | Beds | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wattanapat Hospital Samui | 53 | Bophut, Moo 1 |
| Bangkok Hospital Samui | 50 | Bophut, Thawiratphakdi Rd |
| Bandon Inter Hospital Samui | 30 | Bophut, Thawiratphakdi Rd |
| Thai International Hospital | 28 | Bophut, Moo 6 |
| Samui International Hospital | 26 | Bophut, Moo 2 |
| Bandon International Hospital Chaweng | 9 | Bophut, Moo 3 |
The state Koh Samui Hospital is in the west, near Nathon (location from OpenStreetMap). It is 25.8 km from Chaweng beach and 18.8 km from Lamai, while Bangkok Hospital Samui is 2.5 km from Chaweng (OSRM).
Schools. The Ministry of Education private school registry (OPEC) lists six international schools on Samui as of 17.10.2026:
| School (as registered) | Subdistrict |
|---|---|
| นานาชาติ สมุย (Samui International) | Bophut |
| นานาชาติพีบิสส์ (PBISS) | Bophut |
| นานาชาติละไม (Lamai International) | Maret |
| นานาชาติวินฟิลด์ (Windfield International) | Maret |
| นานาชาติกรีนเอเคอร์ (Greenacre International) | Na Mueang |
| นานาชาติบ้านอินทนิล (Baan Intanin International) | Maenam |
The English names in brackets are our transcription of the Thai names in the registry.
Things to do on Koh Samui
The island’s main sights are the Big Buddha at Wat Phra Yai near Bang Rak, the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks at Lamai, the Na Mueang waterfalls, Fisherman’s Village in Bophut and Mu Ko Ang Thong marine national park west of the island (200 THB for an adult foreigner by the DNP fee table). More on seasons, beaches and trips in our Koh Samui travel guide.
Samui or Phuket
| Samui | Phuket | |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | Gulf of Thailand | Andaman Sea |
| Registered residents | 70,999 | 432,464 for the whole province |
| Driest months | February-April | January-March |
| Rain peak | November (445 mm) | September (350 mm) |
| Rain June-September | 102-134 mm a month | 240-350 mm a month |
| Condos on the Treasury registry | 27 | 286 |
| Median condo valuation | 46,500 THB/m² | 48,250 THB/m² |
| Licensed private hospitals | 6, all in Bophut subdistrict | 5, in and around the town |
For a summer holiday Samui is drier. For living and buying, Phuket has ten times more buildings on the registry, more schools and a wider choice of areas. More in our Phuket areas guide.
Thaipedia catalogue and Treasury registry (L1). Valuation only where the registry has 3+ buildings
FAQ
Where is Koh Samui?
In the Gulf of Thailand, off the east coast of the peninsula, in Surat Thani province. It is a different sea from Phuket, which lies in the Andaman Sea to the west. The Raja Ferry from the mainland pier at Donsak to Lipa Noi pier on Samui takes about 1 hour 30 minutes.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?
February to August. By TMD 1991-2020 normals February gets 64 mm of rain, and March to September 83-134 mm a month. The wettest months are October, November and December with 295, 445 and 263 mm; in November it rains on about 19 days. January is a transition month with 127 mm and 11 rainy days.
Samui or Phuket in summer?
Samui is much drier in summer. From June to September the Ko Samui station records 102-134 mm a month and the Phuket station 240-350 mm. The trade-off is that Samui's rainy season falls in October-December, just as Phuket's dry season begins.
How do I get to Koh Samui?
Fly into Samui airport (USM) in the north-east of the island: it is 5.1 km by road to Chaweng beach and 6.3 km to Bophut. Or go via the mainland: fly to Surat Thani (URT), drive 93.6 km to Donsak pier and take the Raja Ferry, about 1.5 hours. Lomprayah catamarans link Samui with Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and Chumphon.
How much is the ferry to Koh Samui?
Fares on the Donsak-Samui line are set by a Surat Thani province announcement of 06.06.2022 and move in steps with the diesel price: 140 to 230 THB for a passenger and 460 to 730 THB for a car. The operator shows the exact fare for your date at booking.
Can foreigners buy property on Koh Samui?
A condo unit, yes, within the 49% foreign quota of the building's floor area; land, no. There are 27 condominiums from Samui on the Treasury registry, most of them in Bophut subdistrict. Check tenure and quota availability with the condominium juristic person and the Land Department; our freehold and leasehold guide explains how it works.
Which area of Koh Samui should I choose?
It depends on what you need. Bophut subdistrict (Chaweng, Bophut, Bang Rak) has the airport, all six private hospitals on the island and most of the condos on the registry. Lamai in the south-east is 14.8 km from the airport. Maenam in the north and Lipa Noi in the west are quieter, and the car ferry from the mainland lands at Lipa Noi.
Are there international schools on Koh Samui?
Yes, six licensed by the Ministry of Education (OPEC registry, 17.10.2026): two in Bophut subdistrict, two in Maret (Lamai area) and one each in Na Mueang and Maenam.
Sources
- DOPA, Ministry of Interior. Population by subdistrict, December 2025
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), stations Ko Samui (48 550), Surat Thani (48 551), Phuket (48 564)
- TMD. Thailand's seasons and monsoons (PDF)
- Treasury Department. Condominium valuation (condo_all, snapshot 05.08.2024)
- Raja Ferry. Donsak-Samui-Phangan timetable
- Raja Ferry. Fares under the Surat Thani province announcement of 06.06.2022
- Lomprayah. Catamaran routes
- Ministry of Public Health, HSS. Licensed private hospitals as of 31.07.2026 (PDF)
- OPEC. Private school registry, Ministry of Education (Surat Thani, Ko Samui, international)
- DNP. National park entrance fees (table of 02.06.2023)
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Samui airport to Chaweng beach
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Surat Thani airport to Donsak pier
- OpenStreetMap. Koh Samui Hospital (way 597992960)
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