When to go to Koh Samui
Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, and its seasons do not match Phuket and Krabi on the Andaman Sea. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) puts it this way: the south-west monsoon from May to October brings rain to the west coast of the south, and the north-east monsoon from October to February to the east coast. Samui is on the east side, so its main rainy season is in the autumn.
| Period | Rain a month | Rainy days | What it means for a holiday |
|---|---|---|---|
| February-April | 64-116 mm | 6-8 | the best time for the sea and island trips |
| May-September | 102-134 mm | 13-15 | short showers, the sea is usually fine; Phuket is 1.9-3 times wetter in these months |
| October-December | 263-445 mm | 14-19 | downpours, peak in November; island trips depend on the weather |
| January | 127 mm | 11 | a transition month, drier by February |
The temperature barely changes: 26.8-29.2 °C on average, with April and May the hottest, average highs of 31.8 and 32.9 °C (TMD, 1991-2020 normals). More on weather and areas in our Koh Samui guide.
Beaches and areas: where to stay
| Beach | Where | To USM airport | What is nearby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | east | 5.1 km | all six private hospitals of the island in the same subdistrict, Bangkok Hospital Samui 2.5 km away |
| Choeng Mon | north-east cape | 4.0 km | the closest to the airport |
| Bophut | north | 6.3 km | Fisherman’s Village street, pier |
| Maenam | north | 9.5 km | Pralan pier, Lomprayah catamarans |
| Lamai | south-east | 14.8 km | Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks, Na Mueang waterfalls 8.5 km away |
| Lipa Noi | west | 31.9 km | sunsets, the mainland ferry pier nearby |
Road distances: OSRM router on OpenStreetMap data, 17.10.2026.
What to see on Koh Samui
Mu Ko Ang Thong marine national park. An archipelago west of Samui, visited on day boat tours. Fees by the DNP table of 02.06.2023: 200 THB for a foreign adult and 100 THB for a child, and 300 and 150 THB on Ko Wua Ta Lap and Ko Mae Ko. In the north-east monsoon season trips may be cancelled because of waves, and DNP announces park closures separately, so check before booking.
The Big Buddha, Wat Phra Yai. A temple in the north-east of the island near Bang Rak, 8.2 km from Chaweng beach (about 12 minutes by car). Cover shoulders and knees to enter. Temple etiquette is in our guide to Thai customs.
Hin Ta and Hin Yai. Two rocks at the southern end of Lamai beach whose names mean “grandfather rock” and “grandmother rock”. Fishing boats and stalls are around them.
Na Mueang waterfalls. Inland, 8.5 km by road from Lamai (about 10 minutes). There is more water after the October-December rains and less in dry February-April.
Fisherman’s Village in Bophut. The old fishing street by Bophut pier, marked as a walking street in OpenStreetMap, 6.3 km from the airport.
How to get to Koh Samui
| How | Route | Time | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plane | Samui airport (USM), north-east of the island | 8 minutes from the airport to Chaweng | OSRM |
| Plane and ferry | Surat Thani airport (URT), 93.6 km to Donsak pier, Raja Ferry to Lipa Noi | 1.5 hours by car and 1.5 hours on the ferry | OSRM, Raja Ferry |
| Bus and catamaran | Bangkok, bus to Chumphon, Lomprayah catamaran | by the operator’s timetable | Lomprayah |
The Raja Ferry runs every hour from 05:00 to 19:00 in both directions. The passenger fare under the Surat Thani province announcement of 06.06.2022 follows the diesel price and ranges from 140 to 230 THB. Koh Phangan next door is an easy trip: see our Koh Phangan travel guide.
Samui or Phuket for your holiday
| Holiday month | Drier by TMD normals |
|---|---|
| January | Phuket: 50 mm against 127 mm |
| February-March | both islands are dry, Phuket slightly drier |
| April | Samui: 83 mm against 135 mm |
| May-September | Samui: 102-134 mm against 237-350 mm |
| October | both are wet: 295 and 336 mm |
| November-December | Phuket: 178 and 82 mm against 445 and 263 mm |
Data: TMD, 1991-2020 normals, Ko Samui and Phuket stations. More about Phuket in our Phuket holiday guide.
FAQ
What is the best month to visit Koh Samui?
February: by TMD 1991-2020 normals it is the driest month (64 mm, about 6 rainy days). March and April are dry too, 116 and 83 mm. For a summer holiday Samui beats Phuket: June to September brings 102-134 mm against 240-350 mm.
Is November a good time for Koh Samui?
You can go, but beach days are not guaranteed. November is the island's wettest month: 445 mm of rain and about 19 rainy days by TMD normals. October and December are a little lighter, 295 and 263 mm. For those months Phuket, where the dry season starts in December, is the better bet.
Which beach on Koh Samui should I choose?
Chaweng in the east is 5 km from the airport, with all six private hospitals of the island in the same subdistrict and the most hotels. Lamai is further south, 10 km from Chaweng, with the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks. Bophut and Maenam are in the north, where catamarans leave for Koh Phangan. Lipa Noi in the west faces the sunset and is next to the mainland ferry pier.
How much is the Ang Thong park fee?
By the DNP fee table of 02.06.2023: 200 THB for a foreign adult and 100 THB for a child. On Ko Wua Ta Lap and Ko Mae Ko the fee is higher, 300 and 150 THB. The table stays valid until DNP publishes a new one, so double-check on the spot.
How do I get to Koh Samui from Bangkok?
Fly to Samui airport (USM) or to Surat Thani (URT). From Surat Thani it is 93.6 km by road to Donsak pier, then the Raja Ferry, every hour from 05:00 to 19:00, takes about 1.5 hours to Lipa Noi pier. Lomprayah sells bus plus catamaran tickets from Bangkok via Chumphon.
How long is the trip from Samui to Koh Phangan?
The Raja Ferry from Lipa Noi pier to Thong Sala takes about 1 hour 30 minutes; the passenger fare is 140-230 THB under the province announcement of 06.06.2022, depending on the diesel price. Lomprayah catamarans leave from Nathon, Bang Rak and Pralan piers in Maenam.
Sources
- TMD. Climatological Data of Thailand for 30 Year Period (1991-2020), stations Ko Samui (48 550) and Phuket (48 564)
- TMD. Thailand's seasons and monsoons (PDF)
- DNP. National park entrance fees (table of 02.06.2023)
- Raja Ferry. Donsak-Samui-Phangan timetable
- Raja Ferry. Fares under the Surat Thani province announcement of 06.06.2022
- Lomprayah. Catamaran routes
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Chaweng to Wat Phra Yai
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Lamai to Na Mueang waterfall
- OpenStreetMap, OSRM route: Chaweng to Lamai
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