Koh Samui - The Jewel of the Gulf
An Introduction to Koh Samui:
Koh Samui is the largest and most well-known of three stunning islands located off the east coast of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand. Wrapped by a ring road roughly 42.5 km long, it’s an island that offers an impressive mix of tropical charm, modern convenience, and laid-back lifestyle.
🏝️ Main Tourist Areas
The three most popular beach destinations are:
Chaweng – known for its vibrant nightlife and big resorts.
Lamai – slightly quieter but still full of bars, restaurants, and shops.
Fisherman’s Village (Bophut) – a charming beachside area with a relaxed, boutique vibe and arguably the best sunset dining on the island.
But it doesn’t stop there. Scattered all around Samui are dozens of smaller beachside towns and hidden coves, each with its own character — from luxury villas and resorts to modest bungalows, local eateries, and of course, plenty of massage shops to melt your stress away.
✈️ Getting Here: Flights & Ferries
Samui has its own international airport, privately owned by Bangkok Airways. It’s a beautiful little airport but the downside is the monopoly — flights to and from Samui tend to be significantly pricier than other destinations in Thailand.
If you’re cost-conscious, another option is to fly into Surat Thani Airport on the mainland. It’s cheaper, serviced by multiple budget airlines, and from there you can hop on a bus and ferry combo to reach Samui. It takes longer, but you’ll save a few baht.
🚘 Travel Connections
Unlike Phuket, which is connected to the mainland by bridge, getting to and from Samui by car requires a ferry. The drive from the mainland (Donsak pier) to Phuket takes about three hours once you’re ashore — mostly good roads, but a couple of sneaky turns so Maps is your friend.
🌅 Island Neighbours: Koh Phangan & Koh Tao
Looking out from Samui’s north-western coast, you’ll spot Koh Phangan — just 12 km away and easily reached by ferry in around 20 minutes. It’s smaller, quieter, and still holds a bit of that “Samui 20 years ago” vibe. Known for its hippy scene (especially at Zen Beach), KP is also home to a decent expat community and stunning natural beauty.
Further out is Koh Tao, or “Turtle Island.” It’s smaller again — about a quarter of Samui’s size — and for a while had a rough reputation due to some high-profile crimes, earning it the nickname “Murder Island.” But that reputation is largely outdated. What we found instead was a lively, friendly island with great food, good vibes, and spectacular snorkeling.
A couple of friends of ours just came back from visiting both KP and Koh Tao. They enjoyed Koh Phangan, but absolutely loved Koh Tao — swam with turtles, spotted black-tip sharks, ate like kings, and paid next to nothing. Their only regret? "We’re thirty years too late!" Most of the crowd is young, but it’s still an excellent destination if you don’t mind the youthful energy.
Whether you’re planning to relocate, invest in property, or just explore the Thai island lifestyle, Koh Samui is a fantastic base to begin your journey. Stay tuned for more posts as we dig deeper into life on Samui — where to live, what to avoid, and how to make the most of this island paradise.
