01Best time to visit Koh Samui
Samui runs on a different weather pattern to the Andaman coast. The driest, sunniest months are usually December to April, and the wettest stretch is October to November.
That makes it a useful alternative when Phuket and Krabi are having their monsoon — if your dates are fixed, check which coast suits them rather than the other way round.
02How to get there
You can fly directly to Koh Samui from Bangkok and several regional hubs. The airport is privately run, so flights cost noticeably more than elsewhere in Thailand.
The cheaper route is a flight to Surat Thani followed by a bus-and-ferry transfer, which takes longer but can be a fraction of the price.
03Where to stay and what to do
Chaweng is the busiest beach with the most restaurants and nightlife. Lamai is a little calmer, and Maenam or Bophut in the north are quieter again with a more local feel.
Ang Thong Marine Park is the standout day trip — a cluster of limestone islands about an hour offshore by speedboat.
