Koh Samui – A Complete Guide to the Romantic Tropical Paradise

Koh Samui with its finest white sand beaches, lush tropical surroundings and luxury accommodations makes for an ideal romantic getaway. It is the third largest island in Thailand with plentiful beaches of every kind. Some beaches are the hub of activities and nightlife whereas some provide the much needed quiet and solitude. The island is also home to some of the most stunning Buddhist temples. So you see, Koh Samui provides the best of both worlds irrespective of what kind of traveller you are. 

We chose Samui for celebrating our 9th Wedding anniversary and loved our time there. Here is our guide to this romantic tropical paradise.

How to Reach Koh Samui

Samui has a small airport (but the cutest one and well equipped to ) with a number of flights operating to/from Bangkok. The flying time is just about an hour. Even in the shoulder season, we had to pay a hefty amount for our return air tickets. But it is definitely the quickest and the easiest option to reach the island. 

Another cheaper yet longer option is to take an overnight train from Bangkok to Surat thani. Then a bus to the Surat thani Pier to catch the ferry to Koh Samui. You can also reach Surat Thani by flight from Bangkok and the rates are much cheaper than the ones to Samui. 

Best time to visit Koh Samui

Now, this is a tricky question. Koh Samui with its tropical climate receives some sort of rainfall all through the year. So there is no guarantee that you will get all sunny and shiny weather for all the days. Having said that, there are months that are considered Dry Season with hardly any rainy days and the Wet Season that receives more rainfall. It actually comes to your preference of what you want to experience.  So here are a few suggestions.

Late December – Feb (Dry Season): Sunny, less chances of rain and relatively cooler days. The best time for sunbathing and spending time at the beach. But also the busiest months. So expect more crowd and higher charges everywhere.

Mar-Apr  (Still Dry Season with minimal rainy days): Days start getting hotter with April bringing the Hottest days. Yet lesser days of rain. Good time for getting involved in water sports like snorkelling or scuba diving.

May-June (Start of Wet Season – Approx 14 days of Rainfall): Shoulder season (Avoid the school holiday time in June). There are lesser tourists on the island and it feels much more peaceful. Easier to get hotel bookings and other things at a cheaper price. But expect some rainy days. Occasional showers and overcast sky are a thing during this time. But it is not always rainy and you will have hours or days of sunshine at a stretch with rains in late afternoon and evenings.

July-August (Start of Wet Season – Approx 14-15 days of Rainfall): Popular months for visit. So plan your trip in advance and make prior bookings. Expect similar weather like June.

Avoid the typical rainy season which lasts from September to Mid December.

Things to do or experience in Koh Samui

There are a lot of things to do and see in Koh Samui. Choose depending on your liking and available time.

The Majestic Temples

Thailand has some amazing temples and Koh Samui is no different. There are many temples scattered throughout the island. But when you have limited time, we recommend visiting at least the 2 prominent ones. Both these temples are hardly 5 mins drive away from each other.

Wat Phra Yai or The Big Buddha Statue

A huge 12 meter high golden Buddha statue sitting on an elevated platform and rimmed by the sea –  this is a must see in Samui. The place has a very unique and calming vibe. And the view of the ocean from the mesa is breathtaking. This is my personal favourite from Samui. Because even with tourists around, as I sat down and closed my eyes, I felt exceptionally calm inside.

There is also a small market with a handful of shops in the surrounding. You can buy clothes (especially beach clothes), hats and other knickknacks at a good price (need to haggle a bit for fair price though).

Wat Plai Laem

Wat Plai Laen complex has 2 huge open-air statues, one of a Laughing Buddha and another of the Goddess of Mercy with 18 hands. Both statues are placed on platforms over a lake and have a beautiful set-up. There are also few other ornate shrines in the compound. The place is very photogenic and the attention to details amazing. Oh yes, there are a lot of fishes in the lake that you can feed too. Read the full post here.

Love visiting beaches? Check our other articles here.