Category: Koh Samui

Koh Samui (เกาะสมุย) is Thailand’s second largest island and the most developed of the Gulf islands. The airport receives direct flights from Bangkok, making it more accessible than Koh Phangan or Koh Tao. Chaweng (หาดเฉวง) is the busiest beach, with the highest hotel density and the loudest nightlife. Lamai (หาดละไม) is the middle ground: lively but not wall-to-wall development. Bophut (หาดบ่อผุด) and Maenam (หาดแม่นาม) on the north coast are quieter, with smaller boutique properties and a fishing village aesthetic. SHA certification on Samui reflects the same government standard as the mainland. Our coverage includes honest notes on which beaches have seaweed season issues (October through December), proximity to the airport flight path, and which properties are significantly better than their photos suggest.