Ko Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in Surat Thani Province; the Tourism Authority of Thailand's newsroom places it 35 km off the coast of Surat Thani and names beaches around its coastline including Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Mae Nam and Choeng Mon. XTOUR maps Chaweng Beach on the island and, as a separate place that TAT says day trips reach from Ko Samui, Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park.
Country
Thailand
Type
Island
Understand the place
Not only where to go, but what to eat, what things cost, what visitors get wrong, how accessible Ko Samui is, which scams to recognize and what is genuinely worth your time.
The complete guide
Start with the parts of Ko Samui that matter most to your trip, then move into the practical details.
Experiences & attractions
Attractions, experiences and places actually worth your time.
Eat like you understand the place
Signature dishes, local drinks, markets and eating well.
Where to stay & explore
Where to stay, wander and choose the right area for your trip.
Beyond the destination
Nearby places worth a day out from here.
Bring home the right things
What is genuinely worth buying and where to look.
After dark
What the evenings are like, and where to spend them.
Family travel
Family logistics, strollers, transport and practical planning.
When to go
When to visit and what the seasons really feel like.
Know before it happens
Common tourist traps and how to avoid them.
Money & budgeting
Budgets, payments and everyday prices.
Transport
Public transport, taxis, walking and common pitfalls.
Travel for more people
Mobility, transport and sensory accessibility.
Understand before you arrive
Local expectations, religion and visitor etiquette.
The details that matter
Connectivity, health, photography and useful local details.
Find your fit
Solo, women alone, older visitors, LGBTQ+, pets, remote work, budget and luxury.
Travel that holds up
Tourism pressure, supporting local people and animal welfare.
Traveler experiences
Traveler reviews will appear here after moderation.
Worth the drive
Distances are straight-line, not driving time — mountain roads in this region are often twice as long as the map suggests.
Beach · Bo Phut subdistrict, Surat Thani
Chaweng Beach (Hat Chaweng) is a beach on the east coast of Ko Samui in Surat Thani Province, named by the Tourism Authority of Thailand among the beaches around the island's coastline.
Beach · Surat Thani
Hat Khuat, known in English as Bottle Beach, is a sand beach on the north coast of Ko Pha-ngan in Surat Thani Province.
Park · Ang Thong subdistrict, Surat Thani
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park is a marine national park in the Gulf of Thailand west of Ko Samui, in Ko Samui District of Surat Thani Province; the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes it as an archipelago of 42 islands, and the Surat Thani Provincial Office calls it the province's only marine national park.
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