What is the best time to visit Koh Samui?

The optimal months are February, March, June, and August, which feature minimal rainfall (37–85mm) and 10–17 rainy days. October and November experience peak monsoon conditions with 284mm in November and up to 27 rainy days, making them less suitable for beach activities. December through January offer moderate conditions despite slightly higher rainfall.

How do I reach Koh Samui?

Samui Airport (USM) is located 8 kilometres from the island and handles direct international flights. Ferry services also operate from mainland Surat Thani and neighbouring islands including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Multiple daily connections provide flexible travel options for visitors arriving from different Southeast Asian destinations.

What temperature should I expect?

Koh Samui maintains warm tropical conditions year-round with average temperatures between 23.6°C and 26.1°C. Daily highs range from 25.2°C to 28.3°C depending on the season. The warmest months occur from April to June, while January remains the coolest period, though still warm by international standards.

What infrastructure is available for tourists?

The island offers comprehensive visitor facilities including 292 hotels, 58 guesthouses, 29 hostels, and 490 restaurants. Medical services comprise 5 hospitals and 41 pharmacies. Financial services are accessible through 44 ATMs. The island also features temples, viewpoints, museums, and recreational attractions throughout its 228.7 km² area.

Is Koh Samui suitable for families?

The island provides family-friendly infrastructure with parks, 26 temples, wildlife sanctuaries, and varied accommodation options. The presence of hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants, and numerous child-appropriate attractions makes it accessible for family travel. Weather conditions from February to March and June to August are most suitable for family visits.

Koh Samui: Thailand's Premier Beach Destination

Koh Samui is an island located off the east coast of Thailand in Surat Thani Province, forming part of the Chumphon Archipelago. Covering 228.7 square kilometres, it ranks as Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket. The permanent population is approximately 57,845 residents. The island has undergone significant transformation from a quiet locality into a major international tourism destination, welcoming 2.7 million tourists in 2018. As of 2012, Koh Samui was granted municipal status and now operates as a self-governing administrative entity. The island's strategic position in Southeast Asia, combined with its size and developed infrastructure, has established it as a key hub for beach tourism in the region. The island operates on Thailand Standard Time and serves as a major transportation and hospitality hub for travelers throughout the Gulf of Thailand. Samui Airport is located just 8 kilometres from the island, providing convenient access for international arrivals.

Updated 2026-05-03 · Source: GeoNames, Wikipedia

Image: Wikimedia Commons contributors via

Population: 58K
Climate: tropical
Best months: Feb–Mar, Jun, Aug

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Wikipedia

Local currency

THB

Timezone

Asia/Bangkok

Koh Samui: Thailand's Premier Beach Destination: 9.508, 99.996Open in OpenStreetMap ↗

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Climate

Weather data by Open-Meteo.com

Monthly normals (10-year window). Bars show precipitation, lines show average and max temperature.

Best months to visit: Feb, Mar, Jun, Aug

What's around (within 10km, 1,369 POIs)

490
Restaurants
292
Hotels
172
Cafés
113
Bars
61
Viewpoints
58
Guesthouses
44
ATMs
41
Pharmacies
29
Hostels
26
Temples
16
Attractions
10
Markets
8
Parks
5
Hospitals
4
Museums

Top landmarks

Tarnim & Magic Garden - Secret Buddha Gardenattraction
Samui Elephant Sanctuary Bophutattraction
Morning Glory Memorial Sitememorial
Viewpoint with small bathviewpoint
Sitting Buddha Viewpointviewpoint
Second Column with Lightmemorial
Elephant statue on gatememorial
Third Column with Lampmemorial
น้ำตกหน้าเมือง ชั้น 1attraction
Pra Putta Teepangkornviewpoint

Nearest airports

OpenFlights.org

Samui Airport
Ko Samui
USM8km

Quick facts

Koh Samui ranks as Thailand's second-largest island, covering 228.7 square kilometres in Surat Thani Province.
The island's permanent population comprises approximately 57,845 residents according to GeoNames data.
Koh Samui received 2.7 million international tourists in 2018, establishing it as a major regional tourism destination.
Samui Airport is situated 8 kilometres from the island and serves as the primary international gateway.
February and March are the driest months, averaging only 37–44mm of precipitation with 10–11 rainy days.
October and November experience peak monsoon rainfall, with November reaching 284mm and 26 rainy days.
Daily temperatures range from 22.4°C to 28.3°C throughout the year, maintaining warm tropical conditions.
The island hosts 490 restaurants, 172 cafes, and 113 bars within the surveyed vicinity.
Koh Samui contains 292 hotels, 58 guesthouses, and 29 hostels, indicating substantial hospitality capacity.
The island features 26 temples, 61 viewpoints, and 16 named attractions for visitor exploration.
Koh Samui was granted municipal status in 2012, enabling autonomous local administrative governance.
May is the warmest month with average temperatures of 26.1°C and daily highs of 28.3°C.
The island operates 44 ATMs, 41 pharmacies, and 5 hospitals to support resident and visitor needs.

Geography & Climate

Koh Samui spans 228.7 square kilometres in the Gulf of Thailand and maintains a tropical marine climate with consistently warm temperatures year-round. Average temperatures range from 23.6°C in January to 26.1°C in May, with daily highs between 25.2°C and 28.3°C. The island experiences two distinct seasonal patterns: the drier months of February, March, June, and August receive minimal precipitation (37–75mm), while the wetter season from September to November peaks at 284mm in November. The monsoon season brings approximately 20–27 rainy days per month during October and November.

Total area: 228.7 km²
Average temperature (annual): 24.7°C
Warmest month: May (26.1°C avg)
Wettest month: November (284mm)
Driest months: February–March (37–44mm)
Rank in Thailand: Second-largest island

Population & Tourism

Koh Samui is home to approximately 57,845 permanent residents and received 2.7 million international tourists in 2018, establishing it as one of Southeast Asia's primary beach tourism destinations. The island was granted municipal status in 2012, enabling autonomous local governance. The island's developed infrastructure supports a diverse hospitality sector comprising 292 registered hotels, 58 guesthouses, and 29 hostels within the immediate vicinity. The island also hosts 490 restaurants, 172 cafes, 113 bars, and 10 markets, reflecting substantial tourism-oriented commercial activity. The presence of 44 ATMs, 41 pharmacies, and 5 hospitals indicates comprehensive visitor support infrastructure.

Population: 57,845
Annual tourists (2018): 2.7 million
Hotels: 292
Restaurants: 490
Cafes: 172
Administrative status: Municipality (since 2012)

Attractions & Landmarks

Koh Samui features diverse cultural and natural attractions distributed across the island. The Secret Buddha Garden, also known as Tarnim & Magic Garden, offers scenic viewpoints with religious sculptures. The Samui Elephant Sanctuary in Bophut provides wildlife interaction experiences. The island hosts 26 temples, 61 viewpoints, and 16 named attractions accessible to visitors. Notable viewpoints include the Sitting Buddha Viewpoint and Pra Putta Teepangkorn, both offering elevated perspectives of the surrounding landscape. Memorial sites and historical markers commemorate significant local events. The island contains 4 museums, 8 parks, and numerous recreational facilities serving both residents and visitors.

Temples: 26
Viewpoints: 61
Named attractions: 16
Museums: 4
Parks: 8

Getting There

Koh Samui Airport (USM) is located 8 kilometres from the island and serves as the primary gateway for international arrivals. The airport handles direct flights from major Southeast Asian hubs and international destinations. Alternatively, visitors can access the island via ferry services operating from the mainland coast and neighbouring islands. Multiple daily ferry connections link Koh Samui to adjacent islands including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao, as well as to the Surat Thani mainland port.

Nearest airport: Samui Airport (8km)
Airport code: USM
ATMs on island: 44

Best Time to Visit

The optimal travel months are February, March, June, and August, which offer the lowest precipitation and most comfortable conditions. February and March are considered peak dry season with precipitation below 45mm and fewer than 11 rainy days per month. June and August provide acceptable conditions with 75–85mm of rain and 16–17 rainy days. Visitors should avoid October and November, when monthly rainfall peaks at 222–284mm with 26–27 rainy days. The shoulder months of January, April, and December experience moderate rainfall (108–209mm) and remain viable for visits.

Best months: February, March, June, August
Driest month: March (37mm)
Months to avoid: October–November
Peak rain period: September–November

Frequently asked questions

What is the best time to visit Koh Samui?: The optimal months are February, March, June, and August, which feature minimal rainfall (37–85mm) and 10–17 rainy days. October and November experience peak monsoon conditions with 284mm in November and up to 27 rainy days, making them less suitable for beach activities. December through January offer moderate conditions despite slightly higher rainfall.
How do I reach Koh Samui?: Samui Airport (USM) is located 8 kilometres from the island and handles direct international flights. Ferry services also operate from mainland Surat Thani and neighbouring islands including Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Multiple daily connections provide flexible travel options for visitors arriving from different Southeast Asian destinations.
What temperature should I expect?: Koh Samui maintains warm tropical conditions year-round with average temperatures between 23.6°C and 26.1°C. Daily highs range from 25.2°C to 28.3°C depending on the season. The warmest months occur from April to June, while January remains the coolest period, though still warm by international standards.
What infrastructure is available for tourists?: The island offers comprehensive visitor facilities including 292 hotels, 58 guesthouses, 29 hostels, and 490 restaurants. Medical services comprise 5 hospitals and 41 pharmacies. Financial services are accessible through 44 ATMs. The island also features temples, viewpoints, museums, and recreational attractions throughout its 228.7 km² area.
Is Koh Samui suitable for families?: The island provides family-friendly infrastructure with parks, 26 temples, wildlife sanctuaries, and varied accommodation options. The presence of hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants, and numerous child-appropriate attractions makes it accessible for family travel. Weather conditions from February to March and June to August are most suitable for family visits.

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Phuket

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Koh Tao

Island subdistrict in Surat Thani, Thailand

Sources & methodology

Geographic data from GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). Narrative sourced from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) and structured by Claude. Map by © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). See the methodology and sources registry for full attribution and update cadence.

This page last refreshed 2026-05-03 · generation v5.