Last Updated on September 27, 2026 by Sleepless
Koh Samui travel guide: our family spent four days on Thailand’s Gulf island, staying at Chaweng and exploring Na Muang Waterfall, Fisherman’s Village, beach clubs and local restaurants. This is our personal 2019 trip account, with current planning notes added separately. Check live opening times, fares, visa rules and prices before your own visit.
Updated September 2026: Scroll to the end for 2026 flight and transport options, hotel and activity prices, and Indian restaurants on Koh Samui.
Above is a Video Summary of our trip..
So for my summer holidays, I was wondering where to go and because travelling within India has become quite expensive due to expensive flights and hotels , I thought Thailand would be a good choice because most importantly, it is very popular with my wife and kids because of the endless shopping one can do in Bangkok. Having been to Bangkok and Phuket a couple of years ago, this time I decided to visit Ko Samui and Bangkok, in that order. the weather also played a part in this choice because while Phuket and Krabi receive heavy rainfall in June, Koh Tao and Ko Samui are mostly dry in June and there are some bargains to be had in accommodation , local tourism etc.
Paradise Found: Discovering Koh Samui
Thailand’s second-largest island, Koh Samui, is where jungle-clad mountains meet powdery white sands and turquoise waters. Nestled in the Gulf of Thailand, this tropical paradise has evolved from a quiet backpacker haven into one of Southeast Asia’s most sought-after destinations—yet it’s managed to retain much of its laid-back island charm. Whether you’re seeking luxury beachfront resorts, hidden waterfall hikes, vibrant night markets, or simply a hammock strung between two palms, Koh Samui delivers. Each beach has its own personality: Chaweng pulses with energy and nightlife, Lamai offers a more relaxed vibe with excellent restaurants, while the northern shores of Maenam and Bophut provide tranquil stretches perfect for sunset watching. Beyond the beaches, the island reveals Buddhist temples perched on hillsides, coconut plantations that have sustained local families for generations, and viewpoints that’ll have you reaching for your camera at every turn. From the iconic Big Buddha gleaming gold in the sunshine to the whimsical rock formations at Hin Ta and Hin Yai, Koh Samui is endlessly photogenic.
We flew in to Bangkok on Indigo, an Indian airline and then flew to Samui airport ( USM ) on Bangkok Airways. Now, one drawback about flying to Samui is that only Bangkok Airways has monopoly on flights To Samui so the BKK-Samui fares are slightly expensive most of the times. There is an alternative route, flyin to Surant Thani and then taking a ferry to Samui but that takes longer of course.
As you land in Samui after a 60 minute flight from BKK, you are struck by the design of the airport, it is really unlike any other airport I have seen. Samui Airport is built more like a resort.
Ko Samui Airport Arrival
Now I had done a lot of research on where to stay in Samui and the universal opinion seemed to be that for first timers Chaweng was the best option. I had booked ourselves in Poppies Samui which is highly rated on various forums. I had shortlisted other resorts like Sala Samui , Banana Sea Fan, Amari , Boujis but in the end I went with Poppies and I am glad I did. You can read my detailed review of the hotel here.
Koh Samui Travel Guide: Our Stay at Poppies Samui
Poppies Samui is a beachside resort situated towards the southern end of the Chaweng Beach which is the nicest part of this beach. At the same time the resort is very much in the center of the town with everything a short distance away and there are laundries , massage parlors, 7-Eleven and a very nice Indian Restaurant ( a branch of Noories ) right next door to the hotel. Taxis are always standing at the entrance of the hotel.Poppies has only 24 cottages spread over in a very green area and the number of staff I think is over 170 which leads to a very favorable Staff to guest Ratio and their service is top notch. We only had breakfasts at their restaurant which was excellent on all days but I believe it is highly recommended for Thai food also.
The staff at the hotel were super welcoming and efficient and in no time were we in our cottage, since our kids are teenagers we had booked 2 Interconnecting Cottages for the 4 of us which was super convenient. We had had a mostly sleepless night so we got settled in fast and then took a taxi to an Indian restaurant called Noori , not the next door branch but the main one which was 10 minutes away by Taxi the big McDonalds. The Indian food at Noori was superb, as good as any you get in India and We ate there several times during our 4 day stay there. Water sports like Jet Hover Board , Banana boat, Jet Ski were all available near the hotel beach.
Samui is full of top class restaurants of all types of cuisines and I would say most of those places are good value for money. We had dinner once at the Pasta House and our kids deemed that to be our best meal in Samui so that’s impressive. We also had a meal at Duomo and that was excellent too.
I would also like to mention Samui lets Travel ( and laundry ) which is situated just to the right as you exit the Poppies hotel, they arranged tours and cars for us, they did the laundry by the kilo at reasonable rates and the MS. Thitaree at the counter was helpful in every which way.
Central Festival Mall
In the evening we headed to the Central Festival Mall which is the biggest( only ? ) mall in Koh Samui. It is quite well made and has many local and international chains like Uniqlo and has a huge food court too and I was very happy to see a counter for Indian food there too….Also the juice i had at the food court was very fresh with a wide variety of choice.
Na Muang Waterfalls
The next day we headed off to the Na Muang Waterfalls. There is Na Muang 1 which we went to which is hardly 500 meters from the car park and there is Na Muang 2 , the base of which is around 1 km from the car park and the top is another 15 mins fairly strenuous hike.
Jungle Club Koh Samui
From Na Muang we headed to the Jungle Club Koh Samui which is a club situated atop a steep hill overlooking the Chaweng Beach. The views from the club are stunning and it is recommended you book in advance, especially if you are going there at sunset time since people flock there to see the sunset click their insta pics .
We Ordered several drinks at the club and I must say all of them were quite well prepared and the food was excellent too . It was around sunset time and there was a long line of people waiting to get in because they had not booked in advance.
The Ark Bar
The next evening we headed to one of the most happening nightclubs, The Ark Bar. Now if you visit only 1 beach club in Samui, then let it be the Ark Bar because come evening, it is simply the most hip and happening place in town.
The Absolut Ice Bar
From the Ark bar we moved to the The Absolut Ice Bar located a short distance away from the ark bar . I have never been to an Ice Bar before where everything is frozen. The entry charges per person was around 250 Thai Baht and they gave Thick Winter Gear coat because naturally if you go in your normal clothes you will freeze your …..nose off. As soon as I entered a blast of chill hit me and I thought I wouldn’t be able to stay for more than a few seconds because of the cold but very soon , in less than a minute i started feeling comfortable and started looking around through the haze of chilly air.
Once inside , they gave us the choice of a complimentary soft drink or a tequila shot, I settled for a can of Coke while my better half had a shot of some Pink Raspberry thingy, since I am a teetotaller I don’t recall what it was but seemed pretty nice judging from her reaction. All in all it is certainly a place going to once.
As we were leaving the Ice Bar, right next door was a very popular place called Henry’s Africa Bar . We didn’t go inside but it seemed a very popular place and was packed to the gills.
The final attraction I wanted to see in Koh Samui was one of the Night Markets. It so happened that our last night in Samui was a Friday and every week on that day from 17:00 to 23:00 there is a Night Market in Fisherman’s Village in Bophut. There are several night and day markets in Samui but let me assure you that all of them have the same goods from the same vendors at more or less the same prices so If you go to any one, that is enough. The atmosphere was absolutely electric and amazing and the variety of food and drink of offer was mind boggling as you will see from the pictures below.
Where to Stay in Koh Samui: Five Options
These stays cover different parts of the island, from the Bophut and Fisherman’s Village area to Chaweng, Silver Beach and Lamai. Rates below are sample starting prices; room category, dates and availability affect the final quote.
- Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort — A polished beachfront choice near Fisherman’s Village, with a garden pool and spa. Premier Garden View rooms start at THB 7,410 per room per night for up to two adults; confirm taxes and the total for your dates.
- Centara Reserve Samui — A contemporary beachfront resort on the quieter end of Chaweng, with several dining options and a spa. A five-night offer starts at THB 30,080++ total (about THB 6,016++ per night), including breakfast for two; offer dates and room types apply.
- Crystal Bay Beach Resort — Direct access to the small, sheltered Silver Beach between Chaweng and Lamai. Sea-view rooms for two start at THB 3,150 per room per night; check the chosen room and dates for the payable total.
- The Lodge Samui — A relaxed beachfront base at Fisherman’s Village, handy for its evening walking street. A standard room is THB 3,531–4,120 per room per night across the listed 2026 seasons, plus 10% service charge and 7% VAT.
- Pattra Vill Resort — A garden-and-pool retreat in central Lamai, close to the beach, shops and restaurants. Deluxe rooms are listed at THB 4,500 per room per night; confirm the rate and inclusions for your dates.
Where to Eat in Koh Samui: Seven Places
From inexpensive Thai noodles to special-occasion dining, these suggestions span Bophut, Bangrak, Bang Por, Lamai and the Four Seasons hillside. The Indian option is marked in the list.
- Tandoori Palace Indian Restaurant (Indian) — A welcoming Chaweng restaurant for Indian curries, biryani, breads and tandoor-grilled dishes. Expect to spend about ฿200–400 per person, depending on your meal and drinks; generous servings make it a good choice for sharing.
- Nana Tam — A casual Lamai spot for freshly cooked Thai classics. Pad Thai with chicken or pork is THB 120 per dish, while the shrimp version is THB 150.
- GREENLIGHT Restaurant & Cafe — A garden café in Fisherman’s Village with Thai, international and vegetarian-friendly choices. Red or green shakshuka is THB 290 per dish; it also serves all-day breakfast.
- Blind Tiger Kitchen & Cocktails — A lively Bangrak choice for Thai-inspired plates and international mains. A seafood risotto is THB 480 per dish; add 10% service charge and 7% government tax.
- KOH Thai Kitchen — Set on the Four Seasons hillside, this is a scenic pick for contemporary Thai cooking. Grilled lemongrass chicken is THB 520 per dish, plus 10% service charge and applicable government tax.
- Gusto Italiano — In Fisherman’s Village, with handmade pasta and wood-fired Italian dishes. Spaghetti alla Napoletana is THB 390 per dish, plus 7% VAT.
- CODE Café — A northern-coast café at Bang Por for breakfast, relaxed poolside food and sunset views. Its Thai set menu for two is THB 1,290 to share, plus 10% service charge and applicable government tax.
Menus, opening hours and room rates can change with season, availability and venue terms. Confirm the current details, any service charge or tax, and booking conditions directly before you go.
Have a look at the picture below for my entire trip to Koh Samui and do let me know if you liked them in the comments below…
Koh Samui Photo Gallery
Koh Samui Prices and Practical Info – September 2026
Here are current approximate prices (September 2026) to go with the stays, restaurants and places above, including Indian food on the island.
Getting There
- Visa for Indians: From 15 September 2026, Indian passport holders get 30 days visa-free (extendable once, by 30 days, at a Thai immigration office). Everyone must fill in the free online Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) within 72 hours before arrival, and airlines check it at check-in. Rules change, so confirm with the Thai embassy before you fly.
- By air: Only Bangkok Airways (with Thai Airways codeshares) flies Bangkok to Samui, a 1-hour flight from about US$70–150 one way. Samui’s airport is tiny and charming, and 10–15 minutes from Chaweng.
- Budget route: Fly or take the train to Surat Thani, then a bus and ferry (Lomprayah or Seatran) to Samui. It’s slower but much cheaper.
- On the island: Use the Grab and Bolt apps or taxis (about 300–600 baht for most trips). Songthaews (shared pick-ups) cost about 50–100 baht.
Approx. Costs
- Hotels (per night): Budget about US$25–60, mid-range beach hotels about US$70–180, and luxury beachfront resorts like Poppies, where we stayed, about US$250–600+.
- Things to do: Na Muang Waterfalls are free. The Ang Thong Marine Park day trip costs about 1,800–2,500 baht. Big Buddha is free. The Ark Bar beach party is free entry, with drinks at about 150–300 baht.
- Food: Thai street food and night markets (Fisherman’s Village Friday market, Chaweng) cost about 60–150 baht a dish. Beach restaurants cost about 400–1,000 baht per person. Jungle Club is known for its views, at about 400–800 baht per person.
- Indian food: Noori India is one of the island’s oldest Indian restaurants, and Curry Hut is on Chaweng Beach Road. Both have plenty of vegetarian choices at about 180–450 baht per dish. CAY at Anantara Lawana is upscale Indian on the beach.
Best time: Samui’s weather is different from Phuket’s. The best months are December to August. The heaviest rain is from October to mid-December.
