Full of luxury resorts, beach parties, bars, markets, and temples, Koh Samui has just about everything you could want from a Thailand vacation.
If Koh Samui is a destination you would like to cross off your bucket list, this guide will give you some great advice on how to plan your Koh Samui trip, including how you can maximize your time whether visiting for 3, 4, or up to 7 days.
Things to Do in Koh Samui

Compared with Phuket and Krabi, Koh Samui is quieter and more elegant.
Koh Samui offers various ocean activities. Water sports include snorkeling, diving, island hopping, sea fishing, parasailing, wind surfing, motorboating, banana boating, kayaking, and more.
There are also some adventurous and cultural activities inland like Jungle Flight, Jungle ATV, an elephant sanctuary visit, temple tours, and more.
You can find some special things to do in Koh Samui, such as top-class spas and massages experiences, yoga classes, Muay Thai classes, Thai cooking classes, meditation classes, and there's more!
Interesting further reading:




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I have never hear of this company before , and after reading all these reviews ,I decided to give it a try . The professionalism and communicative skill received by one of the agent , Sharon of Asia Highlights , convince me that She was the right travel agent for my trip in Asia . Very quickly she communicated with me and got all the detail of my desire vacation . Sharon made me a great itinerary with great experiences that I am dreaming to experience and I am looking forward to it . Thanks Sharon for been so great and crafting me a dream vacation with great suggestions. More
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May 2023
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Coco Yang worked tirelessly to…
From the moment I landed in Bangkok, Ms Noi Ying was there to welcome me and get me settled into my hotel. We enjoyed several days together touring Bangkok and Kanchanaburi. In Chiang Mai, Mr Ekachai took my son snd I on an amazing trip to the Elephant Jungle Sanctuary and to visit a community Lanna home, gardens and a hands-on cooking class preparing an authentic Thai meal. Lisa arranged a last-minute speedboat tour of 5 breathtaking islands in Phuket. From start to finish, the guides exceeded my expectations!! Thank you, Asia Highlight!! Debbie Woods More
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May 2023
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Sharon from Asia highlights has been…
Sharon from Asia highlights has been amazing. She offered her amazing ideas to other tours I wanted. We have planned the perfect 9 day itinerary to Thailand. She worked in my budget and was very flexible when I had to change my flights. Thank you sharon. Can’t wait for the trip. More
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Apr 2023
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Ms. Ning first review 4-2023
Ms. Albee Ning has been doing a great job accommodating my requests and itinerary changes. Remember the first itinerary is a rough draft and you may modify it to suit your tastes. Remember you can not do it all and see everything in 3 weeks. If the flight wasn't so long I would visit Southeast Asia more often. I will update my review in a few months. We don't leave for 9 more months. Asia Highlights is working well for me so far! More
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Apr 2023
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Perfect Trip To Thailand…
We had so much fun in Bangkok with Tanni and Tom as they kept laughing at all of our silly jokes. Paul, our guide and Chiang Mai was really thoughtful, fun and full of great information about the temples and sights. Thanks so much! Brian and Michelle More
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Mar 2023
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I highly recommend Asia Highlights
I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I worked with Alisa and she is fantastic! I was planning my honeymoon trip, and I changed the destination multiple times. Each time, Alisa provided me an updated itinerary with activities that matched my interests. Whether I had a small change to an activity, a question about one of the arrangements, or a change or destination, Alisa was helpful, thoughtful, and knowledgeable, providing me with updated options in an extremely timely manner. In the end, despite the fact that I changed my mind on location multiple times, I ended up booking a 17 day trip to Thailand for this upcoming November. I am extremely excited to experience everything that Alisa planned for us. I recommend Asia Highlights to everyone and look forward to using them again on any other trips to Asia in the future. Thank you Alisa and Asia Highlights! More
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Mar 2023
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Three weeks encompassing Vietnam
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Feb 2023
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Over the last 5 years we've used Asia…
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Feb 2023
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Family Trip to Thailand
Our trip to Thailand comprised three generations of the family , ten people and an age range of 4 to 70 so a potentially difficult brief.Our itinerary over two weeks involved four locations, and a number of different trips and tours.From out arrival at an extremely busy Bangkok airport Asia Highlights were terrific.In each location we were met by a smiling , knowledgeable and professional guide who simply made everything easy and stress free for everyone.Our transportation was clean and comfortable . Transport was always ready for us at the agreed time and the drivers were excellent.There were so many highlights enjoyed by all the age groups. The floating houses , railway market and elephant sanctuary were particular favourites.We had one minor glitch with the accommodation in Phuket which was immediately dealt with by Tip. I think we would have struggled to resolve the problem by ourselves. So, thank you Asia Highlights , Cathy, Tip and tour guides Tanny, Sam and Lisa. It was a memorable holiday and we will be back. More
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Feb 2023
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Trip of a lifetime from Asia Highlights!
I recommend highly Asia Highlights as a travel company. Our travel consultant Albee took the time to connect with us during the planning process to make sure we were comfortable with our itinerary. When we arrived, we were met by our guide and all the details were attended to. They picked great hotels and tours. I often describe our trip as the trip of a lifetime! Would definitely use them again when we come back to Asia More
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Feb 2023
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Asia Highlights and Albee - highly recommended
Asia Highlights is very reliable agency and Albee is an amazing representative of the company. From the moment when we contacted her until our departure, the whole support we received was 6* level. She prepared our trip offer within few hours and afterwards she was extremely flexible to adjust as per our needs. In the period between the offer and the trip, Albee was always available for all our questions and supported us on the best possible way. During the trip she was again flexible to add new activities/transfers and this went on the smoothest possible way. Thank you, Albee and Asia Highlights. Definitely we will approach you again for our next Asian trip More
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Feb 2023
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Trent,
Jan 2023
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We had an awesome experience with Asia Highlights
We started our trip in Bangkok, where Mr. Prassert our tour guide, met us. He was on time and the van was clean and well-maintained. Mr. Prassert was our guide for the 4 days we spent in Bangkok. He was helpful, kind, and willing to accommodate our pee and coffee breaks. The driver was safe and punctual. Next, we went to Chiang Mai.Gemma exceeded every expectation we had for our tour of Chiang Mai! She had a great attitude that made exploring the city fun and exciting, as well as an abundance of knowledge and experience. She was always spot on with figuring out logistics and coming up with unique ideas that suited our interests and schedules. Gemma was incredibly generous with her time and even walked us to security at the airport to make sure we could carry all of our luggage. That’s just one example of how far out of her way she went to make our trip easier and more enjoyable. Gemma was sincerely interested in making every minute of our trip count. We’re very grateful to have met her and feel like we have found a friend in Gemma! Our driver in Chiang Mai was also great and very accommodating to our changes in schedules. More
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Dec 2022
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Thailand & Cambodia 2022
Albee went above and beyond to make our trip perfect. She rearranged flights due to a mistake of mine. She made sure we were still picked up and escorted to the airport. I felt comfortable and safe with all our reps. She did an excellent job and I highly recommend her booking your next trip. Thank you, Albee. More
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Dec 2022
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Perfect vacation thanks to Albee we…
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Dec 2022
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2023 Chiang Mai CAD Yipeng Festival
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Dec 2022
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Bella has been an outstanding customer service rep
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Nov 2022
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Nov 2022
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Memorable Experience!!!
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Nov 2022
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Personalized
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Nov 2022
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How Many Days are Enough for Koh Samui?
- At least 3 days
- 4 days is the most popular choice
- 5–7 days is ideal
At the bare minimum, you should be planning for at least 3 days in Koh Samui. You will be able to at least tick off the major attractions and activities. Four days gives you a bit more flexibility while 5–7 days allow for more time-consuming activities, such as island-hopping, or a more relaxed schedule.
3 Days in Koh Samui

A 3-day itinerary requires you pick out some of the main attractions that you would like to see and sacrifice some others.
Our suggestion for an itinerary is:
- Day 1: Sightseeing (markets, temples)
- Day 2: Ang Thong National Marine Park
- Day 3: Beaches, spas
4 Days in Koh Samui

Spending 4 days in Koh Samui gives you a little bit of legroom with regard to seeing all the sites and generally enjoying what the fabulous island has to offer. In fact, this is the average length of stay among visitors to Koh Samui.
Here is our suggestion for a 4-day itinerary:
- Day 1: Sightseeing (beaches, markets, temples)
- Day 2: A day tour to Koh Tao with snorkeling
- Day 3: A day tour to Ang Thong Marine Park with kayaking
- Day 4: Relax in a resort with spa, yoga, or massage experience
You can customize your trip with us! We will create a trip for you based on your interests, group size, budget, and other requirements.
5–7 Days in Koh Samui
Four days is probably enough to cram in all of the major attractions, but if you don't want to feel rushed when visiting Koh Samui and want to spend a bit more time relaxing, you can stay for a few days more.
If you are staying for 5–7 days, this is the itinerary that we suggest:
- Day 1: Arrival + night markets
- Day 2: A day tour to Koh Tao with snorkeling
- Day 3: A day tour to Ang Thong Marine Park with kayaking
- Days 4–6: Free exploration (beaches, temples, spas/massages, shopping, waterfalls, etc.)
- Day 7: Departure
Where to Stay in Koh Samui?

Koh Samui's hotels are most concentrated in the three beach areas: around Cha Weng, Bophut, and Maenam beaches.
Cha Weng Beach is the most recommended area to stay — it's Koh Samui's most lively and famous beach. It has excellent infrastructure, convenient amenities, and plenty of activities.
If you want to find a quieter beach to stay at, you can consider Bophut Beach and Maenam Beach.
Bophut Beach has a peaceful vibe. You can go swimming, try exciting water sports, or just spend an afternoon on the beach enjoying the sea breeze.
Maenam Beach is where you can find Koh Samui's traditional locals and rural lifestyle areas. Water sports include sailing and swimming. Sunrises there are stunning.
>>>A Guide to the Beaches in Ko Samui
Best Times to Visit Koh Samui
Although Koh Samui is a year-round destination, the best times to visit Koh Samui weather-wise are from December to February. The weather is not-so-hot and mostly sunny, which is very suitable for sightseeing and water sports.
One of the busiest times is around Christmas/New Year holiday, hotels and flights departing from popular cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai to Koh Samui are easily booked up. Due to the high demand, you're suggested to prepare your tour at least 3 months in advance.
Another best time to visit Koh Samui is from July to September. Thailand's west coast (e.g. Phuket) suffers from monsoon storms during that period, while the east coast, where Koh Samui is located, is far less affected. Thus, Koh Samui is preferred by beachgoers for traveling in those months.
See more on Best Times to Visit Koh Samui & Its Rainy Season.
How Much Will It Cost in Koh Samui?

Compared with other islands in Thailand, Koh Samui is relatively expensive.
Aside from flights and accommodation, you will probably need about:
- 3,000 baht / $90 per day in the shoulder season
- 5,000 baht / $150 per day in the peak season
Koh Samui offers great service and experiences that can match its costs for value.
You can find many high-end beachfront resorts, awesome beaches, top-class yoga and spa experiences, and high-quality restaurants in Koh Samui.
Taxi is the main way to travel on the island, which raises Koh Samui's costs.
While you could probably get away with spending less than we have suggested above, if you want to make the most of your Koh Samui vacation, that is how much we suggest you budget for.
See more on How Much Does a Thailand Trip Cost? With Asia Highlights, you enjoy 100% refund of any payments made to China Highlights prior to 3 weeks before departure (detail⇒).
Some Things to Bear in Mind
1. October and November are Koh Samui's rainiest months. If you travel around that period, you'll have much less chance to enjoy water activities.
2. Sun protection is important. Pack sunscreen and a hat. You'll find these things are several times more expensive in Koh Samui.
3. Mototaxis can be dangerous. You will see many motorbikes on the side of roads waiting for passengers. Though they are cheap, they drive very fast and there may be safety problems.
Popular Koh Samui Tours
We can create an ideal Koh Samui trip for you based on your group size, time, budget, interests, preferences, and other requirements.
Or you may want to use one of our popular itineraries as a starting point:
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
Get Inspired with Our Sample Itineraries
At Asia Highlights, we create your kind of journey — your dates, your destinations, at your pace. You can have any trip tailor made for your travel.