Four Days in Koh Samui

Bangkok – Chiang mai – Koh Samui – Ko phangman – Koh Tao – Krabi – Koh phi phi – Ko Lanta – Phuket – Singapore – Bali

Koh Samui is the second-largest island in Thailand and one of my favorites.

How to get there:

Traveling from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui the cost-friendly way took us about 14 hours and three modes of transportation: plane, bus, and ferry. That’s a long day of traveling, to say the least!

From Chiang Mai we flew back to Bangkok by Nok Air (2 hours), and then we caught a second flight to Surat Thani on Thai Lion Air (1 hour). Once we landed, we boarded a bus for a two-hour ride over to the pier, where we boarded a ferry. The ferry ride took about four hours, but it brought us straight to Koh Samui!

Of course, there’s an option to fly directly from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui, but those tickets are usually pretty pricey.

Where to stay:

Lipa Noi (my personal favorite) is on the west coast of the island. It’s well known as the perfect relaxation destination for anyone and everyone. Instead of offering an energetic nightlife and entertainment atmosphere, Lipa Noi is a hub of tranquility focused on maintaining its white sandy beaches and clear blue water. We stayed at Rajapruek Samui Resort right on Lipa Noi beach and absolutely loved it!

Chaweng Beach is far more crowded than the south side of the island. This beach attracts the younger, party-seeking travelers. If loud music and 24/7 activity is not your scene, though, you can happily avoid this area.

We also stayed at the Privileged Hotel Ezra Royal Garden in Bophut for one night. The private bungalow we had was awesome. I definitely recommend seeking out as many of these bungalows as you can while you’re in Southeast Asia. It feels much more like home, with the amount of privacy you get, than any hotel room.

Lamai Beach isn’t as busy as Chaweng, but with plenty of hotel options and a beautiful shore, it’s a great alternative for travelers who want to be in the thick of the action but can do without the wild nights. We rode our mopeds over to Lamai Beach to catch the sunrise before it got crowded, and it was breathtaking!

Things to do:

Rent Mopeds – Koh Samui is the perfect island to rent your first mopeds. Taxis are a great inexpensive option for getting around the island too, but nothing beats the freedom of just jumping on your own set of wheels and going wherever you want whenever you want! We rented two mopeds for three days, and the grand total was a whopping 25 US dollars! And I’m sure that with some research you can find an even cheaper options!

Sunrise & Sunsets – If you can wake up early enough to see the sun rising over Koh Samui, you will not be let down. But the view from just about anywhere on the island will leave you in awe. Ride over to Lamai Beach to catch the sunrise, and then work your way around to stop at Lipa Noi for the sunset. Trust me, you’ll be one happy traveler.

Relax on the beach – There are beautiful beaches with hammocks and swings everywhere. My favorite was Lipa Noi, though, because of its slow and easy-going atmosphere.

Big Buddha Statue – After relaxing on the beach, head to Koh Samui’s most iconic landmark, the Big Buddha Statue, also known as Wat Phra Yai. This statue is a symbol of the Buddha’s resolve and purity, and the Big Buddha Temple serves as both a sacred place of worship and a tourist attraction of Koh Samui. There’s also a large market right outside, so make sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and comfy shoes!

Explore – Now this one kind of goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Get out there and explore! As I mentioned, Koh Samui is a fairly large island. It took us about an hour to ride from one side to the other. There is SO much to see and do. Jump on that moped and go!