An island of coconut palms, soft beaches and spa resorts in Thailand's Gulf, with jungle waterfalls inland and a marine park of 40 islands offshore. Here's what Koh Samui is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
Koh Samui's weather is different from the rest of Thailand. It's dry and sunny from January to April, and mostly good from May to September, with short showers, so it works well for summer holidays when Phuket is wet. The main rainy season is October to early December, with heavy downpours and rough seas. Christmas and New Year are busy and expensive.
Boat trips to a chain of limestone islands for kayaking, snorkelling and a climb to a viewpoint over an emerald lagoon.
A 12-metre golden Buddha on a small island joined to the coast by a causeway. Cover shoulders and knees.
The old part of Bophut, with wooden shophouses and a Friday night walking street market.
Two jungle waterfalls with a natural pool for swimming at the foot of the first.
From beach massages to luxury hilltop spas, Samui has some of Thailand's best.
Fast ferries reach the smaller islands for snorkelling and quieter beaches.
Yes. Beaches like Bophut, Choeng Mon and Lamai have calm water much of the year, many resorts have kids' clubs and family villas, and there are elephant sanctuaries and waterfalls to visit.
A week to relax, two weeks to explore the other islands as well. Many people pair a week on Samui with a few nights in Bangkok.
Fly into Samui International Airport, a small open-air airport with flights from Bangkok, Phuket and Singapore, usually by Bangkok Airways. A cheaper route is to fly to Surat Thani, then take a coach and ferry, about four hours in all.
Chaweng is the busiest, with the most bars and shops. Bophut and Choeng Mon are calmer and better for families. Lamai is somewhere in between.
Put Koh Samui on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.