Koh Samui · Thailand
Koh Samui Tours, Tickets & Things to Do
Discover the best Koh Samui tours, stunning speedboat trips to the Ang Thong National Marine Park, island snorkelling at Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, the golden Big Buddha and island sightseeing, ethical elephant sanctuaries, jungle safaris to waterfalls, sunset dinner cruises, and Thai cooking classes. Compare top-rated activities and plan your perfect Koh Samui itinerary.
518 experiences Free cancellation Top-rated tours Instant booking
Sunset tours in Koh Samui
Departures that are under way when the sun sets in the coming weeks — start times checked against the local sunset.
Good for families in Koh Samui
Children can join from a young age and pay less than adults — taken from each operator’s price list.
Browse
Explore Koh Samui by interest
Whatever brings you to Koh Samui — world-class museums, the river, or a long lunch — start with the experiences travellers love most.
Ang Thong Park
Limestone islands.
ExploreSnorkelling
Koh Tao and Nang Yuan.
ExploreIsland sightseeing
Big Buddha and temples.
ExploreElephant sanctuary
Ethical encounters.
ExploreJungle safari
Waterfalls and jeeps.
ExploreSunset cruises
Dinner on the water.
ExploreCooking classes
Authentic Thai food.
ExploreDay trips
Koh Phangan and more.
ExploreWhat to see
Top attractions in Koh Samui
The landmarks that define the city — and the tickets and tours that get you in, often skipping the line.
Ang Thong Park
Limestone islands.
200+ toursView tours
Big Buddha
The golden landmark.
120 toursView tours
Koh Nang Yuan
Triple-island snorkelling.
150 toursView tours
Snorkelling
Coral and clear water.
150 toursView tours
Elephant Sanctuary
Ethical encounters.
90 toursView tours
Jungle Safari
Waterfalls and jeeps.
100 toursView tours
Sunset Cruises
Dinner on the water.
70 toursView tours
Emerald Lagoon
Ang Thong highlight.
200 toursView tours
2 days
Koh Samui in 2 days
- 1Day 1: Ang Thong
- 2Day 2: Island & elephants
- 3Big Buddha
- 4Sanctuary
3 days
Koh Samui in 3 days
- 1Day 1: Ang Thong
- 2Day 2: Island & elephants
- 3Day 3: Koh Tao or Phangan
- 4Sea, island & snorkelling
45 min boat awayAng Thong Park
Limestone islands.
from €40View trips
1.5 hrs boat awayKoh Nang Yuan
Triple-island snorkelling.
from €60View trips
In the island awayBig Buddha
The golden landmark.
from €20View trips
30 min awayElephant Sanctuary
Ethical encounters.
from €50View trips
30 min awayNa Muang Falls
Jungle waterfalls.
from €35View trips
30 min boat awayKoh Phangan
Beaches and parties.
from €50View trips
Practical guide
Know before you go
Short, straight answers to the questions every Koh Samui visitor asks before booking.
The sweet-spot months
December to April brings warm, dry, sunny weather ideal for the beaches, islands and boat trips — the prime time to visit Koh Samui.
Dry & sunny (Dec–Apr)
Warm and dry with calm seas, perfect for Ang Thong, snorkelling and the beaches; the best and busiest season.
Mid-year (Jun–Sep)
Relatively dry and pleasant when much of Thailand is wet — a good shoulder window with fewer crowds.
Rainy (Oct–Nov)
Samui’s wettest months, with heavier rain and rougher seas; boat trips may be cancelled, but it’s green and quiet.
Best for boat trips
The December–April dry season has the calmest seas and clearest water for Ang Thong and snorkelling.
Full Moon Party
Nearby Koh Phangan’s monthly Full Moon Party draws crowds — fun but book accommodation and boats ahead.
One day
An island tour with the Big Buddha and a cruise.
Two days
Add the Ang Thong Marine Park.
Three days
The sweet spot: Ang Thong, the island, and Koh Tao or Phangan.
Four to five days
Add more snorkelling, jungle safaris and beach time.
A week or more
Combine Samui with Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.
Travelling with kids
Mix Pig Island, elephants and calm beaches.
Songthaews
Shared songthaew pickups run set routes around the island for a low fare — the cheap local way to get around.
Taxis & ride apps
Taxis and Grab operate on Samui; agree fares or use the app, as metered taxis are rare.
Tour transfers
Most island, Ang Thong and elephant tours include hotel pickup.
Scooter & car hire
Scooters and cars are popular for exploring; ride carefully, as roads can be hilly and busy.
Boats to the islands
Speedboats and ferries from Samui reach Ang Thong, Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan and Koh Phangan.
From the airport
Koh Samui Airport (USM) is central, about 10–20 minutes from most beaches by taxi or transfer.
Thai baht
Thailand uses the baht; cards work in hotels and resorts, but carry cash for markets, songthaews, boats and street food.
Pick calm-sea days
For Ang Thong and snorkelling, the December–April dry season has the calmest, clearest water.
Choose ethical elephants
Pick no-riding, welfare-focused sanctuaries that let elephants roam freely.
Respect temples
At the Big Buddha and temples, dress modestly — cover shoulders and knees — and remove shoes where required.
Sun protection
The tropical sun is strong on boats and beaches; bring reef-safe sunscreen, a hat and water.
Book boat trips ahead
Popular Ang Thong and Koh Tao trips fill up — reserve in advance, especially in high season.
Ang Thong tours
Popular marine park trips fill up — book ahead.
Koh Tao snorkelling
Koh Tao and Nang Yuan trips sell out — reserve early.
Elephant sanctuaries
Ethical sanctuaries have limited places — pre-book.
Sunset cruises
Catamaran sunset cruises fill up — book ahead.
Island tours
Private island sightseeing tours are popular — reserve early.
Dry season & Full Moon
December–April and Full Moon dates are busy — plan ahead.
Ang Thong tours
Around €40–80 for a speedboat Ang Thong day with lunch.
Koh Tao snorkelling
About €50–90 for a Koh Tao and Nang Yuan snorkelling trip.
Island tours
Roughly €20–45 for an island sightseeing tour.
Elephant sanctuary
Around €40–70 for an ethical elephant sanctuary visit.
Sunset cruises
About €50–100 for a catamaran sunset dinner cruise.
How to save
Koh Samui is great value; use songthaews, eat local, and join group boat tours.
When to visit
Koh Samui through the seasons
What's best, how busy it gets, and one booking tip for each time of year.
Dry & sunny (Dec–Feb)
Dec–Feb
- Best for
- Beaches and boat trips.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Ideal; book ahead.
Hot (Mar–May)
Mar–May
- Best for
- Sunny island days.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Hot; calm seas.
Mid-year (Jun–Sep)
Jun–Sep
- Best for
- Drier shoulder, fewer crowds.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Good value; some showers.
Rainy (Oct–Nov)
Oct–Nov
- Best for
- Green and quiet.
- Crowds
- Booking tip
- Wettest; rough seas.
People also ask
Koh Samui travel FAQ
What are the best tours in Koh Samui?
The highest-rated Koh Samui experiences are an Ang Thong National Marine Park trip, snorkelling at Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, the Big Buddha and island tour, an ethical elephant sanctuary, and a sunset cruise.
What should I book in advance in Koh Samui?
Book Ang Thong and Koh Tao snorkelling trips, elephant sanctuaries and sunset cruises ahead, as they sell out, especially in the December–April dry high season.
How many days do I need in Koh Samui?
Two to three days covers Ang Thong, the island sights and an elephant sanctuary; add days for Koh Tao, Koh Phangan and more beach time.
Is Koh Samui worth visiting?
Yes — Koh Samui rewards with the stunning Ang Thong Marine Park, world-class snorkelling at Koh Tao, the golden Big Buddha, ethical elephant sanctuaries, jungle waterfalls and beautiful beaches.
What are the best day trips from Koh Samui?
Top trips are the Ang Thong National Marine Park, snorkelling at Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, Koh Phangan, and Pig Island.
When is the best time to visit Koh Samui?
December to April brings warm, dry, sunny weather ideal for the beaches and boat trips; mid-year (June–September) is a drier shoulder, while October–November is the wettest with rougher seas.
How do you get around Koh Samui?
Cheap shared songthaews run set routes, with taxis and Grab, scooter and car hire for exploring, and boats to Ang Thong, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan; most tours include hotel pickup, and the central airport is 10–20 minutes from the beaches.
518 Koh Samui experiencesfrom €15 · free cancellation
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