Koh Samui: Gulf Island Beaches & Calm
A lush tropical island in the Gulf — palm-lined beaches, a golden Buddha and the Ang Thong marine park. And a season that's the opposite of Phuket's.
Region
Southern Thailand
World-famous beaches and islands — Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui and the turquoise waters of the Andaman and the Gulf.
The south is the Thailand of the postcards: limestone towers rising out of clear water, longtail boats, and several hundred islands spread across two very different seas.
The single most important thing to understand here is that the two coasts have opposite seasons. The Andaman side — Phuket, Krabi, Phi Phi, Koh Lanta — is at its best from November to April. The Gulf side — Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao — is best from February to April and July to September, and is at its wettest in October and November, exactly when the Andaman is coming good.
Choose the coast that matches your dates first, then choose islands within it. Getting this the wrong way round is the most expensive planning mistake in Thai travel.
Suits: Beach holidays, divers, honeymooners, families who want a pool and the sea.
Places to visit in Southern Thailand
Krabi: Limestone Cliffs, Railay & Island Hopping
Towering karst cliffs, beaches reachable only by boat, jungle pools and the best island-hopping in Thailand — and noticeably cheaper than Phuket next door.
Phuket: Beaches, Islands & Old Town
Thailand's largest island — famous beaches, turquoise day-trip islands and a beautiful old town. Which beach to choose, and what most visitors miss entirely.
Other regions of Thailand
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