Koh Samui is a popular island in South Thailand, located close to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan. In this article, we will be looking at the itinerary for 3-5 days in Koh Samui and how many days in Koh Samui is enough.
Koh Samui is famous for its lively nightlife scene, beautiful beaches, viewpoints, waterfalls, and temples. This island has an international atmosphere with many businesses, such as restaurants, motorbike rental shops, and travel agencies, owned by foreigners.
How Many Days in Koh Samui is Enough?
In my opinion, 3-5 days is a good amount of time to spend in Koh Samui to do sightseeing, enjoy the beaches and nightlife. I spent 4 nights on the island and was able to see most beaches, viewpoints, waterfalls, temples, shopping malls, and night markets.
Here are my recommendations on things to do on Koh Samui and how long to do these things:
#1. Beaches. There are so many beaches around Samui. Popular ones are Chaweng, Lamai, and Bophut. You also have more quiet beaches such as Mae Nam, Bang Po, Taling Ngam, Lipa Noi and Choeng Mon Beach. You can spend a few days or months to enjoy to do beach hopping and beach activities.
#2. Viewpoints. Famous viewpoints on Samui are Overlap Stone, Hin Ta Hin Yai, and Pra Buddha Dīpankara. You can spend 30 minutes to hours exploring these places.
#3. Waterfalls. You can explore popular waterfalls such as Na Muang Waterfall or Hin Lad Waterfall within 30 minutes to a couple of hours. There is a nice hiking trail at Hin Lad Waterfall. Na Muang 1 is an easy walk from the parking lot, while the hike to Na Muang 2 seem to be closed because of its dangerous cliffs.
#4. Temples. Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem are famous temples in Samui. They are located close to each other and can be explored within a couple of hours.
#5. Shopping Malls and Night Markets. You can spend a few hours exploring night markets in Bophut, Chaweng, or Lamai. The big shopping mall called Central Samui is located in Chaweng.
#6. Nightlife. Chaweng has the best nightlife, but it is also lively on Lamai and Bophut. They all have lots of bars, clubs, restaurants, and night markets.
#7. Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park. This is a popular day trip from Samui. It is a good place for swimming, kayaking, and hiking. You can easily book this trip online or through local travel agencies on the island.
See more: 30 Amazing Things to Do in Koh Samui
Getting to Koh Samui:
Koh Samui is easily accessible by air and by boat. It has an international airport located in the northern part of the island, only a short drive from the popular areas such as Chaweng or Bophut.
Koh Samui has 4 main piers located on the west and north coast, including Nathon Pier, Pralarn Pier, Lipa Noi Pier, and Bangrak Pier. I arrived at Koh Samui at Pralarn Pier from Koh Phangan, and left Koh Samui at Nathon Pier to Donsak Pier in mainland Surat Thani.
If you travel on a budget, you can reach Koh Samui by taking a train or flight from mainland Surat Thani, then transfer to Donsak Pier to take a ferry/ speedboat to get to the island.
Getting Around Koh Samui:
You can get around Koh Samui by motorbike/car rentals as well as taxis, songthaews, and riding share services such as Bolt, Grab, or InDrive. You can consider hiring a private driver or taking a guided tour to explore the island.
Take note that a taxi is very expensive on Koh Samui, around 500 baht for a trip from Chaweng to Lamai. If you use a taxi, you can try to use Bolt, Grab, or InDrive to see the price first then negotiate price with the driver.
Renting a motorbike will give you freedom to explore the island and it is cheaper than other modes of transport. I only recommend this option if you have experienced driving a motorbike in Thailand.
Within each town, like Chaweng, Lamai, or Bophut, you can easily walk to restaurants, bars, shops, and beaches. These areas are packed with tourist amenities and easily accessible on foot.
See more: How to Get to Koh Samui & Get Around
Best time to visit Koh Samui:
The best time to visit Koh Samui is the early of the dry season which is typically from November to February. March to May is also dry but it can be very hot.
May to October is the rainy season in Koh Samui and also the low season. You can find some good value for money hotels and resorts during this time. The island also offers a quieter atmosphere in the monsoon season.
Top areas to stay in Koh Samui for tourists:
Chaweng, Lamai, and Bophut are the most popular places to stay on Koh Samui. These areas have lots of tourist facilities such as night markets, restaurants, bars, and shops. They also offer a wide range of hotels, resorts, and hostels for all preferences.
I personally stayed in both Chaweng and Lamai. I recommend staying in Chaweng after a lively nightlife and party with loud music. Lamai also has a great nightlife scene but it’s more relaxed than the noisy Chaweng. Both have beautiful beaches and good bases to explore other parts of Koh Samui.
Bophut is also a trendy area, located just a short drive from the international airport and several piers. It is home to a long nice beach and the Fishermen village, which is a nice place to shop and dine. See more: Where to Stay in Koh Samui.
Here my brief of my itinerary for 3-5 days in Koh Samui:
How to Spend in 3-5 Days in Koh Samui Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival + Chaweng (beach and mall)
I came to Koh Samui from Koh Phangan. The ferry departed at Thong Sala Pier on Koh Phangan at 6.30pm and arrived at Pralarn Pier on Koh Samui at 7.40pm. From the pier, I was transferred to a minivan to get to my hotel in Chaweng around 8.30pm.
Chaweng Beach Road
After checking the hotel, I explored Chaweng Beach Road, which is the main road in Chaweng, running parallel with the beach. This is a very busy road, packed with bars, restaurants, serving both Thai food and international dishes. Lots of restaurants serve grilled meats and seafood.
There are also fast food chains such as Mc Donald, Burger King, and KFC. The music from bars and restaurants are very louds.
You can find all kinds of shops on this road. There are weed shops, massage shops, convenience stores, clothing/souvenir shops, travel agencies, and motorbike rental shops.
I have dinner at Will Wait 2 Bar and Restaurant. I ordered fresh coconut and fried rice. They have both indoor and outdoor settings. This restaurant is located right on the main road and is a great spot for dining and people-watching.
Central Samui Shopping Mall
Central Samui is a huge shopping center located right on the main road on Chaweng. It is a modern and nicely decorated shopping mall and is a great place to shop and eat. There are clean, free toilets to use.
You can find many fashion and cosmetic stores such as H&M, Uniqlo. There is also a foot court and a daily night market next to the mall.
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach is a long beach with a lively nightlife scene and is packed with people in the eevening. The beach is lined with resorts, bars, beach clubs, and restaurants. You can enjoy drinking, eating, fire shows, or people watching.
There is just a few public access to the beach from the Beach Road. I accessed this beach through a resort. If you have a scooter, you can put this address “Public way to Chaweng Beach” on Google Maps.
Day 2: Lamai Beach, Hin Ta Hin Yai, and Lamai Night Market
On the 2nd day in Koh Samui, I moved to a new hotel in Lamai. I spent the whole day walking around Lamai exploring the main road, smaller alleys, the beach, and Hin Ta Hin Yai.
Lamai Main Road
Haad Lamai Road is the main road in Lamai. This road is lined with tourist facilities such as restaurants, bars, convenience stores, massage shops, and travel agencies. It is also home to Lamai Night Market and Lamai Night Plaza.
Lamai Beach
Lamai Beach is a beautiful long beach, lined with resorts and palm trees. It is a good place for swimming, sunbathing, relaxing, having a beach massage, taking a walk along the beach, or trying watersport activities.
Lunch at local restaurant on Had Lamai 4
I have late lunch a a local restaurant called “วิหนุ่มโคราช” located opposite Oxa pizza restaurant on Had Lamai 4, near the intersection with Had Lamai Road. This family-run restaurant serves authentic Thai food at a reasonable price.
Hin Ta Hin Yai
Hin Ta Hin Yai is a nice viewpoint located at the end of Lamai Beach, around 30 minutes walk from the center of the main road in Lamai. This is a great place to visit for stunning views of the beach, especially at sunset.
Also known as Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks, these are famous natural rock formations shaped in a way that resembles male and female genitalia.
I spent one hour here wandering around and enjoying the sunset. If you want to explore the viewpoint with stairs to go up, you need to pay 20 baht. You can skipped this one if you don’t want to pay as other free areas already have stunning views. All other areas are free to explore.
There are a range of stalls selling Thai street food, coconut ice-cream, and souvenirs at the entrance of Hin Ta Hin Yai. If you are looking for reggae vibes with beautiful sun set views, you can check out the Rock Bar.
Lamai Plaza (Seafood Market)
Lamai Plaza is a small night market area located in the central area of Lamai. It is home to several souvenirs stalls, and seafood restaurants. For me, it is a good place to try mango sticky rice and cut fruits.
Lamai Night Market
Lamai Night Market is a big night market located on Had Lamai Road, between Had Lamai 3 and 4. It is a good place to try a variety of goods and enjoy live music.
Day 3: Overlap Stones, Temples, Waterfalls, Lipa Noi
On the 3rd day on Koh Samui, I explored Red Temple, Overlap Stone, Wat Khunaram, Na Muang Waterfall 1 & 2, Hin Lad Waterfall, Nathon Beach, and Lipa Noi Beach.
Wat Ratcha Thammaram Red Temple
Wat Ratcha Thammaram is located on road 4169 just a few minutes drive from central Lamai. This temple is known for its red temple, white chedi, snake-shaped stairs, and stunning sea views.
It is free to enter and open daily from 6am to 6pm. I spent 20 minutes here exploring around and take photos. You can walk down the stairs to the beach.
Overlap Stone 1, 2, and 3
Overlap stones are famous viewpoints in Koh Samui, offering beautiful views of surrounding mountains and beaches. These stones are located around a 10 minute drive from central Lamai.
There are 3 overlap stones in Koh Samui, located within a short drive from each other. To access these stones, you have to drive up a very steep and curvy road.
The most beautiful Overlap Stone is the Overlap Stone 2. It had sweeping views of the beaches and mountains. It also has nice decorations for taking photos. Overlap Stone 2 is free to enter, you just need to pay 20 baht for the parking if you come with a scooter.
Overlap stone 3 is very close to stone 2, within a short drive from the parking area. It is the smallest stone of three. Overlap Stone 1 is open from 8am to 6pm. It is not as beautiful as the Overap stone 2, but it costs 200 baht to enter and that includes a soft drink.
If you want to save money and have the most beautiful views, I recommend Overlap Stone 2 instead of 1. It is around 10 minutes walk up from the parking area to the stone 2.
Wat Khunaram
Wat Khunaram is a Buddhist temple located on the 4169 road, 12 minutes drive from Lamai. It houses the mummified body of the monk Luang Pho Daeng, who passed away in 1973. The monk’s body is displayed in a glass case, and it has become a point of interest for visitors.
It is a small temple, you can spend 10-20 minutes here walking around. In addition to the mummified monk, this temple has a peaceful atmosphere and several Buddist statues on its ground.
Na Muang Waterfall 1 & 2
Na Muang Waterfall 1 is a small waterfall located inland in the Southern part of Koh Samui. This waterfall is free to enter, you just need to pay 20 baht for parking. There are several souvenir shops at the entrance and restaurants in the waterfall.
Na Muang Waterfall 2 is located 10 minutes drive from Na Muang Waterfall 1. There is a sign near the elephant camp that says “parking here for the waterfall”, but you can actually drive all the way to the waterfall.
At the parking area, there is a small shop where you can buy drinks and snacks. Unfortunately, when I visited in early January 2025, it was closed. It seems to be dangerous to climb to the top as there were few accidents in the past.
Hin Lad Waterfall
Hin Lad Waterfall is a good place for swimming and hiking. It is located on the west side of the island, close to Nathon Beach.
I recommend putting “Hin Lad Waterfall” on Google Maps, not “Hin Lat Waterfall”. I put “Hin Lat Waterfall” for the first time and got lost. There was no way a car and scooter could go to Hin Lat Waterfall. From the parking area of Hin Lad, you can follow the trail to reach Hin Lat.
This waterfall is free to enter. If you don’t want to hike, you can enjoy swimming at several pools at the bottom of the waterfalls. It is around 1 hour round trip hike. The hike is easy to moderate, with some rock climbing. You can find some good spots for swimming along the way.
There is a small old temple at the bottom of the waterfall where you can take a look. Restaurants and shops can be found at the entrance.
Lipa Noi Beach & Tong Yang Beach
Lipa Noi Beach is a quiet beach in the central west coast of Koh Samui and is a great place to see the sunset. It is easily accessible by a scooter with lots of parking along the road to the beach near Lipa Bay resort.
Tong Yang Beach is small and seluded beach, located next Lipa Noi Pier, south of Lipa Noi Beach and. It is very quiet with no beach facilities. If you want to relax, and watch the sunset with almost no people, you should come to Tong Yang.
People name this beach on the map with two names “Tong Yang Beach” and “Lipa Noi Beach”, which is quite confusing. I recommend just putting “Lipa Noi Pier” on Google Maps, you’ll find the way to Tong Yang Beach.
Day 4: Tarnim Garden, West Coast and North Coast of Koh Samui
On my 4th day in Koh Samui, I explored the west, north coast of Koh Samui. I visited Tarnim Magic Garden, Pra Buddha Dīpankara, The Elephant Gate, Wat Khiri Wong Karam, Ao Taling Ngam, Nathon Beach, Bang Po Beach, Baan Tai Beach, Bo Phut, and Chaweng Night Market.
Tarnim Magic Garden
Tarnim Magic Garden is a small peaceful garden located 20 minutes drive from Lamai. The road to this garden is beautiful but also hilly with long steep slopes and sharp turns.
This garden is open everyday from 9am to 6pm. The entrance fee is 100 baht. I spent 30 minutes here exploring the waterfalls, sculpture, ancient trees, and taking photos. There is a cafe and souvenir shops near the ticket counter, where you can have some drinks and chill.
Pra Buddha Dīpankara
Pra Buddha Dīpankara is located within 15 minutes drive from Tarnim Magic Garden according to Google Maps. But the road near the top to Pra Buddha Dīpankara is quite dangerous for beginners.
Part of the road is dirt road then narrow paved road. I had parked my scooter at a point that I thought I couldn’t drive anymore, then walked for 10 minutes to reach the top. On the road, you will see many 4-wheel drive vehicles taking tourists to this temple.
Pra Buddha Dīpankara looks like an abandoned temple complex. It has stunning views of the surrounding mountains. If you bring your scooter up here, you can probably check out the nearby Samui ViewPoint. After spending 20 minutes at the temple, I walked back to the place where I parked my scooter.
The Elephant Gate
The Elephant Gate is a beautiful entrance to a village. It is conveniently located on the way to Wat Khiri Wong Karam and Ao Taling Ngam. You can stop on the side of the road and take photos.
Wat Khiri Wong Karam
Wat Khiri Wong Karam is a small temple near Ao Taling Ngam Beach. The temple is free to enter, you can stop here for a quick look around.
Ao Taling Ngam
Ao Taling Ngam is a nice quiet beach close to InterContinental resort. You’ll likely see just a few people on the beach. It is a good place to relax and take a long walk. There are several accommodations on the beach.
Nathon Beach and Pier
Nathon is the administrative town of Koh Samui. It is home to Nathon Beach and Nathon Pier. The beach is a great place to take a stroll and enjoy the sunset. The beachfront area is lined with restaurants, cafes, and shops. You can find a night food market near the pier.
I booked a ticket to Khao Sok National Park at the Phantip office located in Nathon and had a nice lunch at Mumthong restaurant.
Laem Yai
On the way to Nathon to the north of Koh Samui, I wanted to stop by Laem Yai. I followed Google Maps but did not find the way to the beach. It was all blocked by private lands and resorts. I drove straight, ended up at the private road to a quiet beach and bay near Beryl bar.
Bang Po Beach
Bang Po Beach is a long quiet beach located on the northern coast of Koh Samui, 10 minutes drive north from Nathon. This beach has beach facilities such as restaurants, bars, and massage shops. You can use sunbeds, and bean bags from the bars when ordering drinks.
It is a good place to take a long walk, relax, and swim. There are lots of crabs on the sand. I found public access at the western end of the beach.
Ban Tai Beach
Ban Tai Beach is a quiet beach located on the northern part of Koh Samui, just a few minutes drive east of Bang Po Beach. It is a good place for swimming with soft fine sand. You can walk all the way to the east end of the beach where the squid statues are located.
It was easy to follow Google maps to reach public access to Baan Tai Beach. You can park your scooter along the road to the beach.
Mae Nam Viewpoint & Beach
Mae Nam Viewpoint is located on the north coast of Samui, a few minutes drive east of Baan Tai Beach. This viewpoint has stunning views of Mae Nam Beach.
It is easily accessible by scooter and car. At the parking lot, you’ll walk up some stairs to reach the viewpoints. There is a restaurant/ bar and massage place at Mae Nam Viewpoint.
Mae Nam Beach is a very long beach, around 7 km long in North Samui. It has calm and clean water, a great place for relaxing and swimming. I accessed this beach from the road near Mae Nam resort.
Bophut Beach, Fisherman Village Night market
Bophut Beach is a popular beach on the northern coast of Samui. It is lined with beachfront resorts, restaurants, and bars. The beach has golden coarse-grained and calm water. You can take a walk along the beach, swim, and enjoy water activities such as jet skiing or paddle boarding.
The Fisherman Village Walking Street is located close to the beach. It is a long street lined with restaurants, and souvenir stores. The walking street opens everyday from 6pm to 9pm. I visited on Friday night, and it was very busy.
Bophut is also home to The Wharf Walking Street, which is open every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It has lots of street food stalls, a bar area, and handicraft area.
Si Khao Night Market
Si Khao Night Market is a big market located on the way from Bo Phut to Chaweng. I saw lots of locals and Thai Menu in this market and the price was reasonable.
There are toilets on site as well as many tables and chairs to sit on. This market is only open Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Central Samui Night Market
This night market is located right next to Central Samui, opposite Chaweng Lake. It is open everyday from 1pm to 11pm. Like other night markets in Thailand, this market has lots of food stalls and souvenirs stalls. It has live music on site.
Chaweng Walking Street and Night Market
Chaweng Night Market is located near Chaweng Lake, opposite the central night market. This market is only open on weekends from Friday to Sunday. It is another popular place to try different street food and shop for Thai souvenirs.
Day 5: Big Buddha, Choeng Mon, Chaweng, Coral Cove, Crystal Beach
On my 5th day in Koh Samui, I explored temples, and beaches on the north east and east coast of Samui. I visited famous temples such as Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem, as well as beaches such as Choeng Mon, Chaweng, Coral Cove Beach, and Crystal Beach.
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
Big Buddha Temple is a famous tourist attraction located on a small island in the northern coast of Samui, 15 minutes drive from Chaweng and 30 minutes drive from Lamai. I visited Big Buddha early at 7am in the morning, and only other tourists at the temple.
I spent 30 minutes here walking around, enjoying the ocean views, and taking photos. There are several souvenir shops and cafes/restaurants at the entrance to Big Buddha.
Wat Plai Laem
Wat Plai Laem is located just a few minutes drive from Big Buddha. It is a nice temple complex with some big Buddha Statues located on the peaceful lake. You can spend 30 minutes exploring the temple, walking around the lake, and the statues.
Choeng Mon Beach
Choeng Mon Beach is a crescent-shaped beach located on the north east coast of Samui, 10 minutes drive from the Big Buddha. It is a nice place for sunbathing, swimming, and jet skiing. This beach is easily accessible with a big parking area.
Chaweng Beach
On the way from Choeng Mon back to my hotel in Lamai, I stopped at Chaweng Beach. I visited this beach on my first day in Samui but in the evening. The beach is a busy party place at night, but also beautiful during the day.
I arrived at Chaweng Beach around 8.30 am and it was not crowded. The beach is long with white sand and clean water. There are sunbeds and umbrellas on the beach.
Lad Koh ViewPoint
Lad Koh ViewPoint is a beautiful viewpoint located on the main road from Chaweng to Lamai. It was closed during my visit in early January 2025, but I still have some good views from the road.
Coral Cove Beach
Coral Cove Beach is a small beach located close to Lamai. It is easily accessible from the main road. It is a nice beach with coarse sand and is a good spot for swimming, sunbathing, and snorkeling. There is a beach bar, restaurant and massage place on the beach. You can rent snorkels from them.
Crystal Beach
Crystal Beach is another tranquil beach located close to Samui. I accessed the beach through a resort called Crystal Bay Yacht Club and paid a 20 baht parking fee. There are massages on the beach as well as restaurants and bars.
Travel to Khao Sok National Park
I returned to my hotel around 10am and waited for my driver to pick me up at Nathon Pier to travel to mainland and Khao Sok National park. It was a nice morning exploring all the beaches and temples without crowds. If you can wake up early, I recommend doing this if you want to avoid crowds.
See more:
This is my guide on how to spend 3-5 days in Koh Samui. I think this time frame is generally enough to do sightseeing, enjoy the beaches and nightlife. You can explore waterfalls, viewpoints, temples, night markets, and different beaches. You can also take a day trip to nearby Ang Thong National Park.