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Vol. 20 - Feb 2026
Koh Samui, a gem in the Gulf of Thailand
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🙋🏽♀️ Sawadee from Koh Samui!
Koh Samui has been on the map for a long time. That’s exactly why it gets underestimated. People arrive with fixed ideas. Party island. Honeymoon island. Resort island. And then they leave having only seen one version of it.
What Samui actually offers is range. Beaches and hills. Quiet mornings and busy nights. Local routines alongside very polished hospitality. It’s an island that works in layers.
Now let’s start exploring!
Happy travels, Ploy & Jochem
📍 Koh Samui at a Glance
One of Thailand’s most accessible islands with direct flights
Easy to move between lively and quiet areas in under 30 minutes
Strong local life alongside international comforts
Beaches, waterfalls, temples, and viewpoints all in one loop
Best explored with a scooter or car
🗺️ The Journey
A travel story
Discover local boutiques in Fisherman’s Village
Koh Samui is an explorer’s paradise, it reveals itself quickly if you move around. The ring road loops the island, but the real character sits just off it. A turn inland. A drive south. A late afternoon stop that turns into dinner.
We stayed at Thai House Beach Resort, right on Lamai Beach. It’s was a practical base. Walk straight onto the sand. Restaurants and shops nearby. Easy access to the rest of the island. Mornings started with a swim (as we always do near beaches). Evenings ended with the lights of Lamai coming on one by one. Sigh, island life.. the best isn’t it?
Moana loved Lamai immediately. Dogs on the beach, waves she could outrun, and enough space to let her do her thing without us worrying.
Lamai itself is one of Samui’s strengths. It has energy without tipping into chaos. Early mornings feel local. Midday is active. Nights are social but contained. You can stay out late or turn in early and feel fine either way.
From there, we explored hard. North to Bophut and Fisherman’s Village for evenings with atmosphere. West to Taling Ngam for open views and quiet beaches. Inland for steep roads, jungle shade, and viewpoints that remind you this island has real topography.
Samui rewards movement. The more you explore, the better it gets.
If you want to move around using a motorbike, we recommend this only for coastal drives. Inland the roads are steep and can be quite dangerous for inexperienced drivers. Going inland it’s better to rent a car.
Thai Beach House Resort is simply.. paradise
🏝️ How we’d spend a full Samui day
• 6:30 am : Sunrise swim at Lamai // Calm water and an empty beach, bliss!
• 8:00 am : Breakfast at the hotel // The breakfast at Thai House Beach resort is one you don’t want to miss (okay, we’re breakfast lovers hihi).
• 09:30 am : Drive inlands // Drive toward viewpoints near the centre of the island. Short walks, big views. Make some memories.
• 12:30 pm : Lunch in Nathon // Find a local restaurant that serves your cravings. We went for Thai food with some grilled squid (and green seafood sauce, spicyyy)
• 1:30 pm : Snorkeling trip // Take a trip to go norkeling off the coast around the island or nearby islands. Samui’s waters are active, and full of bright colored fish. We recommend the ‘Pig Island Snorkeling & Koh Tan speedboat tour’.
• 6:00 pm : Back on land // Take a quick rest, shower, and change. We love refreshing before heading out again.
• 7:00 pm : Fisherman’s Village // Enjoying the sunset here is an experience. Then go for an early dinner of seafood and cold drinks.
• 8:30 pm : Drink back in Lamai // Sit back, and enjoy the calmness of the evening. Great for talks or listening to relaxing tunes (we love to listen to The Thai Playlist which we curated for special moments like these)
We never get enough of sunsets..
Eat, See, Explore
🥘 Eat & Drink Like a Local
Samui’s food scene is one of its biggest strengths. You can keep it local, or lean into the island’s social side when you feel like it.
Krua Bophut for delicious southern Thai cooking
Local seafood places in Bang Por where fish is grilled minutes after landing
Da Bardo Pizzeria for evenings when you crave something familiar, done well
Coco Tam’s for fire shows🔥, cocktails, and an easy evening by the sea
What works on Samui is choice. Quiet lunches, lively sunsets, proper dinners. You don’t have to pick just one.
🛕 See
Wat Plai Laem
Na Muang Waterfalls
Wat Plai Laem outside peak hours, when it feels alive
Na Muang Waterfalls after rain, worth the short walk
Fisherman’s Village just before night crowds arrive
🐒 Explore
Inland roads between Lamai and Maenam
West coast beaches near Taling Ngam
Day trips in Ang Thong Marine National Park for kayaking, cliffs, lagoons, and scale
Zip line adventures through the tops of the jungle
💎 Hidden Gems
Bang Por Beach for long, walkable shoreline
Taling Ngam for Samui at its most open
Nathon town for lunch and people watching
Inland viewpoints you reach by accident, they give you a unique look at different sides of the island
🗣️ Say it like a local
ไปเรื่อย ๆ (pai rueay rueay) — “Just go along.”
A good way to approach Samui.
📰 Thailand Now
✈️ Airport expansion underway
Koh Samui Airport is preparing for increased international traffic, with capacity upgrades aimed at supporting longer stays rather than short weekend trips.🏝️ Shift away from single beach tourism
Visitors are increasingly splitting their time between Lamai, the north coast, and the west. Scooter rentals and car hires are up, reflecting more movement around the island.🚤 Marine parks under tighter regulation
Trips to Ang Thong Marine National Park continue to grow, but with stricter visitor caps and seasonal closures to protect reefs and lagoons.
📻 The Thai Playlist
Songs for discovering Thailand: from scenic drives to hidden escapes. New vibes added every week .
Click on any of the tracks below to get in the travel mood.
🙏 See you next week!
We hope you enjoyed this edition of The Thai List. If you did, please share the love 💕 by inviting your friends and family to join our little community.
Each week we uncover local secrets, hidden escapes, and the best food and drinks Thailand has to offer.
Don’t miss out on the journey.
Wishing you save travels,
The Thai List - Your weekly postcard from Thailand 🇹🇭
