Where is better Phuket or Koh Samui. Phuket or Koh Samui - where is it better to relax. Which island is better to choose
Koh Samui for wintering or remote work for me personally it’s just perfect option- if we talk only about Thailand and compare with Phuket, Pattaya or the North of Thailand. Serenity and relaxation reign here, but at the same time, if you find one, you can quite actively freelance (work remotely). Recently, I have been coming to Koh Samui to live for a couple of months, when I have a lot of work and I want to plunge into a calm and pleasant atmosphere and do everything in one fell swoop.
It’s cozy on Koh Samui, there can’t be a tsunami, there is a sea, a bike for rent and delicious food - what else do you need for life? There are noisy parties, shops, bars with nightlife, and there are really quiet places and houses right on the seashore or in the jungle, where lovers of silence live and where I lived for some time.
On Koh Samui you can buy everything you need for life (well, or almost everything that you can read that is not on Koh Samui). There are three big supermarkets, markets, cafes and plenty everywhere. In general, in terms of civilization, everything is OK here, although the island is more like a large tropical village. And if your choice is leaning in favor of Koh Samui, then let's puzzle you with one more choice - from which area you will actually be.
Large supermarkets where you can buy food and clothes are located on the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai. All night parties - in the same place. Calm family life— Maenam, Bang Po. Something between tranquility and society - Choeng Mon. And solitude for a very long stay - the entire South of the island and Lipa Noi. Further - more about each beach on Koh Samui.
(Large map of Koh Samui is at the end of the post)
Chaweng
Chaweng- the most party place on Koh Samui. At the same time, if you try, you can find here a quiet house for life, as well as a huge number of noisy hotels, spas, restaurants, markets, shops. Chaweng is a place where life boils - day and night. Nightlife centers: Green Mango, Ark Bar, Sound Club. Although these points are very approximate, written from the words of acquaintances, since I myself understand secret places much better than those where so many people gather.
- Chaweng is not very favorite of my Samui international hospital.
- Right there are my most necessary places for life - this is Tesco with a food court that sells the best freshly squeezed juices and Starbucks next to Big C.
- When I live in the Big C area, everything I need for life is very close to me personally.
Chaweng has an excellent beach, about 7 km long. In bad weather there is a strong wave, and in the high season a huge number of people.
Lamai
Lamai- deep, sometimes rocky beaches. In bad weather, there is a very high and beautiful wave (I don’t compare it with Bali, there is no surfing on Koh Samui, but you can find windsurfing). There are a lot of hotels, bungalows, restaurants on Lamai. This is the second most active party place.
- Many Russians and other expats live on Lamai. There are a lot of houses for long stay both on the coast and in the jungle.
- There are many yogis and vegetarian restaurants on Lamai.
- During heavy rains and floods in this area, everything is not so bad and even probably better than in other areas. Although it was worse during the 2011 flood, the infrastructure here seems to be improving.
- For some reason, the weather on Lamai is better than in the northern part of the island. It was noticed personally by me, but many times it turned out that I leave the north under a downpour that lasts several hours, I arrive at Lamai, and it is dry there.
- Tesco on Lamai sells the most delicious (in my opinion) tom yum on Koh Samui. And in general, the “glutton yard” is very good here :)
Lipa Noi beach on Koh Samui
Lipa Noi- a beach in the west of the island. It is located just north of Nathon. Here the most calm sea and beautiful sunsets (the beach is in the west). On Lipa Noi there are few houses for long stays, hotels and expensive villas. Not a large number of restaurants and cafes, not too active party life, the main supermarkets are far away - half an hour or more by bike / car. In general, a calm beach, suitable for a short vacation on Koh Samui and for lovers of a calm and shallow sea.
*In summer, the sea on Lipa Noi becomes very shallow, you may have to go to other beaches for swimming.
Nathon beach
Nathon is the administrative center of Koh Samui. There is a pier, bus station, market, banks. About 15 years ago, it was possible to change currency or cash out money only here (now in any district). And 40 years ago, children from all over Koh Samui came here to school and lived at the school all week, leaving home for the weekend, because at that time there was not only electricity on Koh Samui, but also no transport except bicycles and boats.
Now there are many cheap hotels on Nathon, the cheapest clothing market and an inexpensive evening market for Thai food. This a good place for those who came to Koh Samui for a long time and did not book accommodation in advance. In this case, you can stay in an inexpensive hotel right near the pier and explore the island on your own by renting a bike here on Nathon, a car or traveling by motorcycle taxi or tuk-tuk. * Taxi on Koh Samui very expensive.
The beach on Nathon is mostly not bathable, but rather working, with the exception of a small piece of beach (with wonderful white sand!) In the far left corner, if you are facing the sea.
In summer it is very shallow and there are often shallows of 50-100 meters.
In the evenings, fishing boats come to the piers of Nathon and you can buy seafood "first hand" - the freshest and cheapest. In the evening on Nathon, right next to the pier, there is a market where you can try inexpensive and delicious Thai food.
Bang Por Beach
Bang Por area is located 10 minutes drive from Nathon, in the northwest of the island. This is one of the quietest areas, where there are many houses for long stays right on the seashore. The sea on Bang Por is shallow, but you can swim - it becomes deeper in winter, very shallow in the summer months.
From March until the end of summer, when the tides are very strong and the corals are exposed, it is interesting to swim here on a koyak. Under the water you can see corals, algae and colorful fish. For sailing this time of year on Bang Por very petty.
Since April, there are very beautiful sunsets and sunrises - the sun sets within sight "into the water" and rises within sight along the water line.)
Bang Po is my favorite area. Quite a lot of Russians and Europeans live here, but it seems that all of them are not very avid party-goers and, in general, there is real peace and tranquility. Chaweng with the main hangouts and supermarkets is 30 minutes away by bike.
Bang Por has many inexpensive Thai food cafes and restaurants on the beach. There are cheap rooms and bungalows within 500 baht per day.
During the flood, Bang Por turned out to be one of the most favorable areas. We were pretty dry and had no power outages.
Maenam
Maenam located on the north coast Koh Samui. The length of the beach is 5 km. In this district Very many houses both on the coastline and towards the jungle from the ring road, which can be rented for long stays. There are cheap hotels. Nice beach. On Thursdays, “Walking street” takes place here - when one of the streets turns into a big market with very cheap clothes and food.
Maenam beach can be said to be excellent - deeper than on Bang Por, sometimes clean and moderately calm.
During the flood there were many flooded places. The most difficult (flooded) sections on the ring road were on Maenam.
Bophut
Bophut- a beach in the north of Koh Samui. Between Maenam and Choeng Mon (the northernmost part of the island). The length of the beach is 2 km. Good, deep sea, not too many people. In the Bophut area there are inexpensive houses for long stays, but many of them are not within walking distance from the sea (it takes 5-10 minutes to ride a bike). Behind the eastern part of Bophut is fisherman village- a very colorful place, with inexpensive hotels, excellent restaurants and a market. The market is not cheap, but you can find a lot of interesting gizmos here.
Choeng Mon
Chong Mon- This is a small beach, only about a kilometer. The area itself is quite large, with many houses and villas of different price categories. A Thai-style house in a "Thai" village can be found from 7,000 baht per month. Closer to the sea are villas from 30-60 thousand baht per month. In some places you can find small and not very expensive houses right on the beach.
Choeng Mon is a suitable place for those who come to Koh Samui for a long time, love an active party life and the opportunity to retire to their home in between parties. All party places are located near Choeng Mon, but you have to go to them by bike (10-25 minutes).
Hua Thanon and the entire South of Koh Samui
Hua Thanon and the south coast of Koh Samui to Lipa Noi is a quiet area with a huge number of houses for long stays.
This is not a very suitable place for a beach holiday - it is rather shallow here, and in summer there are strong low tides and a lot of fishermen, but there are very beautiful beaches on the territory of hotels and not only. Very advanced foreign centenarians live in these places - in inexpensive houses and quiet solitude.
Hua Thanon has a Muslim community village and a mosque. The inhabitants of the Muslim village are mainly engaged in fishing and in the evenings you can buy cheap fresh seafood here.
About sunrises and sunsets on Koh Samui
The most beautiful sunsets on Koh Samui are Nathon and Lipa Noi, in some places Bang Por, Maenam and Choeng Mon. Sunrises - on Chaweng, Lamai, some places in Choeng Mon.
In this picture you can see where the sun rises on koh samui and where it sits and, looking at the map, figure out on which beaches (Bang Por, Maenama, Choeng Mona) you can watch both sunrises and sunsets, or one thing.
From some beaches of Bang Por and Maenam, you can watch the sun rise and set. This is most likely in June, least of all in December, when the points of sunrise and sunset are the farthest from each other.
Hotels on Koh Samui
I hope now you more or less imagine which area of Koh Samui to choose for life. Any blogger reviews about specific hotels quickly become outdated - hotels wear out and others appear, so choosing and booking a hotel on Koh Samui is, of course, best of all through the Internet and a hotel search engine.
Today, I use to search for hotels, which has options for all the search engines we know at once (Booking, Agoda, etc.) - you can see discount promotions, compare prices and choose the most profitable options.
Phuket and Koh Samui are the most popular islands among tourists in Thailand. They have a developed infrastructure, beautiful beaches, but a completely different atmosphere and lifestyle. Ideally, visit both resorts and draw your own conclusions, which one you liked best. But this is not always possible, as many vacation time is very limited. Therefore, in this article we will try to figure out what is better to choose Phuket or Koh Samui and what advantages and disadvantages these two islands have.
beaches
Phuket will delight you with white sand and azure sea. Almost everywhere on the beach there are a lot of sun loungers with umbrellas that can be rented for 100-150 baht. There are a lot of people during the season, especially on popular beaches such as, and. However, from May to October, big waves rise in Phuket and red flags and inscriptions appear on the beaches, which say that it is dangerous to swim in the sea. But this best time for surfing.
On the beaches of Koh Samui, the white sand is not as white as in Phuket. Here, almost everywhere there are no sun loungers with umbrellas, there are much fewer vacationers. The island has many deserted beaches where you can be alone with nature and enjoy beautiful views. Sea all year round calm, waves are very rare, so you can swim in any season. However, Koh Samui is characterized by low tides from May to October, especially on the west coast.
Nature
There are quite a few in Phuket natural areas: parks, tropical forests, waterfalls. However, it is more civilized than Koh Samui. There are wide roads, more transport, high-rise buildings, so the atmosphere in Phuket is urban.
Koh Samui is more like a village, there are no tall buildings, narrow roads, many bungalows on the seashore, the central part of the island is occupied by a tropical forest. There are many secluded places, deserted beaches, where you can sit in silence and watch the sunset.
Entertainment and attractions
Phuket has a fairly large number of entertainments: a water park, an aquarium, a monkey camp, and more. There are also a variety of attractions: temples, lookouts. You can take an excursion to the nearest islands:, Sirey, and many others.
There are also places to go and things to see on Koh Samui: an aquarium and a tiger park, temples, and more. Excursions are available on and.
Night life
Phuket has many clubs, discos, various show programs. Most of the island's parties are concentrated in the Patong area.
Nightlife on Koh Samui is not as intense, there are fewer discos and clubs. Basically, all nightlife entertainment facilities are located in the Chaweng and Lamai areas.
But not far from Koh Samui is the island of Koh Phangan, where every month the well-known is held, where young people come from all over the world. You won't find anything like it in Phuket.
Prices
The cost of food, clothing and other things in Phuket and Koh Samui is almost the same. But prices for housing, transport, excursions, beach activities and other tourist services in Phuket are higher. However, when choosing between these two resorts, one should not forget that there are no direct flights from Russia to Koh Samui, you will have to fly with a transfer, so a flight to Koh Samui will cost more.
Weather
In Phuket, from May to October, a strong wind blows, it rains almost every day, there are big waves on the sea. Therefore, this weather is in no way conducive to a beach holiday. It is worth flying to Phuket during the season from November to April.
On Koh Samui, even in the wet season, you can relax on the beach and swim in the sea. It rains the most on Koh Samui in October and November, in these two months it is better to refrain from traveling to this island. The rest of the time Samui will please you with sunny and clear weather. The most favorable time of the year is January-May.
Pros of Phuket
- White sand beaches with clear water.
- Well-developed infrastructure: many shopping centers, big choice hotels, restaurants, bars, cafes and entertainment.
- More vibrant nightlife.
- There are direct flights from Russia to Phuket.
- Shopping is more developed than on Koh Samui.
- Large selection of island excursions.
Cons of Phuket
- There are practically no deserted and deserted beaches.
- Prices are higher than on Koh Samui.
- No hotels by the sea, mostly all across the road.
- Pronounced rainy season and big waves on the sea.
Pros of Koh Samui
- Quite a large selection of attractions and entertainment.
- Many shopping centers, restaurants, cafes, bars, but less than in Phuket.
- More greenery and natural areas.
- Lots of hotels on the beach.
- The prices are lower.
- There are no big waves, you can relax and swim in the sea even in the rainy season.
Cons of Koh Samui
- Ticket prices are higher.
- There are no direct flights from Russia, you will have to travel with a transfer.
Which island is better to choose?
You should opt for Phuket if:
- Do you like the city atmosphere more?
- Do you need a vibrant nightlife?
- Do you love shopping
- Do you like surfing and want to ride the waves?
You should choose Koh Samui if:
- Do you want a relaxing beach holiday
- Do you eat with small children
- Are you tired of the bustle of the city?
- Do you want to relax in Thailand during the rainy season from May to September
Summing up, we can say that Phuket is a resort with a developed infrastructure and more of an urban than an island atmosphere. And Koh Samui is a calm island with clean and quiet beaches, but at the same time there are large shopping centers, markets, a wide selection of hotels, cafes and restaurants. Which island to choose is up to you. But it is better to visit both and draw your own conclusions.
I wish you a great holiday and unforgettable experiences!
Almost every tourist who is going to relax on the islands of Thailand naturally asks himself this question. Of course, there is no single answer to this complex question, but still Additional Information to make a decision on the preference of Koh Samui or Phuket, obviously it will not be superfluous.
Indeed, literally each of the islands of Thailand has its own “zest”, its pros and cons, about which a lot has been written on our website. And yet, let's try to answer this difficult question and compare holidays in Phuket and Koh Samui.
What are the main differences between Phuket and Koh Samui?
Differences in the weather.
Here you need to focus on the time of arrival of the rainy season. At this time, the sea is relatively cool, quite large waves are often observed, during which swimming may even be prohibited, it often rains for a short time. The difference between Phuket and Samui in terms of climate is that the beaches of Phuket are located on the side of the Andaman Sea, and the rainy season here lasts from May to October.
Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and the rainy season here lasts from November to February.
Therefore, it is necessary to look where during your vacation there will be more comfortable weather and a calmer sea.
Which is easier to get to.
Of course, Phuket is the leader in this matter, which has its own airport and good transport links with the mainland of Thailand.
The airport on Koh Samui accepts only local flights, and mainly sea transport is used here, which may not be to everyone's taste.
Where is the sea better - in Phuket or on Koh Samui?
Here it is difficult to give primacy to one of the islands, although in each case the sea still has its own characteristics.
Everywhere the sea is simply wonderful, even on the most touristic beaches. We have already mentioned the rainy season and the problems with waves during this period. In Phuket, swimming on many beaches is prohibited at this time. Therefore, holidays with children during the rainy season in Phuket are highly undesirable.
Even on Patong Beach, which is famous for its calm sea due to its location, the sea is restless at this time. Only surfers can rejoice at this, of which there are many in Phuket at this time.
On the island of Koh Samui, there are almost no high waves during the rainy season, but there is another misfortune - frequent and strong low tides, in which the water leaves the coast for a hundred or more meters, and the sea becomes rather shallow. Of course, this is only a joy for children, but adults have to wade knee-deep in water quite far to swim.
And in the normal season - the sea is excellent both on Koh Samui and Phuket.
What can be said about the beaches of Phuket and Koh Samui?
Both there and there are both crowded and completely secluded beaches. You can read more about them in the materials on our website about Phuket beaches and Koh Samui beaches. Everywhere you can find a beach to your liking with all the amenities included - umbrellas, sunbeds, palm trees, sand.
However, there is one “but” - in Phuket there are almost no hotels located on the seafront, on the first line. There is almost always an asphalt road between the hotel and the sea. And although there are almost no cars driving along it, you won’t be able to leave the hotel directly to the beach. There are no bungalows standing on the seashore. Most resorts consist of multi-storey buildings.
On Koh Samui, the road passes behind the line of hotels, so there are no problems described above. Quite a lot of bungalows and houses right on the beach, which is an absolute plus for this island.
In general, we can say that the beaches on Koh Samui will be more beautiful, although picturesque corners are not uncommon in Phuket.
Where is cheaper vacation?
Of course, Phuket can be called the most expensive island in Thailand.
Prices in hotels on Koh Samui will be lower, but still not so much that it becomes a decisive argument in your choice. The differences are not very big, and if you go for a long time (for a month), then there is almost no difference. On average, a hotel room will cost 5-6 thousand baht.
But the prices for everything else - food, entertainment, massage, etc. are about the same everywhere.
Where is the best place to shop?
Of course, Phuket is in the lead here because of the best transport links to the mainland. There are several large shopping centers where you can get acquainted with branded collections and even get tangible discounts on them.
Shopping on Koh Samui is limited to one BigC hypermarket and many small shops with a traditional souvenir and T-shirt assortment.
Where should you go with kids?
With children, it is better to relax where there is a clean beach, a gentle descent into the sea, there are entertainment in the hotel (slides, children's rooms) and there is an opportunity to get additional entertainment(elephant riding, zoo). All this is available both on Koh Samui and Phuket. The kids will be fine on any of these islands, don't miss the rainy season alone.
How about nightlife?
Patong Beach in Phuket is a little Pattaya with WalkingStreet. Incendiary parties, discos, go-go, various bars for every taste - a guarantee that you will not be bored. Phuket is out of competition here.
Koh Samui is much quieter in this regard, but Chaweng Beach will also offer nightlife lovers a variety of entertainment. From Koh Samui, you can also go to Thailand's main party - Full Moon Party (takes place on Koh Phangan, on a full moon). Here Phuket was not even close!
What about other entertainment?
There will be more attractions in Phuket - temples, excursions to the neighboring islands of Racha Noi, Phi Phi, James Bond Island, dive tours to the Similan Islands.
There are no special attractions on Koh Samui, and the island itself is small. You can go to the neighboring islands of Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.
Where is the quietest place?
It is traditionally believed that Koh Samui is more suitable for a calm, quiet and secluded holiday.
Only 50 minutes (land transport - bus and ferry in total will take at least 7 hours).
In this article, we will try to compare in detail and answer the question: “Which is better - Phuket or Koh Samui?” And give recommendations on which categories of tourists this or that place is suitable for. We will analyze everything point by point, and then we will give recommendations.
Which is easier to get to: Koh Samui or Phuket?
Here the leader is undoubtedly the island of Phuket, since there are direct flights to it from Russia (from Moscow, the flight time is 9 hours). Although Koh Samui also has an airport, it is small and only accepts local flights. In a way, it is private as it is owned by Bangkok Airways, which charges rather high ticket prices.
In April 2012, the Thai newspaper Bangkok Post reported that it was planned to build a new international airport, 14 km from the old. And flights from almost all countries of the world will be carried out to it. At the same time, the mayor of Koh Samui claims in a local newspaper that there is no flat place on the island for a new airport, and a lot of money will have to be allocated for leveling the hills and this is not profitable. What will come of this, the future will show. If it does appear, then to the question: Which is better - Koh Samui or Phuket in terms of accessibility, it will be the first island, since it takes 15-20 minutes to drive from the airport to the main beaches. While from getting to the main beaches - Patong, and - at least 45 minutes.
Sea features
Both there and there everything is ok with it, it is clean even on popular and crowded beaches. But from May to October, there are often high waves and red flags stick out on the coast, warning that swimming is unsafe. Of course, if you are a good swimmer and will not swim far, then you can splash on the waves. But if you are driving, then he will have to be on the shore all the time, since meter waves are clearly not for children. Moreover, there are waves even in Patong, which is considered one of the calmest due to the peculiarities of its location. This time is good for surfers, not for a beach holiday. The island is washed by the Andaman Sea, which is part of the ocean. Because of this, in 2004 there was a devastating tsunami, after which early warning equipment was installed about the impending disaster.
But on Koh Samui there are practically no high waves. But here another misfortune happens - frequent low tides from May to October, during which the water goes far from the coast (a hundred meters) and the sea becomes quite shallow. It's great for kids, but it can be annoying for adults to walk hundreds of meters to finally swim up to their necks in water. Phuket does not suffer from this.
Party and secluded beaches
On both islands there are party beaches, and, practically, “wild” ones.
On Koh Samui, even on the most popular ones - Chaweng and Lamai - there are few people. There are more people in Phuket. Both Koh Samui and Phuket have all the conditions for relaxation - sunbeds, sun umbrellas, White sand, sprawling palm trees.
Comparison of Phuket and Koh Samui by hotels
The main disadvantage of Phuket is the almost complete absence of hotels on the first line, since an asphalt road runs between them and the sea. Even on the relatively wild beaches that are located in the northwest (, ) there is still asphalt, although motorbikes and cars hardly drive on it. The only exception is a few isolated beaches in the south, next to. Here there are small bungalows right on the coast. True, this coast is only 50 meters long.
On Koh Samui, it is exactly the opposite. Although there is also a ring road, it does not pass near the sea. There are hotels on the beaches, and the highway begins behind them. This is an indisputable plus of the island, because. many tourists want their house to be right on the beach.
Phuket is dominated by hotels with several floors and buildings, and on Koh Samui there are a lot of bungalows and detached houses.
As for the prices of hotels in Phuket, they are generally more expensive, although if you try, you can find cheap accommodation. If you rent for a month, then the prices are almost the same - on both islands you can rent a room for 5000-6000 baht.
Climate
If we compare what is better than Phuket or Koh Samui in terms of climate, then the choice will be the second. Phuket generally has a very pronounced rainy season. From May to October, the sun can be behind the clouds all week, rain - every other day or every day (though only 1-2 hours), waves on the sea, God forbid! But on Koh Samui at this time it is much calmer, a large amount of precipitation falls only in October-November, so this is a good place to relax in the "wet" season, which lasts in Thailand from May to November.
Prices
Phuket is traditionally considered the most expensive resort Thailand, but this only applies to prices for hotels and taxis. Everything else is not so expensive - food, massage, motorbike rental. Almost all beaches go to (the capital of the island) public buses, where the fare is from 25 to 50 baht.
And in the capital you can see, climb on, visit the night market and the largest shopping center of the island - Central Festival. Not far from it is Tesco Lotus, where, for example, they sell big fish for 17 baht, a kilogram of chicken legs for 60 baht. So in terms of food, Phuket is not that expensive.
As for housing in Phuket, you can also find inexpensive offers for 400-500 baht per day and 4000-5000 baht per month (naturally not near the sea).
shopping
If you answer the question what to choose Phuket or Koh Samui in terms of stores, then definitely Phuket. There are large shopping centers here - Central Festival, Jung Ceylon, Robinson, not to mention a bunch of Tesco Lotus and Big C. Here you can buy everything, absolutely everything! Souvenirs, latex, jewelry, appliances, iPhones, laptops, phones, etc.
There are few shopping centers on Koh Samui. Of course, the choice of goods is noticeably worse. But if your goal is to buy in Thailand on the cheap, then it’s better to settle in Pattaya or Bangkok altogether - the prices there are the lowest in the country.
Entertainment
Here Phuket has no equal. On Patong Beach, in the area of \u200b\u200bthe street (and on it itself) are all the main parties of the island. There are about a dozen, a bunch of bars (sports, drinking, live music), Go-Go bars, restaurants, all kinds of shows, a lot of interesting things for single men. If you are a party animal and love nightlife then your choice is definitely Phuket.
On Koh Samui, entertainment is mainly present in the Chaweng beach area and to a lesser extent in Lamai. But after sunset, life here is not in full swing as it is in Phuket. Fewer bars and discos, but in general less of everything.
But everything changes when every month there are parties full moon(Fool Moon Party) on Koh Phangan - the island next to Koh Samui. It is very easy to get to and then you can participate in a grand open-air rave - Phuket never dreamed of such a thing! Thousands of people from all over the world are bobbing to techno music. Basically, all the tusa is on the beach of Haad Rin, which is the closest to Koh Samui.
There are more water activities in Phuket, although not on all beaches.
Where are the best excursions in Phuket or Koh Samui
Phuket has more interesting sights, including temples. Plus, from here you can go to the neighboring islands (Racha, Yao, a little further - Lanta) and resorts (,). Diving tours are also popular, for example, to the Similan and Surin Islands. You can get to all of them quite quickly, since Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, along which buses and minivans run to the nearest resorts.
But Koh Samui is located one and a half hours from the mainland, and in fact there is nothing particularly interesting in this part of Thailand. On the island itself there are attractions, albeit a little. Trips to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao are popular.
Ecology
There are fewer cars and motorcycles on Koh Samui, and there is actually only one main road. The central part is occupied by the jungle. All tourist areas of the island are more like small villages with 1-3-storey buildings.
There are fewer forests in Phuket, and more transport. There is no smell of villages here, all resorts are full of 5-8-story buildings, some have skyscrapers.
Diving
From Phuket it is easy to go to the most popular islands of Thailand for diving: Similan, Surin and others. The world of the Andaman Sea is considered richer than that of the Gulf of Thailand. From Koh Samui they go to the island of Tao - there are also quite a lot of coral reefs with exotic inhabitants.
Family holidays with children
On Koh Samui and Phuket, there are calm non-party beaches where you can relax with children (although there are still more of them on the first one). There are zoos, all kinds of shows of crocodiles, elephants, snakes. There will be something to do.
Long stay: where is better Koh Samui or Phuket
If the sea, sparsely populated beaches and "bounty" are important to you, then it is better to hang out on Koh Samui for a long time (from a month). If you prefer proximity to civilization and well-developed infrastructure, then Phuket. In principle, both there and there you can stay for a lifetime, there are all conditions for this - inexpensive guesthouses and separately standing houses, restaurants, shops, markets, bars, nightlife, for men - affordable girls.
Total: what is better in Thailand than Koh Samui or Phuket?
Pros of Phuket: well-developed infrastructure with hotels, bars, nightclubs, restaurants and shops; a lot of entertainment and excursions; easy to get from Russia; the best opportunities for shopping and diving.
Cons of Phuket: from May to October there are often rains and many waves on the sea; there are practically no hotels on the first line; higher prices; worse ecology.
Pros of Koh Samui: more greenery and untouched nature; full of hotels on the first line; prices are slightly lower; the climate is better, you can relax even in the rainy season.
Cons of Koh Samui: there are no direct flights from Russia, which means you will have to get there with a transfer in Bangkok or Phuket; less opportunities for shopping, excursions, entertainment and diving.
For you, Phuket is better than Koh Samui if you...
a budget tourist, since there are direct flights from Russia (accommodation prices are not much more expensive than Koh Samui); an active person who loves nightlife; a lonely man in search of exotic entertainment; shopaholic; diver or surfer.
Koh Samui is better than Phuket for you if you...
want a relaxing holiday in the bosom of nature and are tired of the fast rhythm of large resorts; Gathered to rest in Thailand during the rainy season (May - October).
When traveling to Thailand, tourists often cannot decide on the choice of a suitable island, the task becomes more complicated even if you have been to Thailand at least once. It is doubly difficult for those who are going to Thailand for the first time.
Usually travelers prefer the exotic islands of Koh Samui or Phuket, which are the most popular in Thailand. By the way, Phuket is the most big Island as part of the Kingdom, and just behind him along the area is Koh Samui. To decide where to go, it is worth considering the features of recreation on both islands.
Route
To Phuket
First you need to get to know the features of the route to the resorts better. You can consider the pros and cons of Phuket - Koh Samui, how to get to destinations.
There are often direct flights to Phuket from Moscow. Phuket is connected to the mainland by a bridge, because it is located at a short distance from it. They get there by land or air, almost completely excluding the way by water.
On Koh Samui
Koh Samui is the second largest island in the country. You can get to Koh Samui from Bangkok by land or by water in about 15 hours, which is a very inconvenient way. It is best to fly from the capital of Thailand by plane in just 1.5 hours. There are no direct flights to the island, only local airlines, such as Airasia, fly to Koh Samui.
Phuket or Koh Samui
When thinking about what to choose: Phuket or Koh Samui, it is worth comparing beach holiday on two islands. The beach line of Koh Samui is covered with many cafes, bars, hotels. In Phuket, most hotels are located across the road from the beach. Also, the disadvantage of Phuket is that due to the road passing close to the beach, the exotic and secluded holidays are significantly spoiled.
Koh Samui
The downside of Koh Samui can be called too many low tides in May-October, as a result of which the luxurious beaches become shallow, and it becomes difficult to swim in them. For Phuket, this is typical only from the east coast, so there are almost no tourists there. In the summer months, you can’t swim on the island, since there are strong waves in Phuket at this time, and the rains are intensifying - not really a season for relaxing in Phuket in the summer, in fact.
Natural conditions at one time or another must be taken into account when deciding where to go: Koh Samui or Phuket. Koh Samui can be visited in the summer, because the rainy season there lasts only from October to November. In Phuket, tropical showers last from May to October.
Attractions
Combined tour
Modern travel agencies offer travelers combined Phuket-Samui tours, which will be very popular with those who fly to Thailand for the first time. The average cost of such tours is 50,000 - 60,000 rubles and depends on the duration of the trip, as well as on hotels. First, they fly direct to Phuket, spend a few days there, and then get to Koh Samui via Phuket by bus and ferry. During such a trip, it will be possible to independently compare the rest on two luxurious islands.
shopping
There is no doubt that shopping in Phuket is extensive: there are many large shopping centers. It is possible to buy almost everything - things, gifts, souvenirs, mobile phones, jewelry, leather goods, shoes, handicrafts.
There are fewer shopping places on Koh Samui and the choice of shopping is less diverse.
Ecology
In terms of ecology: there is less transport on Koh Samui, and there is only one main road. The central part is occupied by the jungle. The tourist zones of the island are more like a village with two or three storey houses. In Phuket, the flora is poorer and there are more vehicles. And rental houses are mostly five to eight stories high.
Both islands have many beaches. On Koh Samui, as a rule, there are not many people on the beaches. In Phuket, the beaches are more lively. Both Koh Samui and Phuket have all the conditions for relaxation - sun loungers, parasols, white sand, sprawling palm trees.
On Phuket - multi-storey hotels, on Koh Samui - a lot of bungalows and small houses.
In Phuket, you can find places to stay for 400/500 baht per day and 4000/5000 baht per month - but not by the sea.
If you rent housing for a month, then the prices are basically the same on both islands - about 5000/6000 baht.