Koh Samui - Tours and Excursions

Koh Samui is the third largest island of the country and one of the most popular holiday destinations in Thailand. For many tourists the tropical island is the first point of contact with the Thai islands, at least in the Gulf of Thailand.

While Koh Samui attracts many tourists and is therefore well developed, you can still discover many quiet places on the island. Koh Samui’s sights are diverse – some of them are very busy and yet others are very quiet.

Excursions and tours for Koh Samui and vicinity

Here are 5 interesting excursions and tours for Koh Samui to explore the coconut island. From well-known sights, beautiful island excursions to insider tips – they cover everything. Of course this is just a small overview, but most highlights of Koh Samui are covered here.

How to get to Koh Samui

The easiest and fastest way to Koh Samui is with a direct flight from Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore. The international airport of Koh Samui was built by Bangkok Airways and therefore the price for a flight ticket is kind of more expensive, because they preserve a monopoly – with a few exceptions.

It’s cheaper when you go to Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat on the mainland of Thailand. Airlines like AirAsia, Thai Lion Air and Nok Air fly to those cities from the Don Mueang airport in Bangkok. At the destination airport you can take a bus to the Donsak Pier or Tapee Pier and from there a ferry to Koh Samui.

You can find the cheapest flights to Koh Samui on Skyscanner. I absolutely can recommend Thai Lion Air by the way.

Note: Bus and train connections are also available if you want to arrive even cheaper. However, the travel time increases a lot. Tickets and information on times can be found at our partner 12go.asia.

Accommodation in Koh Samui – our hotel tip

One hotel where we felt comfortable from the very beginning was the Amari Koh Samui. If you want to stay at the beautiful Chaweng Beach, but not directly in the relatively busy center, the Amari is just right. Despite the central location you will have your peace – we liked it very much!

The hotel offers 2 swimming pools and beautiful, modern furnished rooms of different categories – depending on your budget. We definitely recommend this hotel and would stay there again anytime. Find more hotels on Koh Samui here.

1. Koh Samui: 7-Hour 4WD Wild Jungle Safari Tour

This island excursion with the name Koh Samui: 7-Hour 4WD Wild Jungle Safari Tour takes you to some of the most beautiful places around the island off the tropical beaches. Starting with the Grandfather and Grandmother Rock, a little bit south of Lamai. Hin Ta and Hin Yai, as the rocks are called in Thai, are one of the most visited sights of Koh Samui.

Afterwards you will visit the Wat Khunaram with the mummified monk and the 80-meter-high Namuang Waterfall 2. At the end of the waterfall there is a beautiful small natural pool, where you can cool off in the ice-cold water.

After a delicious lunch, you will go to the last two destinations. The Tarnim Magic Garden, also known as the Secret Buddha Garden and the Big Buddha, the landmark of Koh Samui. A great end to the tour before you are dropped off back at your hotel. Definitely one of the most popular Koh Samui tours.

Here you can book the Koh Samui: 7-Hour 4WD Wild Jungle Safari Tour Including Lunch.

2. Ang Thong Marine Park Day Trip by Big Boat from Samui

A boat trip to the Ang Thong Marine National Park is absolutely worth it. The islands of the national park are located close by Koh Samui in the western part of the Gulf of Thailand.

On this tour you will be picked up at your hotel on Koh Samui between 7.00 and 8.00 A.M. After a short drive to the port of Nathon and an instruction by the crew, the boat will leave around 8.30 A.M. to the Ang Thong Marine National Park while you can enjoy a light breakfast.

Your first stop will be for a short kayak ride around Koh Mae Koh, before visiting the island where the Emerald Lagoon is located. The way to the viewpoint is equipped with stairs and you can easily reach it. However, it can be a little bit exhausting in the heat of Thailand.

Furthermore, you can spend your time at the beautiful beach or visit the Lotus Cave and discover a few stalagmites and stalactites.

After a few relaxing hours at the beach, your afternoon will fade out with some coffee and tea aboard the boat during the return to Koh Samui. Around 4.30 P.M. you will arrive at your hotel.

Here you can book the Samui: Angthong National Marine Park Day Trip by Speed Boat.

3. Koh Samui: 4×4 Off Road Island Safari Tour

If you do the Koh Samui: 4×4 Off Road Island Safari Tour, you will be picked up at your hotel between 8.00 and 9.00 A.M. and drive with an off-road jeep into the mountains of the island.

Terrific 360 degree views of Koh Samui will reveal themselves during the ride, until you arrive at the first stop, the Wat Teepangkorn. A temple on the peak of Koh Samui’s highest mountain (Khao Pom). Here you can explore the temple and enjoy the views at the east coast of the island.

Afterwards, you will continue to the Tarnim Magic Garden with mystical statues in the middle of Koh Samui’s mountains. Next will be a lunch with a panoramic view before heading to the Coconut and Rubber Plantations to see how these products are processed on Koh Samui.

To cool off, the next stop is the Namuang Waterfall 2, which drops 80 meters and offers a small ice-cold natural pool at the end. Relax in the shades of the trees or take a cool refreshing bath.

The final stops are at the east coast, where you visit the Guan Yu Shrine. It was built for the Thai-Chinese locals and is dedicated to a great warrior. Also, you will stop at the famous Grandmother and Grandfather Rock, the rocks which resemble the human sexual characteristics. After a great day with many new impressions you will be taken back to your hotel.

Here you can book the Koh Samui: 4×4 Off Road Island Safari Tour.

4. Koh Samui: Snorkeling and Kayaking by Speedboat off Koh Taen and Koh Madsum

Both islands Koh Taen and Koh Madsum are situated in the south off the coast of Koh Samui and can be explored by a speedboat tour.

After your pick up from the hotel you will head to Bang Kao, where you board a speedboat to reach the island Koh Taen within 15 minutes. Here you will find a great protected coral reef with a rich marine life such as rays or even barracudas.

After that you will reach the neighboring island Koh Madsum in a few minutes. The tranquil island is perfect for swimming or just for lounging at the beach. The white sand beach offers great opportunities to take some pictures and if you prefer to be active, you can also go for a ride in the kayak.

Of course, you will have a delicious lunch directly at the beach to not starve during your trip. In the afternoon you go back to Koh Samui and to your hotel.

Here you can book the tour Koh Samui: snorkeling and kayaking by speedboat off Koh Taen and Koh Madsum.

5. Koh Nang Yuan Full-Day Catamaran Cruise and Snorkeling Tour

Koh Nang Yuan is a small island off Koh Tao, that is mostly visited on day trips. The full-day catamaran cruise with snorkeling on Koh Nang Yuan is a fantastic trip from Koh Samui.

Between 6.30 and 6.45 A.M. you will be picked up from your hotel and taken to the pier. After a light breakfast the boat departs around 8.00 A.M. to Koh Nang Yuan. The first snorkeling stop is in a secluded bay on Koh Tao.

You will arrive on Koh Nang Yuan around 11.30 A.M. After a lunch buffet you can explore the island, swim and go snorkeling. We definitely recommend the Koh Nang Yuan Viewpoint with a fantastic view at the sandbank between the three islands. But expect it to be crowded and you will probably have to queue up.

Around 3.00 P.M. you will leave back to Koh Samui and be dropped of at your hotel around 4.30 to 5.00 P.M. with a lot of wonderful impressions of Koh Nang Yuan.

Here you can book the Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan Day Trip by Speedboat.

As mentioned in the beginning, these excursions and tours on Koh Samui are only a small selection of the offered trips on the island. You can find even more choices with our partner GetYourGuide.

Find more exciting activities and to-dos in our articles like the Koh Samui beach guide or 7 free sightseeing tips for Koh Samui.

Koh Samui: the 3 most popular tours

Have you ever been on one of the Koh Samui tours? Which tour on Koh Samui could you recommend? Let us know in the comment section!