Chaweng
Chaweng Beach
Samui’s longest and liveliest beach: soft white sand, clear water, beach clubs, restaurants and nightlife behind it.
13 villas nearbyIsland guide
Things to do on Koh Samui & Koh Phangan
Our favourite beaches, sights, day trips and places to eat on both islands — with the villas closest to each. New to the area?Here’s how to get here.
Last checked September 2026. Opening times, boat timetables and party dates change — check before you go.
Island 1 of 2
Koh Samui
Our home island: long white beaches, golden temples, island-hopping day trips and some of the best places to eat in Thailand.
Beaches · Koh Samui
Each stretch of coast has its own character — pick your villa by the kind of beach day you want.
Lamai
Lamai Beach
A relaxed alternative to Chaweng with a long sandy bay, good swimming at the northern end and plenty of places to eat.
3 villas nearbyBophut & Fisherman's Village
Bophut Beach
Calm water in front of Fisherman’s Village, with views across to Koh Phangan and beachfront restaurants.
18 villas nearbyMaenam
Maenam Beach
Long, quiet and uncrowded, with gentle water and a laid-back village feel — a favourite for families and long stays.
32 villas nearbyChoeng Mon
Choeng Mon
A sheltered crescent in the north-east with calm, shallow water — good for swimming and paddleboarding.
10 villas nearbyChaweng Noi
Silver Beach (Crystal Bay)
A small cove of white sand and boulders between Chaweng and Lamai, great for snorkelling on calm days.
6 villas nearbyLipa Noi
Lipa Noi
On the quiet west coast: shallow, calm water and some of the best sunsets on the island.
1 villa nearbyBang Por
Bang Po
A peaceful northern beach known for its seafood restaurants on the sand and views of Koh Phangan.
35 villas nearbySights & temples · Koh Samui
Cover your shoulders and knees at temples, and take your shoes off before going inside.
Bang Rak & Big Buddha
Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai)
Samui’s landmark: a 12-metre golden Buddha on a small islet joined to the shore by a causeway, beautiful at sunset.
7 villas nearbyPlai Laem
Wat Plai Laem
A colourful temple set on a lake, with a striking 18-armed statue of Guanyin. Feed the fish from the walkways.
29 villas nearbyLamai
Hin Ta & Hin Yai
The “Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks” — famously suggestive rock formations at the southern end of Lamai, with souvenir stalls and coconut sweets nearby.
3 villas nearbyHua Thanon
Wat Khunaram
Home to the mummified monk Luang Pho Daeng, seated in meditation since the 1970s — a fascinating stop on a south-coast drive.
3 villas nearbyLamai
Secret Buddha Garden
Also called the Magic Garden: statues hidden in jungle high in the hills. The road up is very steep — go by 4×4 or with a tour.
3 villas nearbyNature & day trips · Koh Samui
Some of the best of Samui is just off the coast. Boat trips run most of the year but can be cancelled in rough weather.
Nathon
Ang Thong National Marine Park
An archipelago of 42 limestone islands — kayaking, snorkelling, a viewpoint hike and an emerald saltwater lake. A full-day trip by speedboat or big boat.
Good to know: The park usually closes to visitors for part of November and December.
1 villa nearbyNa Mueang
Na Muang Waterfalls
Two waterfalls in the jungle of the south: Na Muang 1 is right by the road with a swimming pool; Na Muang 2 is a short, steep walk higher up.
2 villas nearbyLaem Sor
Koh Madsum & Koh Tan
Small islands off the south coast with quiet beaches and snorkelling — easy half-day trips by longtail boat.
1 villa nearbyMaenam
Koh Phangan & Koh Tao
Day trips for snorkelling and diving around Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan, or a hop across to Koh Phangan’s beaches.
32 villas nearbyMarkets & evenings out · Koh Samui
The weekly walking streets are the best way to try local food and pick up gifts — go hungry.
Bophut & Fisherman's Village
Fisherman’s Village Walking Street
Every Friday evening the old Chinese shophouses of Bophut fill with food stalls, crafts and live music — Samui’s best-loved market.
18 villas nearbyMaenam
Maenam Walking Street
Thursday evenings in Maenam village: a local, less touristy market with great street food.
32 villas nearbyLamai
Lamai Walking Street
Sunday evenings in Lamai town, with food, clothes and souvenirs.
3 villas nearbyChaweng
Chaweng nightlife
Beach clubs, bars and late-night venues along Chaweng Beach Road — the island’s party hub, with a night market for late food.
13 villas nearbyThings to do · Koh Samui
Plenty to fill a week between pool days at the villa.
Chaweng
Thai cooking class
Learn to make curries, som tam and pad thai — many classes start with a morning market tour. Some chefs will even cook at your villa.
13 villas nearbyBophut & Fisherman's Village
Spa & Thai massage
From beach-side massage huts to luxury resort spas. Many villas can arrange a therapist to come to you.
18 villas nearbyBang Rak & Big Buddha
Diving & snorkelling
Dive schools on Samui run trips to the reefs around Koh Tao, Sail Rock and Ang Thong — Koh Tao is one of the world’s most popular places to learn.
7 villas nearbyBang Rak & Big Buddha
Boat charters
Private speedboats, catamarans and yachts for island-hopping, fishing or a sunset cruise — ideal for villa groups.
7 villas nearbyMaenam
Golf
Santiburi Samui Country Club in the hills above Maenam has a scenic 18-hole course with sea views.
32 villas nearbyChaweng
Muay Thai
Watch a fight night in Chaweng, or train at one of the island’s gyms — beginners are welcome.
13 villas nearbyPlaces to eat · Koh Samui
From market stalls to hilltop fine dining. Opening days change with the seasons, so check or book ahead.
Hua Thanon
Krua Chao Baan
Relaxed, great-value Thai seafood by the sea on the south-east coast, recognised with a Michelin Bib Gourmand.
3 villas nearbyBang Por
Bang Po seafood
Simple beachfront restaurants serving the day’s catch — choose your fish and eat with your toes in the sand.
35 villas nearbyChaweng Noi
The Jungle Club
A hilltop restaurant and bar with sweeping views over Chaweng and Lamai. The road is very steep — take their shuttle from the bottom.
6 villas nearbyChaweng Noi
Dr Frogs
Thai and international food on a clifftop terrace overlooking Chaweng Bay — a classic for a sunset dinner.
6 villas nearbyBophut & Fisherman's Village
Coco Tam’s
Bean bags on the sand, cocktails, pizza and nightly fire shows in Fisherman’s Village.
18 villas nearbyChaweng
Tree Tops Sky Dining
Fine dining at Anantara Lawana, with tables set in private treehouse pods — one for a special occasion.
13 villas nearbyMaenam
Street food & markets
The cheapest and often the best: grilled chicken, pad thai, mango sticky rice and fresh fruit at the walking streets and roadside stalls.
32 villas nearbyIsland 2 of 2
Koh Phangan
Samui’s wilder little sister, just across the water: jungle, waterfalls, quiet coves — and the famous Full Moon Party. An easy day trip from a Samui villa, or a stay of its own.
Getting there from Samui: From Samui, high-speed boats (Lomprayah, Seatran Discovery) run from Maenam and Bangrak piers to Thong Sala in about 20–30 minutes, and the Haad Rin Queen sails from Big Buddha pier to Haad Rin in about 50 minutes. Boats fill up around the Full Moon Party — book ahead.
Beaches · Koh Phangan
From party beaches to coves you can only reach by boat.
Koh Phangan
Haad Rin Nok (Sunrise Beach)
The home of the Full Moon Party: a long sweep of sand on the southern tip, lively all year with bars and restaurants behind it.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Thong Nai Pan Noi
A picture-perfect horseshoe bay in the north-east with soft sand, calm water and a small village of cafés and boutique resorts.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Bottle Beach (Haad Khuad)
A secluded cove on the north coast, backed by jungle — one of the island’s most beautiful beaches.
Good to know: Most people arrive by longtail boat from Chaloklum; the road is very steep and rough.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Mae Haad & Koh Ma
At low tide a sandbar joins Mae Haad beach to the little island of Koh Ma — walk across and snorkel over the coral just offshore.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Haad Salad
A sheltered bay on the north-west coast with clear, shallow turquoise water — great for families and swimming.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Haad Yao
A long, sandy west-coast beach with deeper water for swimming and some of the best sunsets on the island.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Sri Thanu & Zen Beach
A laid-back west-coast village known for yoga and wellness, with a small rocky beach where people gather to watch the sunset.
5 villas nearbySights & nature · Koh Phangan
Most of Phangan is protected jungle — wear proper shoes and bring water and insect repellent for the trails.
Koh Phangan
Than Sadet Waterfall
A series of falls and rock pools on the east coast, visited over the years by several Thai kings, who carved their initials into the rocks.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Phaeng Waterfall & Domsila Viewpoint
In the national park in the middle of the island: a short walk to the waterfall, then a steeper trail up to sweeping views over the west coast.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Khao Ra
The island’s highest peak — a tough jungle hike to the top for views across to Samui and Koh Tao. Best done with a local guide.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Wat Phu Khao Noi
Thought to be the oldest temple on the island, in the hills above Thong Sala — a peaceful stop away from the beaches.
5 villas nearbyFull Moon & nightlife · Koh Phangan
Phangan’s parties are world-famous — but the rest of the island stays calm, even on party nights.
Koh Phangan
Full Moon Party
Thousands of people dance on Haad Rin beach through the night once a month, around the full moon. An experience — even if you only go once.
Good to know: Dates move with the moon (and around Buddhist holidays), so check them before you book. Boats and transfers sell out.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Half Moon Festival
A big electronic music party in the jungle near Ban Tai, held twice a month around the half moon.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Sunset sessions
The west coast is the place for sunset — beach bars and hillside viewpoints fill up with music as the sun goes down.
5 villas nearbyMarkets & food · Koh Phangan
Thong Sala, the main town by the pier, is the place to eat well for very little.
Koh Phangan
Thong Sala Walking Street
Every Saturday evening the streets of Thong Sala close to traffic and fill with food stalls, crafts, clothes and live music.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Thong Sala food market
A nightly market near the pier: pad thai, grilled seafood, curries, fresh fruit shakes and Thai desserts.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Chaloklum seafood
A traditional fishing village on the north coast where simple restaurants serve the day’s catch by the water.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Healthy cafés of Sri Thanu
Vegan and vegetarian cafés, smoothie bowls and good coffee in the island’s yoga village.
5 villas nearbyThings to do · Koh Phangan
Plenty for a day trip from Samui — or a few days on the island.
Koh Phangan
Snorkelling & diving
Snorkel off Koh Ma, or dive Sail Rock between Phangan and Koh Tao — one of the best dive sites in the Gulf of Thailand.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Longtail boat trips
Hop around the north and east coasts by longtail boat to reach Bottle Beach, Than Sadet and coves the roads don’t go to.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Ang Thong Marine Park
Day trips to the Ang Thong islands also leave from Phangan — kayaking, snorkelling and a viewpoint hike.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Yoga & wellness retreats
Drop-in classes, breathwork, sound healing and full retreats, mostly around Sri Thanu on the west coast.
5 villas nearbyKoh Phangan
Muay Thai
Train at one of the island’s gyms — beginners are welcome — or watch a fight night.
5 villas nearbyMake a villa your base
Tell us what you’d like to do and we’ll suggest the best area and villa — and help with transfers, boat trips to Koh Phangan and a private chef.