Luxury Holidays to Koh Samui

Barefoot looks good on you.

There’s something wonderfully easy about Koh Samui.

Palm-fringed beaches, warm seas and jungle-covered hillsides set the scene, while some seriously beautiful hotels make it very tempting to forget whatever plans you had for exploring.

Days here can be as lazy or adventurous as you like. Take a boat between islands, discover hidden beaches, eat exceptionally well — or simply retreat to a private pool villa and decide that tomorrow will do.

Start planning your journey

Worth knowing before you book

Not warnings. Just the things we'd rather you knew before you arrived.

That hillside view comes with a hillside.
Some of Samui's most spectacular resorts involve steep terrain. Gorgeous for the view; worth thinking about with little legs, buggies or reduced mobility.

Not every beach behaves the same way.
Beach conditions vary around the island and throughout the year. If swimming from the beach matters to you, tell us.

Location changes the holiday.
There's a considerable difference between disappearing into a secluded resort and being somewhere you can easily wander out for dinner.

Your villa category matters.
Sometimes we'd rather upgrade the room than change the hotel.

A beautiful hotel isn’t enough

Koh Samui has plenty of them. But which one is right for you?

Beach or hillside?
Private pool or toes in the sand?
Secluded or somewhere you can wander out?
Sunrise or sunset?
Big resort or hidden retreat?
Kids’ club or grown-up escape?
Days exploring or barely leaving the villa?

And if you’re travelling with little ones: how many steps are there really?

In Koh Samui, two beautiful hotels can create two completely different holidays.

We’ll find the one that feels like yours.

“I ask myself, when it’s time to leave, would I want one more day?”

The resorts our clients are always returning to

  • Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui

    The one you won’t want to leave.

    Hidden amongst tropical hillside overlooking the Gulf of Thailand, Four Seasons is one of Samui's standout luxury resorts.

    Private pool villas are a big part of the appeal, but it's the combination of setting, service and seclusion that makes this one special.

  • Banyan Tree Samui

    Privacy comes with a sea view.

    Built around a private bay on the southeast coast, Banyan Tree combines the space of individual pool villas with the facilities of a larger luxury resort.

    A strong option when privacy matters but you still want plenty happening beyond your villa.

  • Six Senses Samui

    Luxury, with its shoes off

    Set on a headland at the northern tip of Koh Samui, Six Senses has the kind of views that make leaving your villa increasingly unlikely.

    The emphasis on wellness, sustainability and a more natural style of luxury gives it a very different personality from some of the island's more polished resorts.

  • Cape Fahn Samui

    Because your own island is better.

    Sitting on its own small private island just off Koh Samui, Cape Fahn brings a lovely sense of escape without sending you somewhere impossibly remote.

    One we'd consider for couples who like their luxury intimate, private and just a little bit special.

Frequently asked Koh Samui questions

  • Koh Samui's weather differs from Thailand's Andaman coast, which is one reason it's useful to look at individual Thai destinations rather than applying the same seasonal advice to the whole country.

    Generally, the island can be particularly appealing from December through the summer, while October and November tend to see more rainfall. As with any tropical destination, conditions can vary from year to year, so we'll consider your exact dates when recommending where to stay.

  • For a relaxing beach holiday, we'd usually look at around seven nights or more, particularly after travelling all the way from the UK.

    If Koh Samui forms part of a wider Thailand itinerary, it works beautifully as the slower ending after Bangkok, Chiang Mai or another more active destination. We'd generally rather give you enough time to properly enjoy the island than squeeze another stop into the itinerary simply because you can.

  • Neither is inherently better — they suit different trips.

    Koh Samui can feel more intimate and island-like, while Phuket offers a huge variety of hotels, restaurants and experiences and makes an excellent base for exploring the Andaman coast. Their seasonal weather patterns also differ.

    We'd choose between them based on your travel dates, hotel style, who's travelling and what you actually want to do once you arrive.

  • Absolutely. In fact, it's one of our favourite first-time Thailand combinations.

    Spend a few nights experiencing Bangkok's food, temples, markets and energy before flying to Koh Samui and changing pace completely. It gives you two very different sides of Thailand without trying to squeeze too many destinations into one holiday.

    For a longer journey, northern Thailand can also be added before finishing on the island.

  • There are no regular direct flights from the UK to Koh Samui, so the journey normally involves a connection.

    Bangkok is a natural routing and also creates the opportunity to spend a few nights in the city before continuing to the island. Other routings may also be possible depending on airline schedules.