samui or phuket?
They're Thailand's two biggest islands and both do palm-lined beaches and resorts, so the choice often comes down to dates. Phuket, on the Andaman Sea, is best from November to April, while Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand, gets its heaviest rain around October to December and is good for most of the rest of the year.
ko samui
Dear group chat,Palm-fringed beaches, the Big Buddha and Fisherman's Village walking street.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingKo SamuiTH, Surat Thani
phuket
Dear group chat,Beaches, Old Town shophouses and island-hopping, all a short flight from KL.Read the guide →To: whoever’s drivingPhuketTH, Phuket
- From KL
- samuiAbout 730 km
- phuketAbout 640 km
- Best months
- samuiJan–Aug
- phuketNov–Apr
- Vibe
- samuiPalm-lined beaches with an easy-going feel
- phuketBigger and busier, with a beach for every mood
- Best season
- samuiJanuary to August; wettest October to December
- phuketNovember to April; rough seas from May
- Getting there
- samuiDirect when flights run, or change in Bangkok
- phuketAbout 1.5 hours' direct flight from KL
- Boat trips
- samuiAng Thong Marine Park, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao
- phuketPhi Phi, Phang Nga Bay and the Similans
- Nightlife
- samuiLively in Chaweng, quiet elsewhere
- phuketPatong is loud and goes on late
- How long
- samui4–5 days
- phuket4 days, 3 nights
Go samui if…
- you're travelling between May and August, when Phuket's sea is rough
- you'd like to island-hop on to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao
- kayaking and snorkelling in Ang Thong Marine Park sound good
- you want a quieter, more resort-style break
Go phuket if…
- you want the easiest flight from KL
- you're going in November or December, when Samui is at its wettest
- you want nightlife and plenty of choice
- you'd like an old town to wander as well as the beach
The verdict
The calendar does most of the deciding here. Phuket is the easier flight and the pick from November to April, while Samui is the one for a mid-year holiday when Phuket's west coast is rough. Can't decide? Between January and April both are good, so take the simpler flight to Phuket for a shorter trip, or go Samui if you have five days and want to hop to the other Gulf islands.