Koh Samui and Koh Chang are both incredible islands off the coast of Thailand. They each offer their own unique experiences and are definitely a must add to your holiday itinerary.
Deciding whether to visit Koh Samui or Koh Chang depends entirely on your budget, and what kind of holiday you hope to have while in Thailand. Koh Samui is more developed and features incredible luxury resorts, while Koh Chang offers a unique, backpackers experience.
Before planning your holiday and deciding on which lands to visit in Thailand, it is best to work out what your budget is and what holiday you’d like to experience. Koh Samui and Koh Chang both offer exceptional experiences for tourists.
Why Visit Koh Samui?
Koh Samui is an island nestled inside the Gulf of Thailand. It is Thailand’s third largest island and is 700 kms away from Bangkok. Koh Samui features incredible beaches, luxury resorts and fine dining experiences.
It hosts a beach holiday that is perfect to relax and wind down in. Koh Samui has 12 beaches. Some of its beaches are only accessible to guests of the hotel where the beach is situated, but there is no shortage of beaches to choose from.
The most popular beaches at Koh Samui include Chaweng Beach – which claims to be Koh Samui’s best beach and Lamai Beach which is the second largest beach and is best known for its peaceful beach experience.
Koh Samui is not as easily accessible as other islands as it is further away from Bangkok however you can fly into the islands small airport, or catch a ferry or catamaran across the waters. Flights to Koh Samui are slightly more expensive by Thai standards.
Once in Koh Samui, the most popular form of transport across the island is songthaew – which is pickup trucks with benches in the backseat. There are taxi’s available which are more expensive or you can hire a motorbike or car to get around the island.
Koh Samui is slightly more expensive than the mainland but it is relatively still an affordable holiday destination. It has luxury resorts, hotels, incredible villas, hostels and Airbnb’s to choose from when deciding where to stay.
Resorts, hotels and villas are more expensive options when it comes to accommodation but they are well worth their price. Resorts and hotels often offer all-inclusive deals which makes the price tag more worth it. These options are more ideal for families and couples on intimate holidays.
Airbnb’s and hostels are cheaper options when choosing accommodation and these are best suited to solo travellers or young couples. You may have less access to luxury amenities and facilities, however Airbnb has incredible accommodations listed and is worth exploring.
When it comes to food in Koh Samui there is no shortage of fine dining experiences, bars, local Thai food, fast food joints and mid-range restaurants. Food is affordable and an average 3 course meal at a mid-range restaurant will cost you about $13 per person.
The best time to visit Koh Samui is between April to October as this is when the weather is at its peak. It is not too hot and not too rainy, although this is the tourist high season and it may be crowded.
There is an abundance of activities for anyone to do on the island like parasailing, jet skiing and kayaking. You can visit pig island and go snorkelling with pigs, or hire a private island excursion.
Beach and bar hopping is another tourist favourite activity. Although Koh Samui is known to be a quieter tourist destination, it still hosts a showstopping nightlife experience.
You absolutely won’t regret visiting Koh Samui.
Why Visit Koh Chang?
Koh Chang is the largest island off of Thailands coast in the Gulf of Thailand. It is 300 km away from Bangkok and accessible by bus, airplane or ferry. A plane onto the island is the quickest but most expensive option.
Getting around Koh Chang is easy as songthaew are cheap and always available, or you can rent a motorbike or car. There are taxi’s available but these are slightly more expensive in comparison.
Koh Chang is less developed than Phuket or even Koh Samui. It was a popular destination for backpackers but Thailand’s government has since prioritised developing more resorts and hotels.
Hostels are a more popular option when staying in Koh Chang but there are a few hotels to choose from. There are even luxury beach huts available to stay in. No matter what your budget is, you’ll be guaranteed to find accommodation to your specifications.
The west coast is where the islands most popular resorts and beaches are found. White Sand Beach is the islands most popular beach and is bustling with tourist activity. Klong Prao and Kai Bae Beach are other popular locations.
Koh Chang has a mix of adventurous activities such as hiking, kayaking, snorkelling, trekking and diving. The waterfalls within Koh Chang are a favourite tourist destination. For a calmer activity you can take a Thai cooking class or spend the day in the spa.
There are 46 islands within Koh Chang and island hopping is a popular activity to do.
Street food in Koh Chang is easily found and absolutely delicious. Vendors in White Beach are well known for their street food. The meals include noodles, rice, curry, fried snacks and meat.
The food stalls in Klong Prao are also well known for their delicious meals. For more fine dining options you can visit the restaurants along White Sand Beach.
Koh Chang is a highly recommend holiday destinations for those who like exploring the beaten path.
In Conclusion:
Koh Samui and Koh Chong are incredible tourist destinations. Koh Samui is more developed and has more availability of luxury resorts and hotels. Both islands aren’t easily accessible but Koh Chong is closer to the mainland then Koh Samui.
In order to get to Koh Samui or Koh Chong you can book a flight or take a ferry into the islands. Koh Samui has beautiful, intimate beaches and activities for tourists to do. It is well known as a relaxing vacation spot.
It has a mixture of luxury resorts, hostels and Airbnb’s to suit any budget. There are a total of 12 beaches to choose from – however some are only accessible to hotel guests. Koh Samui is ideal for couples and families.
You can still experience adventure here with parasailing and kayaking. Visiting the Buddha Temple is a must-do activity in order to experience the religious traditions of the locals and those visiting the Buddha Temple to make offerings.
Food is easily available throughout Koh Samui and you have your pick of street food and fine dining options. It is highly recommended that you have cocktails on the beachfront at sunset.
Koh Chang is also an incredible destination to visit and has famously been more popular among backpackers. In recent years it has become more developed as the Thailand government has put emphasis on this.
There are an abundance of hostels and hotels available to fit into your budget, and endless activities to experience. You can go island hopping between Koh Chang’s 46 islands, kayaking, parasailing or hiking throughout the island.
You can relax on Koh Chang’s incredible beaches. Visiting White Beach is highly recommended – and their street food is raved about.
