How to Spend 3 Days in Koh Samui, Thailand: Itinerary for First Timers
Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s most well-known islands, boasting beautiful beaches, ancient Buddhist temples, lush jungles with hidden waterfalls, bustling night markets, and vibrant nightlife. This was the first island I visited on my 3-week trip to Thailand this April, and it is definitely one of my favourite places we visited. This itinerary offers the perfect mix of culture, nature, and adventure. From golden temples and lush jungles to ziplining thrills and paradise islands, here’s the best way to spend 3 days in Koh Samui.
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Table of Contents
Where to Stay in Koh Samui
Chaweng
The first option is Chaweng, which is the liveliest and most touristy of the towns in Koh Samui. This is a great option for first-time visitors and if you want to experience the nightlife in Koh Samui. This is where one of the most beautiful beaches is, and it is also full of great restaurants, bars and beach clubs. I chose to stay here because we wanted to be close to the nightlife, but we chose a hotel a bit away from the main strip so it was still relaxing. I stayed at Canale Samui Resort, and I would definitely recommend this hotel. It is about a 15-minute walk from the main part of the town, so we would usually walk in and then get a grab back at the end of the night. It is also located next to an incredible restaurant, which I have recommended to go to in this itinerary.
Although Chaweng is convenient, being so close to all the bars and restaurants, it is definitely very touristy, loud and not the prettiest of areas.
Lamai
The next option is Lamai which is about a 15-minute drive from Chaweng. This is a really pretty town, which is a lot more laid back than Chaweng. There’s a lovely beach here, nice cafes and restaurants serving fresh seafood, and there are still bars with live music, but not as lively as the beach clubs in Chaweng. I would recommend this if you are after a more laid-back holiday, with nice restaurants and not too bothered about nightlife every night. It is easy enough to get grabs from Lamai to Chaweng if you do want to go to livelier bars at night.
Bophut / Fisherman’s Village
Another lovely town you could choose to stay in is Bophut, which is where you will find the fisherman’s night market. This is located about 20 minutes from Chaweng. This area used to be a fishing village and here you will find charming old wooden buildings that are now restaurants, shops and cocktail bars. If you are here for the beaches, this probably isn’t the best location for you to stay, but it is a lovely town with a charming mix of traditional and modern.
Day 1 in Koh Samui
Start off your morning with a coffee and breakfast at a cafe. I have a few great options saved on my MyMap but we went to Jolly cafe, which was next door to our hotel and was really nice with an aesthetic interior. Then, the first activity I would recommend for day 1 is visiting Wat Phra Yai, also known as the Big Buddha Temple. This is Koh Samui’s most famous landmark and a great way to start off your trip. I would recommend getting here quite early to try and avoid the heat of the day. It takes around 20-30 minutes to drive to the Temple, so you can drive or get a grab. However, if you are not hiring a scooter, I would recommend booking a half-day private tour of the island today to be able to visit the other main attractions.
The temple is completely free to enter, but they do have a donation box. Make sure to wear something that covers your shoulders and knees.
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Next I would recommend visiting Wat Plai Laem, which is a modern Buddhist Temple that features a unique blend of Thai and Chinese architectural styles. This is where there is the huge statue of Guanyin with 18 arms. This Temple is also free to visit, and I would recommend staying about an hour here.
The next stop I would recommend is Overlap Stone which is basically is a balancing rock, situated on another rock but it offers incredible views of the jungle and Lamai beach.
The final stop I would recommend is Na Muang Waterfall. There are 2 beautiful waterfalls here with natural swimming pools for you to swim in.
After a full morning of culture, I would recommend a more relaxed afternoon getting some food and drinks. There are lots of beautiful viewpoint bars in Koh Samui. I would recommend visiting either the Jungle Club or the Cocoon for some food and drinks with a beautiful view.
For dinner this evening, I would recommend reserving a table at Sea La Vie restaurant, which has the most incredible location right on the seafront with the prettiest sunset. Make sure to reserve a table in time for sunset and request a table at the waterfront if possible. I would recommend taking some mosquito spray with you because as soon as the sun sets, they come out, but the restaurant did put some on the tables, which was really nice. Then I would head back into Chaweng town for some drinks. We went to Chom Chada cocktail bar, which was really good. They served great cocktails, and it was a nice, relaxed vibe. We then got a banana pancake from one of the stalls on the way back, which was amazing.
Day 2 in Koh Samui
Today I have suggested a different type of activity, but one of the highlights of my trip, a zipline tour through Koh Samui’s rainforest. This was so much fun, you get great views of the rainforest and the one I booked through GetYourGuide, you also get a free drink in their viewpoint cafe, which was really nice. The price also includes your transfers to and from the zipline.
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Then, in the afternoon, I would recommend getting lunch at Salt Society, which is a beautiful restaurant right on the beach front in Chaweng. This was honestly one of the prettiest restaurants I have been to. They serve great food and amazing cocktails in these cool sea creature-shaped glasses. This is on the more expensive side, but you can just go in for drinks if you want. Then spend the rest of the afternoon relaxing on Chaweng beach. This is a really pretty beach with white sand and really blue water. There are also options for watersports along the front.
In the evening, I would recommend visiting Fisherman’s Village for some local street food. Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM, this market serves great food along the beachfront, and there are also shopping stalls. They also have live performers, which gives the whole area a really lovely vibe. Make sure to bring cash as the stalls will only accept cash.
Day 3 in Koh Samui
On your final day in Koh Samui I would recommend a boat trip. There are two great options from Koh Samui: Pig Island or Ang Thong National Marine Park.
🌴 Option 1 – Pig Island (Koh Madsum)
This is the option I chose because I absolutely love animals, and I was so glad we went. We booked the small group trip with GetYourGuide, which I will link below. The first island is Madsum Island, which is the one with the free-roaming pigs. This was a really great stop if you love animals, but make sure not to pick up the pigs. We saw this quite a lot, which was really sad as they were getting stressed out. They are there to look at and be near, not to hold. The next stop on the trip was a snorkelling spot, and then the final island, where you have lunch, which was a traditional Thai lunch. That was amazing, and then you have some free time to go kayaking and relax on the beach. This felt really private; there was no other trip there other than ours when we went.
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🌊 Option 2 – Ang Thong National Marine Park
Another great option if you aren’t too keen on pigs is Ang Thong National Marine Park. With this trip, you get a boat over to Ang Thong National Marine Park, which is a spectacular archipelago of 42 islands.
Your first stop is Mae Koh Island, where a short but steep hike takes you to a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the famous Emerald Lagoon. The climb is well worth it for the breathtaking views of limestone cliffs and turquoise waters dotted with islands.
Then you will have the opportunity to snorkel in crystal-clear waters just off white-sand beaches. This area is home to colourful marine life, making it one of the highlights of the park.
After exploring, you will have a freshly prepared Thai buffet lunch on board, with plenty of local dishes and tropical fruit.
Depending on your tour option, you may also get the chance to paddle along the stunning coastline by kayak. This is a fantastic way to explore hidden coves and dramatic limestone cliffs from a different perspective.
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In the evening, I would recommend getting dinner at Phensiri Thai Restaurant which is on the Michelin guide. The decor is traditional Thai, the food is amazing, using high-quality local ingredients, and it is very moderately priced.
After dinner, make your way to Chaweng town for some drinks. There are lots of bars to choose from with live music. Then head to the famous Ark Bar, where you can watch fire shows and listen to live DJ sets.
Practical Travel Tips for Koh Samui
To make your trip to Koh Samui smooth and stress-free, here are some important things to know before you go:
1. Access internet and date with an eSIM
Some people recommend buying a local SIM card at the airport or in the 7 11 shops but I would really recommend getting an eSIM before you arrive. It means less risk of losing your sim as you don’t have to take it out at all, and you can set it up before you arrive and just activate it when you land so you have service straight away. I use Airalo and I got good signal everywhere in Koh Samui.
2. Carry Cash (Baht)
While larger hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit/debit cards, many smaller businesses and local street markets only take cash. ATMs are widely available, but they charge withdrawal fees so I would recommend taking cash out with you.
3. Getting Around
Scooter rental is the most popular way to explore as daily rates are affordable. However, make sure to be really careful if you choose this option. The roads in Koh Samui are really busy, quite chaotic and in the 3 days I was there I saw so many accidents and broken bones. If you do, always wear a helmet and check your travel insurance coverage. I used grab to get about and it was really easy and not too expensive.
4. Dress Code for Temples
If you plan to visit temples like Big Buddha or Wat Plai Laem, remember to cover your shoulders and knees.
About Amelia
Hi! I’m Amelia, a travel content creator and blogger who loves exploring new destinations, experiencing new cultures, and ticking off as much of my bucket list as possible!
I love to find the best things to do, best places to eat, drink and explore so I have created this blog to share my experiences and recommendations so that I can hopefully help you plan your perfect next trip away.
