Phuket or Ko Samui? Here's where to go in Thailand

Here's how to choose between the two popular holiday islands in Thailand. 

Between Phuket and Ko Samui, where should you book your next Thai trip? Here's what to consider.

Phuket

Twenty-eight million tourists visited Thailand in 2023. For many, the promise of lazing on an island beach shaded by coconut palms was the catalyst for jumping on a plane bound for either Phuket or Ko Samui. “Holidays in Phuket tend to be cheaper than Samui as there are more options for flights, accommodations, eating out, taxis, car rents, tours and spas,” says Maevadi Rosenfeldt, marketing officer at the Tourism Authority of Thailand. “There are more options for shoppers too.” International flights into Thailand’s second-busiest airport arrive direct from Australia, Singapore, India and the United Arab Emirates, with most holiday-makers heading straight towards a string of resort towns spread out along the west coast.

Phuket's Old Town night market.

Away from the coast, the colonial-era buildings in Old Town Phuket contain stylish coffee houses, boutique hotels, Chinese shrines and museums. Visit on a Sunday when Thalang Road transforms into a pedestrian night market. There are 29 Buddhist temples to visit across the island, plus a Big Buddha that’s 45m high. Theme parks, wildlife parks and a gibbon rehabilitation centre help occupy daytime hours, while almost every resort or travel agency on Phuket offers tours to Phang Nga Bay, a stunning region filled with limestone karsts containing mysterious sea caves and hidden lagoons.

Ko Samui

The dazzling waters surrounding Ko Samui.

Ko Samui is half the size of Phuket and is the more laidback of the two, though action is never far away. Unlike Phuket, flights into Ko Samui are restricted to a single airline, Bangkok Airways. Australians have to fly via Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. “Ko Samui benefits from a boutique travel experience, starting at the airport, with fewer crowds ensuring a serene arrival. This exclusivity helps maintain the island’s tranquil atmosphere, free from the hustle and bustle often found in more accessible tourist hubs,” says Mark Thomson, group director of public relations and communications at Minor Hotels, which has hotels on both islands under the Anantara and Avani brands. Ko Samui’s beaches are generally calmer than Phuket’s. Chaweng and Lamai are the most developed beaches on the island, while quieter Choeng Mon is slowly becoming Ko Samui’s upmarket beach town, attracting honeymooners and families.

Kayaking tours in the Ang Thong Marine National Park are a popular tourist attraction.

On the theme park front, Ko Samui lags a long way behind Phuket, though it manages to compete on a level footing regarding wildlife parks. Travellers can visit elephant sanctuaries, crocodile farms, cobra shows and tiger zoos. Deep within the island’s jungled interior are numerous waterfalls. Some you can swim in; others are appreciated for their beauty. “For island hopping, the best is Mu Ko Ang Thong Marine Park, where you can swim, snorkel, hike and kayak,” suggests Thai Tourism’s Maevadi Rosenfeldt. “For scuba diving, tours will take you to Ko Tao.”

Originally published as Phuket or Ko Samui? Here's where to go in Thailand