What to Do in Koh Samui in 2 Days

Koh Samui is ringed with pristine white-sand beaches, each more beautiful than the last. Those along the east coast are the busiest and arguably the best, including Lamai Beach and the extremely popular Chaweng Beach.

The west coast beaches are much wilder and less developed, including Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi. Don’t forget to check out the great opportunities for snorkelling, diving, kitesurfing and enjoying other beach activities.

While Samui’s choice of temples is relatively modest, each is remarkable for its unique attractions. Standouts include the huge statues of the Big Buddha Temple and Wat Plai Laem or the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram.

Other beautiful sites around the island include Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Wat Lamai with its cultural hall, and the colourful Hainan Temple.

Koh Samui has a wealth of shopping opportunities. Some open every night, while others are special events for just 1 night of the week. The most popular is the Fisherman’s Village Walking Street on Friday night, but you can also check out the Lamai Night Plaza, Elephant Walk in Bophut, and Chaweng Walking Street.

If you want a more climate-controlled shopping experience, Central Festival Samui is the island’s biggest and best mall with plenty of local and international fashion brands.

Chaweng is the party destination of choice in Koh Samui, with most of the island’s biggest and best clubs and bars. A popular itinerary involves enjoying the early happy hour at Bar Solo and the beach party at ARK Bar before heading for Soi Green Mango or Soi Reggae after midnight. 

Other beach towns like Bophut and Lamai have a range of bars that open late and are usually busy until the early hours. 

Koh Samui can be a great base for visiting the highlights of the Gulf of Thailand. As the island is surrounded by several smaller and untouched islands, booking an island-hopping trip is highly recommended. 

The striking natural beauty of the Ang Thong Marine National Park is definitely worth seeing, though both Koh Tao and Koh Phangan also have their attractions. All can be reached within quite a short ferry ride.

Samui’s rugged interior of jungle-covered mountains is largely untamed, offering a great opportunity to see less-visited attractions, great views and local wildlife.

Some of the places that are quite easy to reach are the Lamai Overlap Stone, Secret Buddha Garden, Na Muang Waterfalls, and the Sky Fox Cable Ride. You can take an ATV ride if you want to get really close to the wild side of Koh Samui.

Thailand is famous for its dramatic Muay Thai boxing matches, as well as flamboyant and fun cabaret shows. Koh Samui has 3 main boxing stadiums and 3 cabaret theatres located in and around Chaweng. 

Both are must-sees to complete any trip to Thailand, albeit for very different reasons. A cheaper alternative that still offers plenty of fun is fire shows performed on Koh Samui's main beaches every night.  

Koh Samui is blessed with many excellent beach clubs. With its great atmosphere and first-class cuisine, Nikki Beach is one of the top beach clubs on the island. Thanks to its west-coast location, it's a superb spot to watch the sunset.

Other top beach clubs (which lack the same view) include Beach Republic, Bangrak Beach Club and KC Beach Club, all on the east coast of Koh Samui.