Though Thailand has numerous islands, for a lot of vacationers, all of it comes all the way down to Phuket vs Koh Samui. These will not be solely Thailand’s largest islands, but additionally its hottest, albeit for very completely different causes.
Whereas Phuket is thought primarily for its giant resorts, accessibility and number of nightlife, Samui’s repute has alternated between its previous historical past as a castaway idyll and the extra upscale ambiance that defines it within the modern-day. Many vacationers go to each of those islands, in the event that they’re spending lengthy sufficient in Thailand to take action.
When you’re taking a shorter journey, nevertheless, the excellent news is that I’m right here to delineate Phuket and Samui for you. The higher information? Regardless of which alternative you find yourself making, each journey to Thailand is life-changing.
How I Received to Know Phuket and Samui
I first visited Phuket greater than 5 years in the past, as a day tour from neighboring Phang Nga province the place I used to be visiting a buddy. Whereas I loved the gorgeous panorama view from the Large Buddha viewpoint, I usually discovered Phuket’s seashores missing; all the Patong space left a nasty style in my mouth, for each how built-up it was, in addition to the seedy people who hung on the market.
Samui, in the meantime, was an island I found proper earlier than Covid-19 shut down the world. Though I discovered areas of Samui like Chaweng and Bo Phut to be too busy for my style, the island’s lush inside and seashores corresponding to Lamai and Nathon evoked the castaway mythology Samui appears to symbolize for a lot of vacationers of bygone eras, and likewise many older Thais. I returned to each islands instantly post-pandemic, and was stunned by how way more I loved Phuket specifically, though I believe this was merely due to how Thailand-starved I’d grow to be.
Methods to Examine Samui and Phuket
Seashores
I’ll be frank: Most of Phuket’s seashores are common at greatest. That is very true alongside the island’s southwest coast, from Kamala all the way down to Patong, Karon and Kata. Whereas Nai Harn Seaside close to the southern tip of the island is considerably extra palatable, no Phuket seaside compares to Samui solar and surf spots like Chaweng, Lamai and even Bo Phut, though the latter is healthier for footage than swimming or sunbathing.
If eating and drinks are excessive in your listing of priorities when deciding between Phuket or Samui, each islands ought to fulfill you. Whereas Phuket could have extra choices quantitatively talking, and unfold out in additional areas (I notably like extra conventional markets and eating places in Phuket City), Samui provides loads of eating places and bars, particularly in Chaweng. On this situation, the competition between Phuket and Samui is just about a draw.
Getting there and round
Though each Phuket and Koh Samui get pleasure from frequent flights from Bangkok and elsewhere in Thailand, it’s cheaper and extra handy to succeed in Phuket; “boutique” airline Bangkok Airways has a monopoly on flights to Samui Airport. However, whereas Phuket ought to theoretically have extra developed infrastructure, taxi mafias on each islands imply that getting round (assuming you don’t have your personal automotive or motorcycle) is way more costly than it needs to be.
Lodging
As was the case with meals and beverage, the selection between Samui or Phuket is just about even relating to resorts. In Samui, as an example, you may select between upscale villas like Pawanthorn Samui and extra spartan lodging corresponding to Villa Tanamera. In Phuket, then again, vacationers who don’t need a high-end seaside resort corresponding to The Nai Harn may discover themselves extra at house within the Sino-Portuguese shophouse during which you discover Phuket City’s Casa Blanca Boutique Lodge.
Quantitatively talking, Phuket provides extra alternatives for day journeys and onward excursions. These embrace close by islands corresponding to Koh Racha and the Koh Similan archipelago, in addition to extra distant ones just like the Koh Yao and Koh Phi Phi island chains. In Samui, in the meantime, your predominant onward choices are Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, which I truly favor to most Phuket day journeys, notably in case you additionally embrace a visit to idyllic Ang Thong Marine Park.
How Many Days Do You Want in Phuket and Koh Samui?
Phuket is bigger and has extra sights than Koh Samui, however I usually advocate spending 3-5 days in each. That is due to how I method both island. In Samui, I have a tendency to seek out 1-2 locations to hunker down and luxuriate in myself, whereas I usually take a extra exploratory method to spending time in Phuket—I’m not often in the identical spot for greater than a day.
Approaching Samui vs Phuket as gateways versus self-contained locations, in the meantime, I’d in all probability say every week in every is suitable. Within the former, this lets you spend a pair nights every on both Koh Tao or Koh Pha Ngan. In Phuket, in the meantime, having every week within the space may imply the chance to journey onward to Koh Yao or Koh Phi Phi, and even all the way in which throughout the water to Krabi.
Different FAQ About Samui and Phuket
Is Phuket or Koh Samui higher?
Personally, I discover Samui extra pleasurable than Phuket as a result of its higher seashores and barely extra relaxed, rural vibe. However, many vacationers favor Phuket as a result of it’s extra accessible and has a better number of resorts and resorts. In the end, selecting between Samui and Phuket is mostly a matter of figuring out the precedence of your journey to Thailand and squaring that with the fact of both island.
Is Phuket or Koh Samui cheaper?
If I’m sincere, each Phuket and Samui are fairly costly as islands in Thailand go. On account of their reputation, lodging in each islands is pricey; taxi mafias imply you’re going to pay 300-400 Baht for a one-way journey on both island. In all, you’ll be fortunate to go to Samui or Phuket with out spending no less than 100 USD per particular person, per day, and possibly much more.
What’s the greatest island to remain in Thailand?
My favourite seaside vacation spot in Thailand is just not an island in any respect, however somewhat Railay Seaside in Krabi. This, after all, is making an allowance for different issues in addition to the seaside (or island, because it had been) itself. If we’re simply speaking in regards to the high quality and great thing about the sand and water, the Similan Islands (that are simply off the coast of Phang Nga province) are house to one of the best seashores and most beautiful island surroundings in Thailand.
The Backside Line
I hope I’ve helped making the unattainable alternative between Phuket and Koh Samui a bit simpler for you. Whereas each these islands are rightly well-known in their very own proper, most vacationers discover they extremely favor one island to a different. I personally give Samui the slight edge as a result of higher seashores and fewer sleaze, though Phuket’s accessibility makes it a winner for a lot of vacationers, regardless of its much less fascinating traits.
Robert Schrader is a journey author and photographer who’s been roaming the world independently since 2005, writing for publications corresponding to “CNNGo” and “Shanghaiist” alongside the way in which. His weblog, Go away Your Each day Hell, offers a mixture of journey recommendation, vacation spot guides and private essays overlaying the extra esoteric elements of life as a traveler.
