After Krabi, the journey continued towards Koh Samui. It was our last real island stop before we would finish the entire journey in Bangkok. After all the different places we had visited during the trip, Koh Samui felt like the perfect place to slow down before the final part of the journey.
Koh Samui is one of Thailand's most famous islands and offers a mixture of long sandy beaches, palm trees, turquoise water, restaurants, markets and a fairly lively nightlife. At the same time, the island is large enough that you can find quieter areas if you want to get away from the most touristy parts.
We started by exploring some of the beaches. Chaweng Beach is the most famous beach on the island and is also one of the places where the most is happening. There are many restaurants, bars, hotels and shops here.
Chaweng is a good choice if you want a lot of activity around you. During the day you can swim and sunbathe on the beach, while in the evening the area changes as restaurants and bars start filling up with people.
For those who want a more relaxed beach experience, Lamai Beach is a good alternative. Lamai is still popular, but the atmosphere is somewhat quieter than in Chaweng.
We liked being able to switch between doing things and simply taking it easy. Some days we wanted to explore the island, while other days were more about the beach, swimming and good food.
One of the things that made Koh Samui special was precisely the opportunity to slow down. After a long journey through India, Nepal, Laos and Thailand, it was nice not to have a packed schedule every single day.
We also travelled around and explored different parts of the island. Renting transport or booking a ride makes it possible to visit several different places during the same day.
One stop that is difficult to miss is Big Buddha. The large Buddha statue is located on a hill and is one of Koh Samui's most famous attractions.
We also visited other temples and smaller places around the island. It was a good contrast to the beaches and tourist areas and gave us a different view of Koh Samui than you get if you only stay along the coast.
Another attraction is Hin Ta and Hin Yai, the so-called Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks. These rock formations have become one of the island's most famous natural landmarks.
We also spent the evenings walking around and visiting local markets. Here you can find everything from Thai food and fresh fruit to small souvenirs and clothes.
Food was naturally a big part of the stay. After several weeks in Southeast Asia, we had really developed a taste for Thai food, and on Koh Samui we continued trying different curries, noodles, rice dishes and fresh seafood.
One of the best things about Thailand is that you can eat really good food without having to spend very much money. The small local restaurants and food stalls are often among the best-value options.
We also wanted to take a boat trip during our stay. Koh Samui is located close to several other islands and national parks, making the island a great starting point for excursions out to sea.
One of the most popular excursions from Koh Samui goes to Ang Thong National Marine Park. The area consists of many small islands, limestone cliffs, lagoons and beaches.
A day trip like this is perfect if you want a combination of a boat trip, nature, swimming and beautiful views. From the boat, you can also see how different the landscape looks once you get away from Koh Samui itself.
After all our stops during the journey, it was almost a little difficult to understand that the trip was coming to an end. We had travelled from India to Nepal, then through Laos and finally to Thailand.
Koh Samui therefore became more than just another destination. It became the place where we could start reflecting on the entire journey and really feel how much we had actually experienced.
We had seen enormous cities, temples, mountains, jungles, national parks, beaches and islands. We had trekked in the Himalayas, seen tigers in Nepal and experienced everything from quiet mountain villages to busy cities.
The contrast between all the destinations was one of the things I appreciated most about the journey. Every country and every place had its own atmosphere.
After Koh Samui, it was therefore time for the final journey of the trip. We would leave the island and travel back to Bangkok.
In Bangkok, the apartment that would become our final accommodation during the journey was waiting for us. It felt quite special to return to Bangkok after travelling around so much.
Bangkok would therefore not be a new adventure in the same way as the previous destinations. Instead, it became the place where we could settle down, pack our things and prepare to travel home.
Koh Samui was therefore the final real tourist stop of the journey. Here we had a few relaxing days by the sea before the journey ended in Bangkok.
The next and final stop of the entire journey would therefore be Bangkok, where we stayed in the apartment before it was time to finish our journey and head home.
My favourites and tips from Koh Samui
Chaweng is best if you want to be close to restaurants, shopping, the beach and nightlife.
Lamai is a good alternative if you want a somewhat quieter atmosphere while still having plenty of restaurants and things to do.
💰 Price level: $–$$Koh Samui has many cafés where you can start the day with coffee and breakfast before heading to the beach.
A good tip is to choose a café a little away from the most touristy main streets.
💰 Price level: $1. Chaweng Beach – The most famous beach and a great area if you want plenty of activity.
2. Lamai Beach – A slightly quieter alternative with a beautiful beach and many restaurants.
3. Big Buddha – One of the island's most famous attractions and an important religious landmark.
4. Ang Thong National Marine Park – Amazing scenery with islands, lagoons and limestone cliffs.
5. Hin Ta & Hin Yai – Famous rock formations on the southern part of the island.
6. Night markets – Perfect for Thai food, snacks and small local finds.
After our days in Krabi, it was time to leave the Andaman coast and continue towards Koh Samui. We continued south and made our way to the island, which became a clear contrast to Krabi's limestone cliffs and beaches.
Once we arrived in Koh Samui, it felt good to leave the transportation behind and simply start enjoying the island, the beaches and the slower pace.
💰 Price level: $–$$After Koh Samui, it was time for the final journey back to Bangkok. The apartment was waiting for us and would become our final accommodation before it was time to pack everything up and finish the journey.
💰 Price level: $–$$Eat as much local Thai food as possible. Pad Thai, curries, mango sticky rice, fresh fruit and different types of seafood are some of my favourites.
The night markets are also perfect if you want to try several different small dishes instead of ordering one large dinner.
💰 Price level: $A common mistake is to only stay in Chaweng and never explore the rest of the island.
Get around and discover smaller beaches, temples, viewpoints and local restaurants.
If you are going on a boat trip, try to book a tour that is not too large.