Koh Samui with Kids
The ultimate guide for families
In May 2025 we visited Koh Samui with our family; our children were five and eight at the time. While I prefer to fill our days with outings, the rest of the family leans more toward rest and taking things slow. That’s why we chose a relaxed pace, with lazy mornings on the beach and the occasional fun activity.
That’s exactly what makes Koh Samui such a great family destination. The island is large enough to explore plenty, yet compact enough to keep travel times short. You can reach almost anywhere within half an hour. That brings a sense of calm and clarity—something that truly makes a difference when traveling with kids. During our six nights, we noticed just how versatile the island is: quiet beaches, tropical nature, a laid-back vibe, and enough activities to experience something new every day. A destination where you effortlessly combine relaxation with adventure.
This blog was written by Stephanie from mommylovesto.com
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The Best Activities on Koh Samui with Kids
Temples That Are Also Fun for Kids
Thailand and temples go hand in hand, and on Koh Samui there are a few that even appeal to children. The bright colors, large statues, and unique details make it feel almost fairytale-like. We combined Wat Plai Laem and the Big Buddha into one outing. It’s about a twenty-minute walk between the two temples, though you can also easily take a Grab.
Wat Plai Laem is colorful and surrounded by water. Children can wander around calmly and discover something new at every turn. For 10 baht, you can feed the fish and turtles—an instant hit for us.
The Big Buddha, at twelve meters tall, is impressive to see. Go early in the morning or around sunset for fewer crowds and beautiful light. When we were there, a big rain shower was just rolling in—an experience in itself.
Central Samui: Shopping and Playtime
Central Samui is more than just a shopping mall. You’ll find restaurants, shops, a playground, and even a go-kart track. Especially on hot or rainy days, this is a great place to cool down. Our children wanted to go back again and again, while we appreciated how easy and comfortable everything was.
A Top Tour: Pig Island (Koh Madsum)
An absolute favorite was our tour to Pig Island. On this small island, piglets roam freely across the beach, and you can even swim with them. It sounds a bit strange, but it’s surprisingly fun. The combination with snorkeling at the nearby island of Koh Tan made it perfect: first spotting fish and enjoying lunch, then cuddling curious piglets. A relaxed and playful afternoon that’s suitable for all ages. You can easily book the tour in advance via this link.
Waterfalls and Nature
For some cooling off, the waterfalls on Koh Samui are perfect. Na Muang 1 is easy to reach and ideal with young children. Na Muang 2 requires a bit more climbing but rewards you with a beautiful view. Tan Rua is set in lush greenery and has a zipline for older kids. Hin Lat is quieter and great for a picnic.
For these trips, a rental car is convenient, as the waterfalls are spread out and it gives you the freedom to choose where to go. Alternatively, you can use Grab, the Asian version of Uber.
Viewpoints
With slightly older children, viewpoints are also fun to visit. Overlap Stone offers a short hike with spectacular views. At Lamai Viewpoint & Valentine Stone you can go for a walk, have a drink, and even go ziplining. Easy to combine with a beach day.
Ang Thong Marine National Park
For those looking for a day full of adventure, Ang Thong Marine National Park is highly recommended. This nature reserve consists of 42 islands with cliffs, jungle, and emerald-green water. You can snorkel, kayak, swim, and climb up to a viewpoint. The boat trip takes about one and a half hours. With young children, it’s wise to choose a calmer boat or a catamaran.
Kid-Friendly Hotels on Koh Samui
The area where you stay largely determines the vibe of your vacation. Koh Samui is easy to navigate, but each region has its own character.
Bo Phut – Charming and Quiet
Bo Phut, home to Fisherman’s Village, is cozy and relaxed. You’ll find nice restaurants, an evening market, and a calm beach. Everything is within walking distance, which is ideal with children. The atmosphere is laid-back and less crowded.
Chaweng – Central and Lively
Chaweng is the liveliest part of the island. Here you’ll find long beaches, plenty of restaurants, shops, and Central Samui. During the day it’s especially practical: everything you need is close by. Ideally, choose a hotel just outside the busiest center for a bit more peace and quiet.
Lamai – Quieter and More Local
Lamai feels like a calmer alternative to Chaweng. Less crowded, often a bit more affordable, and closer to nature and waterfalls. The sea here can sometimes be a bit rougher, which is especially fun with older children.
Our Hotels
We chose to split our stay between two locations so we could experience different sides of the island. It immediately added more variety to our trip: first lively and central, then calm and luxurious. A hotel that was also on our list but unfortunately didn’t make the cut (you have to make choices 😉) is Royal Beach Boutique Resort & Spa in Lamai.
Blue Turtle Hotel (Chaweng)
A small-scale, personal beachfront hotel. Cozy rooms, a lovely pool, and a relaxed atmosphere. Ideal if you want to sleep peacefully while still having everything close by. Price: €381 for three nights. More info and booking.
Bandara Resort & Spa (Bo Phut)
A tropical resort with multiple swimming pools, plenty of greenery, and direct access to the beach. Perfect for families looking for a bit more luxury. The kids couldn’t be dragged out of the pool, and we enjoyed the spa. Tip: join one of the activities, such as a Thai language class. Price: €499 for three nights. More info and booking.
You can find a complete overview of even more kid-friendly hotels on Koh Samui in our blog: The Most Kid-Friendly Hotels on Koh Samui.
Kid-Friendly Restaurants on Koh Samui
Eating on Koh Samui is easy, relaxed, and surprisingly kid-friendly. Whether you choose street food, a food market, or a beachfront restaurant, there’s always something that appeals to everyone.
Fisherman’s Village Night Market in Bo Phut was our favorite in the evenings. The night market is packed with street food, fruit stalls, and small dishes—from pad thai and spring rolls to pancakes and fresh fruit. Kids can wander around and choose what they want to eat, which makes it a fun and low-key outing.
The Chaweng Night Market and Lamai Night Market are also great food courts. Perfect if everyone wants something different: you grab food from various stalls and eat together at a table. Another real favorite of ours was dining at a beach restaurant. In the evenings, tables are often set up directly on the sand, with your feet in the beach while the sun sets. Many restaurants host fire shows later in the evening—magical to watch, especially for children. At our hotel, the menu was also very kid-friendly.
Other great spots: Oasis Food, Suzette Samui, Cats Café, Wild Child Organic Kitchen, Baannairai Farm & Café, and Tree Tops Sky Dining.
Practical Tips for Families on Koh Samui
Best travel time
December to April is dry and sunny. June to August is often pleasant as well. October to December is wetter, with November being the rainiest month. We were there in May and mostly had good weather, with the occasional short shower.
How long to stay?
We stayed for six nights and found this ideal. It gave us enough time to do fun outings while also relaxing a lot on the beach and by the pool. With young children, a week is a great base. But if Koh Samui is part of a longer trip, three to four nights is also perfectly fine.
Transportation
Grab is ideal: we did everything with Grab. The taxi service is fast and affordable. We found the roads just a bit too busy to rent a scooter ourselves with the kids, but if you’re more experienced, it’s definitely an option. If you really want maximum freedom, you can also rent a car.
With a stroller?
Partly. Shopping malls and promenades are fine, but temples, waterfalls, and viewpoints are less stroller-friendly. A lightweight stroller or a baby carrier is useful.
Overige tips
Plan activities in the morning and keep the afternoon free to relax (or the other way around). Bring enough sun protection (UV shirts are ideal) and keep in mind that outside the towns there are often steps and uneven paths.
How to Get There?
You can fly directly from Bangkok to Koh Samui in about an hour. The airport is known as one of the most beautiful in the world, with lots of open-air structures and a tropical vibe. Because direct flights were quite expensive, we chose an alternative.
We flew to Surat Thani, took the bus to the harbor (about 1.5 hours), and then boarded the ferry to Koh Samui. You often hear scary stories about speedboat rides in Thailand, but this ferry (a large, stable boat) is actually very relaxed. The crossing takes about an hour and a half. We took the ferry late in the afternoon and were treated to a stunning sunset in Ang Thong Marine National Park. It takes longer overall, but since it saved us hundreds of euros, we found this a great option.
Koh Samui in Your Thailand Itinerary
Koh Samui fits well into almost any Thailand itinerary. We combined it only with Bangkok, but you can also easily pair it with Koh Phangan and Koh Tao; these islands are located in the same area. From Bo Phut, you can even see Koh Phangan in the distance. Another option is to continue your journey by ferry and bus to Khao Sok National Park. This makes Koh Samui the perfect place to end your trip in a relaxed way.
Wil je je rondreis naar Thailand meteen gaan plannen?
Bij het plannen van je reis naar Thailand zijn er verschillende manieren om je verblijf en activiteiten te boeken. Als je graag zelf alles regelt, kun je via Booking.com eenvoudig accommodaties vinden die passen bij jouw wensen. Voor unieke excursies en tours is GetYourGuide een uitstekende keuze. Wil je liever alles in één keer geregeld hebben? Dan biedt TUI complete pakketten aan voor een zorgeloze vakantie. Ben je op zoek naar meer flexibiliteit en wil je je reis op maat samenstellen? Kijk dan eens bij Riksja, waar je met bouwstenen je eigen ideale reis kunt samenstellen.
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