TH
Cruises to Koh Samui
Koh Samui is a choose-your-mood port: gold temple views, white sand, seafood streets, or a jungle swim if you do not overpack the day.
Upcoming visits
43
Best fare
$177 per night
Koh Samui is a choose-your-mood port: gold temple views, white sand, seafood streets, or a jungle swim if you do not overpack the day.
Find Koh Samui on Google Maps before you plan the port day.
Koh Samui is one of those Thailand calls where the good day is not complicated, but it does require some editing. The island offers temple silhouettes, beach bars, coconut-grove quiet, and jungle water, all tempting enough to make a cruise passenger overbuild the itinerary. Do not. Pick a theme first: culture and views, a proper beach session, or a nature detour with one easy add-on. The island rewards a tighter plan with more time in the places that actually photograph and feel different from a standard shore excursion loop.
For first-timers, the strongest port day usually starts with Big Buddha or Wat Plai Laem, then shifts into Fisherman's Village or a beach depending on your energy. If the ship has delivered several city-heavy days, Chaweng, Lamai, or Silver Beach can turn the call into a swim-and-sand reset. If you want green instead of blue, Na Muang Waterfalls gives the day a jungle edge. Koh Samui is worth booking for travelers who like variety, but it is best experienced as a curated slice of the island, not a checklist.
Big Buddha is the obvious first stop for a reason: it gives the day a visual anchor before you disappear into beaches and lunch. The golden statue sits on a hilltop temple site, with stairs leading up to broad island views, so it works well for travelers who want culture without committing the whole call to temples. It is also one of the more cruise-friendly photo stops because it is accessible from port. Prioritize it early if you want a clean, iconic Samui moment; skip it only if your ideal Thailand day is strictly sand and swimming.
Wat Plai Laem is the more colorful, slightly calmer temple choice, centered on an 18-arm Guanyin statue set by a lotus lake. It is made for travelers who care about atmosphere as much as the headline sight: bright paint, still water, and enough detail to slow you down. Pairing it with Big Buddha makes sense if temples are your main lane, but two temple stops can start to eat into beach time on a shorter call. Choose this over another shopping stop if you want photographs with more texture and less rush.
58m golden Buddha statue on hilltop with temple and views. Climb stairs for panoramic island vistas. Iconic photo spot accessible from port.
Bophut's charming seaside street with wooden shophouses, boutiques, and seafood. Walking street night market if timed right. Authentic Thai charm.
Bustling main beach with white sand, watersports, and beach bars. Swim or jet ski during your stop. Lively Samui vibe.
Colorful temple with 18-arm Guanyin statue on lotus lake. Photogenic and serene. Cultural beauty.
Current sailings visiting this port, sorted by the lowest tracked cabin price per night.
Built 2004
Singapore · Kuala Lumpur · Langkawi · Penang · Phuket · Koh Samui · Bangkok
Built 2004
Singapore · Kuala Lumpur · Langkawi · Penang · Phuket · Koh Samui · Bangkok
Built 2001
Singapore · Koh Samui · Bangkok · Sihanoukville · Ho Chi Minh City
Built 2008
Singapore · Koh Samui · Bangkok · Ho Chi Minh City · Chan May · Ha Long Bay · Hong Kong
Built 2008
Hong Kong · Ha Long Bay · Chan May · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui · Singapore
Built 2013
Singapore · Kuala Lumpur · Cam Ranh · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui
Built 2006
Hong Kong · Ha Long Bay · Chan May · Cam Ranh · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui · Singapore
Built 2006
Hong Kong · Coron · Puerto Princesa · Kota Kinabalu · Muara · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui · Singapore
Built 2006
Hong Kong · Coron · Boracay · Puerto Princesa · Muara · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui · Singapore
Built 2006
Singapore · Koh Samui · Bangkok · Ho Chi Minh City · Chan May · Ha Long Bay · Hong Kong
Built 2006
Hong Kong · Coron · Puerto Princesa · Kota Kinabalu · Muara · Ho Chi Minh City · Bangkok · Koh Samui · Singapore
Built 2006
Singapore · Koh Samui · Bangkok · Ho Chi Minh City · Muara · Kota Kinabalu · Puerto Princesa · Coron · Hong Kong
Fisherman's Village in Bophut is the best non-beach pause when you want the island to feel lived-in, not just scenic. Wooden shophouses, small boutiques, and seafood spots make it easy to wander without needing a rigid plan. If your call lines up with the walking street night market, the mood shifts more social, but it still works in daylight as a softer landing between temples and the coast. This is a good fit for travelers who want local texture, snacks, and low-effort browsing rather than another hour in a van.
Chaweng Beach is the high-energy version of a Samui beach day: white sand, watersports, beach bars, and enough movement that you never forget this is the island's main strip. It is the right pick if your group is split between swimming, jet skiing, and hanging close to food and drinks. The tradeoff is obvious: it is lively, not secluded. For cruise passengers, Chaweng is best when you want a simple, social beach block and do not need the day to feel undiscovered.
Lamai Beach is the calmer counterpoint to Chaweng, with coconut groves, viewpoints, and a pace that suits travelers who want to exhale. It still has enough going on for a port day, but the point here is less scene and more space. If snorkeling or quiet water matters, Silver Beach is another strong option, with clear water and palms in a smaller cove. Choose this lane if your cruise itinerary needs a reset: fewer decisions, more swimming, and a beach that does not have to perform.
Na Muang Waterfalls is the move when you want Koh Samui to look green instead of blue. The twin falls and natural swimming pool give the day a jungle setting, and the lower waterfall is the easier hike, which matters on a port schedule. This is not the stop to squeeze in after a full beach afternoon; it deserves to be the nature anchor, with maybe one add-on if time allows. Bring the mindset for uneven ground, water, and a slower rhythm than temple hopping.
For a more eccentric Samui loop, Hin Ta and Hin Yai Rocks and Secret Buddha Garden both add character without pretending to be the island's main event. The rocks are a quick, funny roadside stop tied to local legend, while Secret Buddha Garden hides concrete figures in the trees for a stranger, artier walk. These are best as secondary choices for repeat visitors, photographers, or anyone allergic to the most obvious route. Do not build the whole day around them; use them to give a beach or waterfall plan a sharper edge.
Twin falls with natural pool swimming—easy hike to lower one. Refreshing dip in jungle setting. Nature escape.
Quieter beach south of Chaweng with viewpoints and coconut groves. Relax or snorkel. Less crowded alternative.
Grandfather and Grandmother rock formations—humorous natural shapes. Quick roadside stop. Fun Thai legend.
Jungle-hidden concrete Buddha statues amid trees. Mystical short trek. Eccentric local art.