Koh Samui

Is Koh Samui safe?

Yes for crime, less so on the road and in the sea. This page covers Koh Samui, the island in the Gulf of Thailand off Surat Thani province, mainly the beach towns of Chaweng, Lamai and Bophut where most visitors stay. Serious crime against tourists is uncommon. What hurts people here is the rented scooter on hilly roads in the rain, and a sea that turns rough in the winter months.

Samui publishes no crime or night-safety figures of its own, so those scores use Thailand's: Gallup finds 70% of Thais feel safe walking alone at night, and WHO estimatesWHO road-death estimateThe World Health Organization's estimate of road traffic deaths per 100,000 people in a country, adjusted for deaths that police statistics miss.More in the glossary 4.4 homicides per 100,000Homicide rateThe number of people killed on purpose each year for every 100,000 residents. It is the most comparable crime figure between countries.More in the glossary people. We score Samui 63, a point above Phuket and Krabi, which carry the same road and sea risks.

Scooters and the ring road

On Samui, tourists on rented scooters share the roads with cars, vans and trucks, and rain makes the bends slippery. When island officials last gave a full count, in 2016, they recorded over 3,000 crashes and about 50 deaths a year, mostly involving motorcycles, with tourists making up 30% of the dead. They blamed easy rentals: a passport, a deposit and 200 baht a day.

The risk has not gone away. On 10 June 2026 a 25-year-old Australian sprinter on holiday with her family lost control of her motorbike on a wet bend of Highway 4169 in Bophut, slid into the oncoming lane and died at the scene. Surat Thani police ordered a forensic investigation.

The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary notes that WHO ranks Thailand among the world's deadliest countries for motorcycle riders, that scooters rented in tourist areas are often unregistered, and that riding without a valid licence can void your insurance.

• Only ride if you hold a motorbike licence and have ridden before; Samui's hills are no place to learn.
• Wear a helmet, slow down when it rains, and do not ride at night after drinking.
• Use taxis, Grab or a hired car with a driver for trips across the island.

The sea from November to March

Samui's weather runs on a different clock from the Andaman coast. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary says its rainy season is usually from November to March, while Phuket and Krabi get theirs from May to October. In these months the north-east monsoon drives big waves onto Chaweng and Lamai, the busiest beaches. "During monsoon season, we constantly warn tourists, especially at high-risk areas like Chaweng and Lamai beaches, where red flags indicate no swimming," the head of the Samui Rescue Center said in 2024.

The warnings are often ignored. In April 2022 four Thai tourists swam far out off Chaweng and were caught by a strong wave; jet-ski riders brought them in, but one man died. A jet-ski worker told Thai media that many tourists had drowned at the beach and that red flags were routinely ignored. On 29 November 2024 a 24-year-old Russian woman sitting on a yoga mat on the rocks below the Lad Koh viewpoint was swept away by a wave of about 3 metres; her body was found near a resort the next evening.

Swim only where lifeguards are present, obey the flags, and keep off rocks and sea walls when the swell is up. The FCDO also warns of jellyfish near the shore, which can deliver fatal stings.

Ferries and speedboats link Samui with Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the mainland. The FCDO says passenger boats in Thailand have sunk or collided, killing people including British nationals, usually because of overloading, poor maintenance or rough seas. On rough days, choose a large ferry.

Nights out, scams and health

Chaweng has the island's main nightlife. The FCDOFCDO travel adviceThe UK government's travel advice for each country, which can advise against all travel or all but essential travel to specific areas.More in the glossary warns that sexual assaults happen most at full moon parties and similar events and near bars late at night, that drinks are spiked in tourist areas, and that methanol in drinks has killed people in Thailand. Watch your glass, stick to sealed bottles or beer at unfamiliar places, and pre-book your ride home.

Scams are low-level: rental shops that claim damage to jet skis or scooters, and ATM skimming. Photograph rentals before you take them, never leave your passport as a deposit, and use ATMs inside banks.

Koh Samui Hospital is the island's state hospital. The FCDO says Thai private hospitals are of a high standard but expensive, public hospitals outside Bangkok do not always meet UK standards, and every hospital requires a guarantee of payment, so carry your insurance details. The FCDO lists dengue, malaria, rabies and Zika among the health risks.

How we scored it

Traffic safety (26) is Samui's weakest factor, based on the island's own crash count and Thailand's national road death rate. Natural hazards (55) cover the winter monsoon surf at Chaweng and Lamai and the boat crossings, scored level with Phuket. Violent crime (77) and night safety (72) use national figures, which is why confidence is low.