Koh Samui & Southern Gulf Islands | 7 Days / 6 Nights

DAY 1 – BANGKOK | FLIGHT TO KOH SAMUI | GULF ISLAND ARRIVAL

Fly from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi to Koh Samui Airport — one hour, landing at the only airport in Thailand built and operated by a hotel group (the Samui Airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, which explains the open-air departure lounges, the flowering gardens, and the general absence of the atmosphere usually associated with regional Thai airports). Transfer to your resort on the island’s north or northeast coast — the quietest and most pristine coastlines on Koh Samui, away from the development concentration of Chaweng and Lamai on the east and south.

An afternoon at the resort before the evening’s first exploration: the Fisherman’s Village Walking Street at Bo Phut — a weekly night market (Friday evenings) in Koh Samui’s most authentic village, its Sino-Thai shophouses converted into restaurants, bars, and craft stalls for a market that draws more local Thai vendors than tourist-oriented operators. Dinner at a Bo Phut seafood restaurant above the sea.

DAY 2 – KOH SAMUI | BIG BUDDHA, NA MUANG WATERFALLS & BEACH AFTERNOON

A cultural and natural morning before the beach claims the afternoon. Begin at Big Buddha Temple — Wat Phra Yai — whose 12-metre gold-painted seated Buddha sits on a small island connected to the northeast coast by a causeway, visible from the water as the defining image of Koh Samui’s skyline. The temple is an active place of worship rather than a monument; the guide provides context on the Theravada Buddhist practice visible in the monks’ morning routine and the offerings laid at the base of the statue by local fishermen and their families.

Continue to Na Muang Waterfalls in the island’s forested interior — a pair of cascades fed by the year-round springs in the hills above Koh Samui, their pools swimmable in the dry season and their surrounding forest the closest experience of Koh Samui’s pre-resort natural character available to a visitor. Elephant encounters at Na Muang are available but not included or recommended; the guide will explain the ethical issues with elephant riding in Thailand and the superior alternative of visiting a rescue sanctuary instead. Return to the resort for a long afternoon on the beach. Sunset cruise on a traditional Thai sailing vessel — a longtail rigged with a small sail, the guide at the tiller — through the bay as the Gulf turns gold.

DAY 3 – KOH TAO | DIVE DAY | SNORKEL & MARINE PARK

Transfer from Koh Samui to Koh Tao by high-speed catamaran — approximately 90 minutes through the Gulf of Thailand, the island appearing as a dense green hill above the water on approach. Koh Tao is one of the world’s most celebrated recreational diving destinations: its marine park waters contain over 20 distinct dive sites within 30 minutes of the pier, coral reefs in excellent condition relative to comparable sites elsewhere in Thailand, and a population of whale sharks that passes through the northern dive sites between March and September.

A full day dive program for certified divers (PADI Open Water minimum): two morning dives at sites selected by the dive master based on current conditions and the group’s experience level — Chumphon Pinnacle for experienced divers (40-metre max depth, large pelagic fish including yellowfin tuna and giant barracuda), or Hin Wong Bay for intermediate divers (18-metre max depth, reef fish, sea turtles, and excellent coral coverage). Non-divers join the snorkel group at the shallower reef sites: Mango Bay, Japanese Gardens, and the underwater rock formations of Sai Daeng that are equally spectacular 2 metres below the surface as they are at 15. Lunch at a hillside restaurant above the main pier before the catamaran return to Koh Samui.

DAY 4 – KOH PHANGAN | SECLUDED NORTH COAST | BOTTLE BEACH

Transfer from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan by longtail boat — 30 minutes across the narrow strait between the two islands, landing at the pier on the island’s west coast. Koh Phangan’s international reputation is built almost entirely on its Full Moon Party; its actual character — removed from the Hat Rin peninsula where the Party takes place — is entirely different: forested hills, Buddhist temples, fishing villages, and a coastline of secluded beaches that receive a fraction of the visitor numbers of Koh Samui despite being equally beautiful and, in some cases, more so.

Transfer by longtail boat to Hat Khuat — Bottle Beach — on the island’s north coast: a beach accessible only by boat or a 4-kilometre jungle trail, its 300 metres of white sand backed by jungle hills, its water shallow and clear, and its visitor numbers low enough on any given morning that the beach feels genuinely private. Swim, snorkel from the beach (coral reef starts at 2 metres depth), or simply lie on sand that has no beach vendors, no jet ski operators, and no development beyond a single family-run restaurant that serves the best grilled fish on the island. Lunch at the restaurant: the catch of the morning, a papaya salad, and cold Chang beer. Return to Koh Samui by longtail and speedboat in the afternoon.

DAY 5 – KOH SAMUI | FULL RESORT & SPA DAY

A complete rest day — by this point in the island itinerary, the body has asked for one. Breakfast at leisure, the pool or the beach, and a full afternoon at the resort spa. The spa program: a traditional Thai massage by a therapist trained at Wat Pho’s school in Bangkok (the original source of Thai massage technique), a coconut milk body wrap using fresh coconut harvested from the resort’s own palms, and a one-hour reflexology session. The evening at the resort’s beach restaurant — a last long dinner above the Gulf of Thailand water, the fishing boats’ lights visible on the horizon as the stars appear.

DAY 6 – KOH SAMUI | FREE MORNING | FINAL SUNSET SAILING

A free final morning — entirely without schedule. Whatever remains to be done on Koh Samui that hasn’t been done yet: the market at Nathon, the viewpoint at Khao Hua Jook above Chaweng, or simply the resort beach one final time. Early afternoon at leisure.

Late afternoon: a private sunset sailing excursion on a traditional Thai ketch chartered for the group — a 2-hour sailing along the north Koh Samui coastline as the sun drops over the Gulf, the boat anchoring in a sheltered bay for a swim before the return. Cold champagne on board. The Thai skipper knows which bay catches the last light best at this time of year. Farewell dinner in the Fisherman’s Village at Bo Phut: a long table at the best restaurant on the strip, the entire group present, and the satisfaction of a week spent in genuinely beautiful water.

DAY 7 – KOH SAMUI | DEPARTURE

Transfer to Koh Samui Airport for your onward flight — Bangkok connections every 30 minutes, or direct international services to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.

Tour Inclusions

• 6 nights at a 4–5 star beachfront resort on Koh Samui’s north or northeast coast (pool villa or beachfront suite, daily breakfast)
• Koh Tao full-day dive excursion: 2 dives for certified divers or snorkel program for non-divers (Day 3)
• Koh Phangan north coast longtail excursion: Bottle Beach with lunch (Day 4)
• Big Buddha Temple and Na Muang Waterfalls guided morning (Day 2)
• Traditional longtail sunset sailing Day 2 and private ketch sunset sailing Day 6
• Full resort spa day: Thai massage, coconut wrap, reflexology (Day 5)
• Fisherman’s Village Walking Street evening (Day 1)
• All inter-island speedboat and longtail transfers
• All transfers by private air-conditioned vehicle on Koh Samui
• Welcome dinner (Day 1) and farewell dinner Bo Phut (Day 6)
• 24/7 on-trip support from Sun DMC operations team

Tour Exclusions

• International / domestic flights to/from Koh Samui · Visa fees · Travel insurance · Personal expenses · Dive equipment rental

Practical Information

Best Time to Travel: January – August (Gulf coast dry season; Koh Tao visibility best March–September) Minimum Pax: 2 pax (FIT); 10 pax for group rates
Recommended Resorts: Four Seasons Koh Samui (5★ ultra-luxury) / Vana Belle Koh Samui (5★ Starwood) / Samui Buri Beach Resort (4★ value-luxury) / Anantara Lawana Koh Samui (5★)
Diving Note: Certified divers (PADI Open Water or equivalent) required for scuba component; Discover Scuba option available for non-certified guests at selected shallow sites
Full Moon Party Note: Sun DMC itineraries are designed to avoid the Full Moon Party at Hat Rin; if guests wish to attend, this can be arranged as an optional evening excursion from Koh Samui
Customization: Can be combined with Bangkok city stay or Krabi / Koh Lanta extension. Contact your Sun DMC account manager for NET rates and a full cost breakdown.