Head to head

Koh Samui or Krabi?

Koh Samui, narrowly — 57 vs 55 across the year.

It's close — Koh Samui and Krabi trade the lead through the year (57 vs 55 on the Atlas Ranger Score). Koh Samui is the better pick in 7 of 12 months (Feb–May and Jul–Sep), Krabi in 3 (Oct–Dec). Koh Samui peaks in February (73); Krabi peaks in February (64). The right answer depends entirely on when you go.

Month by month

When to go

Pick a month. The line shows each place's score across the year; the figures below are that month's averages.

Koh Samui Krabi

In October, Krabi is the better bet — 49 vs 45.

Score

High / low

31° / 24°

32° / 23°

Rain

295 mm

275 mm

Sunshine

8.9 h

8.8 h

Koh Samui: Wet season starts — rainfall more than doubles, beach days unreliable

Krabi: Continued heavy rain — beaches stripped by storms

At a glance

Side by side

Koh Samui Krabi

Timing & weather

Year-round score57/10055/100

Best monthFebruary (73)February (64)

Months it leadsFeb–May and Jul–SepOct–Dec

Cheapest monthsOct–NovSep–Nov

Driest monthFebruary (64mm)January (56mm)

Wettest monthNovember (445mm)November (315mm)

Hottest monthMay (33°C)February (33°C)

Best for

BeachesBoth are beach destinations — compare the months above for when each is warmest and driestEvenEven

Mountains & hikingKrabi is the stronger pick for mountains and hiking—Stronger

Off-peak monthsBoth have 9 shoulder or low-season monthsEvenEven

Practical

Main airportSamui International Airport (USM)Krabi International Airport (KBV)

CurrencyTHB (Thai Baht)THB (Thai Baht)

LanguageThaiThai

Time zoneICT (UTC+7)ICT (UTC+7)

ClimateTropical monsoon (Köppen Am)Tropical monsoon (Köppen Am)

Visa60-day visa exemption for most Western nationalities (extended Jul 2024)60-day visa exemption for most Western nationalities (extended Jul 2024)

SafetyLow risk — standard tropical precautions, scooter accidents are the main injury sourceLow risk — standard tropical precautions, scooter accidents are the main injury source

Named storms nearby nowNASA EONET, checked hourly. Not a forecast.None tracked within 1,000kmNone tracked within 1,000km

Your trip

Which should you pick?

PickKoh Samui

Pick Koh Samui if you want beaches, plus easy family travel — it leads in Feb–May and Jul–Sep and peaks in February (73).

Koh Samui full guide

PickKrabi

Pick Krabi if you want beaches, plus hiking — it leads in Oct–Dec and peaks in February (64).

Krabi full guide

Plan your trip

Hotels, flights and more

Switch between the two. Hotel prices are for a week in each destination's best month.

Book Koh Samui

$$ · First-time visitors, dining variety, the busiest beach

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Our verdict
Krabi (Andaman coast) has the dramatic limestone karsts and is the launchpad for Phi Phi Islands. Samui has the Gulf-coast beaches and easier ferry connections to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Pick Krabi for adventure and scenery; pick Samui for relaxation and boutique resorts.

Questions

Good to know

Is Koh Samui or Krabi better to visit?

It's almost a dead heat — Koh Samui 57, Krabi 55 on the Atlas Ranger Score, our 0–100 measure of weather, crowds, value, and timing across the year. The lead flips month to month, so the right pick is essentially whenever you're travelling — compare any month with the tool above.

Which has better weather, Koh Samui or Krabi?

Koh Samui averages a higher weather score (53 vs 49). Weather is the biggest input to the score, but both have strong months and weak months; the month-by-month chart shows exactly when.

When is it cheapest to visit Koh Samui or Krabi?

Koh Samui is cheapest in Oct–Nov; Krabi is cheapest in Sep–Nov. Those are the low and shoulder months, when hotel rates and crowds ease — usually because the weather is less reliable, so check the month-by-month scores above before you book.

Can I visit both Koh Samui and Krabi in one trip?

Often yes — many travellers pair them. The smart move is to time each leg to its own best months. Check each destination's full guide (linked below) for the month-by-month detail, then sequence your trip so each stop lands in its strong window.