There's no month where Maldives overtakes Koh Samui — Koh Samui leads 11 of 12 months and takes it 74 to 60 on the Atlas Ranger Score. Koh Samui peaks in January (88); Maldives's strongest stretch (February, 72) still trails. Choose Maldives for what it is, not when.
Pick a month — the Atlas Ranger Score for each recomputes live, with the winner for that month.
🇹🇭 Koh SamuiBetter in Jul
73
🇲🇻 Maldives
62
In July, Koh Samui wins — 73 vs 62 on the Atlas Ranger Score.
The whole year at a glance
Each line is a destination's Atlas Ranger Score across all twelve months — higher is a better time to visit. Where the lines cross is where the better choice flips.
Koh Samui Maldives
Koh Samui leads 11 months (Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Dec) · Maldives leads 0 months · 1 too close to call
Who wins for what
Best weather year-round🇹🇭 Koh SamuiKoh Samui averages a higher weather score (70 vs 51)
Beaches🇹🇭 Koh SamuiKoh Samui has the more reliable beach weather
Nightlife🇹🇭 Koh SamuiKoh Samui is the clear pick — Maldives winds down early by comparison
Value & fewer crowdsTieSimilar off-peak windows
Which should you pick?
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
Pick Koh Samui if you're travelling Jan–Oct and Dec — that's when it leads, peaks in January (88).
SafetyLow risk — standard tropical precautions, scooter accidents are the main injury sourceVery low risk on resort islands. Note: alcohol is served only on resort islands; modest dress and local laws apply on inhabited/local islands and in Malé.
Frequently asked questions
Is Koh Samui or Maldives better to visit?
Koh Samui is the clearer pick — 74 vs 60 on the Atlas Ranger Score, our 0–100 measure of weather, crowds, value, and timing across the year. It leads most of the year, though the month-by-month chart still shows the other's stronger windows.
Which has better weather, Koh Samui or Maldives?
Koh Samui averages a higher weather score (70 vs 51). Weather is the biggest input to the score, but both have strong months and weak months; the month-by-month chart shows exactly when.
Which is cheaper, Koh Samui or Maldives?
Both have similar off-peak windows. The cheapest time for either is its shoulder/low season — outside the peak-weather months when prices spike.
Can I visit both Koh Samui and Maldives 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.
Scores come from the Atlas Ranger Score — our transparent 0–100 measure of how good a destination is to visit each month.