Head to head

Koh Samui or Philippines?

Koh Samui, narrowly — 57 vs 56 across the year.

It's close — Koh Samui and Philippines trade the lead through the year (57 vs 56 on the Atlas Ranger Score). Koh Samui is the better pick in 6 of 12 months (Apr–Sep), Philippines in 5 (Jan, Mar and Oct–Dec). Koh Samui peaks in February (72); Philippines peaks in February (72). 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 Philippines

In October, Philippines is the better bet — 53 vs 45.

Score

High / low

31° / 24°

30° / 25°

Rain

295 mm

265 mm

Sunshine

8.9 h

8.6 h

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

Philippines: Monsoon easing — typhoons still likely

At a glance

Side by side

Koh Samui Philippines

Timing & weather

Year-round score57/10056/100

Best monthFebruary (72)February (72)

Months it leadsApr–SepJan, Mar and Oct–Dec

Cheapest monthsOct–NovJun–Oct

Driest monthFebruary (64mm)March (39mm)

Wettest monthNovember (445mm)July (447mm)

Hottest monthMay (33°C)April (34°C)

Best for

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

Culture & festivalsPhilippines is the stronger pick for history, temples and festivals—Stronger

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

Practical

Main airportSamui International Airport (USM)Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Manila)

CurrencyTHB (Thai Baht)PHP (Philippine Peso)

LanguageThaiFilipino (Tagalog) & English — English very widely spoken

Time zoneICT (UTC+7)PHT (UTC+8)

ClimateTropical monsoon (Köppen Am)Tropical (Köppen Aw / Am) — figures shown: Manila / western Luzon

Visa60-day visa exemption for most Western nationalities (extended Jul 2024)Visa-free entry for 30 days for most nationalities (US, UK, EU, Australia, etc.) with a valid passport and onward ticket

SafetyLow risk — standard tropical precautions, scooter accidents are the main injury sourceLow risk for tourists in the main destinations (Palawan, Cebu, Bohol, Boracay, Siargao, Manila). Government advisories recommend avoiding the far western Mindanao / Sulu Archipelago. Main practical risks are typhoons, strong sea currents and petty crime in cities.

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 steamy tropical days and a defined wet season — it leads in Apr–Sep and peaks in February (72).

Koh Samui full guide

PickPhilippines

Pick Philippines if you want warm, easy tropical weather — it leads in Jan, Mar and Oct–Dec and peaks in February (72).

Philippines 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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Questions

Good to know

Is Koh Samui or Philippines better to visit?

It's almost a dead heat — Koh Samui 57, Philippines 56 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 Philippines?

Koh Samui averages a higher weather score (53 vs 50). 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 Philippines?

Koh Samui is cheapest in Oct–Nov; Philippines is cheapest in Jun–Oct. 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 Philippines 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.