Destination comparison
Koh Samui edges it overall — 74 vs 70 on the Atlas Ranger Score — but the lead isn't permanent. Koh Samui is the better pick in 6 of 12 months; Tulum takes 3 (Oct–Dec). Koh Samui peaks in January (88); Tulum's best window is February (82). Time the trip to the month, not the average.
Pick a month — the Atlas Ranger Score for each recomputes live, with the winner for that month.
In June, Koh Samui wins — 75 vs 50 on the Atlas Ranger Score.
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 Tulum
Koh Samui leads 6 months (Jan, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep) · Tulum leads 3 months (Oct, Nov, Dec) · 3 too close to call
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
Pick Koh Samui if you want beaches and warm water with an easy family trip — it scores highest Jan and May–Sep and peaks in January (88).
Koh Samui full guide →🇲🇽 Tulum
Pick Tulum if you want beaches and warm water with temples, history and festivals — it scores highest Oct–Dec and peaks in February (82).
Tulum full guide →Compare live hotel prices for either, or open each guide for current flight fares.
🇹🇭 Koh Samui
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Koh Samui edges it overall — 74 vs 70 on the Atlas Ranger Score, our 0–100 measure of weather, crowds, value, and timing across the year. The gap is modest and the lead flips by month — use the tool above to compare any specific month.
Koh Samui averages a higher weather score (70 vs 66). Weather is the biggest input to the score, but both have strong months and weak months; the month-by-month chart shows exactly when.
Koh Samui has more shoulder- and low-season months, which is where the best value and the fewest crowds are. Travelling outside each destination's peak months is the single biggest way to cut costs.
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.
