Thinking of spending a nice day lying on a soft white sandy beach with a palm tree overhead and a cocktail in your hand to keep you cool?
Koh Samui is the ultimate Thai paradise. This bustling island is one of Thailand’s biggest tourist hotspots, receiving around 2,700,000 visitors a year. As the country’s second largest island, Koh Samui combines relaxed beach life with endless adventure. It’s certainly a fun place to visit, but is Koh Samui safe?
This article discusses all the potential dangers you should be aware of when visiting Koh Samui, as well as insider tips for staying safe during your trip.
Is Koh Samui safe for tourists?
As with all popular tourist destinations in Thailand, Koh Samui is generally very safe.
Violent crime is rare here, but one thing every tourist should be wary of is scams. Some locals may take advantage of tourists by overcharging for trips, tours, cabs, etc.
In addition to scams, petty crimes such as pickpocketing can occur, especially at night, in busy areas.
You should also be aware of some other potential dangers, which we will explain in detail below.
Is it safe to travel to Koh Samui now?
As of early 2023, it is completely safe to travel to Koh Samui. There is no reason to avoid this laid-back Thai island, and there are no restrictions associated with covid.
You do not need to show proof of vaccination or be tested for covid when arriving or traveling anywhere on the island.
The requirement to wear a mask has been around for a long time, but was lifted a few months ago. Nevertheless, some locals still choose to wear them in public places.
Why is Koh Samui “dangerous”?
In general, Koh Samui is a safe place to be. However, if you’ve heard otherwise, you’re probably referring to the number of fatal scooter accidents on the island. It is estimated that between 40 and 60 people die in traffic accidents on Samui each month, not the least of which are tourists.
Why are Samui’s roads so dangerous?
Well, it’s due to a combination of poor road conditions and inexperienced tourists on scooters. Renting a scooter on Samui is not only trendy; it’s the easiest way to get around.
With a scooter, you have the freedom to go wherever you want, whenever you want.
Because of this, most tourists rent a motorcycle even if they have never ridden one before. And the roads here are so bad that this island really isn’t the place to learn to ride a bike.
As a result, unfortunately, many tourists’ vacations are cut short by tragic traffic accidents
The safest areas of Koh Samui
There are no particularly dangerous areas on Koh Samui. The only places you may not want to go near are the red light districts of Lamai and Chaweng. These areas are noisy and the atmosphere gets seedy late at night.
However, that doesn’t mean you should rule out Chaweng and Lamai. If you stay at least a few blocks away from the Las Vegas Strip, you will enjoy a safe vacation and a good night’s sleep.
Two other popular areas for tourists to stay are Maenam and Bo Phut, which are usually cooler and more peaceful than the party towns.
Bo Phut is popular with families because of its proximity to the airport, its many famous attractions, and its beautiful beaches.
Mae Nam is more of a quiet village, but still vibrant and popular with backpackers and budget travelers who want to avoid the main towns.
Things to avoid on Koh Samui
As I mentioned, scams are common in Thailand, especially in tourist areas like Samui, and you will be overcharged for services rendered. In most cases, you get the service you paid for (e.g. a trip/tour), but you spend much more than you should.
So my advice is not to avoid tour companies and travel agents altogether, but to be extra careful. I recommend researching the average price of the activities you want to do.
One of the best ways to do this is to ask in the Thailand Travelers Facebook group. You can also read blogs of people who have been to Koh Samui and share their experiences.
By researching beforehand, you will have a good idea of the average cost. So if someone tells you the price is twice that, you will immediately know they are trying to scam you.
You can also ask other travelers for advice on tour companies and travel agents. I recommend doing this rather than reading reviews online.
There is a law in Thailand that says you cannot post negative reviews about a business online. The law protects the reputation of businesses, but unfortunately it makes it more difficult to determine which travel companies are the most trustworthy.
Some other things you should avoid altogether are
Renting a motorboat
On Samui’s most popular beaches, such as Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach, you’ll find jet skis parked on the shore with people offering you the chance to rent them.
However, while cruising on the sea in a jet ski sounds fantastic, I would not recommend you take it up.
This is because there is a well-known scam where they accuse you of damaging the jet ski and ask you for large sums of money when you return.
Oh, and they insist on taking your passport as insurance, so you can’t just walk away when they ask for money either!
Buy drugs
You don’t have to go very far in Samui’s party areas (like Chaweng Beach) before someone on the street offers you drugs.
However, no matter how tempting it may be, you should never buy drugs in Thailand as there are severe penalties if you are caught.
You never know who’s watching, and you don’t want to ruin your trip by having to spend the night (or longer) in a Thai jail!
Please note that private recreational use of marijuana was legalized in June 2022. You will now find many stores and cafes where you can buy and smoke in small quantities.
However, it is still illegal to smoke in public places such as beaches. All other drugs are still strictly illegal in Thailand, including the highly advertised “mushroom shake”.
Driving on Koh Samui
There are several major problems with renting scooters on Koh Samui. First, although less common, some rental companies will do what motorboat people do and claim that you damaged the scooter.
In that case, the deposit you paid when you rented again won’t be visible, and they may even find ways to scam more money out of you.
Another more serious problem with Koh Samui tourists and scooters is the high rate of accidents.
Every day, you hear a new story about a tourist who had an accident that resulted in a broken neck or worse.
Many of Samui’s roads are in poor condition, and many of the smaller roads along the coast are covered in sand and very slippery to drive on.
In addition, some of the large main roads are surprisingly busy during the high season.
So, unless you have a lot of previous experience driving a scooter in Thailand, it’s not worth risking your life.
Yes, it’s a little more expensive to get a taxi everywhere, but it’s also a lot safer!
Solo travelers on Koh Samui
Koh Samui is very safe and popular with solo travelers. In addition, the island is frequented by backpackers from all over the country, so if you come here alone, you will soon meet other solo travelers.
As a busy tourist destination, Samui has a generally social atmosphere, and it’s easy to start a conversation with other tourists, whether on the beach, in a hotel or in a bar.
You’ll also find a variety of hotels here, some party hotels and some casual ones. So, no matter how you feel, you will meet a lot of like-minded people on Samui.
The only thing I would recommend you do if traveling alone is to be extra careful when going out at night. Pickpocketing and underage drinking are frequent on Samui and you can be an easy target if you are alone.
I would recommend joining a group of other solo travelers from your hotel and going out together at night. However, caution is still needed. While being in a group will make you safer from outside dangers, you don’t know the people you are with.
Therefore, never leave your glass of wine with the most recent acquaintance, and don’t be too trusting of other travelers, no matter how warm and friendly they may seem.
Koh Samui for Female Travelers
Koh Samui (and Thailand in general) is known for attracting middle-aged Western men seeking young Thai women. While you’ll be sending a lot of this information here, it doesn’t mean that Samui is any less pleasant for women than it is for men.
In fact, Samui is just as fun for women, whether you’re traveling with friends or on your own. This is because of the variety of activities and the relaxed social atmosphere.
Like hostels elsewhere, some Samui hostels offer women-only dormitories. These are perfect for solo female travelers who want to be extra safe and enjoy a worry-free vacation.
Samui Digital Nomads and Expats
While Samui may not have as many digital nomads as Chiang Mai or Phuket, there is still a large and active expat community.
Because the island has a wide variety of activities and all the amenities you need, it’s a great place to work remotely for a few months. Most digital nomads who come here love Koh Samui because it’s big enough to never get bored, but still has that laid-back beach feel.
You’ll find co-working spaces in Bo Phut, Chaweng and Lamai. There are also many good Western-style cafes and air-conditioned coffee shops, and some great beachfront restaurants.
Samui Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is a must when visiting Koh Samui. This will ensure that your trip runs smoothly and that you are safe in case of any accidents or emergencies.
It also covers a variety of non-health related issues that can cause unnecessary stress, such as lost luggage or flight cancellation.
We recommend SafetyWing for Koh Samui and other parts of Thailand as they offer the most comprehensive and straightforward coverage.
SafetyWing is particularly suitable for digital nomads and backpackers because you don’t have to be in your home country to register; you can do it from anywhere in the world.
Final thoughts on Koh Samui’s safety
Let’s review; is Koh Samui safe? This happy island is very safe, as long as you stay alert and avoid renting scooters.
The crime rate is low, the locals are friendly, and the fun social atmosphere will make your trip even better.
