Getting around Koh Samui guide

Few visitors to Koh Samui can resist the thick mountain jungles that cover the island's interior or the allure of local villages. A main road circles Thailand's third largest island offering a taste of local villages and ports along the way.

Mountain-top roads offer bird's eye views of the island and sea. Independent sorts rent cars, motorbikes or bikes and set out on their own. Others choose taxis, tuk-tuks, songtheaws or motor cycle taxis to explore all that Koh Samui has to offer.

Taxi

Finding taxis on the main road or near the resort areas of Chaweng and Lamai is easy. Air-conditioned yellow car taxis are safe and comfortable. Most do not have meters so prices should be negotiated before any trip.

Note: Locals and regular visitors avoid taking taxis from the airport as prices tend to be high. Minivans and hotel transfers are a better bet.

Tuk Tuk

Visitors should try a tuk-tuk at least once on Koh Samui. These small three wheeled motor tricycles get their name from the tell tale sound of their pinging engine. They are fun, fast, and can be quite affordable for those who have honed their bargaining skills.

Rates normally run anywhere between 50-300 baht and should be negotiated before getting in. Single seated tuk-tuks seat two while double seaters can carry as many as five people comfortably.

Songtheaw

Red covered pickup trucks called songtheaws are the local version of a bus system. Songtheaws have fixed routes around the island and travel throughout the day. They stop along their routes for any traveler that flags them. Destinations are clearly marked in English.

Simply identify a bus headed your way, flag it and hop on. Seating on one of two padded benches is limited and riders often need to stand. Press the buzzer to be dropped off.

Daytime rates are 20-40 baht depending on distance. Prices increase after 18:00 and at 21:00 songtheaws operate as taxis and prices should be negotiated before boarding.

Motorcycle Taxi

Motorbike taxis are cheap and readily available. Drivers wear bright, numbered vests which make them easy to spot. Prices generally start around 30 baht and should be negotiated before any trip.

Visitors opting for motorcycle taxi should be aware that this is NOT the safest form of transportation on Koh Samui. Helmets are not provided for riders. Drivers are prone to risk taking on local roads.

While multiple riders are accepted on motorbikes, their presence makes rides even more dangerous. Serious motorcycle accidents and fatalities occur annually in Koh Samui.