Koh Samui or Krabi? An island in the Gulf, or limestone cliffs on the Andaman Sea.
The short answer: Koh Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, with a ring road, resorts all around the coast, and Koh Phangan and Koh Tao a boat ride away. Krabi, usually meaning Ao Nang and Railay, is on the mainland of the Andaman coast and known for its limestone cliffs and island-hopping trips. Their rainy seasons fall at different times of year, so the month you travel often decides it.
Below: a side-by-side comparison, rain month by month, who each one suits, and how to travel between them.
Koh Samui and Krabi side by side
The practical differences that usually decide it. Checked in November 2026.
| Koh Samui | Krabi (Ao Nang, Railay) | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | An island in the Gulf of Thailand; a 51 km ring road goes round it | The mainland coast of the Andaman Sea; Railay is reached by longtail boat |
| Flights | Samui Airport, owned by Bangkok Airways: Bangkok, a few Thai cities and a handful of international routes; fares tend to be higher | Krabi International Airport: Bangkok and around a dozen international routes |
| Rainiest months | About October to December, wettest in November | About May to October |
| Driest months | About February to April; June to August also gets much less rain than Krabi | About December to March |
| Beaches | Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut and Maenam, plus quieter bays in the south and west | Ao Nang and Nopparat Thara, Railay and Phra Nang under the cliffs |
| Day trips | Ang Thong Marine Park (closed 1 November to about mid-December), Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Pig Island | Four Islands, Hong Islands, Phi Phi, the Emerald Pool and hot springs |
| Between the two | About 4 hours by catamaran and coach, or a 50-minute flight once a day | The same |
Rain figures are long-term averages (1991–2020) from the Thai Meteorological Department stations on Koh Samui and on Ko Lanta, in Krabi province (there is no station in Ao Nang); see the month-by-month table below.
Which one should you pick?
Choose Krabi if you travel between about December and March and the scenery matters most: the cliffs at Railay and a boat trip most days.
Choose Koh Samui if you travel between about June and August, when the Andaman coast is in its rainy season and Samui is usually much drier, or if you want a resort island with Koh Phangan and Koh Tao close by.
Avoid Samui in November if you can: it is the island's wettest month by far, and Ang Thong Marine Park is closed. From about May to October, Krabi gets the more rain of the two.
Rain month by month
Average rainfall per month and the number of rain days, 1991–2020, Thai Meteorological Department (WMO climate normals). A "rain day" means at least 1 mm of rain; many are short showers.
| Month | Koh Samui | Ko Lanta (Krabi province) |
|---|---|---|
| January | 127 mm 8 rain days |
31 mm 3 rain days |
| February | 64 mm 4 rain days |
24 mm 2 rain days |
| March | 116 mm 5 rain days |
69 mm 5 rain days |
| April | 83 mm 6 rain days |
122 mm 9 rain days |
| May | 132 mm 11 rain days |
228 mm 14 rain days |
| June | 134 mm 10 rain days |
286 mm 15 rain days |
| July | 117 mm 11 rain days |
288 mm 15 rain days |
| August | 102 mm 10 rain days |
342 mm 15 rain days |
| September | 118 mm 11 rain days |
319 mm 17 rain days |
| October | 295 mm 16 rain days |
298 mm 18 rain days |
| November | 445 mm 16 rain days |
148 mm 12 rain days |
| December | 263 mm 12 rain days |
65 mm 8 rain days |
More months and places on our Thailand climate guide.
Weather
This is usually the deciding point. Krabi is on the Andaman coast, which gets most of its rain from about May to October. Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, where the heaviest rain comes later, from about October to December, with November the wettest month of the year.
So in July or August, Samui is often the better bet; from December to March, Krabi is. Both are hot all year, and even in the rainy months many days have sunshine between showers.
Beaches and scenery
Samui's beaches run round the island: Chaweng is the busiest, Lamai a little calmer, and Bophut and Maenam on the north coast quieter. See where to stay on Koh Samui.
Krabi is about the landscape. Ao Nang is a busy beach town, and Railay, a short longtail ride away, has no road and sits under huge limestone cliffs. See where to stay in Krabi.
Day trips
From Samui you can visit Ang Thong Marine Park (closed every year from 1 November to about mid-December), Pig Island, or take the boat to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
From Ao Nang, longtail boats and speedboats leave the beach for the Four Islands, the Hong Islands and Phi Phi; inland is the Emerald Pool and hot springs.
Getting there
Samui Airport is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, which flies most routes there, and fares tend to be higher. Many people fly to Surat Thani instead and take a bus and ferry. See Bangkok to Koh Samui.
Krabi International Airport has flights from Bangkok's two airports and around a dozen international routes; Ao Nang is under an hour away, and the airport bus costs 150 baht. See Bangkok to Krabi.
Travelling between Koh Samui and Krabi
Lomprayah's catamaran and coach leave Nathon pier on Samui at 08:30 and 11:45 and reach Krabi about four hours later, for 1,100 baht, or 1,250 with a drop at your hotel in Ao Nang or Krabi Town. Cheaper ferry-and-bus tickets take longer. Bangkok Airways also flies once a day in about 50 minutes, for several times the price.
Seeing both? A common plan is the Andaman side first and the Gulf later, or the other way round, depending on which coast is drier in your month.
See boats, buses and the flight from Koh Samui to Krabi on 12Go
Koh Samui vs Krabi FAQ
Is Koh Samui or Krabi better?
It depends mostly on the month: Krabi is usually drier from December to March, Samui from about June to August. Krabi has the more dramatic scenery; Samui is the easier resort island.
Which is better in July or August?
Usually Samui. The Andaman coast, Krabi included, is in its rainy season then, while Samui gets much less rain.
Which is better in November?
Usually Krabi. November is Samui's wettest month by far, and Ang Thong Marine Park is closed.
How do I get from Koh Samui to Krabi?
By Lomprayah catamaran and coach from Nathon pier, about four hours for 1,100 baht, or by the daily Bangkok Airways flight, about 50 minutes.
Is Krabi an island?
No. Krabi is a mainland province; Ao Nang and Railay are on the mainland, though Railay can only be reached by boat. Its islands include Phi Phi and Koh Lanta.
Last checked: 7 November 2026. Rain from the WMO 1991–2020 climate normals for the Ko Samui and Ko Lanta stations (Thai Meteorological Department); Samui size, airport and Ang Thong closure from our Phuket vs Koh Samui page (Wikipedia, Aviability, AeroRoutes, Thai National Parks); Krabi airport routes from our Phuket vs Krabi page (Airportoverview, Wikipedia); boats and the flight between them from our Koh Samui to Krabi page (Visit Thailand Today, October 2026); Krabi airport bus from our Bangkok to Krabi page.