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Gulf & Eastern Seaboard

Radek Kucharski from Warsaw, Poland · The Sanctuary of Truth (51870146207).jpg · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0

Region · Thailand

Gulf & Eastern Seaboard

Two stretches of the Gulf of Thailand a long way apart: the seaboard closest to Bangkok, and the island of Koh Samui.

Best timeJan–Sep (Samui)
Ideal stay3–5 nights
Main basesPattaya, Koh Samui
GatewaysBangkok, Samui
Overview

The Gulf & Eastern Seaboard

The Gulf of Thailand coast is really two places that are not part of the same trip. The eastern seaboard around Chonburi is the closest coast to Bangkok, with the Pattaya resort area, island beaches and a 105-metre all-teak sanctuary. Far to the south, Koh Samui sits in the Gulf as a district of Surat Thani province, the same province that holds Ko Pha-ngan, Ko Tao and Ang Thong; the Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Samui as the third-largest island in Thailand. Samui is a ring of separate coastal areas — Chaweng, Lamai, Bo Phut and more — with a coastal road of roughly 51 km running all the way around it. The Gulf is on a different weather pattern from the Andaman coast, so Andaman weather information does not carry over.

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Where to go

Where to go in Gulf & Eastern Seaboard

IslandKoh Samui
Chonburi & Pattaya
Province guideChonburi & Pattaya
Highlights

What the Gulf Is Known For

Beach resorts close to Bangkok, and an island of temples, rocks and coast.

A 105-metre all-teak sanctuary, island beaches and the closest sea to Bangkok. See the Chonburi and Pattaya guides for the detail.The eastern seaboard
Wat Phra Yai, the Big Buddha temple established in 1972 on its own small island, Ko Fan, joined to Samui by a causeway; and Wat Plai Laem, a modern temple whose main figure is Guanyin with eighteen arms.Samui’s temples
Chaweng and Lamai beaches, the old Chinese shophouses of Bo Phut, and the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks at the southern end of Lamai.Samui’s coast
A separate national marine park in the same province, an archipelago of limestone islands visited from Samui; Ko Wua Ta Lap, with its viewpoint trail and emerald lagoon, is the island TAT highlights.Ang Thong Marine National Park
When to Go

The Best Time to Visit the Gulf

Figures are Thai Meteorological Department 1991–2020 averages for the Ko Samui station. TAT’s own pages do not agree on a single season for the Surat Thani islands, so the station data is the firmer basis.

The drier part of the year on Samui. February is the driest month (64.3 mm, 5.6 rainy days) and January to September all average well below the autumn peak.January – September
Samui’s wettest months are October, November and December: October averages 294.9 mm, November 444.6 mm and December 263.1 mm, with the most rainy days in October and November.October – December
The pattern is close to the reverse of the Andaman coast’s. Phuket’s November rainfall is 178.2 mm against Samui’s 444.6 mm, so the two coasts do not peak together and Phuket weather information does not transfer.Compared with the Andaman
Getting Around

Reaching & Exploring the Gulf

Plan the eastern seaboard from Bangkok and Samui as a separate stay.

Getting there

  • Pattaya and Chonburi are on the coast closest to Bangkok, so most trips start in the capital. Check current routes before booking.
  • Koh Samui is a separate stay in the south; check current flights and mainland connections, as these change with the season.
  • Indian passport holders should confirm the current entry requirements for Thailand before booking, as the arrangements have changed more than once in recent years.

Getting around

  • On Samui, a coastal road of roughly 51 km circles the island; the main beach areas are separate, so choose a base to suit what you want to do.
  • Ang Thong is not part of Samui: it is a separate national marine park in the same province with its own headquarters on Ko Wua Ta Lap.
Suggested Itinerary

Four Days on Koh Samui

Day 1

North-east Samui

Wat Phra Yai on Ko Fan and its naga staircase, Wat Plai Laem nearby, and Bo Phut’s Fisherman’s Village on the north coast.

Day 2

Chaweng and Lamai

A beach day around Chaweng and Lamai, finishing at the Grandfather and Grandmother rocks at the southern end of Lamai.

Day 3

Ang Thong

A day trip to the limestone archipelago of Ang Thong Marine National Park.

Day 4

A free day

Use it for the beach, or for the quieter coasts at Taling Ngam, Natien or Lipa Noi.

Frequently Asked Questions

Gulf Coast Travel FAQ

Three to five nights is enough for either Pattaya or Koh Samui; they are far apart, so they are better treated as separate stays than as one trip.
No. Koh Samui’s wettest months are October to December, almost the reverse of the Andaman coast, so Phuket weather information does not transfer.
No. It is a separate national marine park in the same province, visited from Samui.
The eastern seaboard around Chonburi and Pattaya is the closest sea to Bangkok, so it suits a short add-on. Samui is better as its own stay.
January to September is the drier period on Samui, with February the driest month; October to December are the wettest months.
Plan Your Trip

Design Your Gulf Coast Journey

Tell us who is travelling and when — the Gulf runs on a different calendar from the Andaman coast, and that decides which side to choose.

Plan My Gulf Coast Trip →