Major city · Thailand
Laem Yai
Skip unless you want a quiet sunset beach and have your own wheels: half a day or one night, not a base.
Laem Yai is the quiet northwest tip of Ko Samui, known for its shallow sea, coconut palms and sunsets. It has one resort, a minimart and little else. Best as a short stop on a ring-road drive or a single night for peace, not as a base for exploring the island.
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Feb–Sep
- avoid Oct–Jan (rainy season)
- Airport
- USM
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Laem Yai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Laem Yai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyVery safe; the main risk is traffic on the ring road and the steep, unlit turn-off.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance · 1155 tourist police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportUSM Samui Airport (About 20–30 min by taxi).
- Getting aroundYou need your own transport: motorbike or 4×4.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Sit-down mealResort dinner (The Passage)500–1,000 baht (≈ US$16–35)
- Street or quick mealSnacks at minimart50–150 baht (≈ US$2–5)
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Taxi from Chaweng600 baht (≈ US$19)
- Budget bedPrivate villa (up to 4), a night, per room฿5,000 (≈ US$160)
- Mid-range bedResort room (The Passage), a night, per room฿5,000 (≈ US$160)
- High-end bedResort room (The Passage), a night, per room฿10,000 (≈ US$350)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿1,500 (≈ US$50) · Mid ฿4,000 (≈ US$130) · High ฿8,000 (≈ US$250)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- USM Samui Airport (About 20–30 min by taxi)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Apr
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
May
Best
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Aug
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Sep
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Nov
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Avoid
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Best: Feb–Sep. Avoid: Oct–Jan. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)), coolest Jan (24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C) low), wettest Oct (18 rain days), driest Feb (4). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Laem Yai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
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Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
8 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
4 rd
Mar
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
5 rd
Apr
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
8 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
14 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Jul
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
14 rd
Aug
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
26°C (79°F)79°F (26°C)
13 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
16 rd
Oct
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
17 rd
Dec
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
11 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
You need your own transport: motorbike or 4×4. Taxi from Chaweng costs about 600 baht. The ring road passes the turn-off.
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Nathon
goDoor to door: About 10 min
Drive south 5 km (3.1 mi) on the ring roadDrive south 3.1 mi (5 km) on the ring road
Ferry port, local market and restaurants.
Mae Nam
goDoor to door: About 15 min
Drive east along the northern ring road about 8 km (5 mi)Drive east along the northern ring road about 5 mi (8 km)
Longer beach, more dining options.
Bophut
goDoor to door: About 20 min
Drive east about 12 km (7.5 mi)Drive east about 7.5 mi (12 km)
Fisherman's Village with night market on Fridays.
Chaweng
goDoor to door: About 30 min
Drive east about 18 km (11 mi) via the ring roadDrive east about 11 mi (18 km) via the ring road
Main tourist strip; full day possible.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Laem Yai beachfront
One resort (The Passage) and a few villas; no budget options.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 1,500–2,500 baht (≈ US$50–80) excl. bed
- Mid
- 3,000–5,000 baht (≈ US$95–160) excl. bed
- High
- 5,000+ baht excl. bed
Trip budget
| Resort room (The Passage)1 × 1 night × ฿5,000 | ฿5,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ฿4,000 | ฿8,000 |
| Taxi from Chaweng1 × ฿600 | ฿600 |
| Motorbike rental per day2 × ฿300 | ฿600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿1,420 |
| Trip total≈ ฿7,810 per person per day, bed included | ฿15,620≈ US$500 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights and ferries excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Taxi from Chaweng | 600 baht (≈ US$19) |
| Motorbike rental per day | 300 baht (≈ US$10) |
| Snacks at minimart | 50–150 baht (≈ US$2–5) |
| Resort dinner (The Passage) | 500–1,000 baht (≈ US$16–35) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- No ATMs or banks; bring cash.
- The turn-off from the ring road is easy to miss: look for the steep hill just past Nathon.
- Last food options are the minimart; eat before you arrive.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance
- 1669
- Tourist police
- 1155
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
Laem YaiLaem Yai
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่อยู่นี้ครับTo this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance1669
- Tourist police1155
Embassy
Embassies are in Bangkok; the nearest consulate is in Surat Thani (check).
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Taxi Chaweng → Laem Yai: about 600 baht (≈ US$19), 30 min
- Motorbike rental per day: about 300 baht (≈ US$10)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sawasdee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khob khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much? (thao rai)
- แพงไป — Too expensive (phaeng bpai)
- ชายหาดอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the beach? (chai haat yoo tee nai)
No ATMs in Laem Yai; bring cash from Nathon or Chaweng.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Laem Yai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Feb–Sep · avoid Oct–Jan (rainy season) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Place page with verified sunset times and tide tables.
- Eat page with last orders at the minimart and any nearby restaurants.
- Sleep page for The Passage with room types and rates.
- Transport page with motorbike rental contacts and taxi fares.
Sources
Ask about Laem Yai
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