Koh Samui News
Koh Samui news, tourism, business, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and expat insights from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted island news source.
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Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump
Travellers heading to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan now face higher ferry fares after a sharp hike in fuel prices across Thailand prompted a ferry operator in Surat Thani province to raise ticket prices. Seatran Ferry, which operates services between Don Sak Pier in the mainland of Surat Thani and the two islands, first announced a fare adjustment on…
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British man dies after motorcycle crash on Koh Samui
A 23 year old British man died at a hospital in Bangkok after suffering severe injuries in a motorcycle crash on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, and spending nearly three weeks in critical condition. The British national, Tiger Duggan, suffered a serious head injury after another motorcycle allegedly knocked him down as he was overtaking a car on a road on Koh…
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Funds raised after British tourist critically injured in Koh Samui motorcycle crash
The family of a British man launched a fundraising campaign after he was left in critical condition following a serious motorcycle accident on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani province, Thailand. The victim, Tiger Duggan, a 23 year old British national, travelled to Thailand with a friend to celebrate his birthday. According to his family, they arrived in the country…
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Norwegian man arrested for assault and car theft on Koh Samui
Police on Koh Samui arrested a Norwegian man after the physical assault of a Thai driver, the theft of a pickup truck, and a high-speed chase across the island. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station were alerted to the incident after receiving reports of a physical assault and vehicle theft in the Mae Nam sub-district of Koh Samui. The incident…
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Danish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui
Police arrested a Danish man after he stole a safe containing land and property documents worth around 100 million baht from a luxury villa owned by a Chinese national on Koh Samui before fleeing to Krabi. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Bor Phud Police Station after discovering that a safe was stolen from the luxury villa in Soi Khao…
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Russian extortion suspect caught relaxing at Koh Samui luxury hotel
Police arrested a Russian man on the resort island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani yesterday, January 8, for extorting 1 million rubles, or nearly 400,000 baht, from a car dealership chief executive in Russia. The arrest followed a request for cooperation from the Russian Embassy in Thailand, which asked Thai authorities to help locate and detain the suspect, identified…
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French tourist dies after slipping from fifth tier of Koh Samui waterfall
A French tourist died after slipping and falling from the fifth tier of a waterfall on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province while taking selfies with his girlfriend. The woman narrowly escaped the fatal accident. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station rushed to Na Muang 2 Waterfall yesterday, January 5, after receiving a report of the fall. The victim was…
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Frenchman arrested for stealing from luxury villa on Koh Samui
Police arrested a Frenchman at a luxury villa on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province on Thursday, November 27, after he stole assets worth more than 240,000 baht from a Thai man. The Thai victim, whose name was not disclosed, filed a complaint with Bor Phut Police Station after discovering that several valuables had gone missing from his villa. Officers…
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British man attacks French tourist in Samui love spat
A 44 year old British man was arrested on Koh Samui after allegedly assaulting a French tourist and his Thai girlfriend during a hotel altercation over suspected jealousy. The incident occurred around noon yesterday, November 19, at a hotel in Bo Phut, Surat Thani Province. Officers from Bo Phut Police Station responded to reports of a violent altercation and arrived…
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Foreign fugitive arrested on Koh Samui over fake ticket scam
Thai immigration officers arrested an Israeli man on Koh Samui, wanted for an alleged online ticket scam, following a joint operation with foreign police. The 30 year old suspect, identified only as Abudyan, was detained by Surat Thani Immigration officers after authorities tracked him to a hotel in the popular Chaweng area. He had been staying there since November 10…
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Late-night earthquake rattles Koh Samui, no damage reported
A minor earthquake struck Koh Samui overnight, shaking homes and alarming residents across several areas, with reports of loud noises and repeated tremors. The quake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, struck Koh Samui in Surat Thani province early today, November 13, sending tremors across the island and waking startled residents. The quake occurred at 12.47am at a shallow depth…
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Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel
A Russian man wanted for promoting drugs via QR codes was arrested by immigration police after fleeing Phuket and hiding at a hotel on Koh Samui. The suspect, 27 year old Semen Kasparian (also reported as Semian Gaspayan) was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today, November 6, after fleeing an arrest warrant issued in Phuket. The Russian national is…
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Turkish restaurant hits back at claims it threw out Israeli tourists
A restaurant on Koh Samui has spoken out to deny claims that it removed Israeli tourists, saying staff were not involved in the incident. The drama kicked off after a now-viral post circulated online accusing the venue of ejecting a group of Israeli diners in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The post, shared via social media channels including Instagram…
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Samui restaurant faces backlash for booting Israeli tourists (video)
A restaurant on Koh Samui is under fire after a social media post claimed it removed a group of Israeli diners, igniting heated debate and divided reactions online. The now-viral post, attributed to the venue, claimed the decision was a stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, using strong language to criticise the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). It said: “We must…
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‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)
Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…
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Russian man arrested on Koh Samui over Phuket cryptocurrency robbery
Police arrested a Russian man on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani, for his involvement in a cryptocurrency robbery that took place in Phuket on August 26. The 28 year old Russian victim, Aleksandr, filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station in Phuket, reporting that he had lost cryptocurrency worth 35,000 USDT, or about 1.2 million baht, to four…
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Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan
A brazen thief on Koh Samui thought he could get away with snatching a fan under the cover of darkness—until a hidden GPS tracker led police straight to his door. Police in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, arrested a man after a stolen fan equipped with a GPS device exposed his hiding place in a labour camp. The drama unfolded…
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Aussie lawyer’s massage ends in mystery after powder discovery
An Aussie lawyer’s late-night massage on the Thai island of Koh Samui ended not only in tragedy, but in mystery too, after police found him dead with a bag of white powder in his pocket. Christopher Saines, a prominent Brisbane lawyer and CEO of GLG Legal, was discovered unresponsive at the Siam Touch Massage parlour in Bo Phut at around…
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Aussie tourist found dead after late-night massage on Koh Samui
A barefoot Aussie holidaymaker was found dead in a Koh Samui massage parlour, hours after staff assumed he’d simply nodded off following a midnight rubdown. The 43 year old man, identified only as Christopher from Brisbane, was discovered lifeless in the early hours of Sunday, July 7, at a massage shop in Bo Phut, on the Thai holiday island. Police…
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Austrian tourist dies after falling down stairs in Koh Samui hotel
A tragic incident unfolded in Koh Samui early this morning, leaving a 45 year old Austrian tourist dead after falling down stairs in a hotel. The fatal accident occurred today, July 2, when Bo Phut Police Station, Surat Thani province, received an urgent report from the 191 centre at around 5am. The foreigner was found lifeless at the scene of…
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Bangkok and Koh Samui lead Europe’s summer getaways
Thailand has once again emerged as the number one summer destination for European tourists, with Bangkok topping the charts as the most popular spot. The country has held this coveted title for the past two years, according to a survey by the online booking platform Agoda. The survey revealed that a significant number of European visitors to Thailand hail from…
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Top 5 kid-friendly experiences on Koh Samui
Experiencing Koh Samui with kids may just offer an adventure of a lifetime. The award-winning island, located in the Gulf of Thailand, features many educational activities set against the backdrop of a tropical paradise, Ann Carter writes. The island’s kid-friendly establishments focus on educational opportunities that blend a sense of community, nature-themed activities, and creative outlets. Koh Samui is where…
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Elephants find freedom and healing at Thailand’s Samui sanctuary
In the lush greenery of Koh Samui’s Bo Phut district, two elephants have discovered the ultimate way to beat the sizzling May heat: cooling off in a pool and rolling in mud at the Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Kaew Ta and Kham Phean, both in their mid-60s, enjoy this peaceful retirement after years of harsh labour in logging and tourism. The…
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Koh Samui faces overtourism crisis as locals retreat from paradise
Koh Samui is struggling to cope with a tourism boom that’s pushing the island’s infrastructure—and residents—to the brink. A surge in visitors, partly driven by the hit TV series White Lotus, has overwhelmed the island. The Four Seasons resort featured in the show reportedly saw a staggering 600% spike in website traffic after the show aired. Koh Samui’s overtourism crisis…
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Island horror: Man arrested in nurse’s tragic Koh Samui murder
Police arrested a man on suspicion of murdering a nurse at her welfare accommodation on the island of Koh Samui, in the southern province of Surat Thani. The man is believed to be a neighbour of the victim. The 36 year old nurse, Aunchuree “Nook” Wongmueang, failed to report for work yesterday, May 21, prompting her colleagues to visit her…
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Thai nurse found dead in underwear in Koh Samui welfare room
Police are hunting for a killer after a Thai nurse was found dead in welfare accommodation on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani.. Colleagues of the 36 year old nurse, Aunchuree Wongmueang, were unable to contact her and went to check on her at her room today, May 21, in the Green Park Village, located…
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Shroom with a view: Israeli busted in Samui magic mushroom sting
Another Israeli tourist has landed in hot water after being busted in a late-night sting on Koh Samui, this time for allegedly flogging hallucinogenic mushrooms out of a beachside cannabis shop. Thailand’s patience with unruly foreign visitors is wearing thin and a fresh scandal on Koh Samui has only added fuel to the fire. Police in Surat Thani arrested a…
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Ko Samui waterfall horror lands British soldier in deep debt
A dream trip to Thailand turned into a living hell for a British soldier after he plunged from a waterfall, shattering his body and racking up a jaw-dropping £100,000 (4.4 million baht) medical bill, with no way home in sight. The 21 year old squaddie has been left broken and stranded after falling from a popular Thai waterfall while taking…
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White lines, don’t do it! British man nabbed in drugs & visa overstay
A British man’s island joyride ended in handcuffs in Koh Samui after he reportedly tried to dodge a police stop, only to be caught with drugs in his bag and an expired visa in his passport. What started as a routine patrol turned into a high-speed chase through the streets of Koh Samui after a British man gave police the…
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Boob job and Thailand: Kerry Katona’s big move unveiled (video)
Former Atomic Kitten star Kerry Katona vowed to quit England for Thailand and to get her boobs done after naming the Land of Smiles as her “happy place.” The ex-singer, reality TV star, and OnlyFans creator, shared an emotional video in which she spoke about her desire to move her five children to Asia, swap catfights for cannabis retreats and…
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