Koh Samui has been named the World's Best Island for 2026 by Travel + Leisure, placing Thailand's Gulf island ahead of the Maldives, Bali and Milos.

The Surat Thani island received a reader score of 95.64 in the Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards. The Maldives came a close second with 95.38, while the Galapagos Islands ranked third, Bali fourth and Phuket fifth.

The result gives Thailand two of the five highest-ranked island destinations in the 2026 list, with Koh Samui and Phuket both featuring in the top five.

Reader score puts Samui ahead

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the recognition reflected Koh Samui's appeal beyond its beaches. It cited the island's scenery, cultural heritage, local character and range of food experiences.

Koh Samui is expected to gain further standing in the premium international travel market following the award, while the recognition also supports Thailand's wider position as a global tourism destination.

For foreign residents, repeat visitors and prospective holidaymakers, the accolade may bring greater international attention to Samui. The government has indicated that its response will focus not only on attracting more visitors, but also on how the island manages tourism over the longer term.

Government promises tourism improvements

Rather than viewing the award as an endpoint, authorities said they would use it to improve tourism quality and long-term management on Koh Samui.

The stated priorities include stronger visitor safety measures, public-infrastructure improvements and tighter action against illegal businesses which could undermine confidence in the destination.

These areas are particularly relevant to foreigners who live on the island or visit regularly, as safety standards, transport and other public facilities form part of daily life as well as the holiday experience. The government has not set out specific measures or a timetable in the announcement.

Authorities also plan to improve tourism services and support development intended to protect Koh Samui's environment and distinctive identity, while benefiting local communities and the wider economy.

Thailand has two islands in the top five

Koh Samui's first-place finish narrowly edged the Maldives, while the Galapagos Islands, Bali and Phuket completed the top five.

The Ministry of Tourism and Sports said the result underlined Thailand's continued ability to draw travellers through its mix of natural scenery, culture, food and hospitality. For Samui, the challenge outlined by the government is to preserve those qualities while improving services, infrastructure and visitor confidence.

Picture courtesy of PR Thai Government

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18 July 2026

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The top island* is amazing if you are from a country with absolutely zero nice beaches like the UK and Canada.

Samui is probably the best beach you've ever seen in your entire life if it's your first time to Thailand. ✅

*with brown pebble beaches

Edited July 17Jul 17 by SiSePuede419
Perspective

Maldives must be wondering how they lost to an island where the ocean doubles as a heated swimming pool 😂

Hard to believe the results of this "competition".

It seems that those who "voted" may not have spent munch time traveling around Koh Samui, or only engaged in a virtual tour.

Phuket and Samui in the top five wouldn’t have been my choice I have to say. There are other places even in Thailand that I would put higher than those.

I’ve been to the Maldives and have no issue with that being up there. Cant speak to Galapagos. I also struggle with Bali as a top five island, although I know of others who speak highly of it.

I lived there until recently and this is absolute nonsense entirely. If you came to judge for the best possible resorts or hotels, and beaches, Phuket would also beat Samui by far. If you just judge it for the luxury tourist, coming for a holiday only, budget no issue.

And TBH from that angle Thailand is today just a 'tick of the box destination', aka 1 summer holiday in a life time, while it used to be mostly repeat visitors for years or life. That's the same type you will see barely spending at any restaurant, bar or shops as they stay in full serviced resorts.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by sunrisecoconuts

One of the few places I've been to, that I'd never return to, and tell people not to bother going to. And I was there 20+ years ago, when I'm assuming it was a lot nicer.

Definitely not worth the hassle, if not flying, or the expense, if flying, to go there.

What about Lanta?

Phayam?

Kradan?

Maldives I can see.

Bali last time I was there was awash in plastic trash in the surf and too many Western druggies.

Phuket is beautiful topographically speaking.

Just now, Woke to Sounds said:

What about Lanta?

Phayam?

Kradan?

Maldives I can see.

Bali last time I was there was awash in plastic trash in the surf and too many Western druggies.

Phuket is beautiful topographically speaking.

Have you ever been to most of this places yourself, in recent times? Maldives is just as crappy, I can take maldives style pictures of Dutch islands too, if i wait for golden hour on the best summer day. Only thing missing will be a coconut tree.

It's the same issue everywhere, not developed properly, not paying wages properly (yes maldives too), then attracting mainstream clowns by masses, and then complain of bad behavior and declining arrivals as a result of all the prior. Bali too.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by sunrisecoconuts

Pretty sure this was voted for by Americans from what I read before.

It was a great place 10-20 years ago but year on year seems to get worse . Traffic , crazy construction for empty villas & condos , certain groups turning whole areas into their own country, criminals and con artists all over the place from outside of Thailand , beaches now ruined by beach clubs everywhere , crazy rental prices and prices of drinks and food in any decent restaurant.

5 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

One of the few places I've been to, that I'd never return to, and tell people not to bother going to. And I was there 20+ years ago, when I'm assuming it was a lot nicer.

Definitely not worth the hassle, if not flying, or the expense, if flying, to go there.

That says more about you than nature or Samui in that case for sure lol. If you did not like it 20 years ago, you never liked anything that is worth mentioning to anyone else. You gotta be a very uninspiring person to say that, as it literally was heaven at that time.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by sunrisecoconuts

3 minutes ago, sunrisecoconuts said:

That says more about you than nature or Samui in that case for sure lol. If you did not like it 20 years ago, you never liked anything that is worth mentioning to anyone else.

Just didn't do it for me. If all else fails, at least the landscape will be a redeeming feature ... it wasn't. I even went around the whole island. Don't think I was there at the wrong time, as the weather was just OK, and surf was calm. Not as nice as some vids I've seen, but wasn't rough. So I was there peak season, why not overly crowded.

Water was cloudy, and I won't swim in water that I can't see my feet in chest high water. Very tidal, low vs high tide, so ugly at low.

A bit more expensive than mainland, to be expected. Just had a run down, unappealing look to it. Wasn't overly crowded or congested. Just had no appeal to it.

Ferry ride was OK, didn't have to Q for, and was in the area anyway, so not an issue. Really no extreme negative about it, but also, no reason to go there. Just no reason to leave the mainland for it. Ban Krut or Thung Wua Laem would be a better choice, or even PKK.

Phuket has the advantage of multiple nice beaches, away from Patong, and landscape is stunning.

For the record, I like a lot of places in TH. I don't mentions specifics of my favorites, as I prefer to keep them the way they are. Just mention the provinces I like, and savvy people will figure where as I post enough about them.

Top island in the world ... that's just silly. Don't know why someone thinks it's Yank slanted survey, as Yanks are a small % of tourist that visit TH. Maybe high on the reader list of T&L, not sure and don't care. But everyone should know a better place than Samui, especially Yanks.

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Reader score puts Samui ahead

Thank you,

then the hordes will not come to my place

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1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

One of the few places I've been to, that I'd never return to, and tell people not to bother going to. And I was there 20+ years ago, when I'm assuming it was a lot nicer.

Definitely not worth the hassle, if not flying, or the expense, if flying, to go there.

I was in Maret last week for 4 days....apart from the Beach the place is an expensive dump....

The minute they mentioned Bali I know that the list was suspect. I lived on Samui for a decade over a decade ago. When I first moved there was incredible and by 2012 the quality of life had diminished markedly due to over congestion, over development and the extreme lack of pride that the locals have with regard to the island and its environment. In addition to the local mayor and politicians are super corrupt, and they refuse to put much of their ill gotten fortune back into the island. Koh Phangan used to be incredible but now it's been taken over by kids and Israelis. Dark Tao? Not worth risking your life for a visit.

You want great beaches? Paradise? The Maldives, maybe. Also:

Tikehau Island, French Polynesia. Can't decide whether you want white- or pink-sand beaches? ...

Dreamland Beach, Bali. ...

Menjangan Island, Bali

Gili Islands, Lombok

Raja Ampat, West Papua

 Busuanga Island, Philippines 

Seagrass Bay, Laucala Island, Fiji

Ypao Beach, Tumon Guam

Honopu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Maipio Valley Beach, Big Island, Hawaii

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. ...

Harbour Island, Bahamas. ...

Blue Beach (La Chiva), Vieques, Puerto Rico. ...

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI.

Devil’s Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas

Palm Beach, Aruba

San Blas, Panama

Oludeniz, Turkey

Porto Katsiki, Lefkada, Greece

And locally try Banana Beach, Koh Hey Island, Phuket 

Any mention of any beach on the Gulf Coast of Thailand, within the same sentence as paradise, is mere hyperbole, and an outright lie. Far nicer beaches between Ban Saphan Noi and Pranburi, than there are in Samui. This is all total fabrication. Fiction. Political and tourism nonsense. Let's get real. Who are these people anyway?

In Bali, if you are anywhere from Ubud to the north, east or west parts of the island, it is quite nice. If you're in the southern third of the island, west or south of Denpasar it's an absolute pit from the worst nightmare you've ever imagined in your life. That area is so congested, so overdeveloped, with traffic that is some of most horrendous on earth. It makes rush hour in Bangkok look easy. It is also so chock full of partying young Aussie kids, and it's literally the worst place in the world to go on vacation.

From Ubud north it's nice. In Ubud there's a great jazz scene, the food's is amazing, great local architecture and art. Bali has some of the best handicrafts I've seen anywhere on the world, and it is a spectacular island. If only you could take a helicopter from the airport in Denpasar to Ubud, you would be okay, or maybe travel after midnight.

I was there in 1986 and it was paradise. Went back around 10 years ago and was shocked at how spectacularly over developed the southern third of the island had become. Avoid the Kuta, Legian, Seminyak area like the plague. It is the plague. It is awful.

Bali is horrific now. It was paradise 30 or 40 years ago, but it's gotten so crowded, massively over developed, and the congestion is horrendous. I would not visit Bali again if I was paid $25,000 to do so, and I was flown by helicopter from Denpasar airport to the north or the northwest coast. The southwest coast is a blight on the planet.

I was also in Samui in 1986 and it was pretty incredible. I went back around 2000 and it had become very developed but it was still very nice. Same applies to Phuket. Both are now way past their Prime way over developed way over congested and there's just not enough local pride to take care of the islands like they deserve to be taken care of.

Edited July 18Jul 18 by spidermike007

Chalk one up for Grand Cayman. Expensive, yes. Clean, yes. First class accommodations, yes. Crime, no. Beach Hawkers, no. First class restaurants, yes. Probably of getting ripped off, 0%. Beach, Awesome. Ocean water, awesome. Faucet water drink ability, great.

I will agree with this rating. My first island trip was to Samui and I continue to enjoy that island, regardless of the Russians and others who arrive and do not appreciate what it has to offfer.

I could believe top of the corruption and mafia list.

Travel and Leisure - same publishing group that earlier this week ranked EVA Airline as the world's best. Samui is nice, but not sure IMO it hits enough buttons to be number one in the world. Phuket is way over developed. Koh Chang is nicer in many respects, though it doesn't have much infrastructure (though that's half the charm, isn't it).

7 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

Thank you,

then the hordes will not come to my place

Exactly my thought. For people who know better, let those tourists go to Samui. I left some 10 years ago. Went looking for better places, and found some.

7 hours ago, KhunLA said:

One of the few places I've been to, that I'd never return to, and tell people not to bother going to. And I was there 20+ years ago, when I'm assuming it was a lot nicer.

Definitely not worth the hassle, if not flying, or the expense, if flying, to go there.

It was quite nice 20 years ago I lived there at that time and absolutely loved the place. But we left over a decade ago and there were at least 10 very good solid reasons why we left.

In terms of the vampiric management of tourists, one of the reasons I left Samui, was the attitude of alot of the locals. Even back before the Apocalypse many of them were very jaded, and they seemed to be indifferent, and service suffered as a result of that. Less so with the Burmese workers, as they tend to be quite kind and helpful. Also, there is little to no local pride, as most who are from Samui and Phuket left long ago, after selling their land. That hurts. It was hard living in a place where most of the locals just did not seem to care about the island. Sometimes, the place felt like a 2 year old dishrag in a diner kitchen. Most of the people there for the past 20 years are transplants, who do not care about keeping up the island. The ex-pats always seemed more concerned about maintaining the cleanliness, than the locals.

Phuket and Samui are finished for those of us who have seen them back in their glory days.

I moved to Samui over 20 years ago. Back then it was paradise. Over the years it got highly developed, and traffic increased dramatically, and we eventually left. Alot has changed since Covid. Been back recently, and have a few friends still living there. 

I could literally go on for an hour, but I will try to summarize. The overdevelopment was rampant and completely unregulated, the hillside that I lived across from had construction that never stopped, the concrete trucks would tear up the roads and they were not repaired properly, the congestion became unbearable, the prices skyrocketed, people held me hostage constantly because the island was 20 km from the mainland and therefore they deserved a huge premium on their products and services, everything became more expensive, huge numbers of Russians moved in, and I got sick of being trapped on an island where the ferry or Bangkok Air was my only alternative.

During covid 90% of the business on Samui collapsed, and all the mom and pop stores remain out of business to this day, with the exception of just a few. They were replaced mostly by higher end places that are quite pricey. No thanks.

Believe me I could keep going. Leaving Samui was a great decision.

4 hours ago, Showtime said:

Chalk one up for Grand Cayman. Expensive, yes. Clean, yes. First class accommodations, yes. Crime, no. Beach Hawkers, no. First class restaurants, yes. Probably of getting ripped off, 0%. Beach, Awesome. Ocean water, awesome. Faucet water drink ability, great.

'no see ums' are a pain, but that's the only negative.

This is the White Lotus effect. I visited Samui in 2003, never returned. It wasn't bad but there are better islands in Thailand IMHO (e.g. Koh Chang, Koh Kood, Ko Lipe)

As a scuba diver that has dived on many islands around the world including Africa, most of the Caribbean, many islands in South East Asia as well as the Pacific Islands Hawaii, Solomon Island, Truc, Palua, Society Islands and many more, in my humble opinion Bora Bora was my favorite and with the clearest water and beautiful women. But that was over 30 years ago so things may have changed.

4 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

The minute they mentioned Bali I know that the list was suspect. I lived on Samui for a decade over a decade ago. When I first moved there was incredible and by 2012 the quality of life had diminished markedly due to over congestion, over development and the extreme lack of pride that the locals have with regard to the island and its environment. In addition to the local mayor and politicians are super corrupt, and they refuse to put much of their ill gotten fortune back into the island. Koh Phangan used to be incredible but now it's been taken over by kids and Israelis. Dark Tao? Not worth risking your life for a visit.

You want great beaches? Paradise? The Maldives, maybe. Also:

Tikehau Island, French Polynesia. Can't decide whether you want white- or pink-sand beaches? ...

Dreamland Beach, Bali. ...

Menjangan Island, Bali

Gili Islands, Lombok

Raja Ampat, West Papua

 Busuanga Island, Philippines 

Seagrass Bay, Laucala Island, Fiji

Ypao Beach, Tumon Guam

Honopu Beach, Kauai, Hawaii

Maipio Valley Beach, Big Island, Hawaii

Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. ...

Harbour Island, Bahamas. ...

Blue Beach (La Chiva), Vieques, Puerto Rico. ...

Trunk Bay, St. John, USVI.

Devil’s Bay, Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Lindquist Beach, St. Thomas

Palm Beach, Aruba

San Blas, Panama

Oludeniz, Turkey

Porto Katsiki, Lefkada, Greece

And locally try Banana Beach, Koh Hey Island, Phuket 

Any mention of any beach on the Gulf Coast of Thailand, within the same sentence as paradise, is mere hyperbole, and an outright lie. Far nicer beaches between Ban Saphan Noi and Pranburi, than there are in Samui. This is all total fabrication. Fiction. Political and tourism nonsense. Let's get real. Who are these people anyway?

Southeast Asians & Pacific Islanders

In Bali, if you are anywhere from Ubud to the north, east or west parts of the island, it is quite nice. If you're in the southern third of the island, west or south of Denpasar it's an absolute pit from the worst nightmare you've ever imagined in your life. That area is so congested, so overdeveloped, with traffic that is some of most horrendous on earth. It makes rush hour in Bangkok look easy. It is also so chock full of partying young Aussie kids, and it's literally the worst place in the world to go on vacation.

From Ubud north it's nice. In Ubud there's a great jazz scene, the food's is amazing, great local architecture and art. Bali has some of the best handicrafts I've seen anywhere on the world, and it is a spectacular island. If only you could take a helicopter from the airport in Denpasar to Ubud, you would be okay, or maybe travel after midnight.

I was there in 1986 and it was paradise. Went back around 10 years ago and was shocked at how spectacularly over developed the southern third of the island had become. Avoid the Kuta, Legian, Seminyak area like the plague. It is the plague. It is awful.

Bali is horrific now. It was paradise 30 or 40 years ago, but it's gotten so crowded, massively over developed, and the congestion is horrendous. I would not visit Bali again if I was paid $25,000 to do so, and I was flown by helicopter from Denpasar airport to the north or the northwest coast. The southwest coast is a blight on the planet.

I was also in Samui in 1986 and it was pretty incredible. I went back around 2000 and it had become very developed but it was still very nice. Same applies to Phuket. Both are now way past their Prime way over developed way over congested and there's just not enough local pride to take care of the islands like they deserve to be taken care of.

You shouldn't take the bait. Have criticism of those islands as much as you like. But please don't mention better places.

Most of us have our secret places and want to keep tourists away from it. I know some of the places you mentioned.

I have been to Bali and Koh Samui 35 years ago and those places were absolute paradises. Furthermore, I have been to Samui for a couple of months every year sins then until some 10 years ago.

The charm was gone. I have been looking and found far better places.

Best ragards

For a real “ best island “ article I would choose the most unspoilt, where nature still exists, the sea is translucent blue , people have their traditions and a healthy environment.. Unfortunately Thailands islands have none of this bar the ones near Taratao, Koh Chang islands near Ranong , and the islands off Koh Chang Trat.

Some of the Caribbean islands are stunning. So are Polynesia and Fidji.

Also certain islands of the Philippines.

I’d say the most spectacular are in Polynesia.

On 7/18/2026 at 7:14 AM, SiSePuede419 said:

The top island* is amazing if you are from a country with absolutely zero nice beaches like the UK and Canada.

Samui is probably the best beach you've ever seen in your entire life if it's your first time to Thailand. ✅

*with brown pebble beaches

Not just beaches. Things to do etc. Samui has lots to do.

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11 hours ago, off road pat said:

You shouldn't take the bait. Have criticism of those islands as much as you like. But please don't mention better places.

Most of us have our secret places and want to keep tourists away from it. I know some of the places you mentioned.

I have been to Bali and Koh Samui 35 years ago and those places were absolute paradises. Furthermore, I have been to Samui for a couple of months every year sins then until some 10 years ago.

The charm was gone. I have been looking and found far better places.

Best ragards

Agree on keeping the hidden gems hidden. The islands of Viet Nam seemed like the Garden of Eden at the moment compared to the over exploited islands of Thailand. Unfortunately with Viet Nam on the rise as a top destination thanks to YouTube, social media and word of mouth, those hidden gems may not stay hidden that much longer.