Koh Samui for moms. Doctors, schools and everyday family life.

Hospitals and pediatric care

• Bangkok Hospital Samui. The pediatric department sees children from birth to 15, with two pediatric specialists, and covers vaccinations and developmental checks. There’s also a pediatric allergy clinic. The emergency department is staffed 24 hours a day.
• Wattanapat Hospital Samui. In Bophut. Its pediatric department treats children from newborn to 15. It lists a separate emergency number on its website.

If you live on Koh Phangan, Bangkok Hospital Samui lists Phangan International Hospital in Baan Tai as its branch there, open 24 hours.

Ask your hospital how referrals work before you need one.

In a medical emergency anywhere in Thailand, call 1669, and save your hospital’s own emergency line in your phone. Our guide to pediatricians in Bangkok covers vaccine records and insurance questions that apply here too.

International schools and nurseries

Some examples, with details from each school’s own website:

• International School of Samui (ISS). In Bophut, a British-curriculum school from Early Years through Sixth Form, founded in 2007.
• Greenacre International School. In Na Muang, following the English National Curriculum adapted for multilingual students, from Early Years through Key Stage 4.
• IPC Green International Kindergarten and Nursery. In the Bo Phut hills, for children from 18 months to 5 years, with a large outdoor play and learning area.
• Oonrak Koh Samui School. In Maenam, with a bilingual daycare and pre-K where children spend half the day with a native English speaker and half with a Thai teacher.

Class sizes, fees, transport and places available change year to year, so ask each school directly. The International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) keeps a member directory on its website.

Days out and rainy days

• Samui Elephant Sanctuary. Two sites, in Bophut and Chaweng Noi. Visitors can feed the elephants, walk with them and watch them, and there’s no bathing. Children’s tickets are listed for ages 5 to 11, and visits are booked in advance.
• Central Samui. A large shopping mall on Chaweng Beach, so it is a common stop on wet days.

Much of Samui’s family life happens outdoors: beaches, pools and cafes with play areas. Smaller venues like soft play rooms and kids’ classes can open and close between seasons and often post updates only on social media, so ask other parents what’s running this season.

Getting around with kids

Most families drive, ride a scooter or book cars. Grab operates on Samui. Thai law has required children under six to ride in a child car seat since September 2022. Ride-hailing cars don’t always carry one, so ask when you book or bring your own.

Rainy season

Samui sits in the Gulf of Thailand. Its wettest months come with the northeast monsoon, roughly October to December, with November usually the heaviest. The middle of the year is often drier.

Meeting other moms on the island

On a small island, school gates, nurseries and parent groups online are how most families meet. The Village has a Koh Samui group for English-speaking moms on the island.