Koh Samui got quite the boost this year when The White Lotus released and seemingly every content creator this side of the equator wanted to visit the island to reimagine scenes from the show and soak up some of Thailand’s best island vibes. Before its close up on prime time, Koh Samui was already one of the most popular destinations among luxury travellers thanks to its combination of tropical beaches, hillside villas, and upscale resorts. 

While the island is no stranger to five-star resorts, few manage to combine polished luxury with genuine sustainability the way Conrad Koh Samui does. Built into a lush hillside on the island’s southwest coast, the all-villa property is known for surreal panoramic sunset views and private-pool accommodations. But beyond the sleek service and design, the resort has pushed for something a little bit more down to earth, quietly transforming a corner of unused land into one of the island’s more unique assets: a working organic farm that helps supply its kitchens and spa. It’s an approach that speaks to the resort’s wider goal—offering the high-end experience expected of a global name like Conrad, while cutting down on waste and deepening its local footprint. Here is what you can expect: 

The Stay

Photo: Oceanview from hillside villa / Conrad Koh Samui Facebook

All 81 villas are standalone and come standard with 10-meter infinity pools, spacious sundecks, and uninterrupted views of the Gulf—features often promised but rarely delivered this well. Regardless of category, the villas here strike a rare balance between privacy, space, and design detail. Every unit is self-contained, meaning no shared walls or overhead footsteps, and the layout is built to maximise the views—whether you’re perched high on the hillside or closer to the shoreline. Interiors are pared back but polished, with floor-to-ceiling glass, natural stone, and thoughtful lighting that shifts with the time of day. Soaking tubs are angled to catch the sunset, and smart in-room tech, including service tablets and climate controls, makes day-to-day living seamless. It’s the kind of setup that quietly delivers on the promise of luxury without having to shout about it.

The Food & Drink

Photo: Entrance to Jahn / Conrad Koh Samui Facebook

Much of the produce here comes from the on-site Iris Farm, which means the menus benefit from ingredients that travel only a few hundred metres, not kilometres. Jahn, the signature fine-dining restaurant, is purpose-built for slow, deliberate dinners—think Samui-caught seafood, wagyu beef, and a compact wine list designed to match. It’s a tight, 24-seat room perched high above the resort, and it books out fast. For daytime dining, Azure offers house-made pastas and grilled seafood with a Mediterranean lean, while the newly opened Aow Thai handles the heavy lifting with a breakfast spread that covers both Western comfort and Thai classics. Botanikka Cafe does the wellness crowd justice with kombucha, herbal teas, and Thai single-origin coffee—you can also catch some fun coffee workshops here. For sundowners, KO Lounge delivers cliffside cocktails with live DJs and just enough edge. 
 

The Fun

Photo: paddleboarding on Koh Samui’s (usually) calm waters is a must-try during any visit / shutterstock

Wellness at Conrad Koh Samui goes beyond the award-winning spa menu—though Conrad Spa itself is hard to overlook, with sea-facing treatment rooms and a lineup of therapies that range from traditional Thai massage to jasmine rice body scrubs and even the odd crystal healing therapy. The resort leans into holistic wellness programming, offering everything from muay Thai and tai chi to sunrise yoga and aqua fitness, all without the usual resort crowding. For families, the Little Explorer’s Academy keeps younger guests engaged with Thai crafts, nature walks, and beach games that go beyond the standard coloring-book-and-forget-it route. If you are the more active type, paddle out on a kayak, take a speedboat to Koh Madsum (yes, that’s the one with the pigs roaming around), or get dusty on an inland ATV tour. 

The Sustainability

Photo: Project Iris / Conrad Koh Samui Facebook

Conrad Koh Samui’s eco credentials are best seen through Project Iris, a 7.5-acre farm built on previously unused resort land. Managed by Payap “Pong” Khunkayan—a former bellman turned sustainability lead—the farm supplies up to 70-percent of the resort’s produce in peak season, including vegetables, herbs, edible flowers, and eggs. Lemongrass and turmeric end up not only in cocktails and dishes, but in spa treatments as well. The farm also composts more than two tonnes of food waste each month and houses free-range chickens, ducks, and rabbits. Guests can tour the farm daily and take part in hands-on composting and egg-collecting workshops. It’s a rare look behind the scenes, offering more than the usual resort brochure pitch. 

Whether you’re in it for the view, the farm-fresh menus, or just a private pool and some quiet, Conrad Koh Samui has the space—and the story—to match. Explore your options now.