Travel + Leisure’s World Best Awards 2026 ranked Koh Samui as the world’s best island

Every year, Travel + Leisure asks its readers to rate the islands they've visited, then tallies the results into its World's Best Awards. For 2026, the winner is Koh Samui, a first-time title, and one that knocks Greece's Páros off the top spot it held in 2025. Samui's score: 95.64 out of 100, the highest of any island on the list!

Why Now

Readers cited the island's stylish places to stay, its lush dense jungle, and its thundering waterfalls, along with a growing reputation as one of the world's great wellness destinations.

Travel + Leisure readers praised the island for its diverse culinary scene, breadth of experiences, and the effortless warmth and easygoing nature of Koh Samui's people. “This was one of the most magical cities I have ever been to,” one reader shared. “I fell in love with traveling because of Koh Samui.” Some of that renewed attention traces back to The White Lotus, whose third season filmed on Samui and sent a fresh wave of travellers looking up flights soon after.

Thailand had a strong showing across the board. Phuket placed fifth, giving the country two spots in the global top five. The Maldives took second, the Galápagos third, Bali fourth. Samui, for the first time, sits above all of them.

An Island Worth the Title and the Trip

Koh Samui is Thailand's second-largest island, a mix of coconut plantations, lush green rainforests, and coastline that shifts character depending on which side you're on, lively beach towns to the east, quieter shoreline to the west.

Samui's west coast, a relaxing escape from bustling Chaweng or Bophut, is where Lime Samui sits. Three private villas, Villa Splash, Villa Zest and Villa Spice, each with its own infinity pool, each staffed with a private chef, villa manager and driver, each entirely your own for the length of your stay.

Fifteen bedrooms across the estate mean the villas work as well for a full family reunion or a wedding party as they do for a couple wanting the west coast to themselves. Book one villa, or take all three, either way, Samui's new title is a good excuse to finally come see what the fuss is about!

Check Availability: https://www.limesamui.com/contact