Ko Samui Airport - Spotting Guide

Ko Samui Airport – Spotting Guide

February 1, 2013 - last modified on December 7, 2023

Ko Samui (Koh Samui), a small island in the gulf of Thailand is a popular place for tourist from all over the world. The airport is private owned by Bangkok Airways (PG) and because of that situation the airline variety is very low. PG is responsible for almost all flights using there A320´s and ATR72, responsible for around 90 percent of the traffic. Other carriers are Silk Air, Lucky Air and Tibet Airlines with a handful of flights. The airport welcomed more than 2 mio. passenegers and is located between Chaweng on the east and Boh Put in the north.

Wrtten by Julian Mittnacht and Lucas Bunk / Last update Jan 2019

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
17/35	2.060 m (6.759 ft)
Terminals	One for all operations.
Spotting Information
Ladder	No need
Car/Public Transport	Not needed, taxi is cheap.
Restrooms	Inside the terminal and the restaurants around the airport
Drinks/Food	All around the airport and the beach.
Hotels	If you stay in one of the hotels/villas at Hat Bang Rak beach you can easily watch the 17 arrivals from the waterfront.
Season	Many rainshowers between October and January
Runway Usage
17/35	used in all directions (mainly RWY 17)

	Spot #1 – Airport Parking – all runway movements
WHERE	It isn’t a problem to find this spot as its next to the departure terminal parking area. So just follow the signs to the airport depature and park your car here for free. Walk on the meadow south of the parking and you will stand directly before an overflow basin for rainwater. +++UPDATE JAN 2019: Sadly they build a huge fence (see photo below) at this spot so easy spotting is nearly impossilbe. You are very close to the action and you need a lens with a small diameter that you can put through the mesh. 12 Departures are possible if you walk back a few meters to the road+++

WHAT	You are almost in the middle so all runway movements are possible. Koh Samui doesn’t have a taxiway, so all planes have to turn on the runway.

TIME	A good spot from the morning until noon (depends on time of the year)

MISC.	Closest facilities are in the terminal. There is no shadow or something to sit down.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-150 mm

	Spot #2 – runway road – 17 arrivals&departures
WHERE	There is a dirt road which cross the airport areal at the end of runway 17. It will be closed for traffic, when planes are going to arrive or departure. You can’t stop on the road as security protects it. In the morning use the east side for spotting. The gate is close to the Sanam Bin Road and the Bangkok Airways offices. When the sun turns around just cross the road to the other end.

WHAT	Usually the aircraft arriving from the north/ocean and you are very close. When they departure from RWY17 they make a turn at the end of the runway and are within your focus at both spots.

TIME	These two spots are good for the whole day.

MISC.	Security guys knows that this is a famous spot for the tourists and spotters and usually they won’t bother you. So just be friendly and they will let you do your job. There are many shops at the main road of Bo Put.

FOCAL LENGTH	50-150 mm

	Spot #3 – Forrest – 35 arrivals&departures
WHERE	It’s on the top of a hill with a Buddah temple called Wat Khao Hua Jok. You can reach it by car and park for free along the road which leadsa round the temple. From there you‘ll find stairs where you can reach the top (don‘t worry, not many).

WHAT	You have a beautiful sight over the southern part of the airport. Perfect for arrivals on 35 with a lovely background. Line-Up and departures on 35 are no problem at all. 12 departures should are fine as well. Even all arrivals on 12, except the ATRs, should be within your focus as they turn at the end of the runway ( 35 threshold). Due to the distance humidtiy and distortion is a big issue.

TIME	From afternoon until sunset.

MISC.	There are stands where you can buy refreshments. Please be respectful while visiting this hallow place.

FOCAL LENGTH	As there are only narrowbody aircraft at least 400mm are necessary.

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flytdeck

1 year ago

Thank you for the precise and informative article. It will make my task of accumulating local aviation video footage so much easier.
This is our first time in Koh Samui and both the people and location are wonderful.

Agen Sabung Ayam

7 years ago

I love Thailand, ko samui is my favorite place..

James

8 years ago

Just spent a day 11-5.30pm at USM. I stayed in spot 2 exclusively. The security here are very friendly and one, I assume is the supervisor speaks decent English and offered to take me to the 7/11 to get some supplies during the day. They actively encourage people to take photos and even have a little dirt mound the other side of the gate for people to stand on. The spot is popular with locals after about 4pm too. Some fresh fruit and other roadside stalls pulled up and did a pretty good trade. In the time I was there i shot all of PG A319 fleet most of the ATR, Firefly ATR, TG 734… Good variety.