Smoking at Koh Samui Airport – USM – 2026

Looking for a place to smoke at Koh Samui Airport? USM is one of the world’s most unique airports — a privately owned, open-air terminal with thatched-roof pavilions surrounded by tropical gardens. Despite the resort-like atmosphere, Thai smoking laws still apply. All smoking is restricted to designated outdoor zones outside the terminal buildings.

Terminal Layout

Koh Samui Airport has a distinctive open-air design with separate structures for different functions. The domestic terminal and international terminal are about 50 meters apart, connected by covered walkways. The six-gate airport is compact and located just 2 km north of Chaweng, the island’s main resort town.

Smoking Areas

What Makes USM Unique

Koh Samui Airport was built by Bangkok Airways starting in 1982 and opened in April 1989. The entire terminal complex was designed to blend with the island environment using local materials — palm leaves, coconut wood, and rattan. Natural ventilation replaces air conditioning in most areas, earning the airport Thailand’s first Carbon Footprint certification (2016-2017) from the Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. The design won an Environment Impact Assessment Award in 1989 and first place in the Outstanding Architecture competition from Siam Architects in 1998.

Thailand Smoking Regulations

Thailand’s Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017) bans smoking in all air-conditioned public spaces and within 5 meters of building entrances. While Koh Samui Airport is not operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT) — it is privately owned by Bangkok Airways — the same national smoking laws apply. Fines for smoking in prohibited areas reach 5,000 baht (~$140 USD).

E-cigarettes, vaping devices, and all electronic nicotine delivery systems are completely banned in Thailand. Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s top tourist destinations, and customs officials at USM are well-practiced at checking incoming luggage for vaping devices. Penalties include fines of 20,000-30,000 baht and imprisonment up to 10 years.

Travelers connecting from Koh Samui to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) will find a reinstated smoking room airside in the Satellite 1 Building. For connections to Phuket (HKT) or Chiang Mai (CNX), plan your smoke break before security.

Terminal Layout

Koh Samui Airport has a distinctive open-air design with separate structures for different functions. The domestic terminal and international terminal are about 50 meters apart, connected by covered walkways. The six-gate airport is compact and located just 2 km north of Chaweng, the island’s main resort town.

• Domestic Terminal — handles most Bangkok Airways flights to Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and other Thai destinations
• International Terminal — approximately 50 meters north of the domestic terminal, serves international routes
• Check-in and Baggage Claim — separate building from the gate areas
• Only enclosed indoor areas are the gift shop, ticket office, toilets, and VIP lounge

Smoking Areas

• Designated outdoor smoking zones at ground level outside the terminal buildings
• Despite the open-air design of the pavilions, smoking is restricted to specifically marked areas set back from the structures
• The compact layout means reaching a smoking zone takes only a few minutes from anywhere in the airport
• No post-security smoking areas — smoke before clearing security for departures

What Makes USM Unique

Koh Samui Airport was built by Bangkok Airways starting in 1982 and opened in April 1989. The entire terminal complex was designed to blend with the island environment using local materials — palm leaves, coconut wood, and rattan. Natural ventilation replaces air conditioning in most areas, earning the airport Thailand’s first Carbon Footprint certification (2016-2017) from the Greenhouse Gas Management Organization. The design won an Environment Impact Assessment Award in 1989 and first place in the Outstanding Architecture competition from Siam Architects in 1998.

Thailand Smoking Regulations

Thailand’s Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017) bans smoking in all air-conditioned public spaces and within 5 meters of building entrances. While Koh Samui Airport is not operated by Airports of Thailand (AOT) — it is privately owned by Bangkok Airways — the same national smoking laws apply. Fines for smoking in prohibited areas reach 5,000 baht (~$140 USD).

E-cigarettes, vaping devices, and all electronic nicotine delivery systems are completely banned in Thailand. Koh Samui is one of Thailand’s top tourist destinations, and customs officials at USM are well-practiced at checking incoming luggage for vaping devices. Penalties include fines of 20,000-30,000 baht and imprisonment up to 10 years.

Tips for Smokers at Koh Samui Airport

• The open-air design can be misleading — do not assume you can smoke anywhere in the pavilions. Use only the designated smoking zones outside the terminal buildings to avoid a 5,000 baht fine.
• Koh Samui Airport is tiny compared to Bangkok’s airports. The entire check-in-to-gate process takes about 10 minutes, so a pre-security smoke break adds minimal time to your journey.
• Bangkok Airways has a near-monopoly on flights to Koh Samui, which means higher ticket prices than other Thai airports. Thai AirAsia also operates some routes. The short runway (2,100 meters) limits the airport to regional aircraft like ATR-72s and Airbus A319s.
• Koh Samui’s tropical island climate stays consistently warm year-round (29-33°C) with high humidity. The dry season (December-February) is the most comfortable for outdoor smoke breaks. The rainy season (September-November) brings sudden heavy downpours.
• The airport is the gateway to the Gulf of Thailand’s three main islands: Koh Samui, Koh Phangan (famous for Full Moon Parties), and Koh Tao (diving destination). Ferry connections are available from Na Thon Pier.
• Do NOT bring e-cigarettes or vaping devices to Koh Samui. Thailand’s ban is strictly enforced on the island as well as at the airport.

Travelers connecting from Koh Samui to Bangkok Suvarnabhumi (BKK) will find a reinstated smoking room airside in the Satellite 1 Building. For connections to Phuket (HKT) or Chiang Mai (CNX), plan your smoke break before security.