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Koh Samui

Koh Samui has come a long way since it was first “discovered” by hippies and backpackers in the 1970s who thought they had found their own private island paradise. Now it is a thriving tourist resort boasting some high class hotels, great restaurants and a bustling nightlife. Having said this, it lacks the frenetic pace of some of the other beach resorts and still retains a certain charm and tranquillity missing from some of its competitors.

Located in Surat Thani province in the south east of Thailand, Koh Samui is the country’s third largest island (after Phuket and Koh Chang), and is situated in the Gulf of Thailand about 50 miles off the east coast of Surat Thani, around 440 miles south of Bangkok. The island is comprised of a mountain range with plains either side, with a jungle interior and perfect white sand beaches on the coast. Koh Samui is often dubbed the Coconut Island, and you will see coconut palms all over the island. There are 48 surrounding islets, some of which are accessible, and which include amongst their number Koh Pha-ngan, famous the world over for its full moon parties.

Most visitors to Koh Samui will stay close to either Chaweng or Lamai beaches, both of which offer a huge range of accommodation options to suit all tastes and budgets, ranging from beachfront bungalows to five star luxury spa hotels. In both these resorts you will find shops, bars and nightlife, as well as vehicle rental agencies and tour operators. The main town on the island is Na Thon, where there are also plenty of shops and restaurants.

High season in Koh Samui is between December and July when hotel rates increase, and the best time to visit is between February and April when the sea is at its calmest
Getting to Koh Samui
By Air
Koh Samui is easily accessed from Bangkok -  the island has its own airport, which is owned and run by Bangkok Airlines, meaning that they are the only airline to operate flights onto the island. There are 13 flights a day from Bangkok to Koh Samui, a flight time of around an hour and ten minutes. There are also direct flights on Bangkok Airways from Phuket. 
 
By Boat
One of the most popular ways of getting to Koh Samui is by boat from Surat Thani, and there are a variety of options; take the express ferry boat from Tha Thong Pier in Surat Thani at 8am (which arrives at Na Thon Pier on Koh Samui two and a half hours later), with the return crossing leaving Samui at 2pm arriving into Tha Thong at 4.30pm. Alternatively there are express boats run by Seatran Express which leave Ban Don three times a day at 7am, 12.30pm and 2.30pm, with a journey time of two hours. 
 
There are bigger ferries that make the journey too – the Seatran ferry, which till take around 400 passengers as well as 60 cars, runs several crossings a day from Don Sak in Surat Thani across to the island, which takes around one and a half hours. 
 
There is also much slower option, the night ferry, which leaves Ban Don Pier at around 11pm, arriving into Na Thon Pier on Samui at 5am – worth it if you are rewarded with a stunning sunrise over Koh Samui. The return leg is not quite so well timed, with a departure from Koh Samui at 9m arriving into Ban Don at 4am.
 
Getting to Surat Thani to make your boat connection is straightforward – there are flights from Bangkok and other major centres (Thai Airways International has two daily flights from Bangkok for example – a flight time of just over an hour) , as well as road access (see below)
 
By Train
Trains depart from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok up to ten times a day making the 12 hour journey to Surat Thani). You can buy tickets for the whole journey from Bangkok to Koh Samui, combining train, bus and ferry.
 
By road
There are numerous buses and coaches that make the journey south from Bangkok to Surat Thani, with onward connections with ferries onto Koh Samui – these vary enormously in standard so be sure you know what you are paying for – it is worth paying more for air conditioning!. The journey takes around 11 hours. It is of course possible to drive, but this is not for the fainthearted – leaving Bangkok, follow Highway 4 through Phetchaburi and Chumphon Provinces, then take Highways 41 and then 401 onto Surat Thani – you can then take your car onto the ferry for the crossing from Surat Thani to Koh Samui.


Getting Around Koh Samui
There is not much in the way of public transport on the island of Samui and most visitors get around by either tuk tuk or sawngthaew (red truck like minibuses). Fares start at around 20 baht and you can go pretty much anywhere you want. 
There are also numerous outlets for hiring bicycles, motorbikes and cars in the major resorts of Chaweng and Lamai and in the main town of Na Thon – do ensure you check all insurance details first, and be aware that not all the roads on Koh Samui are sealed and away from the main resort areas they can be quite rough. 

There are also taxis on the island, which are perhaps the safest and easiest means of transport, but not necessarily the most practical for exploring the island – make sure you negotiate your price before you get into the taxi. Prices increase considerably at night.


Top Ten Things to See and Do on Koh Samui
  1. Beaches
Of course, the main reason for coming to Koh Samui is for a beach holiday and the beaches on the island cannot fail to impress even the most seasoned traveller. If you want lively beaches with plenty of attractions, head to Chaweng or Lamai; for a more relaxed experience in a quieter environment, opt for Maenam Beach or Ao Song Thai. Chaweng Beach is in the north east of the island, and is an almost five mile stretch of golden sand. It may be the most developed area, but this is for a reason, as the beach is definitely one of the best on the island, and here accommodation varies from quite Spartan beachfront bungalows to luxury hotels. The resort can get very busy especially during high season. Lamai Beach, a few miles south of Chaweng Beach still offers plenty of accommodation and activities but is quieter than Chaweng. The southern part of the beach is better than the northern part as there are fewer stones and coral. North of Lamai is Ao Tong Takian Beach, which is also becoming popular. In the northern part of the island lie Maenam Beach, Bo Phut Bay, Chong Mon beach, and Tongsai Bay, all of which are quieter than their southern counterparts, and ideal for those looking to get away from it all. There is accommodation close to or on all of these beaches.
 
  1. Big Buddha
A Koh Samui landmark and a stop on any island tour, the Big Buddha, or Phra Yai, is a 12 metre high golden statue of the seated Buddha that was built in 1972. It is actually located on its own small island, called Koh Fan, but you can access this by a short causeway. As with anywhere else in Thailand, please ensure that you show respect for the local people for whom this is an important Buddhist symbol and not simply a tourist attraction but dressing modestly when you visit. There is a beach here, Big Buddha Beach, which is usually quiet and a good place for a swim as the waters are well protected by the headlands. There are a few villas, private homes and restaurants along the beach, and also a pier for catching the ferry to Koh Pha-Ngan
 
  1. Hin Ta Hing Yai (Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks)
Easily one of the most photographed sights on Koh Samui, these fascinating rock formations on the beach south of Lamai, have been eroded by the elements and now resemble male and female body parts. There are various local legends that tell the story of the rocks – how a couple was shipwrecked and washed ashore here. The rocks are well signposted from the road.
 
  1. Temples and Relics
There are numerous temples on Koh Samui, one of the oldest of which is Wat Sumret, which houses what is believed to be a centuries old white marble Buddha statue, and also the Secret Hall of Buddhas, a valuable collection of images of Buddha – if you wish to see it, the resident monk will open the door for you on request. Ensure that when you visit any temple of sacred place, you are dressed appropriately and remove your shoes before you go in. Also be careful not to point your feet directly at either the Buddha or any worshippers when you sit or kneel, and make sure you keep your feet tucked away when there are monks present.    Another interesting sacred site is the Buddha’s Footprint, located a mile off the road to the Butterfly Garden on Route 4170. Here there is a hilltop shrine, where four footprints have been engraved on top of each other. It is a steep climb up 163 steps up to the shrine, but the views of the valleys around will make it worth the effort! At another temple, the Wat Kiri Wongkaram you can see a well preserved mummified body of a monk, Loung Por Ruam, who has been here for the last 25 years.
 
  1. Waterfalls
Koh Samui has some stunning waterfalls in its interior, but just two of these are readily accessible to visitors. The best time to view the falls is either during or immediately after the rainy seasons (September to March), when the flow is at its most impressive. The two falls that feature on many visitors’ itineraries are Hi Lad and Na Muang Falls. Na Muang
Falls are about 6 miles south of Na Thon, and actually comprise two different falls, Na Muang 1 and Na Muang 2, the first of which is just off the main road, and easily reached by car. It is just 18m high, and there is a lovely swimming hole at the foot of the falls. The second waterfalls is significantly higher, at 80m, and is considerably less accessible – a 30 minute hike up the hill from the main road. When there is enough water, the falls are stunning. Hin Lad Falls are just under a mile from Na Thon, accessible only on foot (a hike of around a mile), but once you are there, there is a wonderful pool at the base of the falls that makes it all worthwhile!
 
  1. Diving and Snorkelling
The waters around Koh Samui are some of the best in the world for diving and snorkelling, with the island of Koh Tao being perhaps the finest (see below). The Gulf of Thailand boasts warm waters, and a whole host of underwater plant and marine life. No matter what your standard of diving, from beginner to expert, there will be a dive site for you to explore, and there is a huge number of dive schools all over the island, mainly located on Chaweng, Sairee and Bophut beaches. The schools offer trips to dive sites all over the area, including to Angthong National Marine Park. Diving is possible and popular year round, though visibility is less good during the months of October , November and December when it can be quite windy. And if you don’t fancy diving, then just try snorkelling instead! Here are some of the best dive sites in the region: Koh Tao, or Turtle Island, is north of Koh Samui, and is well-known as a great diving destination, offering sites for novices through to the most experienced divers; Red Rock, to the south of the island, is a granite peak that soars out of the waters, and is home to a coral garden, where blue spotted rays, groupers, and even turtles can be seen; Ao Leuk, north east of Red Rock, is a great place for spotting leopard sharks and turtles; the Chumpon Pinnacle, north west of Koh Tao, is one of the best sites in the region, and home to whale sharks and manta rays; Angthon National Marine Park is a great site, even though you can only dive here between April and October (see below for more information); the two most popular sites in the area are Hin Yippon Lek and Hin Yippon Yai, where you can find sea snakes, pipe fish, shrimps, and sea slugs amongst others; Sail Rock, between Koh Pha Ngan and Koh Tao, has numerous natural limestone holes where you will find puffer fish, mantas and whale sharks. There is also a chimney, or natural vertical hole.
 
  1. Water Sports
Koh Samui is a great place to try your hand at a few watersports, the most popular of which are canoeing and kayaking, sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding and waterskiing. Fishing is also widely available. Canoes and kayaks can be rented on Chaweng Beach and a few other places on the island, and there are also tour operators offering day trips to Mae Koh and Anthong National Marine Park. Again, on Chaweng Beach, it is possible to hire various kinds of sailing boats, windsurfing boards etc, and there are also lessons available. Parasailing is possible off the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, and jet skis are widely available.
 
  1. Golf
Koh Samui is blessed with some great golf courses, of which the Santiburi Samui Country Club is probably the best known. It enjoys a fantastic location, surrounded by palm trees and jungle, and overlooking the ocean with views towards Koh Pha Ngan to the north. The course is ideal for intermediate to advanced golfers but might be a bit challenging for beginners. There are some truly unique holes on the course, including a vertical drop and a waterfall, and it is the only course on the island that meets the international standards.
 
  1. Nightlife
The nightlife on Koh Samui can be as lively or as peaceful as you want it to be, depending on where you go. There are numerous bars, clubs and discos in Chaweng and Lamai, and smaller bars and restaurants all over the island. Some of the most popular establishments are listed below: Green Mango is the busiest nightclub in Chaweng and a long established favourite; the Islander is a sports bar and club where all major sporting events are shown live on TVs around the bar – and during the day, children are welcome too; Tropical Murphys is the requisite Irish bar in the resort, serving good food, cheap beer and live music; the nightlife in Lamai is usually a bit tamer than that of neighbouring Chaweng – though you can see mud wrestling, and even Thai lady boxing too! Like some other resorts in Thailand, there are also some ladyboy cabaret shows, and Christys Cabaret in Chaweng is the most famous. 
 
 
  1. Other Experiences
When in Thailand, indulge in some traditional Thai treats – try your hand at elephant trekking, or go and watch some Thai boxing, or if you love the food, then why not try cooking it yourself? All of these experiences are on offer in Koh Samui. Access the interior of Koh Samui on the back of an elephant – treks usually last around 30 minutes and are suitable for all the family. The Thai boxing stadium is located in central Chawent and there are fights on every Monday and Friday – it is worth a visit almost just for the pre-match rituals! 


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