Koh Samui Overview

Koh Samui - "the island of the coconut tree" is Thailand's 3rd largest. A backpacker's secret for years, this sun lover's paradise, with its coconut plantations, rolling hills, curved sandy beaches and offshore islands, has gradually developed into a holiday destination with a distinctly local island flavour.

Samui is a place to relax, meet people, sunbathe and party. Nightlife is good with open-air discos, music bars and good restaurants. The island retains its laid back feel, with friendly and welcoming locals, good food and offbeat local attractions which haven't become over commercialised.

Modest bungalows or resort, close to the action or peaceful retreat, Samui has a range of accommodation to suit everyone, with many places located near or actually on the beach.

What To Do

Relax and enjoy! But if you're bored with the beach, there's lots to do. Close to the water, activities like diving. snorkelling, and kayaking are on offer.

Like to explore? Take a tour, or hire a car. Drive around the island and see the Butterfly Farm, the adrenaline pumping Snake show, and some local colour at the Crocodile Farm. Want to learn something new? Take a PADI dive course or Thai cooking lessons. If you simply want to chill out and get healthy. Samui also has a number of spas and treatment centres, offering both therapeutic remedies, Thai massage and courses.

Few people realise that Samui is also a Buddhist centre, with many older temples and artifacts, including the mummified bodies of revered monks located here. The north coast of the island is dominated by the big Buddha - a huge 15 metre figure which looks out over the sea and has become the island's landmark.

What to See

Samui has a large number of offshore islands. The Ang Thong Marine National Park contains 42 islands with wonderfully weird shapes formed from limestone and erosion. Some have caves and secluded beaches surrounded by coral reefs, while others rise hundreds of metres as sheer rockface from the sea. The strange rock formations extend below the water, allowing great diving opportunities and day trips sightseeing and snorkelling..

Ko Phangan - just north of Samui Island, more famous for its full moon parties than the scenery, is an alternative place to hang out, party and meet people if your under 25. Ko Tao, north of Ko Phangan hopping, snorkelling and diving. Take a day trip or stay for a few days

Which Beach?

Where to stay? It depends if you're looking for somewhere quiet or a place with more energy. Most accommodation, facilities and nightlife can be found around the main beaches of Chaweng and Lamai.

Chaweng

Located on the east coast, Chaweng is the largest and most action-packed beach on the island. Protected by a offshore coral reef it has a nice shallow lagoon which is great for swimming. Wide range of accommodation - budget, first class and deluxe, with lots of excellent restaurants within easy reach of the beach. Good shopping and a vibrant nightlife with bars, clubs and live bands.

Lamai

Further down the coast, south of Chaweng, and more compact, Lamai Beach offers small bars and a different style. You'll find a number of "new age" spa retreats, offering relatively inexpensive pampering and esoteric therapies. The basic bungalows are now being replaces by more comfortable hotels and facilities.

Other Beaches

If you really want peace and quiet, head for the more remote beaches on the west coast which tend to consist of smaller bungalow resorts with the odd upmarket hotel like the Baan Talingnam. In the south, a nostalgic Thai village can be found on Thong Krut Bay, while the secluded beach at Bang Kao Bay is a good choice for solitude seekers.

In the north, Menam and Bophut are still peaceful beaches, although as development increases, more upmarket accommodation is changing the character from sleepy village to holiday resort.

Other Islands

Ko Phangan
Famous for its Full Moon Parties, Koh Phangan also offers a beach lifestyle, "New Age" culture, inexpensive local Thai food, and relatively cheap accommodation. It's a place to go walking, snorkelling, swimming, or try new things. From belly dancing courses to Full Moon parties, to lazing on the beach or snorkelling. It's all about taking it easy and leaving mainstream life behind.

Koh Tao
"Discovered" by travellers in the 80's Ko Tao has been gradually gaining popularity. More remote than Samui, faster and safer boats now allow easier access to the island and new resorts with 24 hour air-conditioning are adding to the old basic bungalows. Since the main attraction is diving - the beaches remain tranquil and uncrowded. Check out the underwater scenery - it's what Ko Tao is famous for! Sharks, stingrays, pufferfish, various groupers and triggerfish are just some of the locals. The east of the island has some of the best snorkelling sites - spectacular coral reefs, sea fans and colourful fish.

Ang Thong Marine National Park
Around 42 islands make up the Ang Thong National Marine Park, northwest of Samui. Geographically different, this fascinating group of islands have spectacular limestone formations, caves, lagoons and beautiful beaches. Many islands are uninhabited with bays and colorful coral formations. Other islands rise from the sea as dramatic walls of rock hundreds of metres high. Besides the many small coves and secluded beaches, erosion has shaped some interesting formations which give some of the islands their names, such as 'Sleeping Cow Island' and 'Three Pillar Island'. Accessible on day trips by boat.