Koh
Samui sits snugly in the Gulf of Thailand, surrounded by other
island gems like Koh Pha-ngan and Koh Tao, and is located 84 km.
east of Surat Thani, the provincial capital on the mainland. With
soft-sand beaches shaded by towering palms, delicious fresh seafood
and a vibrant nightlife, Samui
has a magical formula that seems to cast its spell on everyone.
Many visitors are content to laze the days away on the beach, soaking
up the sun and cooling off in the turquoise waters, but for action
enthusiasts there are plenty of choices. Diving and snorkelling,
windsurfing and paragliding, beach volleyball and off-road driving
(and other similar activities).
One of the island's most appealing features is its loop road, which
makes a 50 km. circuit around the island, giving tantalizing glimpses
of superb beaches on the north, east and west coasts. It runs past
sleepy fishing villages and through seas of coconut palms, passing
Samui's most impressive waterfall and tempting turn-offs into the
highlands along the way. Other attractions on or near the road include
a butterfly farm, a snake show, a monkey-training centre, and health
spas dedicated to pampering the body.
There's plenty on Samui to keep even the most jaded traveller happy
for a week or two, but for anyone spending even a few days here, an
opportunity not to be missed is a trip to the emerald islands of the
Ang Thong Marine National Park, which offers yet another version of
a tropical paradise. Go
Top Attractions
Animal Farms and Shows
Phang Ka Snake Farm
at Tambon Taling Ngam, has daily shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., 250
baht per person, Tel: 0-7742-3247.
Samui Buffalo Village
At Tambon Na Mueang, has daily shows at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m., 350 baht
per person, Tel: 0-7741-8680.
Butterfly Garden and Honey Farm
In the south of the island, open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., 120
baht per person, Tel: 0-7742-4020-21.
Monkey Training Center
At Tambon Bo Phut, has daily shows at 10.30 a.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.,
150 baht per person, Tel: 0-7724 -5140.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo
At Ao Laem Set, opens daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., 250 baht per person,
Tel: 0-7742-4017-8.
Crocodile Farm
Near Na Mueang Waterfall, daily shows at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., 250 baht
per person. Go Top
Buffalo fighting
This is an exciting bout that attracts a huge crowd, both local residents
and tourists. Held monthly, it serves as a traditional festival on
the island.
Monkey & Elephant Shows
At the show, it is actually possible to see how monkeys collect
coconuts and present their other exceptional abilities. In addition,
visitors will be impressed by the intelligence and loveliness of
elephants that can perform many lovely tricks, or even play football.
On Ko
Samui, the coconut island, the monkey is considered man's best
friend. Local people have used monkeys to climb up and pick the
ripe coconuts for centuries. At present, monkeys are not just good
at picking coconuts, they are also good at entertaining.
Snake show
A stunning show that is not suitable for a people with heart diseases.
The show offers a thrilling experience especially when the poisonous
reptiles are skillfully caught by a handler with bare hands. Shows
feature snakes indigenous to Ko Samui as well as centipedes, scorpion
and cock fighting shows.
Samui Crocodile Farm
Siam crocodiles, Caimans, Saltwater crocodiles, snakes, lizards,
monkeys and many others are gathered here for entertainment.
Ban Lamai Cultural Hall
Serving as a folk museum, the Hall houses many local ancient objects.
Interesting objects on display include earthenware, household utensils,
hunting weapons and equipment used in coconut planting.
Ban Thale
This is the oldest house on the island which was built approximately
150 years ago of teakwood without any nails. In addition, there
the house displays elaborative wood carvings. Go Top
Bungy Jumping
For adrenaline lovers who seek the thrill of facing their own fears,
this is definitely a challenge. The site is located behind the Reggae
Pub and the operation is under professional control of British Jumpmasters.
This activity is guaranteed as safe.
Canopy Adventures
For those interested in gliding from tree houses, Ko Samui provides
visitors with this unique chance. No experienced required. Visitors
just glide from tree house to tree house above the magnificent jungle
canopy.
Hat Chaweng (Chaweng Beach)
The longest, most popular and developed beach on the east coast
of Ko Samui, this 7 kilometer beach has clean white sand and sparkling
water.
In addition to numerous accommodations, this charming beach is packed
with restaurants, spas, souvenir shops, bars and discos catering
to all the needs of visitors. In addition, there are a number of
dive shops on the beach, some of which also organize night dives.
Hat Na Thon
This is the island's major settlement on the west coast offering
a wide selection of souvenirs and handicrafts, silks and jewelry.
In addition to being the shopping center of the island Na Thon Bay
also provides visitors with the necessary facilities -- a post office,
banks, a police station, telephone services, and a hospital. Moreover,
this is where express and night ferries from the piers in Surat
Thani dock.
Hin Lat Waterfall
Located at the end of Route 4172, 3 kilometers south of Na Thon
Bay, the waterfall is encircled by palms, ferns and creeping plants.
Hin Lat Waterfall also provides a few natural pools for bathing.
An enjoyable 2-kilometer walk to the top allows visitors to get
a panoramic view of the waterfall. Go Top
Hin Ta - Hin Yai
Strangely shaped rocks south of Lamai Beach are locally dubbed Hin
Ta – Hin Yai. According to legend, an old couple were shipwrecked
in the bay and died and their bodies washed ashore creating the
rocks.
Jungle tours
Adventure lovers will enjoy the virgin forest on a mountain on the
island. Please contact only certified guides and tour agencies.
Koh
Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 84 kilometers
east of Surat Thani Province, or approximately 700 kilometers south
of Bangkok. Known as the Coconut Island, Ko Samui is one of the
most famous and popular attractions of Thailand. With an area of
247 square kilometers, Ko Samui is the third largest island of Thailand
after Phuket and Ko Chang (of Trat Province). The topography of
the island is that of a plain with a mountain range in the middle
and 7 important streams. In addition, there is a 50-kilometer paved
road that encircles the island. Moreover, the area of the island
stretches to a group of 48 surrounding islets.
Despite the fast pace of development, Ko
Samui has been able to maintain its charm – its classical image
of a tropical beach resort fringed by coconut trees. Travelers to
the island can enjoy a mixed blessing of vibrant day and nightlife
along side with tranquility which can easily be found across different
parts of Ko Samui as the archipelago is a peaceful home for fishermen
and a natural den for seagulls and other rare birds.
Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai are Ko Samui’s most beautiful and most
popular beaches. Both have a huge selection of accommodations suitable
for every budget. Please note that room rates increase during the
high season, from December to July, when Samui sparkles. The nightlife
of each beach is different: Hat Chaweng is better for couples, women
and families, while single men are drawn to the beer bar culture
of Hat Lamai. These resorts, as well as Na Thon (Samui’s main town),
have communications, exchange and car/motorcycle hire facilities.
Other beaches include Hat Choeng Mon, Hat Mae Nam in the north and
Hat Na Thon, the island's major seafront settlement where shops,
restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated. Go Top
Apart from its many lovely beaches and tranquil bays, Ko
Samui is also noted for its high quality coconuts that grow
densely everywhere. The best time to visit Ko Samui is from February
to April when the sea is calm. The Southern dialect and the standard
Thai language are spoken while English is widely understood in tourist
areas.
Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Ko
Samui 13 times daily. The flight takes about one hour and 10
minutes. It also offers daily flights between Phuket and Samui.
For more information, call its Bangkok
office, 0 2229 3456, 0 2229 3434, Samui office, 0 7742 2512 - 9
or Samui Airport Office 0 7724 5601-8.
By bus
Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern
Bus Terminal for Surat Thani several times daily. The trip takes
about 11 hours. For further information, call 0 2435 1199, 0 2435
1200 (air-con), 0 2434 5557 - 8 (non-air-con).
By car
From Bangkok,
take Highway 4 (Buddha Monthon Road) through Phetchaburi and Chumphon
Provinces and then drive on to Highways 41 and 401 to Surat Thani
Province. From Surat Thani, visitors can take their cars to Ko Samui
through a vehicle ferry at Donsak Pier. The trip takes 1.30 hours.
By rail
Several trains leave Bangkok's
Hualamphong Station for Surat Thani daily. The trip takes about
12 hours. Train / bus / ferry combination tickets are also available.
For more information, call Hualamphong Railway Station, 0 2223 7010,
0 2223 7020. Go Top
From Surat Thani to Ko
Samui
1.Express boat
1.1 An express ferry boat of Songserm Travel departs from Tha Thong
Pier in Surat Thani at 8.00 a.m. and arrives at Na Thon Pier in
Samui at 10.30 a.m. every day. For the return trip, the boat leaves
Na Thon Pier at 2.00 p.m. and reaches Tha Thong at 4.30 p.m.
1.2 Express boats of Seatran Express operate three times a day between
Ban Don and Ko Samui. Departure times are 7.00 a.m., 12.30 p.m.
and 2.30 p.m. The trip takes two hours.
2. Ferry Boats of Seatran
Seatran Ferry, which can accommodate 60 cars and 400 passengers,
operates several trips per day between Don Sak (Surat Thani) and
Ko Samui, from 5.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The trip takes about 1.30
hours.
3. Night ferry
A slow night ferry leaves Ban Don Pier nightly at 11 p.m. and reaches
Na Thon Pier at Samui around 5 a.m. (6 hours). For the return trip,
the boat leaves Na Thon Pier at 9.00 p.m. and arrives at Ban Don
Pier at 4.00 a.m. (7 hours).
Samui is an explorer's dream to discover something new. Offering
a wealth of diversity of landscape, vistas, flora and fauna, and
yet small enough to seek adventure in its many out-of-the-way places,
Samui is best seen by taking songthaews (red local bus) which operate
around the island. The fare starts at 20 bahts, depending on the
distance of the destination.
By Taxi
For many reasons, the least suitable for exploring, but the safest
and easiest way to get to the destination is to go by taxi. The
official taxi service time is until 9.00 p.m. Visitors are recommended
to negotiate strongly for the fare and keep in mind that negotiation
should always be dome before boarding. Note that the fare at night
will be escalated. Go Top
By a rented Jeep
Rented Jeep, 4WD, is available from many family-owned agencies and
some well known large companies. The vehicle will serve as the basic
means of transportation taking visitors around many hillside natural
and man-made attractions which are easily accessible from the ring
road. Some of these vehicles come with insurance, but the coverage
is limited. Always ask for details first. The minimum price is from
800 bahts.
By Motorcycle
A more flexible way to get around the island, rented motorcycle
costs approximately 200 bahts / day. Beware, as roads other than
the main roads on Ko Samui are quite rough in some parts.
1.1 Na Thon Pier (Ko Samui) -- Thong Sala Pier (Ko Pha-ngan)
Songserm Travel Co. operates ferry boats and express boats between
Na Thon Pier on Ko
Samui and Thong Sala Pier on Ko Pha-ngan, four times a day.
The trip takes about 45 minutes for express boats, and one hour
for ordinary ferry boats.
There is a ferry boat leaving Bo Phut for Ko Pha-ngan twice daily
at 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The return trips depart Hat Rin on Ko
Pha-ngan at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m.
2. Ang Thong Islands
Visitors can hire a boat on Ko
Samui to Ang Thong. The charge depends on the boat size and
number of passengers. The trip takes 1.30 hours. It is also possible
to join a full-day excursion organized by tour operators in Ko Samui.
3. Ko Tao
Boat services for Ko Tao are available at Na Thon Pier of Ko Samui. Go Top
Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park
Located 20 kilometers northwest of Ko
Samui, the park is comprised of approximately 40 islands. Covering
approximately 250 square kilometers, the park is full of fascinating
beaches, caves and coral formations – a sign of abundant marine
resources. Many oddly shaped islands, sheer limestone cliffs and
hidden lagoons can also be found here. The National Park does not
allow over night visits. Individual tourists will have to join a
group organized by a tour agency to visit the place.
Na Mueang 1 Waterfall
Located approximately 11 kilometers to the south of Na Thon Bay
is the medium-sized waterfall that flows from a steep cliff, approximately
40 meters high and 20 meters wide. Activities such as elephant back
riding are provided by nearby tour agents.
Na Mueang 2 Waterfall
Located just 100 meters from Na Mueang 1, the waterfall is similar
in size and beauty as its sister. The place is an ideal spot for
trekking and elephant back riding, as it is surrounded by dense
forest.
Na Thian Butterfly Garden
Located at the bottom of the hill to the south of the island, the
Garden offers a unique opportunity to observe numerous species of
butterflies on the island. Other interesting features are the beautifully
decorated garden, the bee house, a Thai style house which allows
visitors to observe the activities of bees. The insect museum, in
which rare insects from Thailand and other countries are displayed,
is also worth visiting.
Samui
Aquarium
Located at Laem Set Bay, the Aquarium features a wide variety of
tropical fish and marine fauna.
Samui
Go Kart
Looking for fast-paced action? Visit this site in Bophut, on the
ring road opposite the Samui
Euphoria Resort, and enjoy circling the track at over 100 kilometers.
Call 077 425097 for more information. Go Top Samui
Golf & Country Club
Ko Samui
offers an absolutely overwhelming experience for golfers. This par
72 course was jointly designed by Edward Theile and Pirapon Namartra.
The challenge is its relentless, tumbling diversity and its degree
of difficulty. The par-3s range from 155 to 214 yards, highlighted
by the shortest (the audacious 6th, with a vertical drop and waterfall).
The 10 par-4s are whimsical and attenuated and querulous and lengthy.
The par-5s start at 458 and end at the signature 17th with 622 yards
of downhill travel. The fairways are tilted and the greens are uniformly
gyroscopic. For more details, contact Santiburi Dusit Resort at
tel. 077 425031-38 or visit www.dusit.com.
Samui
Nightlife
It’s never ending. Koh
Samui offers spectacular evening entertainment for all ages.
This includes traditional beach bars (popular with families), western-style
pubs, which feature music, videos and satellite television, and
free to enter nightclubs, which are more active after midnight and
usually continue through the pre-dawn hours. Bars, cabarets shows
and discos are mainly located in Chaweng and Lamai. Green Mango,
Raggae Pub, Full Circle and Bauhaus are the main discotheques, some
open until sunrise.
The most vibrant nightlife activities can be found around the beaches
of Chaweng and Lamai. Resorts also provide magnificent entertainment
such as dinner cabarets, where professional singers and dancers
display their talents in stylish surroundings.
Samui
Paintball
A non-water based activity worth trying, Samui
paintball offers a unique opportunity to take a shot at families
and friends without having to go to jail.
Scuba Diving
There are many scuba diving schools located around Ko
Samui, offering a wide range of dive facilities. There are also
tours available for snorkeling, fishing and excursions. The area
of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Pha-ngan and Angthong Marine National
Park are very famous dive places.
Spa experience at Samui
Samui now boasts many excellent, world-class spas set in a truly
Samui
ambience. From aromatic floral baths, steaming and body masque with
Thai herbs, to face and body massage, reflexology, and other well-being
therapy, Samui has everything that caters to your needs – rejuvenating,
pampering and relaxing in utmost luxury and comfort. Go Top
Thale Nai (the Inner Sea)
Encircled by mountains, Thale Nai is emerald in color and has a
white powdery beach that is second to none. There are several underwater
chambers connecting the Thale Nai to the outside sea. The best time
to visit the place is from April to November. To get there from
Samui, visitors can charter a boat from Na Thon Pier. The boat service
hours is between 9.00 and 4.30 p.m. Travel time is approximately
1 hour. For more information, call 0 7742 0504 or 0 7742 0720-2.
Tham Bua Bok
This is where visitors can marvel at spectacular stalactites and
stalagmites. In addition, the top of a 400 meter mountain on the
island overlooks the picturesque Ang Thong islands.
The Statue Garden
The Garden features a number of Buddhist and Hindu statues recently
made by Khun Nim, a local sculptor. Located near the highest point
of Samui Island, the place can be reached by taking the track opposite
Wat Khunaram.
Wat Phra Yai or Temple of the Big Buddha
Established in 1972, the temple houses a 12-meter high Golden Buddha,
which has recently become a spectacular landmark of Ko Samui. The
monastery has become a meditation center for both local residents
and foreigners.
Wat Pradoem
Located approximately 12 kilometers on Route 4169 or 1 kilometer
from Na Mueang Waterfall is a monastery built at the end of Ayutthaya
Era. The temple is believed to be the first temple on Ko
Samui. At present, it is where an ancient wooden scripture hall
used in storing Buddhist scriptures is located.
Wat Samret
This relatively old temple houses a marble Buddha image brought
from Burma and many other old Buddha images.
Wua Ta Lap
This is the largest island of the group, the site of the park office
and the location of a very beautiful cave.
