Jan
2
Koh Samui Holiday Guide
Filed Under Thailand
Siem Reap Air Boeing 717 taxiing at Koh Samui International Airport
A holiday on Koh Samui
A tropical island in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is a major beach destination on the Southeast Asian backpacker trail. It also boasts high-end resorts and plenty to keep travellers happy, day and night. You can arrive by catching a flight from Bangkok or from other destinations in Thailand. There are also direct flights from Malaysia. Most people come here for the sea, sun and sand but there are more active water sports available if you don’t feel like just sun-bathing all day.
Flights to Koh Samui
Koh Samui Airport mainly handles air traffic to Bangkok but a handful of other domestic destinations are available, including Phuket and Chiang Mai in the north of the country. International connections are few but there are flights available from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Hong Kong, most of which fly a few times a week.
Getting to and from the airport has got much simpler thanks to a new shuttle bus service which can be arranged and paid for in advance. Taxis and minibuses are also available outside arrivals. Getting around the island can be pricey by Thai standards as taxis often refuse to use their meters. Many people therefore opt to hire a motorbike which results in a fairly high accident rate.
Sightseeing on Koh Samui
Koh Samui doesn’t offer many sights beyond the beautiful Gulf of Thailand and the sandy beaches. Some of the best coastal spots include the busiest beach Chaweng as well as Lamai and Mae Nam. Most of the beaches are highly developed but restrictions on the height of construction means the island isn’t a concrete jungle.
If you plan to get away from the beach for a day or two and have indulged in water sports like diving, sailing and kayaking then head to Bang Rak to see the Buddha statue or go to any one of the waterfalls on the island the best-known being Na Muang.
Fun by night – eating drinking and partying
Koh Samui serves up a feast of fresh seafood every day, much of which is cooked in a Thai style in coconut curries and spicy salads. International restaurants are common in the large resorts and at Bophut on the northern coast. Beware of places that try to charge foreigners more for the same dish than the locals, a common problem.
Chaweng is the centre of Koh Samui’s nightlife where there are plenty of bars, clubs and seedy venues to suit all tastes. Every beach will have a bar scene so you will never have to move very far to track down a cold beer. In Bophut, the bars are a little more upmarket and less in your face if you are just looking for a quite drink by the beach.
Fun by day - shopping and activities
Every beach has a handful of shops selling postcards and other tourist knick-knacks such as beach wear and handicrafts. Head to Chaweng for the greatest compliment of shops, but in truth Koh Samui is not really one of Thailand’s premier shopping destinations, instead wait until you get back to Bangkok.
Daytrips
Being an island, Koh Samui is surrounded by a number of places worth seeing on a day out. Boat travel is common and easy, and there are many companies offering daytrips to a number of destinations around the Gulf of Thailand. Island hopping is popular, especially among younger travellers.
Koh Phan Ngan is just 30 minutes away by speed boat and of course, is home to the world famous Full Moon parties. The best diving on the Gulf coast can be found on Koh Tao, which is a little bit farther north than Phan Ngan. Daily diving trips are available from Samui, as are trips to smaller islands such as James Bond Island and the famous Angthong Marine Park.
If you simply want to get out onto sea for the day, you could hire a kayak and explore the open water or hire a long tail boat which can take you around the coast of Samui for a very reasonable price.
Must-see attractions
Most people arrive on Samui to take advantage of the beautiful beaches, blue sea and good weather. However, there are many sights to see for those who are all beached out.
One of the most visited sights is Hin Ta Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother rocks). These rock formations are similar to male and female genital organs, hence the name. There are many stories surrounding these rocks, which can be found south of Lamai Beach and are well signposted.
The island’s Butterfly Garden is a great place to visit, where literally hundreds of butterflies are bred among tropical plants and flowers. It is a must for green-fingered visitors. If natural attractions are your thing, you should not miss out on a trip to Na Muang Waterfalls. These falls are set in lush jungle and surrounded by beautiful trees and tropical plants.
For something a bit different, visit Wat Khum Aran. This famous temple is home to Samui’s most visited attraction; a mummified monk. The corpse is of Loung Pordaeng, a monk who visualised his death and lack of decay. He died in a meditation position which he is still in today - over 20 years after his death. Apart from his eyes (which are covered with sunglasses) his body shows no sign of decay.
Best time to go
The best time of year to visit Koh Samui is during the dry season, which runs from February to June. You are guaranteed sunshine and the sea breeze ensures pleasant temperatures. However, this is also the peak season and the beaches can be busy. The rains start in March and continue until October. Although there is a lot of sunshine every day, showers can be heavy and put a dampener on any plans.
Rainy day suggestions
If you visit Samui during the rainy season, you will find that some days may be a wash out due to heavy rain. If you want to keep active, there are many indoor venues to visit. One of the most popular attractions is the Aquarium and Tiger Zoo. As well as a wealth of marine life, there is also the chance to have your photo taken with a tiger, making the zoo a great attraction for people of all ages and a once in a lifetime opportunity to get up close and personal to these magnificent beasts.
Comments
Leave a Reply
-
Subscribe to our RSS Feed
