Koh Samui
Thailand holidays in Koh Samui
Koh Samui is 700 km from Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Koh Samui draws the crowds with its stunning white-sand beaches, picture-postcard palm trees, excellent diving and snorkelling and general air of relaxation and enjoyment. From the beach you can study the backdrop of rainforest and green hills. Popular beaches include Chaweng Beach, where a number of Koh Samui resorts are located, Lamai Beach with its spa resort, Big Buddha beach famous for its Buddha statue, Bophut, Maenam, Choeng Mon and Hua Thanon. Koh Samui caters to backpackers looking for a budget Thai experience but also to luxury travellers who spend time in one of the island’s premier five star resorts and spas. Koh Samui also provides a decent selection of mid-range accommodation in beach rooms and villas. Dining varies from barbeques on the beach to romantic beach dining in unique candlelit restaurants. Nightlife is focused round beach bars and clubs and Full Moon parties take place in nearby Ko Pha-Ngan. Holiday Koh Samui and you are likely to be attracted by the Thai island’s beautiful beaches. Whether you want to laze all day on your lounger or take a romantic sunset walk along the shore, Koh Samui is all about the beach. You can be as active as you want, with opportunities for quality diving and snorkelling close by and sea kayaks and sailing trips organised for Koh Samui visitors. The island of Koh Samui caters for everyone. There are trendy clubs and barefoot beach bars, romantic restaurants and family resorts. Although the island is popular and you’re not going to get away from it all on some of its busier beaches, you’ll still be able to find your own isolated cove if you look for it. Travel a few minutes by boat and you can reach some of Thailand’s more secluded islands and beaches. Holiday in Koh Samui for a prime chance to slip underwater and see all the ocean has to offer. High-quality diving and snorkelling are on offer from Koh Samui. The area contains the famous ‘Sail Rock’, an 18 metre rock chimney that divers can swim through. You may be able to spot whale sharks here as well as multicoloured coral and other marine life. Nearby Ang Thong National Park has many other premium dive sites.
You can pick up a PADI diving operator from the Koh Samui resorts or along the island’s main beaches. You can also take a snorkelling trip from Koh Samui around its beaches and lagoons. A typical trip by boat will take in Choeng Mon Bay, Big Buddha beach, Chaweng, Lamai Bay, Koh Mudsum, Hua Thanon and Koh Tan with a barbeque picnic lunch. Holidays in Koh Samui are bound to include time on the beach. Koh Samui has some great beaches with clear blue waters and much to offer whether you want to relax or take part in water sports. Chaweng Beach is one of Koh Samui’s most popular with a great variety of entertainment and food on offer. Other than the beach, Chaweng Lake is ringed by restaurants and bars. A short distance north of Chaweng is the Big Buddha, a 12 metre Buddha statue. Wat Plai Laem is an intriguing temple near to the Buddha statue which boasts paintings and statues. Bophut is another decent beach to visit. Lamai Beach is the home of the Spa Samui resort, an alternative health centre that offers detox and relaxation programmes plus meditation and yoga and has a renowned vegetarian restaurant. A Koh Samui holiday isn’t complete without a visit to the stunning location of ‘The Beach’, the Leonardo di Caprio film and book, at Ang Thong. Ang Thong National Park contains 42 islands with lagoons and caves and beautiful rock formations rising from the sea. There is good snorkelling to be had in the national park and you can take sea kayak tours through the crystal clear waters to visit the Green Lagoon. Hotels Koh Samui are priced within all budgets. You can find stylish rooms in a boutique guesthouse or cheap Koh Samui holidays in a thatched cabana on the beach.
Family hotels provide activities for children and Koh Samui Resorts provide luxury accommodation often with spa and leisure facilities. Hotels in Koh Samui include the Centara Grand Resort & Spa 5*. This first-class resort lies beside Chaweng Beach and is 20 minutes away from the airport. There are 206 rooms with private balconies that face the ocean. The Bandara Resort & Spa 4* is on Bophut Beach, surrounded by exotic gardens. All rooms have spacious balconies with day-beds. You can eat outside in your suite or take advantage of all-day restaurant dining with Asian and European food. A Package Holiday Koh Samui could incorporate a stay at the luxury Anantara Lawana Resort 5*. On Chaweng Beach, this hotel has rooms and pool villas and the ‘Sky Hug’, a dining sala in the trees overlooking the ocean. The Koh Samui Hotel Amari Palm Reef Resort 4* is near to Chaweng Beach. It offers two pools, airy rooms in traditional-style buildings, a fitness centre and a diving school. There is a choice of accommodation from a suite to a family duplex. For a luxurious Koh Samui Hotel, look at the Langham Place Resort & Spa 5*. It features the Chuan Spa, which provides traditional Chinese and Thai treatments, infinity baths and aromatherapy. It is located on Lamai Beach with accommodation in pool villas and suites. The one airline that flies direct to Koh Samui is Bangkok Airways, offering around 10 flights a day in high season. Koh Samui Deals include Jet and Qatar flights from the UK that connect with Bangkok Airways in India. Air Emirates connects in Dubai. It is possible to fly with Thai Airways to Surat Thani airport and transfer by bus and boat to Koh Samui. Visitors to Koh Samui are attracted by the pristine waters and white-sand beaches and all the activities these provide. Diving and snorkelling are popular, along with sailing trips around Ang Thong National Park. There are great sailing conditions between May and November. Koh Samui is a convenient base for trips to its nearby islands; Koh Tao for great diving, Koh Pha-Ngan for the legendary Full Moon Party, Koh Tan and Koh Nang Yuan. Thailand is a beautiful year-round destination but there are certain times of the year that are better for lounging on the beach. Koh Samui is great in the months from February to June. This is the hot, dry season in Thailand. It rains occasionally during July to October and it can get windy from October to January. For scuba diving, visibility is a little lower from October to December due to the wind. Prices are much higher during the UK Christmas holidays, despite wetter weather. You are more likely to find cheap holidays to Koh Samui in April and May, except during Easter and school holidays.
Going Koh Samui from Bangkok
There are some different options to choose from:
Going Koh Samui from Bangkok
There are some different options to choose from:
Flight
There are many daily flights from the International and domestic Airport in Bangkok; Suvarnabhumi Airport. Bangkok Air flies direct to Samui Airport. A flight schedule with Bangkok Airways is found here. Also Thai Airways has a two daily flights to Samui Airport .
Thai Airways and Air Asia also flies to Suratthani. From there, just catch the bus or taxi to the ferry in Donsak.
Bus
If you prefer a more economical way to travel, we recommend a so called VIP bus from the well-known Khao San Road or from the Southern Bus Terminal at Boromrat Chonnani Road. The VIP buses are more comfortable, and has less seats than a so called A/C bus. You can buy a ticket in almost every travel agency in Bangkok. The ferry ticket is sometimes included in the price.
Train
Another comfortable way to travel is the night train from Hualamphong, (the Bangkok railway station) to Suratthani. The sleeping cars has rather comfortable beds. To travel by railway is a little more expensive than the bus, but you will probably get a better sleep. Upper beds are less expensive than the lower ones. A private “first class” cabin for two persons, is also available. Ideal for couples!
Ferry
The fastest ferries departures from the two main piers in Donsak on the main land with the operators Seatran, and Raja Ferry. The price is about 150 baht for passengers and 420 baht for cars . You will see many of the small surrounding islands if you don’t fall asleep.
You might also take the Lomprayah catamaran which departures from Chumphon. The also offer bus rides from Banglamphu in Bangkok. On smaller ferries (such as the ones operated by Songserm from smaller piers situated at the Suratthani coastline), you might be contacted by Thai guys trying to convince you that “their” resort on Samui is the one to choose. It can be a blank or a prize in that “lottery”. You can easily book a Koh Samui room or bungalow here.
Koh Samui pictures
Koh Samui Thailand Vacation Attractions
Angthong National Marine Park Angthong National Marine Park, consisting of 42 islands featuring limestone massifs, tropical rainforests, secluded beaches and wildlife, was established as a national park in 1980. Also known as the Golden Basin, the park in Koh Samui is renowned for activities like snorkeling, walking and swimming. Similar nearby islands are Koh Sam Sao, Koh Prayad, Koh Hin Dap and Koh Kha.
Wat Khunaram Koh Samui This temple is the island’s most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master and was reputedly able to predict his own death.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Koh Samui The undersea world of the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other vibrant aquatic animals such as turtles and colorful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. Those who are daring enough can have their photograph taken with the animals.
Laem Sor Pagoda Koh Samui This chedi (pagoda) situated at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Koh Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles which gives off a golden aura is quite impressive.
Big Buddha is a twelve-metre high statue of the Buddha, which lies at the top of ceremonial dragon-steps at the Wat Phra Yai. Samui also has a number of other impressive temples, including Wat Khunaram, where the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, a monk who died in a meditating position is on display.
The Grandmother and Grandfather rocks on the south end of Lamai beach are an occasional source of amusement for tourists due to their striking similarity to a vagina and penis. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local.
The mountain jungle in the interior of the island is an excellent day out, and is home to a number of impressive gardens built by legendary Samuia farmer Nim Thongsuk, the impressive waterfalls at Na Muang, real working rubber plantations and the most amazing views over the Ang Thong archipelago. The roads in the jungle are an adventure in themselves, and tourists normally take a tour with an experienced local Samui driver/guide.
Muay Thai boxing takes place regularly at the island’s stadiums in Chaweng and Lamai.
Numerous animal attractions are dotted around the island, including a crocodile farm, monkey theatre, elephant trekking, a snake farm, an aquarium and a butterfly garden.
Most visitors to the island take a day trip out to the beautiful Ang Thong National Marine Park at least once on their stay in Samui. Boats leave Na Thon several times a day.
Koh Pha Ngan has a full-moon party at the appropriate time each lunar month, and tourists in Samui often hop a slow ferry or speedboat to the nearby island to join in the dusk to dawn high energy dancing and drinking marathon.