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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.
Check out our hotel listings
for more information.
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With
a prime location on Chaweng, Koh Samui’s
finest beach, the award winning Central Samui
Beach Resort is set in spacious beautifully
landscaped gardens. All rooms are seafacing,
and together with a choice of exceptional dining,
recreation and spa facilities, it is the ultimate
holiday choice.
Price
from 5,700 THB. !! BOOK NOW !!
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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.
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