Thailand

Koh Samui

Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and known as a tropical paradise thanks to its white long shores, crystal blue water and quiet lagoons decorated with palm trees.  Backpackers discovered the island in the sixties and twenty years later local foreign and Thai investors started to replace the bamboo hats with fancy hotels.

Today this is one of the central destinations for tourists in Thailand, every year one million people visit the island and a new hotel is built here every week. Due to the flow of tourists the prices rose up significantly. For example: a traditional Thai meal that would cost you 15 Baht anywhere else in Thailand would cost 80 Baht in Samui.

Nevertheless the beaches remain amazing and the shoreline is considered to be one of the best in South East Asia. January to June would be the best months to visit. July till October is rainy but still reasonable. 

How to get there:

• Ever since the airport was established in 1989 the island was no longer an isolated heaven for bold backpackers but turn out to be the ultimate destination for wealthy tourists and large groups. Therefore, a flight from Bangkok is not cheap even in western terms: 2600-3600 Baht. There are two companies executing those flights: Bangkok Airways and Berjaya Air.
• Another option is to ride a bus and a ferry that will take around 12 hours from Bangkok and will cost you about 500 Baht. The bonus is a ride through Thailand and a chance to enjoy the astonishing landscape.

What to do:

Although Samui is the perfect place to chill out on the beach and do what in western terms called "nothing", there are many options for the people who do not know how to enjoy peace and quiet. The island and the surroundings are full with stunning reefs that are suitable for easy scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing.
There are many stores around where you can buy or rent equipment. Samui also provides a popular environment for kayaking, sailing yachting and cruising.
Samui pristine forests are great for bird watching, jungle trekking and elephant trekking. If you are looking for entertainment several gyms are hosting boxing arenas, and there are some popular Lady Boys ensembles performing every night. Snooker and pool can be found at many local bars.

Here are some recommended site visits of the nature and others:

• Hin Ta and Hin Yai: The Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks on the south end of Lamai are an occasional source of amusement for tourists due their similarity to a vagina and penis. A big and funny sign pointing at the rocks saying: "Wonderful Rocks".
• Big Buddha: This is a twelve-meter high statue of Buddha which lies at the top of the dragon steps at the Wat Phra Yai temple.
• Na Muang: The prettiest waterfalls in Samui, located next to Ban Thurian, a small Chinese fishermen village, that is famous for its enormous Durian trees. The waterfalls are falling from 30 meters height.
• Ang Thong: The National Marine Park located north west to Samui including four small and beautiful islands. Local agencies offer guided tours that are leaving daily (8:00 to 17:30) from Nathon port and including sporadic diving along the reefs on the way to park. In the park there is a small restaurant and a sweet water lake.
• Ko Katen and Ko Mat Sun: Two beautiful nearby islands, both surrounded with coral reefs, where you can dive and snorkel. Boats are leaving from Thong Kurt beach.
• Hin Lad: small waterfalls and several pools of water are located south to Nathon. It takes half an hour of climbing in the thick jungle to get there. Motorcycles can take the south road and get to Samui Highlands Bungalows at the pick, where you can also find amazing view and rooms for rent. The rout climbing to the top goes through fields of flowers and orchards.
• Hau Thanon: A small village where you could see coral reefs that were shaped in Buddha's shape. Not far from the village you could take a look at the Silangu pagoda that contains some of Buddha's bones. The pagoda is hosting traditional Vipasana courses for Western visitors.
• More Activities:
• • Bungee Jumping: A 50 meter height device is located on the Reggae Street of Chaweng lake. Cost around 2500 Baht.
  • Golf: There is one 18-hole golf courses available on Samui called the Santiburi Samui Country Club. It is popular for its scenic natural surrounding and high valley fairways. The island is also the location of a few golf shops, especially on Chaweng Beach.
  • Spa: For those who love to 'spa' Thailand prides itself in countless spas offering the highest world class services at extremely reasonable price. Much of the recent success is due to the tremendous support given by the Thai Spa Operators Association. Not only have they trained therapists to international standards but also trained them in keeping methods traditionally and distinctively 'Tahi style'. Saps can be found at major hotels and resorts in Samui. Enjoy.

Where to Stay:

According to the law it is not allowed to build in Samui a building higher than three floors. The government is aware to the damage that a speed up development could cause, yet there is another reason: This is the height of a coconut tree. One of the main sources of income in south east Thailand and a respected symbol in itself, not to mention a cause of death (every year 350 people are killed when hit by falling coconuts). Therefore all low-structured accommodation in Samui seems friendly and integrating with the environment.

• Chaweng Beach: One of the two central shores in of the island. It is the longest and prettiest in Samui and loaded with bungalows, hotels, restaurants, clubs, diving shops etc. Yet it is succeeding in maintaining peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
  Rooms are starting at 500-600 Baht for a couple per night.
  During the day you can lie down on the beach, enjoy a massage in ridicules prices, cold shakes and hot corncobs.
  At night you can watch the latest movies in one of restaurants or go party at one of the many clubs – the Green Mango and the Reggae Pub are the most famous ones.
• Lamai Beach: As central as but less popular than Chaweng. Not many esthetic hotel or comfortable roads yet accompanied with cheaper prices. The shore is long and beautiful and you could visit the fishermen village located at the north edge. The bungalows located crowded at the center of the shore and the nightlife includes loud dance clubs and pubs full of prostitutes.
  Unlike Chaweng the prices are less expensive and the distance from the center sets a cooler and quieter atmosphere. Lamai has all the services for tourist you can find in Chaweng including banks, restaurants, motorcycles and jeeps for rent, book stores etc.
• Bophut Beach: For a while now this is the backpacker's favorite beach, maybe it's the isolated location or the "magic mushrooms" that grow around and are been served in local coffee shops inside soups and omelets. Nowadays after the massive construction in the area if you will ask the locals about the magic mushrooms the locals will smile and tell you nostalgic stories about the pre-eighties days of the island. The town Bophut is worth visiting to enjoy the French restaurant and second hand book stores.
• Mae Nam: A narrow and isolated shore between Chweng and Nathon (the port where the ferry arrives), relatively preserved from tourists. In the center Ban Mae Nam there are several restaurants and other services.
• Tong Yang: Located right next to the small and beautiful Phang Ka bay. The water is full with corals and sunsets are breathtaking at that spot.  

Did you Know?

Samui has a developed coconut industry that employs the majority of the population. Almost every kind of coconut tree is growing on the island and 2 million coconuts are shipped to Bangkok every year. The nut themselves are being used completely: the Thais eat the cover, cook with the milk and use the fiber to build roofs and beds.