Discover Thailand’s Koh Samui

The Samui Island or Koh Samui is a tourist destination in Thailand that seems to catch the eye of the wealthy, not-so-rich and mere tourists too. There’s plenty to see and even more to do, and it is not uncommon for many to spend an extended week to a month just soaking in the beauty of Koh Samui and its excellent infrastructure for giving tourists the best experience of a lifetime. Its cosmopolitan crowds, beachside bungalows, many white sand beaches, the proximity to several marine wonder spots makes Koh Samui a must-visit place. Be it Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach, Bophut's Fisherman's Village, or Maenam. We will help you cover ground in Koh Samui with the insider view of what is best to do at Koh Samui. Let’s party!

Want to dance your blues away at a Koh Samui raven-party on a full-moon night with 50,000 global guests? Head to the full-moon rave party at Koh Phangan! Ko Pha-ngan is very accessible and easy to get. From Surat Thani, it is a 3.5 hr trip, and from Koh Samui, it is just 30 minutes to the island by speed boat. If you are getting there from Bangkok, opt for the joint tickets for the ferry, train, bus, boat etc. available at any other travel agent. You can fly into Bangkok using Thai Airlines, Bangkok Airways or Air Asia. If you prefer the bus, then buses leave Bangkok at 6 pm and reach the next day at noon. You could also use the 2 or 3 trains available from Bangkok.

The resorts Koh Samui have all facilities included in the package like an AC room with TV, hot shower, swimming pool and mini-bar along with an in-house attached restaurant. Book early! By booking a tour your travel to and fro from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao and all transfers from Koh Samui are included. You need not spend the 8,000 THB on a taxi nor do you need to get into crowded boats with inebriated people heading to the party and risk your life on getting to the party. The 3N 2D package includes your two-night accommodation at the 5-star resorts of Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan,Panviman Resort or the Kupu Kupu Phangan Beach Villa and Spa by L’Occitane and your daily breakfasts.

Expect the packages for October at Koh Samui to cost you for single room 35,900 THB, double sharing at 21,900 THB and triple sharing at 19,900 THB at the Kupu Kupu Phangan Beach Villa and Spa by L’Occitane. The Panviman Resort charges are 35900, 21900 and 19900 THB while the Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan charges are 39000, 22900 and 19900 THB for similar single, double or triple sharing options. Make your bookings on reservation@fullmoonpartybooking.com or fax it to 66*77*238*602. Also available are the 3N 2D, 5D 4N, 3D 2N, AC and fan-only rooms, the Haad Rin accommodation choices and the room-only options.

The Wat Phra Yai Buddhist shrine of Koh Samui is located at Bo Put in Ko Samui District of Surat Thani at Thailand. Right atop the Pratumnak Hill and 2km away from Pattaya South and the area short of Jomtien Beach lies the entrance to this shrine with its 18 m tall standing Buddha. There is no entry fee, and the easiest way to get there is to travel by the songtaew bus for 200 THB.

The highlight of the place is the 1940’s giant Buddha and the many intricate carvings and statues of Buddha set in the temple and its pavilion of mosaic designed walls. The pavilion is always full of tourists and locals alike, and the place is revered in the history of Pattaya’s evolution from a fishing village to its present modernity. The shallow and easy to handle stairs and railings are of the 7-headed Nagas and golden dragons which birth the mythical serpents. On the upper floors are the various Buddhas sitting, reclining or in a pose for each day of the week. The view of the Jomtien Beach from here is also breathtaking. Bowing to the right Buddha for your birthday is believed by many to bring luck. Another practice is to free birds kept caged for a fee. You can donate instead of encouraging this cruel practice to the temple by giving alms to the monk at the stairs for a blessing or atop the stairs in the pavilion hall. Ringing the bells with a stick in hand is also said to be lucky. As you leave this place, do not forget to visit the Confucius and Guan Yin Chinese Shrine and the Tao Temple located just opposite the Wat Phra Yai.

Chaweng Walking Street is the Koh Samui shopper’s delight and is located at Bo Put in Ko Samui District. Just think of buying the cheapest priced watches, lamps, dresses, jeans, T-shirts, polo shirts rip-offs from Ralph Laurent, sunglasses, handbags, shoes, carved keepsakes, souvenirs, flip flops, beachwear, cosmetics, linen, kiddie clothes and more! And the best part of the shopping experience is to get yourself a cocktail and some street food as you browse through the wares on display while you window shop.

The food at Koh Samui is aromatic and full of colour. Try a smoothie, grilled chicken, sticky rice, squid fry or sweet chicken too. Enjoy the street live performances and change in music every few hundred meters as you shop and learn the essential skill of driving a hard bargain with a smile. Just head to the food stalls which generally open at 4.30 pm and stay open till midnight. Sundays and Fridays are holidays at the Chaweng Walking Street market which is located off the central South headed Chaweng Street.

Want to charter a luxury yacht cruise or a sailing trip in Koh Samui? Head to the Red Baron who can get you tours and excursions at surprising prices to the National Marine Park at Koh Phangan Ang Thong. Choose a Sunset Cruise, a private charter for two, a trip for snorkelling, a wedding, private party, or even a romantic late-night dinner. The Red Baron, when not sailing, is moored at the Petcherat Marina Pier in Bangrak. You can look them up at http://www.redbaron-samui.com/Contact%20Us.html.

To give you a ball-park expense insight, let us consider their Sunset Dinner Cruise. The cruise takes you to Koh Som with its exquisite limestone island, a beautiful beach and hordes of birds that roost here. Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere, catch some sun, snorkel, swim with the fishes and have a sumptuous feast with cocktails on the cruise. The Marine Park day cruise on each Tuesday with some and on Thursday with others costs 3,500 to 3,750 THB per person and includes a host guide aboard besides all the standard facilities like snorkelling equipment, breakfast, lunch and dinner on board, hotel transfers, fruits, tea, mocktails, water etc. You can call the Red Baron at 66*08*31* 728*792 or 66*08*35*547*305 for enquiries in English, German, Thai or Russian.

The Angthong National Park is located at #45/1-2 Moo #1, Thongsala Koh Phangan in Surat Thani of Koh Samui. The best time to visit this 1980 established park is between early February and late April. Normally the Angthong National Park is closed during November and December.

The Mu Koh Ang Thong is a Gulf of Thailand archipelago with many islands of varied sizes and shapes comprising the Angthong or Golden Bowl in Thai Marine Park. Almost all the islands here are named after their appearance mostly and are uninhabited generally. You will hear your guide point out the Three Pillars Island, the Sleeping Cow Island or such descriptive names for these tiny and many tropical islands here.

Did you know that “The Beach” a Danny Boyle directed 1996 movie was based on the like-named novel of Alex Garland? It was shot here at Koh Samui and at Phi Phi Islands for its ravishing natural landscape full of colours, shapes of altering limestone cliffs from 10 to 400 m high with dense tropical forests causing ancient relic colouration similar to that of Cambodia’s Prasart Hin Pimai or Angkor Wat?

There are many options by many companies for day tours by speed boat or slow boat to explore Koh Samui’s Angthong Marine Park’s 42 islands. Speed boats are popular and preferred since they take just 45 minutes to travel from the Marine Park to Koh Phangan or vice versa. The slow ships besides taking 2 to 3 hours to get around need a long tail boat for beach transfers and in shallow waters. You can get the best deals on daily boats and trips from the famed Phangan Island-based Safari Boats located near the pier at Thongsala and near the Seatran pier in Bangrak of Koh Samui Island. Just in case you plan to stay overnight explore their options for camping at the Marine Park too. Book early and plan well! The itinerary includes snorkelling at Koh Wow, visit the photo-shoot spot at Emerald Lake, tour of Angthong National Marine Park, lunch at Koh Phaluay, and sightseeing at Phinong beach and Phaluay island. It would be good to carry with you your camera, sunscreen, hat, towel, swimsuit, admission fee money etc. Food, transfers, insurance, guide costs, equipment for snorkelling, first aid kit and life-jackets are all covered. Adverse weather conditions can alter the program, so check the bulletins. Pick up time is at 7 am at Butterfly Garden, Hua Thanon, Taling Ngam, Lipa Noi and Phang Ka.

The entrance fee to the Angthong National Park post-2015 has been hiked to 150 THB for a child and 300 THB for adult tourists. Call for information on 66*77*961*916 or email them at info@www.angthongmarinepark.com. Their physical address is at Thongsala in Koh Phangan in Koh Samui, and their web site address is www.angthongmarinepark.com.

The Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo are located at #33/2, Moo #2 of Maret in Koh Samui of Surat Thani-84140. You can contact them on the telephone at 66*0*774*240*178 or facsimile them on 66*0*77*424*019. For information and reservations, you can Email them on info@samuiaquariumandtigerzoo.com. Their web address is www.samuiaquariumandtigerzoo.com

The Samui Aquarium is a must-visit with your family where you can see the marine wonders of the Gulf of Thailand as you explore the underwater sea-creatures and fish typical to Koh Samui. Besides you can also explore their various shows like Sea Lion Shows, the Tiger Empire, the exotic bird shows and many others. The Tiger Empire is an extraordinary and massive draw for locals and tourists alike as it even allows for a close encounter with the seals and Bengal tigers. The most basic package does not include transfers and lasts from 11 am to 3 pm while the top end package includes transfers too and lasts from 9.30 am to 3 pm. Children below the heights of 1m are allowed to pass for free.

The Undersea World of Koh Samui, the Exotic Bird show, Amazing Bird Show, Sea Lion Show, Bengal Tiger Show and the Bengal Tiger Zoo are the sections covered under the tickets. They are graded as packages with different facilities like lunch, welcome drink, close encounters with the tigers, and so on. The regular no-frills card in THB is at 750/ adult and 450/child. The A-plan costs 1400/adult and 1000/child, the B-plan at 1900/adult and 1400/child, the B plan at 2500/adult and 1800/child and the top-loaded C plan at 3000/adult and 2000/child. To visit the Tiger Empire at Koh Samui, you can call on the telephone number 077*424*017or eight or the mobile number of 081*970*1797. Fax them for reservations on 077* 424*019.

Ko Tao is located in Ko Pha-ngan District of Surat Thani in Koh Samui of Thailand and is a beautiful spot to visit on a day tour which includes a bit of sightseeing, snorkelling and swimming with the sea fishes and available in very reasonable packages. Your itinerary includes pick up and transfers to Mr Tu’s pier, and you set off after breakfast at 8.30 am to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan islands. The Koh Nang Yuan island has the scenic viewpoint and climbing up to it is part of the exercise. You also explore the serene and idyllic “Japanese Garden” spot with a bit of snorkelling. Lunch is a buffet service of typical Thai food and arranged at Koh Tao island. After lunch, you get to visit Kluay Thoen Bay and Hin Wong island for more snorkelling and fun in the water. By about 4.30 pm you return to Koh Samui and after a short tea break are returned to your hotel. The guide services, insurance, snorkelling equipment, life jacket and first aid kit is part of the tour deal. However, the entrance fees to venues are not included. And the price? Just 100/ adult and 50/child in THB!

Cancellation is allowed up to 7.30 am of the day before the tour. We recommend you carry your towel, hat, camera, sunglasses and sun cream, your swimsuit, shoes or flip flops and money for admission tickets. Pick up starts at 7 am and covers places like Nathon, Maenam, Bophut, Choengmon, Chaweng and Lamai.

Would you love to spend a day just exploring the fishing options at Koh Samui? Try the tours at Mr- Tu’s who have day and night fishing trips and excursions. They also charter bats and have a pier named Mr-. Tu’s at Bophut in Ko Samui-84320.

The trip generally includes transfers to the Big Buddha Pier, insurance, tackle, equipment, lines, bait etc., buffet lunch with hot fried chicken, fried rice, bread, hot potato, salad, fresh fruit, fresh BBQs of your catch and more. The soft drinks, snacks, hot coffee, a refreshing towel, life jackets and guide services are also included. The tour lasts 9 am to 5 pm and costs 1500/person or 1000/person for a non-fishing trip. Their day charters start at 9,500 THB for 1 to 6 persons and are close to 15,000 THB for 11 to 17 persons.

You could also go on the night fishing trip for as little as 1,800 THB/person or a non-fishing one at just 1,000 THB/person. Boat Charters at Mr Tu’s are very reasonable when compared to the others. For 1 to 6 persons the trip costs 10,500 THB, from 7 to10 persons it is 12,000 THB, and from 11 to 17 persons it costs 17,000 THB. You can reach out for information and bookings on 6681*538*8823/ 6689*866*8280/ 6692*194*5989 or social media at

https://www.facebook.com/MrTu-Fishing-Game-Koh-Samui-291412154350914/.

What is a visit to Koh Samui in Thailand if you do not experience a wellness spa treatment or massage? Let’s introduce you to the world of spa treatments at 1998 founded Let’s Relax Spa located at #108/42 Mu #1 of T.Bophut at A.Koh Samui in Surat Thani-84320. Leave your stress behind and choose from packages that include Thai massages designed to make you relax, aromatherapy-based packages and oil massages that will leave you feeling wellness and positivity at a different level. The prices will not bleed you and are quite reasonable at this highly rated and almost 20 -year-old day spa known for its excellent massages and courteous customer service.

Enjoy the massage and feast on the complimentary dessert dish of sticky mango rice or a cookie at any of their locations in Bangkok. A Foot massage typically lasts 1hr at comes at 1319 Rs, the back and shoulder massage at 1512 Rs, the 4-hand Thai massage lasts an hour and costs 2978 Rs, the 2 hr Thai massage comes at 2478 Rs, the 1hr oil massage costs 2676 Rs, the wholesome Body Scrub costs 2641Rs and the hot stone massage comes at 4851 Rs. Now that is definitely worth the money spent! Contact them at https://letsrelaxspa.com.

If you have not tried the food at the Green Bird Restaurant, then you have missed the very essence of Thai food at Koh Samui. The Thai and Asian cuisine is Vegan-friendly and highly rated as a long-standing restaurant in Koh Samui. They usually are open from 12 noon to 10 pm.

Try the dishes like Pad Thai chicken, stir-fried squid with salted eggs, basil chicken, Thai fresh vegetable spring rolls, pad see ew. With the morning glory oyster sauce, rice paper rolls and the peanut dipping sauce which are outstanding in taste and not too expensive either. It costs just 600 THB for two each of the starters, main courses and beers. Located at #157/17 Moo #2 on Chaweng Beach Road, Opposite the Chaweng Beach Resort at Kho Samui in Chaweng of Bophut- 84320 they are just 3.3 km from the Chaweng Noi Beach. Call them on 66*86*906*4638 for reservations.

Before we bid adieu, we hope you have found the lesser-known attractions of Koh Samui. It includes its full-night parties, restaurants for typical Thai food. The famous attractions are set amid the nature park and the well-remembered Samui Tiger Park. Planning is the key to effective time management and never-forgotten vacation experience. We hope the article has provided you with some handy tips on tours, prices and time required at each venue. Let’s hope we catch up with you at Koh Samui soon. Start planning your vacation now!