Koh Samui Thailand

Koh Samui Thailand, has developed from a quiet ‘in the know’ Island paradise for back-packers, into one of the busiest tourist resorts in Thailand.

As in Phuket, the Island is famous for outstanding beaches, but unlike Phuket, Koh Samui Thailand has managed (so far) to retain much of its original magic.

However, demand for luxury tourist developments is still strong all over the island which is likely to change Samui’s character in the long run.

A few of our friends from the USA and UK now live in Thailand and have made their home in Koh Samui Thailand, which is great for us as we still love the Island as much as we did hen we first visited in the late 1980’s.

Tourism is now the no.1 industry for Koh Samui; before tourism arrived the Island was almost entirely one big coconut plantation, and this is still a major factor in the economy. If you are a coconut lover this is the place to be!

The busiest resort on the Island is Chaweng Beach in the North West of the Island.

What we love best about Koh Samui is that it’s so easy to have a relaxing tropical paradise holiday. You are never being too far away from a busy resort with bustling markets or an endless list of activities from thrill seeking to family days out; there is enough on offer to fill every day of your Thailand holiday.

If you are heading for Chaweng Beach, the busiest resort on the Island, you can find some fantastic sea front hotels where you relax away from the bustle of the town.

Many of the hotels have extensive grounds and gardens and offer facilities that will tempt you to never leave! If you so wish, the larger hotels can offer a complete escape where the only sound you can hear is the lapping of the waves as they break on your private beach.

When you yearn for some life, you only have to walk out of the hotel and it's right in front of you!

Our Favourite Resorts in Koh Samui Thailand

The most popular Tourist Areas are concentrated from the West of the Island at Laimai to the North West region near Chaweng and part of the way along the mid Northern area to Mae Nam.

• Chaweng Beach - is the busiest tourist resort on Koh Samui Island. If you are looking for action then this is the place to go!

  The beach is great for swimming and the waters are distinctly clearer than some other resorts. Accommodation is available to suit all budgets and all are within easy reach of the plentiful supply of local restaurants, shops, bars and night clubs.

• Laimai - is on the West Coat, just south of the Laem Nan peninsula. Laimai is a smaller resort with a more local feel to it. There are still some throwbacks to the past with some cheap beach bungalows available but these are gradually being replaced with the fashionable ‘spa resorts’ where pampering is the order of the day.
• Cheong Mon - The main attraction in Cheong Mon is the beach. If you wish to ‘get away from it all’ then this is a great place to ‘contemplate’.

  The atmosphere in the resort is calm, as is the sea with the waves lapping in gently. No surfing here!

  You will also get a chance to test your photography skills by getting the best tropical beach snaps on the Island.

  The sea in nearby Koh Farn Noi is perfect for Kayaking. I can’t say I am the most confident person in the sea but I did try sea Kayaking at Koh Farn Noi and found this to most relaxing and enjoyable way to spend a few hours.

Weather in Koh Samui Thailand

The resorts on Koh Samui Thailand are open all year. However, between the months of April and September there tends to be more motor-cycle accidents (yes it’s wet), or when it is not wet, too many people neglect the sun screen then end up with burnt skin. Remember it is summer and excessive sun bathing brings its own hazards.

Our Favourite Koh Samui Thailand Hotel

The pool area is fairly quiet in the daytime with people out on day trips or playing on the beach so it’s easy to relax.

The hotel is on the beach front but if you prefer the pool then it’s away from the crowds and a great place to read the latest novel.

The Imperial Samui’s location is ideal and only a short taxi ride to any of our favourite restaurants.

Don't go on our recommendation alone, there are so many to choose from for all budgets, some more luxurious and others more basic. You should not have any trouble to find a hotel that suits your budget.

Attractions and Suggested Days Out

Explore the local Islands

• Ko Phangan - We visited Ko Phangan before it became famous for its ‘Full Moon Parties’. The island is a great place to go if you love to eat inexpensive and tasty seafood, snorkel, walk or just chill out on the beach. It still is.

  The island is now more popular with a younger crowd and has a "new age" image. I remember seeing the ‘Full Moon Party’ on TV and thinking; “not for me” but had it been 20 years ago I am sure it would have been the first item on my itinerary

• Koh Tao - Ko Tao is one of our more recent discoveries. We noticed that it is still extremely popular with the back-packing crowd and divers with no shortage of budget beach bungalows.

  The snorkelling is great and the diving is even better. That is what the island is famous for. I saw my first Grouper here and a few stingrays. There are a hug variety of colourful fish on display with a great back-drop of the coral reefs.

• Ang Thong Marine National Park - The national park consists of 42 islands. There areas limestone rock formations and are distinctly different from Samui. Many of the uninhabited Islands have wonderfully secluded beaches can be visited on day trips from Samui.

Round the Island Trip

Along the way why not visit some of the inland waterfalls, the and biggest and best being Na Muang where you can also take an elephant trip to enjoy the scenery.

There are some peaceful resorts in which you can relax for an hour or two on your day trip. You could try Bang Kao Bay in the south of the island or Bophut in the north.

Getting There

Journey time from Bangkok is approximately one hour.

Trains Why not try this as a holiday experience. A sleeper train form Bangkok will take you though to Suratthani where you will transfer to a bus then boat to take you to Koh Samui. We took the first class two person sleepers, which is a cheaper option than flying and arrived feeling very refreshed.

Koh Samui Thailand holiday tips

Taxis - The taxis in Koh Samui are metered but more often than not the meters are ignored. Make sure you negotiate a good price before sitting in the taxi. Don’t let the driver take you to any Gem shops where they promise great bargains; you will end up being ripped off.