Koh Samui Hotel Accommodation

Exploring Koh Samui

Development officially began on Koh Samui in the 1950s, but it wasn't until the early 70s that it emerged onto the radar of international tourism. In the three decades since, Koh Samui has become Thailand's preeminent resort destination, poised to overtake Phuket in volume and luxury if not in size. Koh Samui is known for having plenty of beaches for visitors to go sunbathing and families to enjoy the entire day on, but there are a handful of island attractions as well. There are coral beds, a butterfly garden, an aquarium, a snake farm and a monkey theatre to name a few.

Sights nearby

The most popular beaches are Chaweng, the largest beach with plenty of amenities and Lamai, the ‘second’ most popular beach that’s also filled with nightlife activity, great restaurants and well equipped resorts. Chaweng hosts a few diving shops that are very well equipped to handle both individual and group diving trips. This is a great way to indulge in the clear waters that Koh Samui has been so blessed with. You can also find a couple of spas to help knead the daily stresses away, and when that’s done, enjoy some light bites at nearby cafes.

A couple of attractions sure to get anyone’s attention include the Wat Khunaram Ko Samui and the Secret Buddha Garden. The Wat Khunaram Ko Samui is a temple made famous by a mummified abbot, who was a meditation master that predicted his own death. Strangely enough, this place of worship is surrounded by shacks selling over-priced drinks and snacks. The Secret Buddha Garden is surrounded by lush jungle, rocky hills and contains sculptures depicting both humans and deities in various poses. Since the garden is on the highest point of the island, the view from here is spectacular.

Eating and drinking and shopping nearby

Koh Samui's dining scene is one of its strongest suits. Delicious seafood is served up around the island, but there are plenty of other options to get excited about. From upscale offerings at the resorts to modest, open-air eateries on the beach, Koh Samui has plenty to offer diners.

Koh Samui has a reputation for expensive shopping, especially when it comes to handicrafts which are almost always shipped in from the mainland. There are still deals to be had, and perusing the markets is certainly part of the island experience.

Public transport

Koh Samui Airport has highly frequent flights from Bangkok, making it easy to reach no matter what time you arrive. You can choose to ride either a mini-bus or taxi to your destination from the airport, though some negotiation for the rates would be recommended. There are bus-ferry combo services from Surat Thani to Koh Samui.