AROUND SAMUI

Around Samui

If you stay on the island a few days and want to expand your horizons, or the weather plays up, there is still plenty to do.

Chaweng is the longest beach and biggest town on Samui. Chaweng Beach has developed a great range of activities to complement just eating, shopping and sunbathing. There are hotels and bungalows along its fine white sand beach. You can find anything from 5-star luxury to the few budget bungalows that remain from Samui's days as a backpacker's haven. Accommodation prices are higher than elsewhere on Samui but Chaweng remains party central and has the highest density and widest selection of clubs, bars and restaurants on the island.

Lamai is Samui's second-largest beach and some say it’s most beautiful. The water is excellent for swimming at the bays southern end and is studding with elegant granite boulders. Nightlife in Lamai Town tends to be of the girly bar variety, although there are a few decent expat watering holes and a couple of decent clubs. There is also some high quality out of town eating, drinking and accommodation options.

Nathon


All government offices and banks are located in Nathon and it is the primary point of connection with the mainland and the other islands. Shopping here is less expensive than in Chaweng or Lamai, and there are lots of interesting knick-knacks for sale. Most shops are on the inland road, which is one-way heading south. However, the ocean road has a number of good restaurants for breakfast or lunch, and the teak shop house lined middle road gives a decent glimpse into Samui's local world.






Maenam


Accommodation on Maenam's long sedate beach is mainly of the cheap bungalow variety, although there are now several four and five star resorts as well. The number of good restaurants and businesses along its main road is steadily increasing. There are numerous high-quality holiday and residential home developments and a growing community of long-term visitors.

Big Buddha


Its proximity to the airport makes Big Buddha very convenient if you're flying in. The resorts here tend to be well-spaced and laid-back beachside affairs attracting long and short-term guests alike. Prices remain relatively low and they're a great place for a party, as Secret Garden proves with its weekly festival. There are a growing number of fine dining options too.

Bophut

Bophut is easily the most charming village on Samui and is made up of a single strip of old Chinese shop houses, many converted into restaurants, bars, shops,  guesthouses and great spot for a romantic beachside dinner. Both the cuisine and the architecture lend a distinctly Mediterranean feel to the village. Popular with the French for the past eight years or so, Bophut is now attracting a growing number of British tourists and bar/restaurant owners.

Hua Thanon


At the 90-degree turn just south of Lamai is the Muslim fishing village of Hua Thanon. There are a few new restaurants on the main road, but the main attraction is the artistry of the local fishermen. Their intricately painted boats dock just offshore from the thriving market. The beach is not good for swimming, but a stroll along it affords a glimpse into the real life of one of Samui’s main economic activities.

Lipa Noi





Just south of Nathon is one of the best places to catch the sunset. There are a couple of good bungalows on Lipa Noi and some excellent seafood restaurants. But the real wonder of Lipa Noi is the shallow water. You can wade out for 200m and the water is still no higher than your waist. The velvety feel of the ocean bottom here attracts local children as well as visitors in the late afternoons.

Wats ( Temples )

Take a tour, or hire a car around the island and just go exploring. While the coastline offers unusual rock formations and lovely beaches, there are waterfalls and forest off the beaten track in Samui's fascinating interior.

Cinemas

Koh Samui now proudly boasts its own three screen cinema in the Tesco lotus complex. Showing both Western and Thai movies, the cinema is modern and is proving a big hit with the locals reasonably priced and with comfortable and spacious seating, the cinema is the same as any in the west. The only notable difference is everyone standing during the national anthem which plays before each feature. As with all Asian cinemas the air conditioning is set at freezing so remember to bring a jumper…

Tattoo

There are many tattooists on Samui offering work of varying quality. Although most tend to offer reasonable standards of health and hygiene, its worthwhile making a thorough (sober) assessment of the studio before going under the needle.

EXCURSIONS- ACTIVITIES

Excursions - Activities

Waterfalls

To be honest, you will not find a "Niagara looking" waterfall on Samui, but it can be a nice experience anyway.

Na Muang Waterfall

Located about 10 km south of Nathon. It is about 80 meters high. You have to walk for a while to get here.

Hid Lad Waterfall

Located about 2 km south of Nathon. Take a walk in the forest and enjoy a soft drink…

Big Buddha

Wat Phra Yai is a more than 12 meter tall Buddha statue, first built in 1972. It is located on a small island but today connected with main land with a bridge. Please show respect and wear proper clothes and shoes while visiting. This is not just a tourist attraction, but also an important Buddhist symbol for the local Thai people here. In 2005 and 2006, Big Buddha has been extended with a Dharma wheel and a traditional Suphannahong boat.

Mummified Monk

Mummified Monk (at Wat Khunaram) The only mummy we have ever seen that wears sunglasses!
Luong Por Daeng was a highly respected monk when he died over 35 years ago. A native of Koh Samui he enjoyed a long prosperous family life until he was 50 years old when he decides to devote the last part of his life to the monk hood. After being ordain in 1944, he became renowned for his meditation practice for about 20 years. He was also able to foresee his own death in1973 when he was 79 years old. Today, he can still be seen in the exact same meditative position he was in when he died.

Hin Ta Hin Yai

Grandfather&Grandmother Rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai) Mother nature indeed has a sense of humor!
These rocks at the south of Lamai beach have been shaped over millions of years by wind and water to resemble human reproductive organs. They are set on a beautiful coast lined with gigantic rocks that form inviting shallow pools in between. Because of their shape, the rocks are seen as strong fertility symbols and said to be the origin of the 'Mui' peoples. Apparently, couples that are trying to have a baby should come here for positive vibrations & good energy that will help the woman conceive. In local legend the rocks apparently appeared after two lovers drowned themselves in the sea because their families disapproved of their relationship.

Elephant Trekking

Over fifty elephants call Samui home and all work in the tourist industry. A typical 'trek' lasts between 15 minutes and half an hour and is an excellent way to see the island's jungle clad interior. Some companies take visitors up into the hills for magnificent views over the island; others go through waterfalls, where riders run the risk of receiving a cooling shower.

Diving

Koh Samui offers high-quality diving most of the year. The most famous dive site in the area is Sail Rock, North of Ko Pha Ngan, which has an 18m natural rock chimney swim through and is a good place to see whale sharks. Other sites can be found in the North of Ang Thong National Park and close to the Gulf's diving Mecca Koh Tao, which has 21 sites off its shores.

Snorkeling

Get to see the beaches of Koh Samui in a different way! During a boat trip around the island you will pass some of the most stunning beaches and coves: Big Buddha Bay, Choengmon Bay, Chaweng Bay, Lamai Bay, Hua Thanon Bay, Koh Mudsum and Koh Tan. A BBQ style picnic lunch will be prepared on a sandy beach along the way and there will be opportunities for snorkeling.

Kayaking in Angthong National Park
Pick up from your hotel to the pier where you will board the boat. Light breakfast is served on board while our guide will give you a brief knowledge on geographic, nature and background of Angthong National Park. Sea Kayaking with American made kayaks. Explore the coast of Mae Koh. After landing the kayaks on the beach you take an easy but spectacular climb through dense rainforest and narrow ravines to arrive at the green lagoon.
Sailing
Following the success of the Samui Regatta, currently in its second year, the island's sailing scene has come on in leaps and bounds. The surrounding islands in the Marine Park ( Ang Thong ) make an ideal sailing playground and good all-year-round breezes and challenging westerly winds between May and November make great sailing conditions. Several boat companies operate charters...

Fishing
All your favorite fish are fair game on a Koh Samui fishing trip. On a local boat, you'll visit fish teeming hotspots like Koh Pha-Ngan, Koh Tan, Orange Island or Lamai. Night fishing trip are available for those after the ultimate challenge.

Monkey Show

Koh Samui is synonymous with coconut trees - there are literally plantations all over the island, and until tourism arrived, coconuts were the main industry here. How do you get at the coconuts? Enter the monkey, considered as man's best friend, these industrious little animals are greatly prized and give a demonstration of their incredible dexterity (and not just at picking coconuts) in the outdoor theatre. The entertainment also includes performing elephants.

Crocodile Show

The crocodile show is a lot of fun. The crocodile trainers show you these prehistoric beasts in and out of the pool. The highlight of the show is when a volunteer puts his head into the open mouth of a crocodile.

Buffalo fighting

A couple of arenas is located around the island. This is a Thai and local tradition with a long history.

Butterfly Garden

Here you will see amazing butterflies and other tropical insects. It is located in the South-East at Leam Set.

Magical Garden or the Secret Garden

The garden is located in the hills of Samui about 550 meter above sea level and the only way to get there is through the jungle, rivers and mountains by a 4X4 off road vehicles. The Garden was built in 1976 by a local fruit farmer, Nim Thongsuk. He was 77 years old when he started his project. It is said that he built the garden all by himself. The garden is full of statues of animals, gods and demons. The hill-top setting and the tranquil river flowing through it give the garden a very soothing and mystical feeling.
Mountain-top Viewpoint
There is an unmarked and unpaved road going from Lamai over the island to Bang Po, Maenam and Nathon which passes several viewpoints, of which the most beautiful and breathtaking one is Yaod Khao. This viewpoint can only be reached by a professional, all-terrain 4x4 vehicle. This viewpoint is located on the highest point of Samui at 650 meters above sea level. From here you can see Ko Samui from north to south, surrounding islands, spectacular views of the National Marine Park to the west and the mainland to the south.

Thai Cooking Schools

Thai cooking courses are an increasingly popular activity on the island. Thai cuisine's increasingly high profile worldwide and the easygoing environment of Samui's cookery schools no doubt encourage many visitors to take a course.

Spa & Massage

Koh Samui has always attracted those in search of a place to relax and recharge, with many new age centers established years before Spas became mainstream. The alternative venues with liver fasting and meditation are still around, complemented by an increasing number of sophisticated new Spa resorts, many located in hotels. Asian beauty secrets, traditional massage, de-stressing body treatments...Samui is the place to find them.

Docteur Fish

At Dr. Fish Koh Samui we only use Garra Rufa Fish,
the original species used for Fish Spa Skin Pampering & Nibbling
Treatment. They work together as a team to improve skin conditions
through natural exfoliation removing dead skin to allow newer skin to
regenerate. Their strong sucking ability has been the signature of this treatment
since 400 years ago!

Yoga

Yoga is an essential part of contemporary approaches to healthiness and wellness worldwide. Yoga on Samui is offered by a collection of professional foreign freelance yoga instructors who deliver courses, classes sessions at various resorts and spas, plus a few centers on the island providing yoga retreats and fasting programs.

Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Ko Samui

Located at Ban Harn beach, the undersea world of Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo in Ko Samui is a wonderful and an exciting place for all, especially children, where you do not have to get wet to enjoy the experience. Be spellbound by the amazing collection of tropical fish and numerous other vibrant aquatic creatures, such as turtles and several other beautiful sea life, which you can personally hand feed. The tanks also shelter many varieties of rocks and multicolored corals amidst natural surroundings.

LEISURE - SPORTS

Sports

Golf

From mini-golf to the real thing, The island's first and currently only, professional standard golf course, opened in 2003 offering great golf and a gorgeous location in the hills above Maenam . If you prefer something less challenging, there's always mini-golf...

Thai Boxing Stadiums

The Lamai Stadium is located in South Lamai, between Ring Road and Lamai Beach Road. Another ring is found in a bar area in the middle of the Beach Road. (So called lady boxing and free to watch) The Chaweng Stadium and Phetch Buncha Samui Stadium are the mains arenas on the island and located near the Reggae Pub. Action is several times a week. Sometimes you can see "farangs" (westerners) vs. Thai guys in the ring.

Cable Ride

Very safe, fun and exciting adventure… World standard equipment for perfect family fun and recreation…

Samui Quad Bikes and 3D Paintball

Children of all ages can play war at 3D Paintball's huge, sculpted terrain in the hills above Maenam. The same location is also used for bouncing around on quad bikes, though they are strictly for adults only. Alternatively, for a full day out, the management will organize a variety of adventure games deep in the jungle. 

Shooting Range

Pistols and machine guns! Location: Main Road. Close to Chaweng.
Bungy Jump
This adrenaline pumping activity is found at Chaweng, rather close to Reggae Pub and the Chaweng Lake.