Samui is the largest of about 80 islands lying off Surat Thani province. Tourists started visiting here in the early 1970s and the place started to gain popularity among the backpacker set as Phuket's rising number of visitors started making it too expensive. An airport opened in the late 1980s made the island easier to get to for the general public and Samui is now almost equal in popularity with Phuket.
Since it's smaller, Samui doesn't have the variety of diversions that Phuket has. It's a more laid back atmosphere. On the definite plus side, the beaches of Samui, particularly Chaweng, are among our favorites in Thailand.
Elephants bathing near Na Muang waterfalls
The reason for visiting Samui is the sun, sand and sea. There aren't a lot of things to see on the island, but with more development comes more options. Among the highlights of things to see away from the beach are the Grandfather and Grandmother Stones, A pair of rocks sculpted by the wind and water into rather suggestive shapes. Inland from the beaches are several waterfalls, the most popular of which is the Na Muang falls. If you really want to escape the crowds, then we suggest a visit to the relatively undeveloped southern coast and the Laem Sor Pagoda.
The 'hidden lake' in the Angthong Marine Park
Definitely not to be missed is Angthong National Marine Park. A day trip out of Samui will take you to this park consisting of more than 40 islands and islets. There are some very spectacular views from the largest island, and an emerald green inland lake hidden within the limestone walls of another island.
By far, the 'must see' attraction away from the beaches on Samui is the Angthong National Marine Park. This collection of 42 tiny limestone islets 31 km west of Samui sport virgin tropical rain forests, white sand beaches and coral reefs, all preserved as a national park. The park is normally visited as a day trip from Samui, operated by several agencies. Your hotel is sure to have a tour desk or nearby agency that can book a trip, or you can make sure you get a spot by booking in advance through an agency such as Viator.
Chaweng and Chaweng Noi beaches, as seen from the viewpoint on the way to Lamai.
The beaches of Koh Samui are among the best in Thailand, or anywhere else. They are the main reasons for the island's popularity. The main beaches - and most developed - are Chaweng and Lamai on the island's east coast. At the north end of Chaweng, white sand beaches slope gently out to a narrow reef which protects the beach and makes the water very good for swimming.
The huge Buddha statue which gives its name to the temple. A very standard sight on any 'round island tour is the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) on Samui's north coast. The temple is a rather modern construction, and it lacks almost all of the grace and beauty typical of most Thai temples.
The 12 meter high Buddha sits on a small islet connected to the big island by an unpaved causeway.
Okay, here are links to the basic information you'll want to know when planning a trip to Samui:
Getting to Samui Samui's award-winning airport was built and is serviced mainly by Bangkok Airways flying from Bangkok, other parts of Thailand, and Singapore. There are flights between Samui and Bangkok more or less hourly from early morning until about 10:00 in the evening. Where to Stay From humble beginnings, Samui now has a range of accommodations to rival most other destinations in Thailand.
The huge Buddha statue which gives its name to the temple. Samui is the largest of about 80 islands lying off Surat Thani province. Tourists started visiting here in the early 1970s and the place started to gain popularity among the backpacker set as Phuket's rising number of visitors started making it too expensive. An airport opened in the late 1980s made the island easier to get to for the general public and Samui is now almost equal in popularity with Phuket.
Since Samui is an island, your choices for getting there are somewhat limited:
Airplane Samui's unusual and award winning open-air airport. Samui's award-winning airport was built and is serviced mainly by Bangkok Airways flying from Bangkok, other parts of Thailand, and Singapore. There are flights between Samui and Bangkok more or less hourly from early morning until about 10:00 in the evening.
For advice on getting from the airport to your hotel, see the Getting Around page.
The Samui archipelago holds some of the best dive sites in Southeast Asia. Many of the sites are not only spectacular but also suitable for beginners as they are in shallow waters of protected bays. In fact, the area is so popular and supports so many dive schools that it now accounts for substantial percentage of all the new dive masters certified in the world.
While there are good dive sites around the main tourist islands Samui and Phangan, the 'Mecca' for divers is Tao Island at the far north end of the island group.
From humble beginnings, Samui now has a range of accommodations to rival most other destinations in Thailand. You'll find everything from inexpensive bungalows to five-star super-luxury resorts. In fact, you'll probably find fewer of the former and more of the latter these days. For an idea of the best places to stay at the high end, check our campanion site the POSH Guide.
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Given the could-be-anywhere development of the big beaches on Samui, like Chaweng, it's surprising that you can find places almost untouced just a short boat ride away. Just off the southern tip of Samui is the tiny island of Koh Taen. The island can be reached via local boats from the fishing village of Thong Krut, not far from the Laem Sor Pagoda. The trip there takes just 15 to 20 minutes.
Samui is well covered by the general Thailand guides. Purchasing a specific map or guide really isn't necessary since there is such an abundance of free guides available. There were at least four free map/guides to the island the last time we visited, plus a free dining guide, spa guide and accommodation guide. If you buy a map or guide before you arrive, you're probably going to feel like you wasted your money.
24 January 2009
My deluxe room at Muang Kulaypan I must admit, I didn't have high expectations for this hotel. Some of the reviews at other sites had me expecting a faded beauty - the all too common local hotel that was wonderful when it opened but had not been well maintained. So, it was a very pleasant surprise to find a spotless room that was not at all worn or tired looking.
Here are some additional links to information to help you plan the perfect trip to Samui.
Beaches The beaches of Koh Samui are among the best in Thailand, or anywhere else. They are the main reasons for the island's popularity. The main beaches - and most developed - are Chaweng and Lamai on the island's east coast. At the north end of Chaweng, white sand beaches slope gently out to a narrow reef which protects the beach and makes the water very good for swimming.
The Big Buddha of Big Buddha Beach on Samui. Samui is the largest of about 80 islands lying off Surat Thani province. Tourists started visiting here in the early 1970s and the place started to gain popularity among the backpacker set as Phuket's rising number of visitors started making it too expensive. An airport opened in the late 1980s made the island easier to get to for the general public and Samui is now almost equal in popularity with Phuket.
In the economic crash of 1997, a number of young entrepreneurs from Bangkok escaped to Samui, where they opened many new businesses such as bars, restaurants... and web sites. Here's some picks of the islands' best travel sites.
Samui Travel Links Samui Has short descriptions of the tourist highlights for the island, plus a listing of most of the islands hotels. Big Buddha Beach Site specifically for the Big Buddha Beach area, with links to several local businesses.
The Thais divide the year into three seasons: the cool season, hot season, and rainy season. For most westerners, this translates to "hot," "really hot," and "really hot and wet." Temperatures rarely drop below 25° C (70° F). Temperatures in Samui run a little bit hotter than Phuket, but like Phuket temperatures only vary by about five degrees farenheit throughout the year.
Average Monthly High & Low Temperatures (°C) The rainy season in Samui is quite different from most of the other tourist destinations in Thailand.
