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 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.
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.
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.
Drinking establishments on Samui can more or less be divided into two categories. There are the open air beer bars where hostesses might outnumber patrons, and then there are the more western styled pubs where a family can go for a drink and maybe even something good to eat. Of the former, we don't think it responsible to say much, but that still leaves plenty of the latter to suggest.
Elephants bathing near Na Muang waterfalls Samui can be a problematic destination for families with young children. There are not a lot of things to do away from the beach, and the night life in the main resort towns is definitely very adult oriented. However, there are a couple of things that might keep the kids busy for a while:
South of Lamai Beach, in the Samui Orchid Resort, is the Samui Aquarium.
Most of the island's dining and drinking establishments are clustered along the main beaches, such as Chaweng and Lamai. The hotels and resorts have most of the prime real estate right on the beaches, so to enjoy a seaside meal usually means dining at a hotel. Given the global popularity of Thai food, there are surprisingly few 'pure' Thai restaurants in the main beach areas.
Although dining and drinking places often have a short life-span on Samui, we have assembled a list of suggested restaurants, pubs and clubs.
The gay scene on Samui is relatively new. However, like the rest of the island, development has been rather speedy. There are a number of gay-owned businesses on the island to cater to your needs. There are a few 'commercial' establishments in Chaweng as well, but not many compared to the other major tourist destinations. Check out the links before for up to date information on gay owned and gay friendly businesses on the island.
Samui is one of the most expensive places to get around in Thailand. The cheapest form of public transport on the island is the songthaew, a small pick-up truck with benches for passengers along either side of the covered truck bed. Fares are a flat THB 50. Destinations for any given songthaew will be displayed on the front or sides of the truck. The basic routes are Nathon - Chaweng - Lamai - Nathon and Nathon - Big Buddha - Chaweng - Nathon.
Restaurants on Samui seem to come and go with amazing rapidity. While some manage to stick around for many years, most don't seem to have any staying power. Use the list below as a guide to what can be found. Fortunately, there are so many places crowded into the main areas that you don't have to worry about making a special trip some place only to find its not there any more.
All of the well developed beaches along the island's east coast have many shops serving the needs of the tourists. The most developed beach, Chaweng, has a main street lined with small shops that generally stay open late into the night. These mostly sell beach-wear, jewelry and over-priced mass produced souvenirs. You will find some higher class galleries selling traditionally crafted items as well as modern works.
What to Buy The only purely 'local' items are coconut-wood products such as bowls made from the shells and utensils crafted from the tree itself.
Spas are definitely the "flavor of the month" all around Asia. Despite the fad-like speed with which dozens of spas have opened in every large city and tourist destination, anything that makes people feel so good is probably here to stay.
In a place like Samui, you can safely count on every five star resort, and a good number of four star ones, to have an in-house spa. But you don't have to stay in an expensive resort to get the spa experience.
The best time to visit Samui is from February to April. This is when the island is at its driest. Rainfall is less than two or three inches per month. The only drawback to a visit at this time of year is that hotels tend to raise their prices during the tourist "high season."
Traditionally, the "worst" time of year to visit is October to December. This is the wettest time of year.
