Overview

The beaches are, of course, the main draw to Koh Samui and there are many different categories to choose from, from manic Chaweng to easier-going Lamai to much more laid-back affairs. Samui also has a number of interesting side attractions to boot, including revered temples, crocodile farms and an aquarium and tiger zoo.

Chaweng Beach

Chaweng is the largest beach and main attraction on Koh Samui with its buzzing nightlife. It is the most developed resort on the island, with its lines of shops, flashy restaurants and even flashier hotels, and prices here are above most places in Thailand. Chaweng offers all of the ingredients for a good holiday and the beach is lengthy and picturesque.

Lamai Beach

Lamai is Chaweng's quiet cousin to the south, although of late it has lost its hippy image in favour of a vibrant nightlife and package tourists. The beach is cleaner and quieter than Chaweng yet those looking for a nice quiet, relaxing time would do better to head for one of the less-established beaches in the north or west of Koh Samui. Lamai is also famously the location of the revealing Hin Ta Hin Yai rock formations and many other island attractions.

Grandfather and Grandmother rocks (Hin Ta Hin Yai)

The Grandfather and Grandmother rocks make a good side-trip when on Samui and are a novelty as the rocks resemble male and female genital organs. Their formation is stuff of legend and they tend to get a bit crowded, but are worth the trip nonetheless. You'll find the rocks at the southern end of Lamai Beach.

Khunaram Temple (Wat Khunaram Koh Samui)

It would be a crime to come to Thailand and not visit at least one temple, or wat as they are locally known. Wat Khunaram is the Samui's most high profile temple. It is renowned for displaying a mummified monk (Phra Khru Samathakittikhun - Dang Piyasilo) who sits upright in the lotus position within a glass casket. He predicted his own death and passed away in 1973. The temple can be found near Namuang Waterfall and Ban Hua Thanon fishing village and has free entry.

Buddha's Magic Garden

Also known as Heaven's Garden, this place is serene and makes an ideal trek. It is essentially a small garden of carved statues located high up on a road between Lamai and Na Thon. It was set up by Samui local, Nim Thongsuk, in 1976 when he was 77 years old and also features a small waterfall.

Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo

The perfect place to take kids to on a drizzly day, Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo features colourful coral, tropical fish, turtles and tigers. The zoo part of it has Bengali tigers and leopards and you can even have your picture taken with them. You can find the aquarium and zoo at Ban Harn Beach in south Lamai.

Crocodile farms

Koh Samui has a couple of crocodile farms, the largest of which is near the airport. It comes with dozens of ferocious animals, including cayman saltwater crocodiles, as well as snakes, lizards and apes, and puts on two shows per day. The other crocodile farm is in the south of the island near Na Muang Waterfall II and offers a show where the keeper sticks her head in a crocodile's mouth.

Overview

All types of sports and activities can be enjoyed on Koh Samui. You can swim and enjoy water sports and elephant riding practically year-round although to take advantage of the finest weather, November to March is your best bet for diving and sailing. Golf is also popular on Samui and there are more spas than anywhere else in Thailand.

Water sports

Chaweng Beach is the main place in Koh Samui to enjoy water sports activities, with jet-skiing, waterskiing, and parasailing galore. Bo Phut Beach is active on the water sports front but Lamai Beach has less sporting options and is quieter. Jet-skis are generally available on a half-hourly basis but be sure to check over the machine with the owner and note any damage before setting off.

Scuba diving and snorkelling

Although the best diving and snorkelling in the region is on the small island of Koh Tao to the north of Koh Samui, there is some quality diving here and several dive schools that offer PADI courses. Daytrips to the nearby Ang Thong Marine National Park are popular, while Chaweng and Lamai reefs have the best snorkelling.

Golf

Koh Samui has a few golf courses, yet due to the harsh landscape and lack of space there is only one 18-hole course at the Santiburi Samui Country Club near Mae Nam. It is a fairly tough-going course, traversing as it does lofty undulating ground, but is invigorating and has nice views and fairways. The Samui Golf Club and Driving Range is also popular along with Lamai Driving Range. Mini-golf options and loads of golf shops can also be found on Samui.

Elephant trekking

Riding elephants is very popular on Koh Samui and is lots of fun for kids. Samui is clad with jungle and there are many established trails that the elephants take to. Normal treks generally last for 30 minutes so you may want to go for a longer one. It's not hard to find an elephant camp as they're dotted all around the island, including at Na Muang Waterfall II.

Spas

Koh Samui is simply loaded with spas of all types and styles, ranging from simple, off-the-street day spas to full-blown resort-spa complexes in five-star luxury. Places like Anantara are top of the range with all treatments on the table and competent staff. You can find better-priced wellness retreats in all resorts or opt for a Thai massage on the beach.

Sailing

Although Koh Samui does not yet have a marina, several operations offer sailing trips, with the most popular being the Kia Ora catamaran and its day and sunset cruises. Despite the fact there is no marina, it can add to the thrill as passengers have to clamber along a wooden jetty or take a tender out to the vessel.

Dining and shopping

As with elsewhere in Thailand, the food on Koh Samui is one of the pleasures of holidaying here. The quality and variety is staggering and everything from the most basic Thai dish to five-star eating and all types of Western food is on the table. The best thing about eating out in Thailand is that it is a laid-back affair, where you can duck into a restaurant at whatever time and generally have the food on the table in minutes. In addition, prices on Koh Samui, while higher than the Thai norm, are generally cheap for a Western tourist's pocket.

Most restaurants on Koh Samui can be found along the main beach roads in Chaweng and Lamai. Eateries here are generally outdoors. The beachside restaurants are the main draw, especially during the day and at sunset time, while the island's main resorts have some superb, and expensive, restaurants.

Seafood is the big eat on Koh Samui, with prawns, crab and all kinds of fish being in abundance. You will also find Thailand's signature spicy dishes here too, like tom yum kung (a spicy bitter shrimp soup); kaeng kiaw wan (a mild, green-coloured coconut milk curry); and som tam, the national spicy papaya salad dish.

Most restaurants catering to tourists on Samui will have their dishes toned down unless you specifically ask for something spicy. Those who cannot stomach spicy foods also have a wide choice of non-spicy Thai dishes, such as fried rice, every type of meat dish, and vegetarian restaurants (ran ahaan jae).

The main shopping on Samui is in Chaweng and Lamai, as well as at Na Thon Beach on the west of the island, which is cheaper than the main beaches. You will, however, find the greatest choice in Chaweng. Those into handicrafts will find a fair amount of choice, although most of it comes from elsewhere in Thailand, typically Bangkok or Chiang Mai.

As with elsewhere in Thailand, and Southeast Asia for that matter, Koh Samui is big into the copy market, with everything from CDs to watches and branded sports t-shirts on offer. Locally cultivated items are pearls and coconuts. Market stalls and the average high street shop will be more open to discounts, yet department stores generally have fixed prices, although it never hurts to politely ask for a discount wherever you are.

Chaweng's shopping is as abundant as its eating, with stores of every description lined up alongside its many bars and restaurants. Everything from clothes and shoes to music and electronics goods to handicrafts and art can be had. Lots of small stores selling games and DVDs are also in evidence as well as souvenir stores and places where you can pick up a machete or stun gun.

Nearby Lamai Beach has fewer shopping options and is a lot more compact and easier to get about. Although there isn't the same scale of shops as in Chaweng, the choice is still there and you will generally be able to find everything you could possibly want at Chaweng Beach and at a better price. Bo Phut Beach is another popular shopping place on Koh Samui and is particularly known for its souvenirs and furniture. The Fisherman's Village is the main shopping area here.

Koh Samui has a vast choice of restaurants spread across the island. From standard, humble Thai eateries with vast menus and cheap prices to high quality French, Italian, Middle Eastern, Indian, and South American fare, tourists are spoilt for choice. Prices in Samui are higher than in much of the rest of Thailand but are on par with the likes of Phuket and Bangkok.

Overview

Samui Airport is the main access point for most tourists to Samui, with flights from all over Thailand. A lot of tourists also choose to ferry over from the mainland, with car ferries running from just outside Surat Thani to the west coast of Samui. Trains and buses come in from cities all over Thailand (via Bangkok when coming from the north). Taxis, local pickup trucks, hire cars and motorbikes are the main ways to get about on the island.

Airports

Samui Airport is the main gateway to the island; a small private airport owned and operated by Bangkok Airways. It's different to a standard commercial airport in that it is open on all sides and you simply walk in off the street and can watch planes take off and land right in front of you.

The airport is located near Bo Phut Beach in the north of the island and has dozens of flights coming and going every day from Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, and Singapore. Facilities at the airport are limited to a small restaurant and stall-type shops, and there are of course telephones and toilets.

Bangkok Airways is the sole user of Samui Airport and the flying time from Bangkok is about an hour; less than 45 minutes from Phuket, Krabi and Pattaya. If you are flying to Koh Samui via Bangkok from overseas, be sure to collect your baggage and re-check-in for the Samui leg of the flight as there is no automatic baggage redirection with Bangkok Airways.

Options for getting from Samui Airport to your hotel include airport shuttles, taxis, limousines, and hire cars. Taxis are ubiquitous but relatively expensive, but ensure you agree on a price before leaving. Check with your hotel beforehand as to whether or not they have airport shuttles and book ahead with them if they do. Of those that do have shuttles, some are courtesy and others are charged at a fee. Hiring a car is popular on Samui. While the road network is windy, there is some great driving here and you can book car hire ahead online.

Public transportation

Koh Samui is regularly served by car ferries and many people choose to drive from Bangkok. You will need to go via the town of Surat Thani, which is a distance from the actual ferry terminals on the mainland. You should allow plenty of time before your ship sails as queues are generally quite long.

You can also get most of the way to Samui by train from the north or south. Trains terminate at Phun Phin, which is near the town of Surat Thani, and you will then need to take a bus or taxi to the port. You can also get to the ferries direct by bus from Bangkok's southern bus terminal, as well as from Phuket and Hat Yai. Combination tickets can be had that include train, bus and ferry, although this option can be uncomfortable and is especially favoured by backpackers due to the attractive price.

Travel options on Koh Samui consist of regular taxis for airport and longer distance travel, and local red pickup trucks (known as songthaew) for moving about quickly. Songthaew ply every major road and do loops of Chaweng and Lamai beaches and you simply hail them from the street. Sit in the back and ring the bell when you want to stop; the price is generally around 15 baht.

Motorbike taxis are similarly priced to songthaew for short trips but prices go up dramatically from one beach to the next. You can also hire motorbikes on Koh Samui and there are numerous places that rent them out cheaply. Stick with reputable companies as scams and rip-offs are common.