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Koh SamuiKoh Samui'''Koh Samui''' is an island off the east coast of Thailand. ==Districts== Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island and all in all a fairly big place. Clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are: * Nathon — Samui's port and administrative center, but with little to attract the tourist * Mae Nam — a quiet and beautiful beach on the northern coast * Bophut — known for its Fisherman's Village, laid-back but growing fast * Bang Ruk — at the northeastern tip, home of the Big Buddha * Chaweng — the largest and most-developed beach, with a curious mix of luxury hotels and backpacker guesthouses and a hopping nightlife * Lamai — Samui's "Second" beach south of Chaweng, more backpackery than Chaweng * South Coast (Samui)|South Coast — the small beaches of '''Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao''' and '''Thong Krut'''. ==Get in== As an island, Koh Samui can only be reached by '''plane''' or '''boat'''. ===By plane=== [http://www.bangkokair.com Bangkok Airways] has a monopoly on flights to the privately owned '''Koh Samui Airport''' ('''USM''') and charges accordingly, with near-hourly flights to Bangkok priced at B3500 one way (although some advance booking discounts are available). There are also daily connections to Phuket, Krabi (province)|Krabi and Singapore. '''Visa-on-arrival''' is available at Samui Airport for passport holders of 14 nations, see Thailand for more about entry. The airline maintains a monopoly on transport from the airport, with a seat in a minibus for the 5-minute ride to Chaweng costing 100B per head. Note that a steep B400 '''departure tax''' (not included in your ticket) is also charged. A cheaper but less convenient option is to fly on Thai to Surat Thani and connect to the ferry. ===By boat=== '''Ferries''' arrive from the mainland. The main port is Surat Thani (also known as '''Ban Don'''). By express boat (3 departures daily), the trip takes around 3 hours and costs B150, while slow night boats take 6-7 hours for the same trip. Call operator '''Songserm Travel''' (252 9654 in Bangkok) for the latest schedules, which vary according to the season. There are also regular speedboats and ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. ==Get around== As on many islands in Thailand, '''small motorbikes''' are available for rental. Compared to other nearby islands, Samui's road systems is very developed and there are plenty of '''taxis''' cruising about, although it's a challenge to get them to use their meters. Pickup trucks also serve as group taxis. Hail one on any major road with a wave or yell, negotiate a fare, and sit down on the bench in the back. ==See== The reason why people come to Samui is, quite simply, the '''beaches''' which remain stunning after decades of development, helped in no small part by a height restriction on new buildings. Other than lying on the beach with a cold beer in hand and ogling at the babes and hunks sauntering past, there isn't all that much to see on the island. A certain pair of rocks on Lamai amuses some visitors, Bang Rak has a large but nondescript Buddha statue, and there are some waterfalls (notably '''Na Muang''') of minor interest. ==Do== The usual panoply of watersports are available, including plenty of dive shops, but most '''diving''' is done either in the nearby Angthong Marine National Park or Koh Tao as the visibility around Samui's sandy beaches tends to be poor. Most dive shops are based in Chaweng. ==Eat== Samui is well known for its '''coconuts''', which are available everywhere and quite tasty. Being an island, '''seafood''' is generally a good choice, although in high season demand often exceeds local supply. The larger beaches have a number of international restaurants as well (often run by Thai-farang couples), with Bophut having a particularly good reputation. ==Drink== There are innumerable options for a drink, ranging from the load and brash backpacker pubs and girlie bars of Chaweng to the candle-lit romantic bars of Bophut. Figure on B60 for a beer. ==Sleep== With an estimated 60,000 rooms accommodation is basically not a problem, and the largest decision will be picking a suitable beach. Head for Chaweng or Lamai if you want nightlife, Mae Nam or the South Coast (Samui)|South Coast for a quieter beach experience, or Bophut for a good compromise. ==Buy== * Tailor-made suit for next-to-nothing (60EUR+, for good quality). * Sarongs and other tropical souvenirs. ==Stay safe== On Samui, nobody cares about driving licenses, helmet or alcohol consumption, which leads to the '''highest vehicle accident rate in Thailand'''. Motorbikes are particularly risky. You might want to be careful yourself though, and use the local bus system when drunk. ==Get out== * Koh Phangan, home of the infamous Full Moon Party * Koh Tao, among the best places in Thailand to learn to dive ==External links== *[http://www.kohsamui.org Koh Samui portal] *[http://www.tourismthailand.org Tourism Thailand] First page | Prev | Next | Last page |
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