A variety of everything tropical and beautiful, historic and fun on Koh Samui…
If you are looking for a beautiful, tropical place to relax, Koh Samui is it. This beautiful island off the coast of Thailand epitomizes tropical paradise. Explore, eat, relax in a gorgeous tropical setting. Whether you are strolling the sands, exploring lagoons, or dining at a local restaurant, Koh Samui has everything you could want in a tropical paradise.
Koh Samui, often referred to as “Samui” by the locals (“Koh” just means “island”), is Thailand’s second largest island, after Phuket. Although people have settled here as long ago as 500 A.D., it’s been virtually unknown and untouched by outsiders until the 1970’s. Even then, Samui did not have any modern roads. It is this “unspoiled” and natural setting which draws as many as 1.5 million tourists per year to such a laid back island of 55,000 permanent residents.
Samui, though just a small island in the fabled Gulf of Thailand, has a very broad range of natural environments. The center of the island consists of mountainous jungles, parts of which are virtually untouched by humanity. The scenes along the beach, however, are particularly suited for human recreation.
There are dozens of beaches to explore on Samui, each one with its unique character and flavor. The east side of the island is more established as a tourist center, with three major hubs of Chaweng on the east, Bophut on the northeast, and Lamai on the southeast. The west of the island has opened up to tourism more recently, and features posh, 5 star resorts with the most modern accoutrements.
The beaches are definitely the centerpiece of Samui, but there are tons of other options of the fun-hungry tourist. The old port town of Nathon, where your ferry lands, is one place you will definitely not want to miss during your stay. With a history stretching back to immemorial days of fishing and coastal trade, there are very old Chinese shop houses here still serving one purpose or another. A very worthwhile jaunt if you develop an aversion to all the “touristy” things.
Hotels on Samui start around $95 per night. Restaurants are everywhere, with friendly service and high quality food at every turn. If you really want to enjoy some local food, just wait until Friday evening in Bophut and Sunday in Lamai. Every week the main streets are blocked off from automotive traffic, vendors set up their famous street-food booths, and happy pedestrians stroll about nosing.
The largest island in a group of archipelagos, Samui is the perfect base for further exploration. The famous beaches of Ang Thong are a short ferry ride away, and smaller islands dot the lovely turquoise waters. Koh Samui is a hub for many ferry boats with rides readily available from Samui to Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Hua Hin, Trang, Kaosok National Park, and Khaolak, www.phiphi-ferry.com forms a backbone for a time of exotic excursions, fun recreation, and deep relaxation.
Koh Samui is Thailand's second largest island after Phuket and one of the most popular destinations for travelers. An island of great natural beauty and variety, Samui is home to about 40,000 full-time inhabitants, 90% of whom are Buddhist. The palm-fringed shoreline and coconut and fruit cultivation of the coastal lowlands rise to a central granite massive, the slopes of which are cloaked in virgin rainforest. The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and southern China. In the early 1970s the first backpackers travelling on the back of a coconut boat arrived on Koh Samui.
For years after that the island had just a few bungalows and a trickle of tourists. Things started to change in the early 1990s when tourists started arriving on full boats and since then the place has grown substantially. Samui is now the second-most popular place as an island destination in Thailand (the first is Phuket). The most popular and commercialised beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Choeng Mon are more peaceful choices, and the west coast beaches are still (comparatively) quiet.
Clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are: Nathon - Samui's port and administrative centre, but with little to attract the tourist. Laem Yai - set on the Northwest tip of the island, a secluded beach overlooking the islands of Ang Thong Mae Nam - a quiet and beautiful beach on the northern coast Bophut - known for its fisher's village, laid-back but growing fast Bang Rak - at the northeastern tip, home of the Big Buddha Choeng Mon - quiet north shore beach 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 but still full of nightlife and swank resorts and restaurants Samui South Coast - the small beaches of Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Thong Krut
Koh Phangan is an island in the Gulf of Thailand which lies to the north of ferry hub Koh Samui. It is a very interesting place and has been attracting tourists of all nationalities and intentions since the 70’s.Whether you are looking for a unique experience of relaxation and spiritual awakening, or you just want to chill in an interesting and beautiful environment, there are very few places in the world on par with Koh Phangan. Most beaches on Koh Phangan are great for swimming and snorkeling. Had Rin, where you will find the famous Full Moon Party is actually two beaches, Had Rin Nok and Had Rin Nai. The Full Moon Party begun in the late 80's (and grew in the early 90's) when friends arranged intimate parties in the light of the full moon. A guitar, tape recorder, good friends and a beach fire made their night. There are about 10,000-20,000 people participating every month at this Koh Phangan beach party. International and Thai DJ's makes the crowd dance and go wild. Just paint yourself in UV colors and let your body lose control! The beach has been equipped with small tables where you can sit down with your friends or meet new ones from all over the globe. Drinks and food can be ordered from the restaurants and the bars along the Had Rin Nok beach.
Koh Tao is less developed than is less developed than Ko Samui and Koh Phangan, but has become increasingly popular especially with the mid-20s backpacker crowd in search of relatively inexpensive scuba diving certification.For the last two years the demographics of the island has seen an age increase with many of the visitors that first visited the island over ten years ago are now returning with their families. Scuba virgins from all over flock to Koh Tao to learn how to dive. Not only is this lush, pistachio-coloured island blessed with crystal clear water and trippy coral reefs shallow enough for beginners to explore; it’s also is one of the world’s cheapest and most popular places to get your open-water dive certification.
Khao Sok National Park is covered by the oldest evergreen rainforest in the world, huge limestone mountains shooting straight up in the air, deep valleys, breathtaking lakes, exciting caves, wild animals and much more. Khao Sok is perfectly situated on the mainland between Phuket, Krabi, Khao Lak and Koh Samui, the most popular destinations in southern Thailand.It is a fantastic place to go on vacation. Elephant trekking, trekking on foot, canoeing and jeep safaris are all possible activities, which will give you the experience of a lifetime.We also recommend tours to visit various locations in Khao Sok. One of the most interesting areas is stunningly beautiful Cheow Larn Lake in the heart of the National Park with its floating raft houses and luxury tents.
Chumphon is a city at the Central Gulf Coast of Southern Thailand. It is the provincial capital of Chumphon Province. Like Suratthani, most people only stay here in transit going between Bangkok and the southern regions, including the islands inside the Gulf of Thailand.Chumphon has been able to maintain its natural beauty largely untouched by tourism and unspoiled by time. Chumphon is an elongated province with 220 km (137 mi) of coastline offering many fine-sand beaches, like Thung Wua Laen and attractive offshore islands.There are plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, walking tours, sunbathing, swimming,canoeing, cave exploring, night squid fishing, fishing, yachting, paragliding, diving and snorkelling.The public bus service operates from two terminals. The main one is some 10 km out of town, and buses from Bangkok and most other places will stop there. The railway station is in the centre of town.Ferries leave from Tha Yang Pier. For those in the gulf islands wishing to return to Bangkok, Chumphon is more direct than returning via Suratthani.
Suratthani (often shortened to Surat) is the largest province of south Thailand. Surat Thani means "City of Good People", the title given to the city by King Vajiravudh (Rama VI).It is a gateway to the islands of Thailand's Gulf Coast: Ko Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. They are much-visited destinations, as well as Ang Thong National Marine Park. The Suratthani train station, despite its name, is located in Phun Phin, about 12 km west of town centre.The new Suratthani bus terminal is located a bit outside the city; however if you plan to go directly into the city, it is usually possible to ask for a stop before.The old bus terminal in the middle of city is now frequented only by some private bus companies. The Suratthani airport is located about 30km north of the city. Bandon Pier is located on Ban Don Rd next to the Ta Pi river in downtown Suratthani. Donsak Ferry Pier is located 1.5 hours to the east of Suratthani, and has departures to Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Tatong pier is the departure point for the express boat, and is 8 km outside of Suratthani.
Hua Hin is a seaside resort city in Thailand. It is popular with Thais, having become quite fashionable as a weekend getaway spot for Bangkok residents, as well with foreigners and as an ex-pat retirement or holiday home location. King Rama VII commanded the Klai Kangwon (Far From Worries) Palace to be built in 1929. This Spanish-style summer palace faces the sea and dominates an extensive ornamental garden. The Thai Royal Family still customarily spend the hottest months of the year, usually March to April, there. Members of the public can visit the palace every day, when the Royal Family is not in residence. There are many ways to get around in Hua Hin, Sawngthaews run the same routes all day and cost only 10 baht. There are numerous motorcycle taxis and tuk-tuks, fewer car taxis. Negotiate price beforehand, but you will not get a tuk tuk for less than B100 over any distance (unless you are lucky) if you are a Western tourist. You will also be able to find samlors (rickshaws). There are quite a lot of upscale tourists in Hua Hin and prices are sometimes adjusted upwards. Better to clarify the matter ahead of time. Motorcycle rentals are readily available. Hua Hin is very flat, and bicycle is a good way to get around locally. Hua Hin has a tropical climate with high humidity and occasional rain. It is typically pleasant however, and can be enjoyed all year round. Generally, the best time of the year to visit Hua Hin is in the cool season from November to February, but for those who like it hot, then the hot season is from March to May (temperature gets up into the higher 30s). The rainy season (although it doesn't rain every day) is from June to October with September being the rainiest of all. For those who don't appreciate rain, be advised that the rain in Thailand usually comes in short sharp bursts. It doesn't usually drizzle for long periods of time.
Khao Lak is a 20 km long strip of coastal resorts in Phang Nga Province on the Andaman Sea beaches of Southern Thailand, about 100 km north of Phuket Town. When the disastrous tsunami of 2004 struck South Asia, the Khao Lak region was the hardest-hit area in Thailand with over 4,000 fatalities, more than 3,000 more who were never accounted for, and thousands who were injured. It has since made an impressive recovery and is once again a popular tourist destination. Unlike Phuket, the many resorts in the Khao Lak area cater mainly to families and those looking for peace, quiet, and nature. The name Khao Lak translates as Lak Mountain. The mountain is the centerpiece of Khao Lak Lam Ru National Park. The headland formed as the mountain plunges into the sea near the southern end of the Khao Lak roughly marks the southern boundary of the Khao Lak region. The attractions of Khao Lak are impressive and many, but they are not flashy.The expanses of lovely uncrowded parks, mountains, roads, and beaches, relatively unspoiled nature, easy access to great off-shore diving, accommodations ranging from luxury to basic, and an infrastructure that supports western tourism, but not at the expense of local customs or the Thai way of life, appeal to an increasing number of visitors. It is popular for its serene ambiance and as a departure point for liveaboard scuba diving trips to the Similan Islands. Compared with a place like Patong, Khao Lak can seem boring, especially during low season (April-November). If exotic nightlife and its associated attractions are the reason you’ve come to Thailand, Khao Lak is probably not the place for you. On the other hand, it’s an excellent vacation spot for people seeking to get off the treadmill, for family getaways, and for nature-lovers.
