The Ultimate Guide to Koh Samui Island

While I don’t write about Thailand much or promote it, it’s important to note how many tourists flock here every year. Aside from Bangkok’s urban charms, the digital nomad hangout of Chiang Mai and the white temples of Chiang Rai, the islands of Thailand give travel brochures some serious eye candy and a means to sell holidays year on year. Here’s a quick but full guide to Koh Samui Island – a pure fire hot spot.

The Ultimate Guide to Koh Samui Island

Accommodation
Get out of the hotel and hostel mode for a bit and have your own place. Did you know that Koh Samui apartment rentals are easy enough to organise? Once you have a pure luxury flat you can feel at home and then made this place your paradise.

Think of a swimming pool, palm trees, self catering kitchen, a fridge with cold beers and views to beaches and the ocean. Pure travel bliss.

Luxury apartments

Food
Thai food is up there with the best in the world and this part of Thailand is away from the grimy street markets of Bangkok and Chaing Mai. This means you can dine in a style pre sunset with a magnificent view and some decent Pad Thai.

Thai food

Activities
You won’t be short of things to do either, beaches of course feature!

1.Beaches – The most popular and commercialised beaches (good or bad thing – you decide) are Lamai and Shaweng. while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages like Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Mae Nam are also cool spots as well as Choeng Mon – fairly peaceful, and the west coast beaches are still pretty quiet.

Gorgeous beaches

2.Coral Reefs – Other island attractions include the classic coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian. Great for divers and snorkellers.

3. Wildlife – Thailand always offers a good choice of wildlife – from Koh Samui, nearby there is a butterfly garden and an aquarium; a snake farm. Further afield is a monkey theatre at Bo Phut, and a massive seated Buddha image on Fan Isle.

Monkey!

4.Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks – For a spot of whackpacking on the scale of the vagina and penis rocks of China, head to these odd-looking rocks situated on Lamai Beach. Again, they bear a striking resemblance to male and female sexual organs and they have turned into one of the island’s biggest attractions for young and old. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, ask the locals for some textbook stories.

5. The Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai) Of course you should never be far from a Buddha in Thailand, and the Wat Phra Yai is epic. Also known as the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai), has a 15 metre tall statue of the Buddha. It was built in 1972 and is in the north of the island. Always good for a photo opportunity and an escape from your resort.

Transport
Getting in and out won’t be a huge issue with so many international flights into Thailand these days. Ko Samui airport is small and was built by Thailand Airways and is a cool way to arrive. But the real treat is the journey here on night buses and night trains, only to get a boat to paradise with golden sands and blue waters.

Trains in Thailand