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.
At 247km2 Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and the largest island in an archipelago of over 80 (mostly uninhabited) islands which form the Ang Thong National Marine Park, a kayaking and snorkeling paradise. At 25km long and 21km wide, Samui is big enough for serious exploration by the adventurous and fit, but can be circumnavigated in just a couple of hours by motorbike or car.
The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and Southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam. The name Samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui, or it is a corruption of the Chinese word Saboey, meaning "safe haven".
Until the late 20th century, Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland of Thailand. The island was even without roads until the early 1970s, and the 15km journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through the mountainous central jungles.
In the early 1970s the first backpackers traveling on the back of a coconut boat arrived on Ko Samui. For years after that the island just had a few bungalows and a trickle of travelers. Things started to change in the early 1990s when tourists started arriving in full boats and since then the place grew substantially. Samui is now the second most popular place as an island destination in Thailand (first is Phuket). Ko Samui may not be the country_fs most beautiful island but it is still an oasis of natural beauty with its white sandy beaches, dazzling coral, luscious lagoons, picturesque waterfalls, swaying coconut trees and crystal clear water.
Unfortunately, development on Ko Samui is starting to take its toll and the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai are overcrowded in the high season.
Ko Samui is all in all a fairly big island. 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:
A 300 baht surcharge is levied on '''domestic''' departures, as well as the 500 baht surcharge on international departures. If you fly via Bangkok to an international destination the tax is only 200 baht as the Bangkok international departure tax is already included in your ticket ex Bangkok. These charges are not included in the ticket price.
'''Ko Samui Airport''' ('''USM''') is a private airport originally built by Bangkok Airways [http://www.bangkokair.com], which is still the main operator and was for a long time the only airline with services to Ko Samui from Thailand until Thai Airways started in April 2008 to operate some flights between Bangkok and Ko Samui. They have near-hourly departures to/from Bangkok and tickets are expensive by Thai standards, with advance bookings costing 2000-3500 baht, while a walk-in booking may be twice as much. There are also daily flights to/from Phuket for 2200 baht, U-Tapao, and Singapore; four direct flights a week from Chiang Mai (but no direct flights in the opposite direction); and twice weekly flights to/from Hong Kong.
In addition to Bangkok Air, Ko Samui is served two flights a day from Bangkok with Thai Airways as well as by Berjaya Air [http://www.berjaya-air.com] from Kuala Lumpur and Firefly [http://www.fireflyz.com.my] from Penang and Subang airport (Kuala Lumpur) in Malaysia.
'''Visa-on-Arrival''' and '''Visa-Free''' entry is available at Samui Airport for some nationalities - see Thailand for more information.
Ground transportation from the airport is readily available. A seat in a minibus for the 20-minute ride to Chaweng costing 100 baht/person; a faster taxi will cost 150-300 baht. Be sure to negotiate the rate to your destination before you get into the taxi since many drivers refuse to use their meters.
A cheaper but less convenient option is to fly to Surat Thani and connect by road and then ferry.
From Surat Thani train station and Surat Thani Airport (URT), combined bus/ferry services to Ko Samui cost 200-300 baht - some entail a 60 minute bus ride followed by a 90 minute ferry crossing, others a 30 minute bus ride but longer on the ferry. Tickets are sold by numerous agents who meet each train and airport.There are 2 Ferry compannys (departure every 30 mins).
Numerous ferry services direct from mainland Surat Thani include an express boat (3 departures daily, taking around 3 hours and costing 150 baht) and slow night boats (taking 6-7 hours). 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 Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao.
Lomprayah [http://www.lomprayah.com] offers a combined bus/high speed catamaran ferry service from Bangkok to Ko Samui which takes about 11 hours and costs around 850 baht (1000 baht in the opposite direction). The bus pauses in Hua Hin and then stops at Chumphon where it connects with the ferry, which calls at Ko Nang Yuan, Ko Tao and Ko Pha Ngan on its way to Ko Samui.
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.
The Ko Samui Taxi Service is a public taxi service, which cost around 50 Baht.
Pickup trucks/public passenger pick-up vehicles (songthaews) 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. Fares are around 10 Baht per person. In the event you wish to hire own personally then you ought to negotiate the cost first.
'''Bicycles''' Bicycles can be hired very cheaply on Ko Samui, one shouldn_ft cost anymore than a couple of US dollars per day.
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.
'''Chaweng Beach''' is the major beach on Ko Samui and one that has developed tremendously since the early 1990s. Just 20 years ago the beach was home to just a sprinkle of wooden bungalows but now the place is swamped with 4-5 star hotels, Italian pizza joints, Irish pubs and even go-go bars. Samui_fs nightlife is becoming legendary but unfortunately not always attracting the best standard of tourist. Chaweng_fs once _ehippy_f only backpackers have given way to a lot of _elager louts_f. Chaweng is the place to be if you are looking for a rowdy reckless party scene.
'''Lamai Beach''' Like Chaweng, Lamai has transformed from a _ehippy_f hangout into a fun, party place packed out with bars and exciting nightlife. The beach though, is still in better condition than Chaweng and the place doesn_ft get quite so crowded. If it_fs a quiet relaxing location you are after, then Lamai won_ft be the ideal place for you. At the southern end of Lamai, there are some odd-looking rock formations.
'''Maenam Beach''' This quite beach, located in the north of the island is decent enough for swimming and sunbathing especially for families with children due to the shallow water.
'''Bophut Beach''' situated in the north of the island, is a popular starting point for diving tours. The place isn_ft in any way as developed as Chaweng but there are still plenty of restaurants, shops and bars.
'''Choengmon Beach''' is in the North-East of Samui just 10 minutes from Chaweng. Unlike the latter it is a perfect place for relaxing.
'''Big Buddha Beach''' Located in the north-east of Samui, Big Buddha offers visitors good swimming and lovely views. The area has developed a lot over the past few years and there are now a plentitude of restaurants, shops and bars.
'''Na Thon''' - The island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated.
'''Namtok Hin Lat''' ? This waterfall is easily accessible by car. Some of the numerous tiny levels have a large basin for swimmers.
'''Namtok Na Mueang''' ? A local road leads to the Na Mueang 1 Waterfall. A walk of about 30 minutes ends up at the more scenic Na Mueang 2 Waterfall. Purple rocks surround the stream of water, which gushes in from an impressive height of around 79 meters.
'''Ban Lipa Yai''' ? This village grows high quality fruits, including rambutan, durian, mangosteen and the famed langsat.
'''Old House''' ? This Chinese-style house, aged almost 200 years, represents Samui_fs cultural identity. Grandpa Si and Grandma Maen Hancharoen, the present owner, open the house to visitors.
Other island attractions include coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian; the nearby butterfly garden and aquarium; a snake farm; a monkey theatre at Bo Phut and a massive seated Buddha image on Fan isle.
'''Wat Khunaram Ko Samui''' This temple is the island_fs most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master that was able to predict his own death.
'''Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks''' These odd-looking rocks situated on Lamai beach bear a striking resemblance to male and female sexual organs and they have turned into one of the island_fs biggest attractions. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local.
'''Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Ko Samui''' Located at Ban Harn beach, the Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo offer a fun day out for the family. The undersea world of the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other vibrant aquatic animals such as turtles and colorful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. For those who are daring enough, they can have their photograph taken with the awesome animals. The Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo are open daily from 9AM till 6PM.
'''Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)''' Also known as the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai), has a 15 meter tall statue of the Buddha. It was built in 1972 and is in the north of the island.
'''Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui''' This chedi (pagoda) situated at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Ko Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles which gives off a golden aura is quite impressive.
'''Samui Butterful Garden / Insect Museum''' This butterfly garden can be found in the south-east of the island. There is a huge collection of different butterflies, some quarter of a meter wide. The visitor can also enter the insect museum nearby to see a variety of rare bugs and a bee house.
'''Secret Buddha Garden''' This beautiful garden was made by a 76 year-old Ko Samui fruit farmer in 1976. It is surrounded by lush jungle, rocky hills and is adorned with sculptures depicting both humans, in various poses, as well as various deities. Since the garden is the highest point on the island, there are also some awesome views to be had. Organized tours to the garden last for about 2 hours.
'''Monkey Shows''' These shows can be enjoyed at the open-air theater on the main road behind Bophut beach. The entertainment also includes performing elephants
'''Diving''' Without a doubt the south of Thailand is home to some of the finest and most beautiful beaches and islands in the world, surrounded by crystal clear water and stunning coral. And that is the main reason why the number of divers coming to Thailand has escalated over the past decade or so. Even though the best time year of the year to dive in the Ko Samui is between June and August, it is still perfectly possible to dive virtually all year round. As diving in Thailand is considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkeling in the world, it is perfect for first-timers wanting to try these pastimes out.
The sea visibility in some places around Ko Samui is almost very good (distances of up to 10-30 meters). One can enjoy splendid sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral, whale sharks.
:''''Samran Pinnacles:'''' Since the currents in this area are often quite strong, this site is recommended therefore, for experienced divers. Due to the currents being like this, the site is a haven for bringing in larger pelagics such as barracuda, jacks. There are three submerged pinnacles near Sail Rock.
:''''Ko Kra & Koh Losin:'''' These two small islands located to the south-east of Samui, which because of its remotest, don_ft get too many divers. Blacktip sharks, manta rays and hard to find loggerhead turtles can be seen.
'''Sailing''' is popular in Samui being led by the success of the Ko Samui Regatta [http://www.samuiregatta.com] and the continued popularity of the day crusies and sunset cruises aboard the 52 foot sailing catamaran Kia Ora [http://www.kiaorathailand.com]. The major hindrance to sailing in Ko Samui is the lack of a marina to provide safe mooring, the support infrastructure and services. There have been many rumours about marina construction being imminent but nothing has yet been done. So when you get to Samui, expect to find it hard to locate a suitable provider and also expect to either clamber over rickety wooden jetties or be ferried out on the tender dinghy.
'''Golf'''
'''Mini Golf'''
'''Frisbee Golf'''
'''Football Golf'''
'''Bowling'''
'''Thai Boxing'''
'''Beach Volleyball'''
'''Kayaking'''
'''Shooting'''
'''Bungy Jump'''
'''Bird Watching'''
'''Tiger Zoo and Tropical Bird Show'''
'''Trekking & Elephant Trekking'''
'''Snooker & Pool'''
'''Windsurfing'''
'''Canopy'''
'''Fishing'''
'''Horse Riding'''
'''Kiteboarding'''
'''Paintball'''
'''Buffalo Fighting Festival''' One of the most famed festivals coming out of Samui is its Buffalo Fighting Festival which is held on special occasions such as New Years Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish Bullfighting, where the bulls get killed while fighting sword-wielding men, Buffalo Fighting Festival, Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalos are beautifully decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest which lasts just two rounds, monks spray them with holy water.
'''Bowling Championship''' This is an annual bowling event held in May every year.
'''Avis Samui Tennis Open''' The annual amateur tennis tournament held in July.
'''The Fisherman's Village Festival''' This five-day long festival is celebrated with great fun and lots of music and food. The music is usually played by well-known artists and the amount of food (and quality of it) dished up is just amazing. A number of food tents sell a wide range of inexpensive and tasty cuisine provided by many local hotels.
'''Triathlon Event''' There currently are NO Triathlon events on Ko Samui. Nearby sister island Ko Phangan has an International distance Triathlon and Duathlon in March, with the second annual scheduled for 2010.
'''Thai Cooking'''
Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts, Tel: 0 7741 3172 provides basic skills sufficient to prepare a Thai meal in your own home, or even training to professional standards. Some hotels that have their own in-house Thai restaurant offer cooking classes to their customers. Contact Central Samui Beach Resort Tel: 0 2230 5000, Imperial Samui Tel: 0 7742 2020-36, Poppies Samui Tel: 0 7742 2389; Santiburi Dusit Resort Tel: 0 7742 5031 for details
'''Cooking Schools'''
'''Muay Thai (Thai Boxing)'''
Samui has a few gyms where wanna-be kick boxers can learn this unique martial art which is embedded in culture and tradition.
'''Meditation'''
For those suffering from a bugging, moody, monkey-like or impatient mind, they can be treated with the help of meditation. If practicing at a temple isn_ft your cup-of-tea, then never mind there are monthly meditation courses at the Samudra Retreat lead by an expert meditation master monk.
For no course fee meditation programs, there are 3 days, 5 days courses at Dipabhavan Meditation Center (Thai: ????????????????) lead by Ajahn Poh, the current abbot of Suan Mokkh. Therefore, the teachings in Dipabhavan is exactly the same as Suan Mokkh International Hermitage, Suratthani.
'''Yoga'''
Kamalaya Personal Yoga Synergy Retreats. These private yoga retreats are customised to suit your yoga experience. Personal one-on-one instruction, including postures, breathing practice and mediation, are supported by Ayurveda and wellness treatments, healthy cuisine and an inspiring setting. Phone +66 (0) 77 429800. [http://www.kamalaya.com]
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.
Southern Thai food in general is renowned for its spiciness. Much of the cuisine has its origins in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food. Favourite dishes from the south include Indian-style Muslim curry (massaman), rice noodles in fish curry sauce (Khanom Jeen) and chicken birayani. Popular local food are salted eggs and delicious rambutan, too.
'''Dual pricing''' is regrettably common: some restaurants have two menus, one for tourists and the other for Thai people, at about 1/4 of the foreigner prices. Main courses in a standard, low-key Thai restaurant should be under 100 baht (except some seafood dishes), so if prices seem unreasonably steep, head elsewhere. Always check prices and menu first so you don't have to argue when the bill ist served
'''Please list your favourite spot in the district pages and not on the general Ko Samui page'''
There are innumerable options for a drink, ranging from the loud and brash tourist pubs and girlie bars of Chaweng to the candle-lit romantic bars of Bophut. Figure on 80 baht for a local beer (Singha, Tiger, Chang, Heineken) and up to twice as much for any import. Wine is especially expensive and usually costs over 2,000 baht per bottle.
'''Beer bars'''
Chaweng Beach is especially famous for its beer bars (also called bar-beers), staffed by pretty hostesses, usually from the north-east of Thailand. Buy them a _egirlie drink_f and you_fll be in entertaining company. Beer bars can be found all over Chaweng. The bars offer pool, Connect4 and other popular bar games. Since the nightlife on Chaweng can see serious debauchery at times, the local law enforcers are strict in concern to enforcing closing times. The official closing time in "entertainment zones" is 01:00 (in practice usually somewhere between 01:00 and 02:00, depending on the location).
'''Nightclubs'''
Chaweng Beach is packed out with nightclubs playing the latest rave sounds and serving exotic cocktails. Electronic music is very popular.
The biggest club is the Green Mango [http://www.thegreenmangoclub.com/green-mango-club-samui.html] to which even a street was named.
'''Karaoke Joints'''
At karaoke joints join can either choose a private room or sing in the main lounge for everyone to hear. There are Thai songs and international songs, there may be pretty hostesses available to sit for a pleasant chat. These joints are especially popular with North Asian tourists.
'''The following lists ''only'' places to stay outside the major beaches; see the articles above and the Beaches index for more.'''
Tap water is generally not potable. Liquids from sealed bottles nearly always are, and should be used wherever possible. Take care in restaurants...many may use unsafe tap water to make ice for drinks otherwise made with bottled/safe ingredients. Some residents claim that ice with round holes is made by commercial ice makers who purify their water; others state that it is wise not to rely on that claim. Tap water in most hotels should not be used for drinking or brushing teeth unless explicitly labeled as safe.
Motorbikes are somewhat risky, but jeeps, trucks, and other cars for rent are readily available at very reasonable rates, and are considerably safer. If you must use a motorbike always wear a helmet and never drive drunk the roads are hazardous with many large potholes. After a good time drinking in the party areas of Chaweng, Bophut and Lamai taxis are readily available to take you home. Be careful generally taxi drivers tend to rip you off. It's not rare for a tuk-tuk driver to charge you 50 baht for just a kilometer ride (for example, along the main Chaweng market) during evenings. Of course you would never have boarded the tuk-tuk if you'd known about the scam beforehand!
A recent development has been the appearance of Quad Bikes to rent for use on the roads. These do not appear to be registered for road use so care should be taken as they may not be insured.
Be careful about beaches in night time as crime often occurs there.
'''Do's'''
'''Don_fts'''
Dial-up connection in Thailand is getting rarer as people are turning to ADSL. Typical monthly charges including the telephone line are around 20USD+. Thailand also has more than its fair share of Internet cafes, the hourly charge is about 1USD. For those residing in rural areas, hooking up to the Internet can be done via broadband satellite.
GSM networks of all major Thai mobile operators cover the island quite well. While roaming is an option, purchasing local SIM card will save you a lot on international calls. Even more, GPRS/EDGE service is a cheap and convenient way to access Internet from virtually anywhere. See the main article for details.
Samui has the internationally renowned Bangkok Samui Hospitals. For those who are just a little sick there are countless clinics and pharmacies, especially at Chaweng Beach.
'''Useful numbers'''
Notice : 077 is the Area Code.