Koh Samui
The island Koh Samui is located about 120 km east from the city of Surat Thani just off the east coast of Thailand, which is about 750 km from Bangkok.
Traveling to and from Koh Samui is very easy as there are plenty of options available when it comes to getting here, Koh Samui is one Thailand biggest and most popular tourist destinations.
Traveling by boat is still the most common way to visit, and services run every hour, making it a fairly straightforward journey.
There are three piers in Surat Thani where you can catch the ferry, each offering different services with various companies.
DONSAK PIER
If you are traveling by bus or train to Koh Samui from anywhere in Thailand then your bus or train usually terminates in Surat Thani where you will then join the ferry for the last part of your journey.
Most boat companies (Seatran, Songserm and Lompraya) leaving Donsak go directly to Nathon which is Koh Samui’s busiest pier. The Raja Ferry also departs from Donsak, however this service does not go to Nathon. Instead, their company has their own pier in the south of the island, in the area of Lipa Noi.
NATHON PIER
Nathon pier is the main ferry port in Koh Samui and serves as the main arrival and departure point for travellers here. Located in the northwest of Samui several boat services operate from the piers here such as Seatran, Songserm and Lompraya.
Thailand’s Boutique Destination
KOH SAMUI AIRPORT
Koh Samui International Airport (airport code: USM), is a privately owned airport in the northeast of Koh Samui. The airport is located around 2 km north of the tourist hub of the island, Chaweng.
Koh Samui Airport is an unusual airport because it’s completely outdoors, except for a few gift shops. Even though it is the country’s 6th busiest airport, handling over a million passengers per year. The airport has different terminals for domestic and international flights. The domestic terminal is about 50 metres south of the international terminal. Koh Samui Airport is located near the Big Buddha Pier (which you can see when landing on the north side of the island) where ferries depart to Ko Phangan. High speed ferries to Chumphon and Ko Tao depart from the Maenam Beach Pier, around 6 kilometers to the north east of the airport.
AIRLINES AT KOH SAMUI AIPORT
The airport is owned by Bangkok Airways, who are the main user of the airport. It provides direct domestic flights to Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya-U-Tapao and Phuket. International flights leave everyday for Hong Kong, Chengdu, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and in the future to Chongqing. Other airlines you can find here are:
- Thai Airways (to Bangkok)
- SilkAir (to Singapore)
- Lucky Air (to Kunming)
- Firefly (to Penang and Kuala Lumpur)
- China Southern Airlines (seasonal to Guangzhou)
Bangkok airways offers a nice lounge at the airport, and offers free food, drinks and wifi for its passengers.
TRANSFER TIMES TO KOH SAMUI AIRPORT
To get to or from the airport, you can use the schedule below to schedule the time you need to or from your hotel or villa.
- around 10 minutes from Chaweng, Choeng Mon and Bophut beaches
- around 15 minutes from Maenam
- around 20 minutes from Lamai
- 30+ minutes from Lipa Noi, Nathon & Taling Ngam on the other side of the island
KOH SAMUI AIRPORT DEPARTURES
Believe it or not, even quiet Koh Samui has a rush hour, so plan your departure wisely. We can assist you with your airport pickup or transfer, just leave us a message! Just make certain you get to the airport around two hours prior to your scheduled departure. In low season you can also safely arrive one hour before departure, but it’s a good idea to play safe and arrive a bit earlier.
Flights arrive and leave early: the first one leaves at 6 am from Koh Samui Airport. That one, together with the last flight is also the cheapest flight to book. A lot of flights that return to Europe from Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok leave in the early afternoon or late morning, so, depending on where you’re going, there’s a chance you’ll be on an early flight from Samui. The next one leaves around 7.45 am. If you’re on the early hop, you’ll find that Samuis streets are still pretty dark and empty. The island is especially charming at this time of the day, so have your camera at hand while driving to Koh Samui airport.
KOH
SAMUI
BEACHES
Bophut Beach
ABOUT BOPHUT BEACH
Koh Samui, which is also know as just Samui, is the second biggest island in Thailand after the island of Phuket. Koh Samui is an extremely popular tourist island receiving over a million visitors every year. Koh Samui’s main attraction is its beautiful natural beaches which are considered amongst the best beaches in the world. Amidst all the beaches on Koh Samui, one beach you should visit and explore on the island is Bophut beach.
Sunsets at Bophut beach
Bophut Beach is one of the famous beaches situated on the northern coast of Koh Samui island, which is close to a village called Bophut, located in between the beaches of Big Buddha and Mae Nam. This lovely beach is known for its beautiful sunsets and quaint shops, Bophut Beach is definitely one of the most visited beaches on the island of Koh Samui. Tourists can indulge in a variety of sporting activities including jet skiing, diving, jetskis, jet boarding, sunbathing and swimming. If you want to take a break from the ocean, you can meander through the many small shops full of beautiful souvenirs found around the lovely beach. The beach has variety of quality restaurants where you can find both local and international dishes in abundance.
Fishermans’s Village
Bophut Beach is a lovely place to visit in the hot afternoon, to spend a few hours at the sea side snorkeling, jet skiing and swimming before watching the unique sunset later in the evening. Once the sun is set, you can visit the heart of Bophut, which is known as the Fisherman’s Village. This gives you the opportunity to learn the culture of Bophut’s people and their way of life, also having the opportunity to have a taste of Thai delicious cuisine or take a drink at one of the local bars in the village before heading back to your hotel room for a pleasant night’s rest.
Accommodation at Bophut beach
Getting affordable accommodation that will give you the best comfort is not a problem. You are sure of getting good accommodation at a reasonable price that will give you a haven of peace and tranquility. Hotels located around Bophut Beach offer pleasantly decorated rooms, with all modern and necessary amenities for all visitors, tourists and travellers that want to enjoy the best of Bophut Beach and its surrounding areas. The beach of Bophut is really a lovely place to visit if you want to have a nice time with your loved ones. You are sure of getting the best of fun.
Chaweng Beach
ABOUT CHAWENG BEACH
Chaweng Beach is the most popular beach resort in Koh Samui. It is not only the largest beach on the island, but also the largest shopping and entertainment tourist area. Throughout the beach is full of shops, restaurants, bars, nightclubs and other entertainment venues. There are five-star hotels and the best restaurants of Koh Samui, at the same time, you can easily find a cheap budget hotel and bungalows, and inexpensive meal can be in one of the small cheap restaurants. Chaweng Beach is a snow-white 8-kilometer long strip of sand, located on the Gulf Coast, which makes it easier for vacationers and tourists to choose suitable places under the sun.
Conventionally, Chaweng Beach is divided into three parts: the northern, central and southern, each of which has its own flavor.
NORTH PART OF CHAWENG BEACH
This is the most peaceful and quiet part of Chaweng Beach, the most picturesque of all (a lot of palm trees and tropical plants). It is chosen by tourists who prefer a serene beach vacation on an exotic background of nature, with plenty of entertainment options. The beach has a length of 600m and well organized. On its territory there are bars, restaurants, swimming pools, Spa-salons and tourist hotels. The distance between this part of the beach and airport is approximately 5 to 10 minutes drive. The northern part of Chaweng Beach is shallow, which makes it a unique place where children can have lots of fun.
CENTRAL PART OF CHAWENG BEACH
The central part of Chaweng Beach is the most suitable for sunbathing and swimming and nightlife. The beach has a length of 5 km and a developed tourist infrastructure. It is equipped with umbrellas and sun beds, which makes it a comfortable place for relaxation for tourists and vacationers. However, this is the busiest part of the beach – full of activities both day and night. Numerous restaurants, bars, souvenir shops, massage centres, SPA-salons, clubs, discos and other entertainment venues. Here you can see a Thai boxing and transvestite cabaret shows. The distance between this part of chaweng beach and Samui Airport is 5km. Between October and December in this part of the beach there are strong waves – the perfect and right time to practice sailing sports.
SOUTHERN PART OF CHAWENG BEACH
The southern part of Chaweng beach stretches for kilometres along the clear waters of the bay, which has unique hotels. This is a good place for a family holiday. The hotels are located on the first beach line, easy entry into the sea, approximately 15 minutes (about 7 km) drive to the airport. There is no active night life – a cool, calm and relaxed atmosphere.
Chaweng Noi Beach
ABOUT CHAWENG NOI BEACH
Half a mile of sparkling sand, palm trees swaying over a white beach, a riot of tropical plants and endless bright sunshine make Chaweng Noi beach one of the best beaches you can visit in Koh Samui. It is located on the eastern coast, and is well known for its beauty, its quiet and peaceful ambiance, white sand, palm trees and clear blue water – all this creates a feeling of peace and tranquility. Most tourists prefer this beach because of its natural endowment of naturally placed palm trees and tropical plants. It is known as the most picturesque among other beaches on the island and also offers a lot of entertainment options.
Chaweng noi beach is a beauty
If you love to lodge in 4 or 5 star hotels and at the same time enjoy a romantic time with your significant other by the beach, with beautiful sea views and swimming at a depth of 24 meters under the crystal clear water with bright fabulous fish, then your wish will come true easily at Chaweng Noi beach. The soft breeze enveloping this lovely beach makes the palm trees give a lovely romantic natural music that adds rhythms to the activities at the beach during the evening and throughout the entire night. On the night of the full moon, the moonlight splashes into the sand giving the beach a significant lovely glow at night, and you can see the huge stingrays in the water bringing out the uniqueness and beauty of the beach. Seeing the sparkling beauty is extremely impressive and not to be missed. Near the beach there are an abundance of restaurants, bars, swimming pools, spa-salons and almost any other entertainment facility you can think of.
Chaweng noi beach for families
If you are visiting Samui with children, this is a perfect special place to enjoy a great time at the beach, as it has a shallow part where children can play and have lots of fun safely. You need not panic about the distance from the airport to the beach because Chaweng Noi beach is uniquely and naturally located, only a few minute drive from the airport. Besides sunbathing and swimming, visitors can go and observe the local traditions of the lovely people of Chaweng – an opportunity to learn new cultures and gain a perspective of an entire new lifestyle.
Chaweng Noi beach is a lovely place to visit if you want to experience a new way of relaxing, exploring and having fun with your loved ones.
Choeng Mon Beach
ABOUT CHOENG MON BEACH
Looking for a beautiful, 100% natural environment in which to spend your vacation? Perhaps you want complete privacy with only nature as your companion? Then Choeng Mon beach on Koh Samui is the right place for you. Choeng Mon is a small, idyllic bay surrounded by natural palm trees and tropical plants. It is located on the north-east coast of Koh Samui and is ideal for family holidays or romantic getaways. It is located an easy 10 minutes drive away from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng, the island touristic centre. The sand is white and powder soft, and the sea is crystal clear, with a gently sloping entrance into the water.
The beach is naturally endowed and you will be glad you paid this unique unspoiled place a visit. Thanks to the palm trees along the beach that serve as a shield from the sun, you can relax during the hottest parts of day. The beach is naturally created in a unique way which means that there are enough sun bathing spaces in the shade, ensuring you can have a relaxing and enjoyable time with your loved ones. To create a romantic evening for you and your partner, simply pull up a table right on the beach and light some candles, the natural music created by the waves falling on the shore provide the perfect ambiance – a stunningly beautiful place to share some quality time with your love.
Choeng Mon bay
Relaxing on Choeng Mon beach is second to none! It ranks right up there with the best when compared with other beaches or relaxation centers around the world. Choeng Mon bay is surrounded by a natural coral reef, which is home to an abundance of marine life, so don’t forget to take a digital camera along with you, we guarantee you will want to keep the memories alive forever.
You need not worry about the cost of getting a hotel room. You will definitely find a hotel or inn that fits your preferred budget, which will be accommodating and make you feel perfectly at home. You are sure of getting the best cuisine Thailand has to offer from the restaurants and bars along the beach, and all at a reasonable and affordable price.
Besides the nature on display along this lovely and unique beach, the people of Choeng Mon are very friendly and accommodating. This gives you an opportunity to learn more about their traditions and culture and discover more about the beach and its surrounding area. A visit to Choeng Mon beach is an experience you will certainly not forget in a hurry.
Choeng Mon Beach
ABOUT CHOENG MON BEACH
Looking for a beautiful, 100% natural environment in which to spend your vacation? Perhaps you want complete privacy with only nature as your companion? Then Choeng Mon beach on Koh Samui is the right place for you. Choeng Mon is a small, idyllic bay surrounded by natural palm trees and tropical plants. It is located on the north-east coast of Koh Samui and is ideal for family holidays or romantic getaways. It is located an easy 10 minutes drive away from the hustle and bustle of Chaweng, the island touristic centre. The sand is white and powder soft, and the sea is crystal clear, with a gently sloping entrance into the water.
The beach is naturally endowed and you will be glad you paid this unique unspoiled place a visit. Thanks to the palm trees along the beach that serve as a shield from the sun, you can relax during the hottest parts of day. The beach is naturally created in a unique way which means that there are enough sun bathing spaces in the shade, ensuring you can have a relaxing and enjoyable time with your loved ones. To create a romantic evening for you and your partner, simply pull up a table right on the beach and light some candles, the natural music created by the waves falling on the shore provide the perfect ambiance – a stunningly beautiful place to share some quality time with your love.
Choeng Mon bay
Relaxing on Choeng Mon beach is second to none! It ranks right up there with the best when compared with other beaches or relaxation centers around the world. Choeng Mon bay is surrounded by a natural coral reef, which is home to an abundance of marine life, so don’t forget to take a digital camera along with you, we guarantee you will want to keep the memories alive forever.
You need not worry about the cost of getting a hotel room. You will definitely find a hotel or inn that fits your preferred budget, which will be accommodating and make you feel perfectly at home. You are sure of getting the best cuisine Thailand has to offer from the restaurants and bars along the beach, and all at a reasonable and affordable price.
Besides the nature on display along this lovely and unique beach, the people of Choeng Mon are very friendly and accommodating. This gives you an opportunity to learn more about their traditions and culture and discover more about the beach and its surrounding area. A visit to Choeng Mon beach is an experience you will certainly not forget in a hurry.
Hua Thanon Beach
ABOUT HUA THANON BEACH
Just to the south of Lamai, you will find Hua Thanon Beach. This is where most of Koh Samui’s Muslim community resides. Famous for its Southern Thai food and colourful village markets, Hua Thanon Beach is a great place to go to find some cheap food and take a stroll through some authentic Thai markets.
Experience the food ways of southern Thailand as stall merchants shoo away the flies from the freshly butchered meat and mothers load assortment of vegetables into their baby-filled motorbike baskets. Pass through the market road to the row of Muslim restaurants selling anything from fiery curries and chicken biryani, to toasted rice with dried shrimp, bean sprouts, coconut and lemon grass, truly something to suit every taste.
Muslim fishing village
Hua Thanon Beach is predominantly a small fishing village. If you visit you will be able to walk down to the beach and see the locals at work, reeling in their nets and checking their catch, while kids and parents play to the side. The harbor here is the perfect place for the small fishing boats to dock, so the haul of fish can be unloaded into the local markets.
The area is home to a variety of upscale accommodation that stretches down some steep hillsides and onto the beaches below, as well as older, mid-range bungalow options. Whilst there are a few independent restaurants, there is not much more than this in the area.
Lamai Beach
ABOUT LAMAI BEACH
Lamai beach is located on the east coast, and is the second best known beach on Samui, lying slightly further south from its lively neighbour, Chaweng beach. The beach, and its surrounding area, is becoming increasingly as popular as Chaweng and is no longer classified as a hippy hangout beach. The unique nature here, and the quality of the sand and ocean ensures it stands out from the other beaches Koh Samui has to offer.
Showcasing Mother Nature at her finest, Lamai is blessed with clear seas, fine white sand and a pleasant and peaceful atmosphere. There are a wide range of entertainment facilities and accommodation options alongside splendid meal choices, making this beach a highly preferred holiday and relaxation spot on Koh Samui and the whole of Thailand. Though Lamai beach is quieter and often has fewer crowds when compared with Chaweng beach, it is still full of fun and stunning natural wonders.
Safe for children
Lamai’s lovely long beach is an earthly paradise, with amazing crescents of palm trees and pristine sand. The beach coastline has a shallow surface with a pleasant sea bed, that makes Lamai beach safe for children to play and enjoy themselves. Other parts of the beach are a little deeper, which makes it an ideal place for water sports and swimming. Tourists and visitors can spend their leisure and relaxation days on the beach, and whilst enjoying the sunbathing, you can take advantage of the many Thai massage natural treatments on offer from numerous massage centers and spa’s. Visitors can benefit from a wide selection of pampering experiences, like aloe-vera body wrap, Thai massage, oil massage, hair braiding, henna tattoo and even manicures and pedicures. Lamai beach is fully engaged by beach vendors who walk the shoreline offering a variety of different souvenirs and eatables.
Lamai beach activities
Lamai beach is also known for its wide range of water sports. Here you can try many different and thrilling activities out on the water such as jet skies, windsurfing, wakeboarding, parasailing, sea kayaking, banana boat rides and speed boat trips among many other water sports. Lamai beach and the surrounding area has many tourist attractions, including Hin Ta & Hin Yai (the Grandmother and Grandfather rocks), Hua Thanon, Pagoda Khao Chedi, Laem Sor Pagoda, Silver beach, and Lamai overlap stone. Here vacationists can enjoy the interesting services offered by spa centers, which enables them to experience outstanding treatments amidst the attractive beauty of the beach.
Lamai beach encompasses many restaurants, serving numerous Thai and international cuisines and styles, freshly and uniquely prepared by professional chefs. If you wish to spend some superb, quality time with your loved ones, simply plan a vacation to Lamai Beach.
Lipa Noi Beach
ABOUT LIPA NOI BEACH
The fact that the island’s main car ferry pier is here, makes Lipa Noi beach a suitable place to stop off for anyone driving to Samui from the mainland. There a plenty of hotels here, spaced far enough apart from one another so as to ensure that the beaches are not so clustered like Chaweng or Lamai. Fine white sands and very little rock makes the beaches on this side of the island perfect for kids. The water here is shallow with very small waves due to its sheltered location; this makes it possible to walk out as far as 100 metres during low tide.
There are plenty of options around Lipa Noi beach when it comes to accommodation; with bungalows, hotels and private beachside villas for long and short term visits.
Apart from the beach, there’s little else to do in the area – its very remoteness is what makes it most attractive to the regular visitors, who come in quite large numbers. It is certainly not the place to come for a party and this is reflected in the older demographic of tourists here. There’s not much in the way of entertainment in the area either, but driving through the coconut plantations will provide you with a pleasant and relaxing sense of being in tropical paradise
Maenam Beach
Koh Samui, along with Pattaya and Phuket, is one of the most popular and sought after resorts in the country of Thailand because of its beautiful and lovely beaches. One of them that offer a quiet and peaceful retreat is Maenam Beach. Maenam Beach, which is also called the haven of visitors, is a peaceful and quiet long powdery beach naturally designed by palms swaying peacefully in the breeze and can be found in the north of Koh Samui, it is not far from the airport, so it can be reached in just a 15 minute drive or on a rented motorbike.
Maenam beach has been refers to the “veterans” that has spearheaded the development of tourism in Koh Samui, this is where the first hotels were built on the island of Koh Samui. The beach vicinity has a large number of luxurious, contemporary 5-star hotels, but there is also a variety of rented apartment at lower and affordable prices. The most beautiful and expensive villas are concentrated in the center of the beach, and the cheapest bungalow can be found in the south side of Maenam.
Relaxing holiday on Maenam beach
In contrast, from the well-known active nightlife of Chaweng Beach, Maenam offers a relaxing family holiday, where the beach environment is naturally quiet at night, offset by blueness of the waves, white sand and green groves of coconut palms.
Both sides of the beach are framed by tropical greenery hills and is approximately 5 km long. Mae Nam Beach is also a great place to meet sunsets. To the west of its border is the beach Ban Tai and the beach of Bophut to the east. In the evening and at night you can safely sit and enjoy the cool breeze of the night, while you get the best of Thai cuisine from the restaurants, bars and pub around the quiet beach.
Tours around Maenam beach
The beach of Maenam is blessed with many small shops and restaurants, as well as a Chinese temple. A tour to the National Marine Park Ang Tong is the most popular entertainment venue at Maenam. Is fun visiting this lovely park because you have to travel on a boat to the National Marine Park Ang-Thong and the island of Koh Tao.
The beach of Maenam is a lovely place to spend your time with your lovely ones. Start planning on how to spend your vacation on this lovely beach today.
Taling Ngam Beach
ABOUT TALING NGAM BEACH
Untouched jungle, hidden beaches and picturesque views of Anthong National Marine Park combine to make Taling Ngam Beach one of the most stunning places on the island.
Taling Ngam is a truly beautiful beach, boasting calm waters, golden sands and lumbering palm trees, which award the beaches along here a surreal atmosphere. Koh Samui may be known as a bit of a party island, and those that visited 30 years ago may say the island is not quite like it used to be, however, Taling Ngam beach will give you a glimpse of what Koh Samui was like before the tourist industry established itself here.
Exclusive hotels on Taling Ngam beach
There are a few cheap bungalow options as well as some of Koh Samui’s most exclusive hotels in this area. Down this end of the island you will also find some of Koh Samui’s best seafood restaurants. This might make Taling Ngam sound like a busy area but it is far from that, you may find small areas with five or six restaurants and a 7 eleven, however this side of the island is fairly sparse. As well as being a fairly quite area it is also a 20-30 minute drive from most places on the island, Nathon would be the nearest town of any significance which is almost an hour away from Chaweng.
With that being said, if what you are after is a relaxing, slow-moving holiday, Taling Ngam is hard to beat. Given this, the area is a rapidly growing residential hot spot.
KOH
SAMUI
ATTRACTIONS
Night Markets
The Koh Samui night markets, or what the locals call them, the walking streets happen at various places around the island usually starting at around 5 pm. They sell everything here such as electronics, clothing, souvenirs and food and generally you will see the same stalls at each market, run by the same people.
The Koh Samui night markets are a great way to spend the evening and most nights you will be able to find one around the island.
Chaweng – Here there is a market open mostly every night opposite the Chaweng lake just past central festival. In the day time you will also find stalls open everyday along the beach road.
Wednesday
Choeng Mon – outside Muang Samui hotel. Miniature floating market theme. Open from 5 pm onwards along both sides of the main road, roads are not closed to traffic. Quite a good variety of food and goods for a small village Market and worth a visit if you are in the area
Thursday
Maenam – main intersection down to the beach. Open fro 5pm onwards ,traffic is closed to the 2 side streets leading down to Maenam beach. Relaxed and more laid back than Bophut and has a more local feel about it. Great selection of food and many times theres a show outside the Chinese temple.
Friday
Bophut – From 5 till 11pm is the walking street in Fisherman village. If the weather is good, which usually it is, this market can be very busy. The market is very big and takes up around three roads, on being very long. At this market you will find lots of stalls selling food, clothing and souvenirs. The road is closed to traffic so find parking outside and walk in. Most restaurants will still be open.
Saturday
Chaweng – In the outdoor car park of the Central Festival Mall has a good selection of stalls outside the mall.
Sunday
Lamai – main beach road from bridge to market area. Starts from 5 pm onwards not as large as Bophut. Road is closed to traffic along part of the main beach road.
Temples
Much of the South of Thailand is predominantly Muslim, including Koh Samui. Having said that, Buddhist culture is still to be seen everywhere on the island. Because of an increase in tourist numbers on Koh Samui, the main religion of Thailand (Buddhism) also became an important part of the culture on Samui. This is best seen when you arrive on the island by airplane and land on the northern shore, where the famous Big Buddha is located.
Most people know Koh Samui as a beach and coconut island. But besides that it also has a lot of Buddhist culture to offer. From modern and colourful temples to ancient Buddha images, there are a lot of sights to see and places to visit. Below you can read our suggestions. If you decide to visit one or more of these Koh Samui temples, please remember to behave politely. That means no revealing clothing or beachwear, and show respect to the temple grounds.
Phra Yai Temple and Big Buddha
This temple is home to Koh Samui’s most famous landmark, the Big Buddha. Visitors come to gaze upon this huge Buddha and marvel at its beauty, there are always tourist here taking photos. At 12 metres tall this Buddha statue is visible several kilometers away and it is possible to even catch a glimpse of it from the air when arriving or leaving the island. The car park for the temple is clustered with souvenir shops, small restaurants and ice cream shops ready to serve the daily flow of tourists. Wat Phra Yai is located in the Northeast of Samui near to the airport.
Laem Sor Temple
laem sor temple koh samuiLaem Sor Temple is in the far south of the island found along the beaches of Taling Ngam. In the grounds of Laem Sor Temple lies a golden Chedi (Pagoda) which sits in front of the rocky water’s edge. The Chedi appears to be golden because of countless amount of small yellow tiles it is covered in. The temple is hard to find from the road, follow the track with a sign that reads “Waikiki Bungalows”, and It’s at the end of that.
Khao Chedi Temple
Also found within the grounds of Laem Sor Temple, but set a fair distance away from the golden Chedi, lies the Khao Chedi (mountain pagoda). This spoiled monument had been forgotten about and left for many years until recently. The untouched path leading to the Chedi has been cleared and now grants easy access. There is a slope around 300 meters west of the Sor Chedi Temple, at the base of the slope a little cottage can be seen, and 100 meters to one side of this residence, the path is noticeable. The path leads to a stairway which takes you up to the tranquil ruins of the Khao Chedi. The panorama seen from up here is breathtaking, you can see the Laem Sor Bay and the nearby islands.
Kunaram Temple – Mummified Monk
Koh Samui’s most famous monks body, Loung Pordaeng, has been mummified and is on show at the Kunaram Temple. He died over 20 years ago whilst meditating. Today he still sits in the lotus position as if he is meditating, undisturbed. His body shows few signs of any major decay, although you will find him wearing his sunglasses to hide his eyes. Khunaram temple is on the ring-road between Hua Thanon and Na Muang waterfalls.
Sila Ngu Temple
Sila Ngu Temple is a popular place of worship in Koh Samui and is even said to contain a relic of the Lord Buddha. The temple grounds are often visited by local travelling shows and sometimes even TV stars and used for their performances. Sila Ngu Temple is a kilometer South of Hin-Tai Hin-Yai found on the beach side of the ring road.
Sumret Temple
Sumret Temple contains many different images of the Buddha. One Buddha is found laying in the reclining position, and the tallest of the Buddha statues, stands three meters tall and was shipped from India. Wat Sumret is found opposite the beach on the left, 800 meters West of Hua Thanon Beach on the ring-road.
Buddha’s Footprint
There are four foot-prints here, each placed one on top of the other. Each footprint has been artistically en-graved. The footprints are kept in a small temple found 150 steps up a steep hill, up here there is also a great view of the mountains and plains opposite as well as an ocean view over the tree tops. There are no signs for the Buddha’s Footprint however it can be found by turning left up a concrete slope, two kilometers West of the turnoff for the Butterfly Garden on the ring road.
Plai Laem Temple
Plai Laem Temple is found in the north of Koh Samui on road ring road in between Big Buddha and Choeng Mon Beach. The temple is well known for the hundreds of big fish that live in the lake which surrounds the temples (Fish Food is available at the temple for a small donation). Plai Laem Temple is one of the most stunning temples on Koh Samui and features a Buddhist statue of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion, with 18 arms set in the middle of the lake.
Kiri Wongkaram Temple
At Kiri Wongkaram Temple you can find the mummified body of the Buddhist monk Loung Por Ruam and can be viewed in a glass case. Upon his death 25 years ago he was placed here and remarkably his body is still in good condition. Kiri Wongkaram Temple is located by following the ring road South from Lipa Noi and then making a turn right between two giant elephant statues. It is a kilometer further down this road on the right hand side.
AROUND
KOH
SAMUI
Angthong Marine Park
ABOUT ANGTHONG NATIONAL MARINE PARK
The Angthong National Park was set up on the twelfth of November 1980. Mu Koh Ang Thong is an archipelago in the Bay of Thailand. A large portion of the islands are near one another making a stunning display cruising around the Angthong Marine Park. Every one of the islands are of distinctive sizes and shapes. The greater part of them are secured with tropical backwoods and named after their recognizing topography, a sort of expressive epithet, for example, ‘Dozing Bovine Island’ and ‘Three Columns Island’. Angthong, deciphers as ‘brilliant dish’ is an ensured nature range acclaimed for its characteristic excellence. The greater part of the islands are uninhabited and undeveloped aside from one.
The majority of the islands comprises of limestone mountains around 10-400 meters above ocean level. Since the limestone can change its structure effectively by both synthetic condition and climate, amid hundreds of years the islands makes interesting looking holes, precipices and a few islands look like antiquated Angkor Wat in Cambodia and Prasart Hin Pimai.
Wild Life at Angthong Marine Park
On the bigger islands with regions of undisturbed woods numerous types of creatures are available. Once in a while seen are Spectacled langurs, Bushy nosed otters, bats, Pacific reef-egret, Brahminy kite, White-bellied ocean falcon, Regular sandpiper, Consumable home Swiflet, Oriental pied hornbill, Southern pied hornbill, Ashy Drongo, Caught Kingfisher, Screen reptiles, Tortoises, Ocean Turtles and Pythons.
Creatures discovered occupying these reefs incorporate; Butterflyfish, Angelfish, Parrotfish, Stingray, Dark tip shark, Grouper and Cowrie shells. In regions where the water is not all that reasonable or is subjected to solid streams the species differing qualities is poor and is ruled via Seaworms, Crabs and chestnut kelp, of the class Sargassum and Turbinaria. In spots with steep rough shorelines or where the water is exceptionally turbid, coral can’t survive. In these regions stationary marine life is common including; Ocean fans, Shellfish, Mollusks and Mussels, which can be seen covering the uncovered rock surfaces.
Staying Over Night at Angthong
Most Ang Thong guests touch base on a join-in day trip or by pontoon contract from Koh Samui or Koh Pha Ngan. For the individuals who wish to stay overnight, there are six basic cottages and outdoors tents accessible for rent at the Recreation center Central command on Koh Wua Talab, where a basic eatery is found also. In spite of the fact that the recreation center has begun to get occupied with day-trippers in the top season, the Ang Thong islands remain the postcard-flawless picture of a tropical heaven.
The recreation center home office is situated on Ko Wua Talap, which has essential lodge convenience, guest focus, medical aid tent and a kayaks for rent to get you around excellent landscape of the 42 tropical islands.
Cabins at Angthong Marine Park
The expenses of lodges are 500 baht for each day for a 2 room cabin. The cabins are situated against a delightful setting and the recreation center staff are well disposed and over the top about football. On the other hand, please take note of that the recreation center is not for the resort seeker. Offices are fundamental: no boiling point water. Angthong National Marine park close off its generator at 23:00, so expect no power during the evening (which just adds to the offer of the spot). Reservations of lodge must be made utilizing the Thai government site. For outdoors (tent) no reservation is required. Kindly don’t email us specifically we won’t have the capacity to help you.
In the event that the houses are full, you can buy a tent for 2 for 250 baht each night. You can likewise bring your own tent and camp at the campground. Be that as it may, you will quite often locate a tent to lease.
Koh Phangan
ABOUT KOH PHANGAN
Koh Phangan is an Island located roughly 15 km from Koh Samui. The Island is famous for its full moon party hosted in Haad Rin beach and as a huge back packers destination. Known as an island of coconut groves it is a tropical paradise not nearly as built up as its sister island Koh Samui. There are numerous hotel options for every one from budget hostels through to luxury resorts located all over the island. Most beaches are fairly quite apart from a few, such as Thong Sala (the islands capital) and Haad Rin.
What to see
Like many of the islands in Thailand, Koh phangan has little means of transportation. Songthaews and long tail boats serve as Koh Phangans taxi, they are not hard to come across however they are not metered and can sometimes be quite expensive if you wish to visit many different places around the island. Renting a motorbike can make things very easy, the roads on the island are not too bad as long as you stick to the main road, this road follows the whole way round the island. There are plenty of shops selling gasoline around the island too. I would recommend renting a bike from your hotel or asking them if they know any good shops nearby as not all rental shops are trustworthy. Once you have picked up a bike it is very easy to pick up a map and plan out where you would like to go.
Here are some recommendations on what to see:
- Jungle gym Muay Thai stadium, Haad Rin beach
- Khao Ra, between Ban Tai and Thong Nai Pan Beach
- Phaeng Waterfall, Thon Sadet – Koh Phangan National Park
- The Kuan Yin Chinese temple, between Thong Sala and Chaloklum
- Wat Pho, between Ban Tai and Ao Thong Nai Pan
- Wat Phu Kha Noi, Between Thong Sala and Ban Tai
- Koh Phangan’s tallest tree, Near Wat Pho
Getting to and from Koh Phangan
By boat
The ferry services that run to and from Koh Phangan are Songserm, Seatran, and Lomprayah :
- Ko Tao ( 1 hour)
- Ko Samui ( 1.5 hours)
- Chumphon ( 3.5 hours)
- Surat Thani (1.5 – 2.5 hours)
All ferries arrive at Ban Mae Haad. Ferry durations may change due to weather and sea conditions. Different ferry services may take different amounts of time.
By plane:
There is no airport on Koh Phangan island, however there are connections by bus and ferry from different airports available.
- (URT) Surat Thani Airport
- (USM) Ko Samui Airport
- (CJM) Chumphon Airport
By train:
There are trains services to Chumpon and Surat Thani both with Bus and ferry connections available to Koh Phangan.
Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan
ABOUT KOH TAO
The island is well known for scuba diving and snorkeling, as well as trekking, rock climbing, and bouldering. The most well known spot for visitors is Sairee on the west coast, which has a white sandy shoreline of 1.7 km intruded on just by a couple of immense rocks and a few cheap to mid range resorts and restaurants. Chalok Baan Khao, toward the south of the island, is turning out to be progressively common area for people to go to as an option if you are wishing to get away from the crowds. A large number rock stones, both in the backwoods and on the shorelines of Koh Tao, draw in a developing number of climbers.
Scuba diving courses on Koh Tao
Koh Tao is less built up than Koh Samui and Koh Phangan, however has turned out to be progressively mainstream particularly with the mid-20s hiker swarm looking for moderately priced scuba diving courses. For as long as two years the demographics of the island has seen an age increment, with a large number of the guests who initially went to the island more than ten years prior are currently coming back with their families.
Koh Tao is aimed more towards diving tourists more commonly than backpackers on a budget and offers both cheap and luxury accommodation types. With barely any currents and a large choice of dive schools, shops, and a number of different dive sites.
What to See at and around Koh Tao
If you feel confident on a bike take one out around the island. Shark Bay is a decent place to make a go at snorkeling for the day (don’t stress a lot over sharks, they are just little balck-tip reef sharks). Ko Nang Yuan, Freedom shoreline, Laem Thian, Mango Bay, Hin Wong Bay and Tanote Bay are great day journeys, and are open by street or boat. A few streets, for example, to Mango Bay, are more suited to off road bikes or cars as opposed to smaller bikes.
Many of the scooters for rent come equipped with tyres suitable for off-road, which helps a great deal when navigating through the dirt trails. The roads to Mango Bay and Laem Thian are difficult rides and are suggested to those that are a little more experienced drivers.
To see the nicest placest on Kao Tao you must walk as a lot are nearly impossible to reach by motorbike. There are a fair few of beautiful viewpoints around the island such as John Suwan Mountain Viewpoint in the far south of Koh Tao, Fraggle Rock in the north and Two View in the centre.
Please remember that all beaches in Thailand are public, some people may try to tell that their beach is private.
How to get there
By boat:
The ferry services that run to and from Koh Tao are Songserm, Seatran, and Lomprayah :
- Ko Pha Ngan ( 1 hour).
- Ko Samui ( 2.5 hours)
- Chumphon ( 1.5–3 hours)
- Surat Thani (4 hours by day boat, 9 hours by night boat)
All ferries arrive at Ban Mae Haad. Ferry durations may change due to weather and sea conditions. Different ferry services may take different amounts of time.
By plane:
There is no airport on Koh Tao island, however there are connections by bus and ferry from different airports available.
- (URT) Surat Thani Airport
- (USM) Ko Samui Airport
- (CJM) Chumphon Airport
By train:
There are trains services to Chumpon and Surat Thani both with Bus and ferry connections available to Koh Tao.
THE WEATHER IN KOH SAMUI
Koh Samui has just two seasons, dry and rainy. From December through to June you can expect the best weather on the Island. Visiting Koh Samui throughout the rest of the year brings the possibility of rain, storms or even more sunny days.
DRY SEASON
Koh Samui weather can become extremely hot; if you are a person who is effected by weather it is easy to choose the months that might best suit you. December through to February is High Season on the island, this is due to the great weather and the amount of sunshine Koh Samui receives through these months. High season remains from March through to June March however temperatures can regularly climb up to 35 degrees. During this period you can expect sunshine every day and very little rain.
RAINY SEASON
The rainiest months come between October and November, however, compared to main land Thailand, Koh Samui does not suffer nearly as much rain (as opposed to the east coast of Thailand) during what’s considered the rainy season. You can expect the temperature on the island to stay around 28 degrees throughout this season. However Koh Samui is a tropical island so when visiting you should always expect some sort of rain due to the climate.
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
°C | 26 | 27 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 27 | 27 |
°F | 79 | 81 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 84 | 83 | 83 | 82 | 81 | 80 | 80 |
AVERAGE RAINFALL
Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
mm | 90 | 30 | 30 | 80 | 160 | 100 | 120 | 100 | 130 | 290 | 430 | 150 |
days | 7 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 16 | 15 | 9 |
Secure Payments
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Our Details
8/15 Moo 3
Chaweng Beach road
Chaweng, Koh Samui
Surat Thani 84320
Thailand
TAT License: 34/00803
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About Net Tours Asia
We are a Thai based company with our head office on Koh Samui. We offer the best Tours in Chiang Mai, Koh Samui, Krabi and Phuket, combined with personal advice and help where needed.
If you need any help deciding on the best tour, please contact us! Our staff is always available via chat, e-mail or phone to answer your questions.