Koh Samui is one of the most popular island in Thailand . You could find many information about this Island . But what I have here is about some opinions and experiences while I lived there for years.
Like others said, Koh Samui have some nice beaches , tropical forests with many coconut trees , mangosteen farm and durian plantation, but these farm not really open for visitors. There are no such things about Private Beach, but some location as only accessable for stay in guest , so considered thats private area with private beach.
Koh Samui only have one main road that you can complete within 2 hours, you will find out major shopping malls on the island all set on this route. I will list out below for you to plan your holiday.
If you are come as Backpacker , Families or senior citizens looking for some places to spend some great time, I am going to tell you where is the best option and what to do in the area.
Let me list out location with my opinion :
CHAWENG — this place can be crowded , but there are convenient for food hunting , sightseeing around by walking. Hotels and resorts always the best options , but if you want to have some privacy , villas will be luxury choice.
Chaweng have the most interesting beaches for watersport and swim around , but not a good place for snorkeling .
Chaweng beach just next to the most grand shopping mall [ Central Festival ] , surrounded with many restaurants , walking street, shops , hotels & resorts. Probably not suitable for long stay, but definitely worth to spend holiday as there you can hangout around with walking distance.
Please note that Chaweng Villa usually located on the mountain, will not convenient if you don’t have a transport . Although there have some villas just set on Chaweng beach ( North Chaweng Beach Or South Chaweng Beach ), but these villas price will be $$$$ in meaning.
Shopping mall in Chaweng :
Chaweng Tesco Lotus — Beside the island main road , If you go from Lamai , that will be set at the left roadside. Free Parking . Surrounded with some local shoplot and small food stall. Huge foodcourt in the mall , food price is slightly higher than outside food stall but delicious !
Central Festival — most luxury shopping mall on the island , located near Chaweng beach and Chaweng lake. As open air concept , there can be hot sometime while shop around in the mall. Most Thai famous branded products can get from there , especially cosmetics or skin care products. You can have some meal in food court with higher cost than outside food stall, restaurant in the mall considered as luxury dining . The only Supermarket ( Top Market ) in the mall always selling fresh sashimi, fresh fruits and vegetables, definitely $$$ too. Free parking but need to let the entrance office to check your car , and show your License / Passport / ID card to officer, sometimes they might required to hold that until you leave the car park. The outdoor car park will not available on every Wednesday late noon around 3–4 pm for Night Market.
There are also Chaweng Night Market open daily for food hunting / shop around .
Taxi fares travel around 30–100 THB , chauffeur services cost will be around 300 -500 THB .
If you rent a car in Chaweng , you will headache about car parking. Chaweng road is super narrow and not much car park . Park in shopping free car park is the best option, otherwise you have to park your car at roadside. If you rent a motorbike will be more easier but have to drive safe , be careful all the time.
2019 Top Ranking Attraction in / near Chaweng area :
Chaweng Beach — For Watersport / relax on beach / swimming, too many watersport services on beach to choose.
Khao Hua Jook Temple — Iconic pagoda always appear on the hill while travel around at Chaweng , pay entrance fees 20 THB will receive blessed door gift , here have the best view for Samui International Airport.
Big Buddha Temple — known as Wat Phra Yai , iconic big buddha statue you will able to see before your flight landing to Samui International Airport. As it is actually set on a tiny small island attached with Samui Island , the atmosphere has interesting views , surrounded with art craft shops , cloths shops and restaurant.
The Social Samui — This is one amazing cafe + restaurant near Big Buddha Temple, if you are sightseeing around by yourself , this probably the best spot for you to take a break in journey. What so special ? Find out by yourself !
Plai Laem Temple — known as Guan Yin Temple . There are actually three four temple in the area and three of them set on the lake. Thai — Chinese style cultures in the temple shows colorful arts. Beside to make a wish, children in here won’t be too boring, because there are many fishes and pigeons can be feed by donation and get a bag of feeds from temple.
High Park Koh Samui — a places for who love to have some poolside party , very crowded when there are DJ play music around. I been there once for trip planning inspection, that is too crowded for me , but if you love sunbath with techno music , dancing around with bikini, this is a good place for you to have some fun ! The water slider at the poolside open most the time except maintenance period. This place is located on hillside with some distance from Chaweng town.
Samui Bungy Jump — This extreme game located near Samui lake, the jump is from a height of about 50 meters into a pool. If you love to challenge extreme game, try this !
Ark Bar — another poolside party club , but this place is located right on Chaweng beach. Crowded most the times with tourists dancing & drinking . The location have a big pool , some sunbed , available to have some drinks or snacks.
CHAWENG NOI — in thailand meaning as “ Small Chaweng “ . This place is set between Chaweng & Lamai, many villas surrounded this area on mountain or beach, but the beach still not suitable for snorkeling . Most local who work at Chaweng stay here . Villa price here is expensive as close to Chaweng or Lamai.
Attraction In Chaweng Noi : Chaweng Noi Viewpoint
LAMAI — another crowded area on the island. But different from Chaweng , Lamai have better beaches for relaxing and swimming even snorkeling. From Chaweng head south , you will passing small hill with beautiful scenery. But actually you should drive very carefully while at this hill road as the corner there is really slippy with sand & stones on road. If you really wish to stop for this most beautiful scenery on the island, idea to stop at THE CLIFF Retaurant car park area and walks. * Please note that the hill road and the corner I mentioned is really the most dangerous part in Koh Samui Main Road Route.
From Chaweng to Lamai , there are Silver Beach ( known as Crystal Bay too ) right after the corner , you will see Crystal Bay Yacht Club Hotel , Crystal Bay Hotel , Thong Thakian Hotel in this little bay . As mentioned right after the corner , to enter these hotels really need to drive very slow , bigger car park is opposite these hotels, or you might lucky to park in front of hotel if there are free spaces. This bay is the most beautiful beach in Koh Samui, suitable for swimming , relaxing , sunbathing , snorkeling and kayaking . Easy access from Thong Thakian Hotel , if you feel shy as not guest in the hotel , don’t worry! The hotel selling coconut drinks on beach and kayaks for rent, you can spend some for chillout or have fun.
Lamai have a big night market on every sunday , start from evening. The best idea will be relax and have fun at Lamai beach at the day time and go to the night market if you are there on Sunday. About where to stay in Lamai, you probably seeing many villas on the mountain when you on road. Yes, there are . Stay in Lamai hotels & villas both will have some leisure in area, but not means when you stay in walking street. However, still not crowded as Chaweng, but still not good for finding car parks.
2019 Top Ranking Attraction in / near Lamai :
Hin Tai Hin Yai — also name as Grandfather & Grandmother stones. The stones form as sexual organs of men and women. Beside this amazing arts from nature, the location is one of best scenery for photography or have some sea breezes.
Silver Beach — name as Crystal Bay , suitable for snorkeling . Beautiful scenery for photography too
Lamai Beach — nice beach with some rocky seabed. peaceful relax atmosphere.
Lamai Viewpoint — tasty pizza, chillful drinks…you will love this place ! Take a cable car climb up the cafe with 180 degrees Lamai Bay views, there are zipline games for you too !
Lamai Temple — many tourist do not aware there a temple without attractive outlook hidden beside the main road. But actually what inside this temple more than just sacred Buddha Statues. Considered as museum of Koh Samui , because inside have lots of antiques !
Mummified Monk Temple — there are total have two mummified temple in Koh Samui, one of most tourist used to go is the one at Lamai. This temple display the mummified monk body in the temple , there are very crowded during holiday .
Red Temple — believe it or not , this temple really all in red color ! When on the main road , it is too easy to find out ! My local Thai friend told me that whole temple art crafts was created by the temple builder with “ inspiration by god “. This is one of the special temple worth to visit and admiring the arts crafts in the temple !
Guan Yu Temple — This is biggest Guan Yu statue in southern Thailand . Newly built at 2017, what worth to visit is the real traditional Thai — Chinese style decoration in the temple.
Wegreen — This place just near Lamai Viewpoint, look like a restaurant but actually more than that. They have vegetables & fruits plantation for visiting , local cultures & handmade foods events, so I been designed some tour about learning cultures of Thai cuisine, understanding the locals lifestyle and Thai-ways organic plantation . Thats all interesting to gain some knowledges during the journey.
BOPHUT — Original fisherman village but now is popular spot ! This is a place you can enjoy foot massage with seaview in the shop. The streets in this area remain narrow, finding car park still frustrating enough during the trip. But the night market at the fisherman village on every Friday night will have some car parks available at roadside.
Bophut beach suitable for swimming, kayaking and relaxing, but not good for snorkeling .
Villas in Bophut price as mid range on the island, not just because near Airport, also because near Chaweng !
Highlighted attraction in Bophut : elephant sanctuary
Beside those areas I mentioned , West North — Mae Nam / West Side — Nathon slightly far away from town , public transportion still available most the time. But there are two places I wish to highlight will be :
Bang Por — near Mae Nam , this place is actually wonderful for snorkeling at the shallow water. But the rocky beach really need to be more careful to avoid any injury. Around 80 -100 meters from beach , you will see another world which ONLY at Bang Por . Sea horses , eels and Octopus are the citizens in the area.
Nathon — If you come by ferry, this place will be the 1st place you landed. What so special ? Well, nature have timing for you to witness the best scenery — evening sunset ! In normal day , normal weather , there are low tide happening at evening. A wide beach will show out , walk from the shore to the end of this beach can be up to 200 meter !
Southern area as Hua Thanon / Laem Sor / Lipa Noi will be really hard to find a taxi , fares won’t be cheap too. I been stayed in Koh Samui some years , I am poor and can’t afford villas rental, so I choose to live in rural country house with locals. Funny is , there are many wealthy senior citizens from europe countries are my neighbor !
As not hot spot for tourist , these location beaches less population and remain the barren environment. There actually many nice villas in these places, price range depends on season and location. But beachside or beachfront villas on the whole island definitely costy.
Southern have few attraction worth to go with 4 x 4 Full Day Tour , if you drive to go by yourself will be some troubles while you return the car . Because these few place is totally OFF Road !
Secret Garden — A sacred with lots of statues
Paradise Farm — A small petting zoo on the mountain with swimming pool
Elephant Home — Share your love to the biggest animals !
Things to do in Koh Samui :
- 4WD Island Tour : one of most popular day tour on the island . There are several company operating with skillful drivers. All the itinerary go plantation , waterfalls , visit some temples…etc by 4WD pick-up truck.
Join trip price around 1500THB / pax , private trip will be maximum 8 pax per car price from 4000THB .
- Koh Tao & Koh Nanyuan Sea Tour : another popular day tour for tourists. According my experiences, there been too crowded during public holiday as Christmas or Chinese New Year.
There not much private tour to go this place as too far. But if you really want one, speedboat might be the only choice .
Join trip price around 1800THB / pax ( Low Season ) , 2500THB ( High Season )
- Koh Taen & Koh Madsum Sea Tour : I felt this is the best tour for me as short distance to go . The snorkeling spot was located at Koh Taen, but for lunch and relax will be at Koh Madsum. There are many wild boars on Koh Madsum, maybe you will busy to interact with these funny creatures !
Best experiences with these two islands will be longtail boat private charter to go. Cost about 3000THB / boat , maximum 6 pax per boat ( for safety purpose ) . But if you wish to go for join trip, the price will be 1600 -1800 THB / pax , either by speedboat or longtail boat.
- Angthong Marine Park Sea Tour : A national park with 42 limestone islands , sound interesting to sailing into ? This is the route have change for whale sharks watching, meet dolphins, because the whole national park have plenty places for these huge creatures live in and stay away from fishing boat.
The most luxury trip to go this place will be yacht cruise, cost as 4500THB / pax . If normal join trip by speedboat , big boat will be around 1800–2000THB / pax.
These are some information about Thailand , Koh Samui. If you wish to know more , you may ask me ! Will hope these information useful for you !
