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Grand Palace (The)
Grand Palace (The), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Erawan Shrine
Erawan Shrine, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Wat Pho
Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Ancient City
Ancient City, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Jim Thompson's House and Museum
Jim Thompson's House and Museum, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Songkran (Thai New Year)
Songkran (Thai New Year), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Lumpini Park
Lumpini Park, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Victory Monument
Victory Monument, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple)
Wat Benchamabophit (The Marble Temple), Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel | Sri Mahamariamman Temple
Sri Mahamariamman Temple, Bangkok, Thailand : Find latest reviews and deals, maps, photo at Yahoo Travel |
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Koh Samui Thailand Travel Guide
 In the last thirty years Koh Samui, Thailand's third largest island after Phuket and Koh Chang, has grown from a remote place peopled by fishermen and fringed by coconut palms to one of the world's premier beach destinations. The road around the island was built only in 1973 and the airport was completed in 1989. The first tourists to visit the island in numbers were backpackers attracted by its breathtaking beauty. They were soon followed by a massive explosion of development in the '80s that saw Koh Samui become one of the most popular beach destinations in the world.
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700 miles south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand Samui can be reached by air. The airport is known as being one of the prettiest in the world. It is served by hourly flights throughout the day. Or you can take a bus or a train to the southern town of Surathani and then a boat or ferry out to Samui. Once on the island you can get around by taxi, although Samui drivers have a fairly predatory reputation, or you can hire a motorbike. Be warned though that the death rate from motorbike accidents amongst tourists is very high.
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Accommodation on Samui is plentiful ranging from the most luxurious of spa resorts to inexpensive chalets and bungalows. There are good opportunities for golf at the Santiburi Samui Country Club or the Samui Golf Club. Both have very scenic courses with great views. All kinds of water sports, both above and below the surface, are to be had and there is no shortage of operators so quality is high and prices are very reasonable.
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The interior of the island is mountainous and there are some beautiful waterfalls to see at Na Muang and Wang Saotong if you want a change from the beach.
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The busiest and most developed beach on Samui is Chaweng on the east coast. During the day the quietest section of the beach is the northern end. It is beautiful white sand and the water is very clear. During the day time the beach is busy with vendors and massage ladies plying there wares. They can be quite pushy. From here you can rent a kayak or even a catamaran. It is also excellent for windsurfing.
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 Chaweng is popular for its nightlife and in the evening open air bars, pumping discotheques and transvestite cabaret all beckon the visitor. Perhaps the most famous venue is the Green Mango. It is a lively place to let your hair down. There are also more relaxed spots playing jazz. As in Patong or Pattaya, Chaweng is rich in restaurants serving every kind of dish from around the world you could possibly want.
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The next most popular beach area is Lamai. Lined with coconut trees, it is also on the east coast. The sand here is slightly rougher than at Chaweng, but Lamai is quieter and less developed. The waves here can actually get quite strong since there is no reef to protect the beach. There are bars and discos on Lamai but not on the scale of Chaweng.
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 Big Buddha Beach is at the northern end of Samui and is named after a huge Buddha statue at one end. It is even quieter than Lamai. It is also less expensive.
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Maenam Beach and Bophut Beach are also on the northern side of the island. In many ways Bophut still retains the feel of Samui when it was a simple fishing community. It consists mostly of wooden Chinese shop houses which were built by immigrants who arrived over a hundred years ago. The beach is one of the finest on the island and is lined with palm trees. You also get nice views of neighbouring Koh Phangan.
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Samui is one of the most popular beach destinations in Asia for a reason. It has the best of everything and offers a real diversity of choice in tempo.
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About The Author
Alex Smith maintains and manages the Cheap Thailand Travel website at http://www.cheapthaitravel.com - All of the materials on this site are the sole property and responsibility of Cheapthaitravel.com. This material may not be reproduced in any form without express written permission.
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