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Seaside spa resorts, secluded white sand beaches and year-round sun.
Ko Samui is Thailand’s third-largest island. It lies in the southeast of Thailand in Surat Thani Province to
the south of the Thai capital, Bangkok. All of the resorts are coastal, and most
are on the eastern beaches with resorts such as Chaweng and Lamai.
Known as the ‘Coconut
Island’, it became a major tourist destination in the 1990s. It’s white-sand
beaches and turquoise waters welcome visitors to its shores. The onslaught of
tourism thankfully hasn’t diminished the island’s beauty. Rather than erecting
ugly high rise hotels, visitors can stay in attractive wooden bungalows and
Thai-style accommodation.
Ko Samui’s main draw is its beaches, however, should you ever tire of lazing around in the
Sun, the island does have a few other distractions for you. There are plenty of
opportunities for snorkeling and diving, especially among the coral reefs off
the coast of Ko Samui and in the waters around the nearby islands of Koh Tao
and Koh Tan.
Away from the coast, much of the interior of the island is covered with
rainforest and rubber plantations. There are also a number of stunning
waterfalls that are definitely worth seeking out.
Today the island is a fully equipped resort destination. Its original charms
(swaying palms, white beaches, and balmy waters) are still very much intact. You
can enjoy anything from buzzing party beaches to quiet sheltered coves, as well
as numerous water sports, adventure tourism, and family attractions.
The average
daily temperature tends to be consistent throughout the year at around 29°C.
The rainy season is from September to November but the showers are generally
short-lived and the nights are comfortably cool. The hottest time is between
March and August when temperatures can reach 34°C, which can be humid at times.
The average
monthly temperatures are:
|
°C |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
|
Day |
29 |
29 |
30 |
32 |
32 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
31 |
30 |
29 |
29 |
|
Night |
22 |
23 |
24 |
25 |
25 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
24 |
23 |
23 |
22 |
Most of the
shopping on Ko Samui is directed at the tourist. All the well-developed beaches
on the east coast have shops and stalls. The main shopping areas are Na Thon,
Chaweng and Lamai (the latter especially for tailored clothing) but all towns
have markets that are generally worth a browse.
Most of the
large luxury hotels have their own boutique shops. If you want to mingle and
shop with the locals head for Na Thon as this is where most of the islands
inhabitants shop.
Popular
items are coconut-wood products and Thai handicrafts such as hand-woven silk, benjarong (enameled ceramics), black
lacquer and carved wood products.
Although you shouldn’t
expect to find big resort nightlife on Ko Samui, it doesn’t do too badly. Most
of the hot spots are in Chaweng which is home to numerous bars and clubs. The
bars tend to fall into two categories – open-air beer bars (where the hostesses
tend to outnumber the patrons) and western-style pubs where anyone, including
families can enjoy a drink. A few suggestions are:
Bars
Clubs
You can also catch about of Thai kickboxing (Muay Thai) at the Chaweng Stadium or Samui Bullfighting (which is actually 2 buffaloes pitted against each other) although that’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
January
April
May
November
Many of the best
excursions are boat trips for the excellent snorkeling and diving
opportunities that are available. Further information about these and other
excursions can be found in the see and do section.
The most common illnesses
are diarrhea, sunstroke, and dehydration. Tap water is unsafe so you
should always buy bottled water and drink plenty to avoid dehydration.
Don’t eat any raw
vegetables and fruit as they may have been washed in tap water. The food in
most of the restaurants is unlikely to cause stomach upsets but the same can’t
be said for the many street stalls. If in doubt avoid the meat and seafood and
stick to the cooked vegetable dishes.
Always ensure you use
plenty of high factor sun cream and stay out of the midday sun to avoid sun
stroke and burning.
Ko Samui is a safe place
however you should always take the usual precautions with your valuables, watch
out for pickpockets in busy areas and never leave your belongings unattended
on the beach.