Koh Samui was the last island that I visited during my trip, but not for this reason I visited with less excitement. Nevertheless, I have to admit that I didn't like it as much as the previous one, Koh Tao, since it is bigger, more crowded and less paradisiac. Anyway, I will explain you the activities that I enjoyed the most so that you can have good memories of the island in spite of the disadvantages that I have just mentioned.
BEACHES
- Chaweng Beach
This five kilometres beach is bordered with rocks on each end and is one of the main touristic points. Apart from accommodation, you can find there places to have a massage, hammacks and umbrellas, restaurants and nightlife bars, but the most catching thing about it is its white sand and blue water.
- Lamai Beach
This could perfectly be the twin of Chaweng Beach because physically they are very similar, but also because they have the same facilities such as hotels, massage zones, restaurants, chill out areas, etc. Although it is believed to be quieter, it has one of the main tourist attractions at the southern end of the beach, the Hin Ta and Hin Yai rocks (Grandma and grandpa rocks).
- Lipa Noi Beach
This beach is the closest to the main car ferry pier, which makes it convenient if you go by car to the island or if you plan to have a bath after arriving or before leaving the island. It has no rocks in the coast and the water is completely crystalline and shallow for 100 metres. It is located in a remote area, what means that there aren't many accommodation places, making it a quiet beach to visit.
- Silver Beach
This beach is located in a bay in the northeast of the island, and it is two hundred fifty metres long. There are some accommodation places in it, but apart from that it is not really busy. As it is located in the east, I decided to go there in the early morning to see the sunrise, and it was precious as you can see in two of the pictures below.
- Bophut Beach
Bophut is a big area in Koh Samui that has both coast and amusement places. In it you will find the Fisherman's Village, which is explained above in the section "Others". Anyway, the beach of Bophut is almost four kilometres long. Since the water is deep, many tourists visit this place to practice water sports. However, the sand of Bophut Beach is quite strange and it gave me the feeling as if I was stepping on shifting sands.
- Coral Cove Beach
All the beaches that I have just explained are quite similar: long and very popular. However, Coral Cove Beach is a smaller and narrower beach where you will find the calm (less people visit it because the sand is thicker). It is the ideal place in Koh Samui to do snorkel because there are numerous rocks and the water is deep and clear. Moreover, you can go there to see the sunshine because, like Silver Beach, it is located in the east. There are two cafeterias and several hotels in the area, so you still can do something more than bathing in the water.
TEMPLES
- Big Buddha
Every big place in Thailand has to have a Big Buddha, so this is Koh Samui's. Although you will see it from basically every part of the island, as it is golden and twelve metres tall, it is located in a tiny peninsula in the north of Koh Samui. The views from the top are beautiful because it is surrounded by the sea. What is also pretty is the little market that you will find before going up, where there are souvenir, clothes and charm shops.
Price: Free
Timetable: 24 hours a day
- Wat Plai Laem
This is a very interesting architectural and religious complex located very close to the Big Buddha. Whereas the temple in the middle is ordinary, the ones on the sides are really funny. On the right, there is a big statue of Kuan Yin, an Asian goddess, that heights fifteen metres. It has eighteen arms and each of them has a tool that is used to relieve the pain of the population. On the left, there is another huge statue called "the cheerful Buddha", and it is quite fat because theoretically he eats the suffering of everyone.
- Secret Buddha Garden
As you can deduce by the name of the place, this garden is hidden in the hills of Koh Samui, so the views are pretty. What you will find in here are many statues of animals, Gods and humans, together with a waterfall and a river and many flora and fauna.
OTHERS
- Na Mueang Waterfalls
The Na Mueang Waterfalls are two: one really accessible and the second one about 30 minutes walk from the first one. Na Muang 1 flows down to a natural pool where some people like to have a bath and take pictures, while Na Muang 2 is smaller. Nevertheless, you need to be careful when visiting this waterfall because last year a Catalan young excursionist died when he was going on a trip around it.
- Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandma and Grandpa Rocks)
Hin Ta and Hin Yai is a Thai legend that tells the story of a couple who died in the sea while they were going to another province to find a bride for their son. They turned into rocks as a proof of being good parents with true intentions. The funny thing about them is their shape, which you will be able to discover if you go there...
- Fisherman's Village Bophut
From 5 p.m. to 11 p.m., the streets of Bophut come to life with market stalls that sell everything you could expect, such as t-shirts, costume jewellery, handbags, swimsuits, souvenirs, sunglasses, watches... On the sides, there are many bars and restaurants where you can go to have dinner or have a drink at night. The main spot of Fisherman's Village is the fake ship that you can see in the second picture, from where you can see Bophut Beach and the market starts.
ONE-DAY TRIP
- Ang Thon National Park
Ang Thon National Park is formed by 42 virgin islands, which make it the biggest marine park of its type in Thailand. If you want to visit it, the best option is to book an organised tour because to get there you need to travel by boat for about an hour. Despite the fact that there are bungalows and areas for you to camp with a tent, in my opinion it is not necessary because in one day you will be able to see the most important landmarks and you will have the rest of your time to be in Koh Samui. The things you will do in the tour are:
Snorkeling in Koh Sam Sao: the tropical water around the islands is ideal to enjoy the day discovering the sea bed.
Visiting the Emerald Lagoon in Koh Mae Ko: you can either see this lagoon from the top of a viewpoint or go trekking to swim in it, but you should really visit it because it is gorgeous.
Visiting the Ang Thon Viewpoint: this is the main isle where you will find an incredible viewpoint from where to observe some of the other islands of the National Park.
Having lunch in Koh Wa Talap: there is a restaurant ideal for tourists on this island, because the food they serve is international (chicken, pasta, watermelon...). Probably, your tour will include the meal on the restaurant so you don't need to worry about the price.
Kayaking around Koh Pee: from Koh Wa Talap you will take a kayak to sail around Koh Pee, another of the forrty-two islands that has many caves and bays. The experience of having so many islands around you while being in the water is unforgettable.
After all these activities, you go back to Koh Samui by ship. Be careful if you usually get dizzy because the journey is quite long and shaken (I recommend taking a pill just in case). I think that this one-day trip, which costs about 30€, is worth it to do something different in Koh Samui other than going to the beach or visiting temples. However, if you don't like ship journeys or snorkeling, maybe this is not the best tour for you.
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