Koh Samui
蘇梅島
Activities 活動
The usual panoply of watersports are available, including plenty of dive shops, but most diving is done either in the nearby Ang Thong National Marine Park or Ko Tao as the visibility around Samui's sandy beaches tends to be poor. You can book diving day trips at dive shops, most of which are based in Chaweng. The dive boats tend to leave from the pier at Bophut and Bang Ruk.
Events and Festivals
- Buffalo Fighting Festival: One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is the Buffalo Fighting Festival[11] which is held on special occasions such as New Year's Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest, which lasts just two rounds, monks spray the buffalos with holy water. The winning owner typically takes home millions of baht in prize money.
- Samui Regatta: The Samui Regatta is a sailing tournament held every year. The tournament is internationally known and competitors come from as far away as Australia, Singapore, Japan, and China. The event began in 2002.[12]
- Ten Stars Samui Art Party: A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their artwork. The annual event, hosted at various resorts and other venues, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists.
- Samui Triathlon: The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world.
- Koh Samui THA Midnight Run: The Koh Samui Midnight Run is a charity run organized by the Thai Hotel Association (THA) and the Thai Association of Ko Samui (TAKS). It is a yearly event usually held in March. With up to 2,000 participants, the run is one of the biggest on Samui and in Thailand. Participants run 5 km or 10 km around the streets of Chaweng Beach. The first run was held in 2013.[13][non-primary source needed]
Diving
The south of Thailand has some of the most beautiful beaches and islands in the world, which are surrounded by crystal clear water and stunning coral. For this reasons the number of divers coming to Thailand has steadily increased over the past decade. Even though the best time year of the year to dive in the Ko Samui is between June and August, it is still perfectly possible to dive virtually all year round. As Thailand is considered one of the safest destinations for diving and snorkelling in the world, it is perfect for first-timers.
The sea visibility in some places around Ko Samui is good (distances of up to 10-30 m). One can enjoy splendid sights of underwater mountains, coral gardens, undersea rock formations, hard and soft coral, and whale sharks when in season.
'Samran Pinnacles:
Since the currents in this area are often quite strong, this site is recommended only for experienced divers. Due to the currents, the site is a haven for bringing in larger pelagics such as barracuda and jacks. There are three submerged pinnacles near Sail Rock.
'Ko Kra & Koh Losin:
These two small islands located to the southeast of Samui, which because of its remoteness, don’t get too many divers. Blacktip sharks, manta rays, and hard-to-find loggerhead turtles can be seen.
'Ko Tan:
(also Known as Koh Tan, Koh Taen, Koh Kataen, Coral Island and affectionately as No Dog Island. This small island is located on the south-western tip of Samui. This is a perfect place for experiencing the wonders of snokeling. Local experts tell travelers is gthe perfect location for people that don't wish to travel two plus hours for snorkeling. located only 15 minutes from Samui there are over 14 sites for travelers to visit with an abundance of underwater life including soft and hard corals. There are many longtail boats available to tourists from Thong krut at more than reasonable prices. If you want to go to Ko Tan you can Book through any good travel agent or research the Internet, 0r go to Thong krut directly. At Ko Tan, there are Five restaurants Ao-Ok bay has Three restaurants one at either end of the beach both with accommodation and run by local people with excellent tasting Thai cuisine. the third for this beach is located in the middle and owned by a French gentleman. On the opposite side of the island is a beautiful bay called Ao-Tok where there is 2 restaurants and 2 lots of accommodation serving excellent tasting food. The accommodation is of high standard for the 500THB asking price Ko Tan is surrounded by coral and rock reefs, there are some 10 beaches that can be found around the island. The populations is currently 28 permanent residents and the People are friendly.
Beaches
Ko Samui is a fairly big island. The most popular and commercialised beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, while the northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Choeng Mon are more peaceful choices, and the west coast beaches are still (comparatively) quiet.
Clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are:
- Nathon — Samui's port and administrative centre, but with little to attract the tourist
- Laem Yai — set on the Northwest tip of the island, a secluded beach overlooking the islands of Ang Thong
- Mae Nam — a quiet and beautiful beach on the northern coast
- Bophut — known for its fisher's village, laid-back but growing fast
- Bang Rak — at the northeastern tip, home of the Big Buddha
- Choeng Mon — quiet north shore beach
- Chaweng — the largest and most-developed beach, with a curious mix of luxury hotels and backpacker guesthouses and a hopping nightlife
- Lamai — Samui's "second" beach south of Chaweng, quieter than Chaweng but still has nightlife, swank resorts and restaurants
- Samui South Coast — the small beaches of Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Thong Krut
Grandfather and grandmother stones Ko SamuiThe major reason why people come to Samui is to enjoy the beaches. Even though the two main beaches of Chaweng and Lamai have generally suffered due to mass development over the past decade they are still decent. However the beaches of Phuket and Ko Chang have clearer water and are generally better for swimming. Development has been thwarted slightly because of the island’s regulation governing building heights.
Other than lying on the beach with a cold beer in hand and ogling at the babes and hunks sauntering past, there isn't all that much to see on the island. A certain pair of rocks on Lamai amuses some visitors, Bang Rak has a large but nondescript Buddha statue, and there are some waterfalls (notably Na Muang 2).
Chaweng Beach
is the major beach on Ko Samui and one that has developed tremendously since the early 1990s. Just 20 years ago the beach was home to just a sprinkle of wooden bungalows but now the place is swamped with hotels, Italian pizzerias, Irish pubs, and even go-go bars. Samui’s night life is becoming legendary but unfortunately not always attracting the best standard of tourist. Chaweng’s once ‘hippie’-only backpackers have given way to a lot of "lager louts". Chaweng is the place for a rowdy reckless party scene.
Lamai Beach
Like Chaweng, Lamai has been transformed from a ‘hippy’ hangout into a fun, party place packed out with bars and night life. The beach is still in better condition than Chaweng and the place doesn't get quite so crowded, although some are shallow and have rocks. At the southern end of Lamai, there are some odd-looking rock formations. If it's a quiet relaxing location you are after, then Lamai won’t be the ideal place for you. Lamai is in southeast Samui, about ten km south of Chaweng.
Mae Nam Beach
This quiet beach, located in the north of the island is decent enough for swimming and sunbathing, especially for families with children, due to the shallow water.
Bophut Beach
situated in the north of the island, is a popular starting point for diving tours. The place isn't in any way as developed as Chaweng but there are still plenty of restaurants, shops, and bars.
Choengmon Beach
is in northeast Samui just 10 minutes from Chaweng. Unlike the latter it is a perfect place for relaxing.
Big Buddha Beach
Located in northeast Samui, Big Buddha offers visitors good swimming and lovely views. The area has developed a lot over the past few years and there are now many restaurants, shops, and bars.
Nathon
The island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants, and tour agencies are concentrated.
Namtok Hin Lat
This waterfall is easily accessible by car. Some of the numerous tiny levels have large basins for swimmers.
Namtok Na Mueang
A local road leads to the Na Mueang 1 Waterfall. A walk of about 30 minutes ends up at the more scenic Na Mueang 2 Waterfall. Purple rocks surround the stream of water, which gushes in from an impressive height of around 79 m.
Ban Lipa Yai
This village grows high-quality fruits, including rambutan, durian, mangosteen, and the famed langsat.
Old House
This Chinese-style house, aged almost 200 years, represents Samui’s cultural identity. Grandpa Si and Grandma Maen Hancharoen, the present owner, open the house to visitors.
Other island attractions include coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian; the nearby butterfly garden and aquarium; a snake farm; a monkey theatre at Bo Phut, and a massive seated Buddha image on Fan Isle.
Wat Khunaram Ko Samui
This temple is the island’s most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master who was able to predict his own death. However, it is reasonable to question how much reverence is really shown, given tha the mummy appears to be wearing a large pair of sunglasses and is surrounded by the near-ubiquitous shacks selling over-priced drinks and pancakes.
Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks
These odd-looking rocks situated on Lamai Beach bear a striking resemblance to male and female sexual organs and they have turned into one of the island’s biggest attractions. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Ko Samui
Located at Ban Harn beach, the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other aquatic animals such as turtles and colourful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. The Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo are open daily from 09:00-18:00.
Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
Also known as the Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai), has a 15 m tall statue of the Buddha. It was built in 1972 and is in the north of the island.
Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui
This chedi (pagoda) situated at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Ko Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles, which gives off a golden aura, is quite impressive.
Samui Butterful Garden/Insect Museum
This relatively rarely visited butterfly garden can be found in the southeast of the island. There is a big collection of different butterflies, all showcased in just one room, some with wingspans up to 25 cm. Visitors can also enter the insect museum nearby to see a variety of rare bugs and a bee house. Entrance is 300 baht for adults. Negotiable.
Secret Buddha Garden
This beautiful garden was made by a 76 year-old Ko Samui fruit farmer in 1976. It is surrounded by lush jungle, rocky hills and is adorned with sculptures depicting both humans, in various poses, as well as various deities. Since the garden is the highest point on the island there are also some awesome views to be had. Organised tours to the garden last for about 2 hours.
Monkey Shows
These shows can be enjoyed at the open-air theatre on the main road behind Bophut beach. The entertainment also includes performing elephants. The capturing and training of otherwise wild animals is ethically questionable.
Water Buffalo Fights
A rich island tradition, Water Buffalo fighting arenas are sprinkled throughout the island. While there's no set-schedule, locals will know the spontaneous dates and there are occasional signs on the road which announce the fight days.
Bophut Elephant Camp
Funny Day Safari has a 48,000 square meter Elephant Camp,it is just a few minutes away from Fisherman's Village, visit to enjoy a peaceful nature trail on the back of a magnificent mammal or watch cute Baby Elephants then feed them, learn how Koh Samui Monkeys work, and watch the professional Crocodile show performers. For more information, location map or picture gallery please visit its site.
Special Thanks:
Sources Details from: Wikipedia & Wikitravel
Sources Photo from: Wikipedia & Wikitravel
Sources Details from: Wikipedia & Wikitravel
Sources Photo from: Wikipedia & Wikitravel
