With year-round sun, stunning beaches and endless activity and entertainment offerings Koh Samui is a dream vacation destination. Why book a vacation in Koh Samui? Read on to find out…

History
Thailand is the hub of Buddhist culture and Koh Samui is certainly not short on grand and beautiful temples. The most popular ones are Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) on the north-east corner of the island, Wat Plai Leam nearby and Wat Khunaram, home to the mummified monk.

Big Buddha is known for its golden, 12 metre tall, seated Buddha statue, which can often be seen by people flying in to the island. It was built in 1972 and is a representation of a moment in a Buddha’s journey of enlightenment when he subdued the temptations and dangers beset on him by the devil by meditating and staying calm. The Wat Plai Leam is also a great feat of architecture, as this temple houses a towering statue of a white 18-arm image of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy and Compassion. This temple gives visitors a view of Chinese-Thai beliefs and showcases some Buddhist art and architecture.

Nightlife
Koh Samui boasts plenty of entertainment offerings, but the island is at its most lively after dark. Here you will find everything from exotic cabarets, thriving nightclubs and festive beach parties to beach bars, bbq’s, parades and much more.

The full moon party just a short boat ride away in Koh Phangan is an experience that should definitely not be missed. Chaweng Beach is the centre for many evening activities as it has the highest concentration of bars, club and beach parties in addition to being the home of three different cabaret venues. In Chaweng, the Soi Green Mango Street is the best place to find a club or a bar to start off a fun-filled evening. The Green Mango Club is a great attraction for party animals, Henry Africa’s Samui is the best pub style bar in the area and The Ark Club – hard to find, but worth looking for – has an excellent line-up of DJs and sells cheap alcohol in buckets.

Food

With a wide selection of street food, bistros and high end restaurants, Koh Samui has become a renowned culinary destination. Visitors can eat in places that serve traditional Thai cuisine, such as green Thai curry, ‘ho muk talay’ – seafood curry cooked in a coconut – or find traditional Thai sweets in the food markets. But there is no need to limit the taste buds to local specialties. The Barrio Latino in Lamai Beach serves authentic Mexican food while playing salsa beats all night long; Café 69 in Bophut is a new experience of fusion cooking that is both baffling and delicious; and The Boudoir in Mae Nam is a cosy restaurant that serves French-style cuisine in Middle-Eastern décor, perfect for couples in search of an intimate evening.

Relaxation
There is no shortage of spas, spa resorts or spa villas in Koh Samui. Yoga, meditation and cleansing are very big in Thailand and Koh Samui is one of the best places to seek rehabilitation and rejuvenation.

The Eranda Herbal Spa is located on a mountainside, so visitors are surrounded by waterfalls and palm trees while they are treated to Thai massages and facials. The Trinity Yoga Studio has classes that improve inner strength, promote balance in the body and generally improve flexibility. There are a variety of small spas that provide the Dr Fish treatment – where little fish nibble away at dead skin cells and leave skin feeling fresh and rejuvenated – for either the feet or the full body.

Activities
Koh Samui is an island with plenty of exquisite beaches, however, sunbathing and swimming are not the only ways to pass the time.

Koh Samui beaches may be famous for their white sand, crystal clear waters and after-dark parties, but during the light of day they offer various water sports and tours. Samui Bungee offers a bungee jump experience in Soi Reggae on Chaweng Beach for anyone looking for an exhilarating activity.

Additionally, guests can take water taxis or ferry tours to other surrounding islands where activities such as scuba diving, snorkelling and kayaking are offered as a package deal. Other activities in Koh Samui include elephant tours, jungle trekking, golf, Thai boxing, quad tours and much more! Book a holiday in Koh Samui to explore everything this stunning island has to offer.

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Chaweng is the most popular beach on the east coast of Koh Samui boasting 6 kilometres of white sand packed with a variety of activities to suit every kind of traveller. Here’s a guide to the top 10 things to do in Chaweng.

Wat Jee Kong Chinese Temple
This temple is a historic landmark reminiscent of a time when Chaweng Beach was the primary residence of Chinese immigrants in the 19^th and early 20^th centuries. In this area, visitors can also see old houses, monuments and the vibrant Laem Dim market which sells traditional items, crafts and fabrics. The temple itself is a beautiful golden monument, a true tribute to Chinese architecture.

Wat Khao Hua Juk
Visitors who make the climb up to this temple will be rewarded with panoramic views of Chaweng Beach. This small Buddhist temple is in a serene and tranquil atmosphere, making it perfect for meditating or just relaxing in a calm location. The most famous attraction of this temple, however, is the replica of Buddha’s footprint. On the way uphill, visitors can stop at Nathalie’s Art Palace or the Samui branch of Bangkok’s famous Q Bar.

Chaweng Thai Boxing Stadium
Muay Thai boxing – also known as Siamese street-fighting – is a combat sport in Thailand, characterised by the combined use of fists, elbows, knees and shins. Generally the stadium hosts fights on Monday and Friday nights, but guests are advised to check the schedule before visiting. If visitors are feeling very adventurous, they can even sign up for a Muay boxing lesson during their visit.

Samui Bungee Jump
For the best, most exhilarating views of Chaweng Beach, visitors should look no further than the Samui Bungee Jump. Enjoy the beautiful view of the emerald green water and white sand, seconds before flying into the clear blue sky, suspended by a fifty metre crane above the deepest swimming pool in Thailand (five metres deep). The operators have been in business for over a decade and have welcomed over 50,000 satisfied customers, offering the cheapest bungee jump experience in Thailand with a 100% safety record.

Major Cineplex
For a break from the Thai heat, the Cineplex in the Tesco Lotus has three theatres under one roof, playing the latest Hollywood movies and local films. The air conditioning is always very low in this venue, so it is advised that visitors bring a cardigan or shawl to keep warm for the duration of the film. Another thing to note is that before every movie starts, the theatre will play the song of the king. It is good manners to stand and pay respect while the song is playing.

Cabarets
There are three different cabarets in Chaweng Beach, all of them providing fun, entertaining nights out with the intriguing Ladyboys that are a cultural staple of Thailand. They are so beautiful and feminine, that many a curious tourist has had difficulty telling whether or not they are really boys. Sing along to classic, cheesy songs from musicals or the 90s and enjoy the stand-up comedy.

Ark Bar
This is considered to be the number one party destination in Samui, with a DJ playing from 2pm at a Pool Party and on until 2am at their Beach Party. Facilities include three swimming pools, two swim-up pool bars, two beach-front restaurants and live music and fire shows. There will never be a need for party animals to leave this amazing hot spot with spectacular views of the ocean and international DJs playing at all hours.

Eranda Herbal Spa
There has never been a more perfect spa location to maximise relaxation and luxury. The Eranda Herbal Spa is located in the mountainside with gorgeous views of the Gulf of Thailand. This spa is the perfect escape from the outside world. Immersed in the beautiful, natural surroundings, there is nothing here to distract from the spa experience. Visitors can choose from massages, facial treatments and body scrubs, all using a selection of natural herbs and oils, while being serenaded by cascading waterfalls, rustling palm trees and gentle Thai music.

Neptune Club
For the more active visitors to the island, Chaweng offers a variety of ways to keep exercising while on holiday. As well as a variety of water sports on the beach, the Neptune Club is a gym that has memberships to suit the duration of any holiday, from a one day pass to a one year membership. It is furnished with cardiovascular and strength training equipment and includes a sauna and Jacuzzi to help unwind after an intense workout.

Trinity Yoga Studio
No rejuvenation holiday is complete without the inner peace that comes from the union of mind, body and spirit. Yoga is the perfect way to achieve this balance as well as a great way to exercise and introduce some new energy into your life. The Trinity Yoga Studio in the Tesco Lotus will teach you a flow of different postures that will enhance balance in the body and improve overall strength and flexibility. When combined with a relaxing spa treatment, this experience will leave visitors rejuvenated.

More information:

Read our Chaweng travel guide or view our villas in Chaweng to see the luxurious accommodation available at this fantastic location.

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Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand just 80 km from the eastern coastline of Southern Thailand. At 25 km long and 21 km wide, Samui is big enough for some serious exploration but can be circumnavigated in just a couple of hours by motorbike or car.

Koh Samui is an island of stunning natural beauty, home to around 40,000 inhabitants most of whom are Buddhist. The palm-fringed shoreline and coconut and fruit cultivation of the coastal areas rise to a central mountainous peak with slopes cloaked in rich rainforest. Koh Samui’s towns and resorts fringe the coastal areas, theses are essentially a collection of beaches divided by rolling headlands and connected by a single ring road which is approximately 30 miles around.

To the northeast of the island is Samui Airport, known as the most beautiful in the world, there’s also an array of towns to discover here. Head further south along the ring road and you’ll see rich mountainous rainforest and valleys of rice paddies stretching as far as the eye can see. Visitors can drive around the island in a few hours however discovering off road areas and secret beaches will take far longer.

Koh Samui is home to a wide variety of beaches, the most popular and commercialised being Chaweng and Lamai. The more northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Bophut, Bang Rak, Choeng Mon and Mae Nam are far more peaceful, while the west coast beaches are probably the quietest on the island.

To help you get your bearings, clockwise from Nathon on the west coast, the main beaches are:

• - Nathon – Samui’s port and administrative centre.

• - Laem Yai – On the northwest tip of the island, a small secluded beach overlooking Ang Thong.

• - Mae Nam – A beautiful peaceful beach on the northern coast.

• - Bophut - Best known for its fisherman’s village, this is a large relaxed beach growing in popularity.

• - Bang Rak – Located at the northeastern tip, Bank Rak is home to the renowned Big Buddha Temple in Koh Samui.

• - Choeng Mon – A quiet north shore beach with powder white sands.

• - Chaweng – The largest and most commercial beach.

• - Lamai – Samui’s second largest beach south of Chaweng.

• - Samui South Coast – Home to the small beaches of Ban Hua Thanon, Na Khai, Laem Set, Bang Kao and Thong Krut.

Despite its relatively small size, Koh Samui is the largest island in the Chumphon Archipelago which consists of around 80 islands which form the Ang Thong Marine Park, a kayaking and snorkeling paradise. To put it into perspective Koh Samui is approximately Seychelles-sized, with similar proportions to metropolitan London or Sydney.

Until the late 20th century, Samui was a self-sufficient community with little connection with the mainland of Thailand. Roads were not built on the island until around 1970, before which the journey from one side of the island to the other involved a full day trek through the rolling central jungles.

For years Koh Samui only attracted a trickle of tourists however things started to change in the 1990s when tourists started arriving in droves, since then Koh Samui has grown substantially. Samui is now one of the world’s most popular vacation destinations with its world famous spas, sumptuous restaurants, world class golf course, fabulous shopping and entertainment options. Koh Samui villas offer the perfect accommodation, all located in the most beautiful spots and within easy reach of everything the island has to offer.

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