Koh Samui

It is 700 km from Thailand’s capital Bangkok. Koh Samui draws the crowds with its stunning white-sand beaches, picture-postcard palm trees, excellent diving and snorkelling and general air of relaxation and enjoyment. From the beach you can study the backdrop of rainforest and green hills. Popular beaches include Chaweng Beach, where a number of Koh Samui resorts are located, Lamai Beach with its spa resort, Big Buddha beach famous for its Buddha statue, Bophut, Maenam, Choeng Mon and Hua Thanon. Koh Samui caters to backpackers looking for a budget Thai experience but also to luxury travellers who spend time in one of the island’s premier five star resorts and spas. Koh Samui also provides a decent selection of mid-range accommodation in beach rooms and villas. Dining varies from barbeques on the beach to romantic beach dining in unique candlelit restaurants. Nightlife is focused round beach bars and clubs and Full Moon parties take place in nearby Ko Pha-Ngan. Holiday Koh Samui and you are likely to be attracted by the Thai island’s beautiful beaches. Whether you want to laze all day on your lounger or take a romantic sunset walk along the shore, Koh Samui is all about the beach. You can be as active as you want, with opportunities for quality diving and snorkelling close by and sea kayaks and sailing trips organised for Koh Samui visitors. The island of Koh Samui caters for everyone. There are trendy clubs and barefoot beach bars, romantic restaurants and family resorts. Although the island is popular and you’re not going to get away from it all on some of its busier beaches, you’ll still be able to find your own isolated cove if you look for it. Travel a few minutes by boat and you can reach some of Thailand’s more secluded islands and beaches. Holiday in Koh Samui for a prime chance to slip underwater and see all the ocean has to offer. High-quality diving and snorkelling are on offer from Koh Samui. The area contains the famous ‘Sail Rock’, an 18 metre rock chimney that divers can swim through. You may be able to spot whale sharks here as well as multicoloured coral and other marine life. Nearby Ang Thong National Park has many other premium dive sites.

You can pick up a PADI diving operator from the Koh Samui resorts or along the island’s main beaches. You can also take a snorkelling trip from Koh Samui around its beaches and lagoons. A typical trip by boat will take in Choeng Mon Bay, Big Buddha beach, Chaweng, Lamai Bay, Koh Mudsum, Hua Thanon and Koh Tan with a barbeque picnic lunch. Holidays in Koh Samui are bound to include time on the beach. Koh Samui has some great beaches with clear blue waters and much to offer whether you want to relax or take part in water sports. Chaweng Beach is one of Koh Samui’s most popular with a great variety of entertainment and food on offer. Other than the beach, Chaweng Lake is ringed by restaurants and bars. A short distance north of Chaweng is the Big Buddha, a 12 metre Buddha statue. Wat Plai Laem is an intriguing temple near to the Buddha statue which boasts paintings and statues. Bophut is another decent beach to visit. Lamai Beach is the home of the Spa Samui resort, an alternative health centre that offers detox and relaxation programmes plus meditation and yoga and has a renowned vegetarian restaurant. A Koh Samui holiday isn’t complete without a visit to the stunning location of ‘The Beach’, the Leonardo di Caprio film and book, at Ang Thong. Ang Thong National Park contains 42 islands with lagoons and caves and beautiful rock formations rising from the sea. There is good snorkelling to be had in the national park and you can take sea kayak tours through the crystal clear waters to visit the Green Lagoon. Hotels Koh Samui are priced within all budgets. You can find stylish rooms in a boutique guesthouse or cheap Koh Samui holidays in a thatched cabana on the beach. Family hotels provide activities for children and Koh Samui Resorts provide luxury accommodation often with spa and leisure facilities. Hotels in Koh Samui include the Centara Grand Resort & Spa 5*. This first-class resort lies beside Chaweng Beach and is 20 minutes away from the airport. There are 206 rooms with private balconies that face the ocean. The Bandara Resort & Spa 4* is on Bophut Beach, surrounded by exotic gardens. All rooms have spacious balconies with day-beds. You can eat outside in your suite or take advantage of all-day restaurant dining with Asian and European food. A Package Holiday Koh Samui could incorporate a stay at the luxury Anantara Lawana Resort 5*. On Chaweng Beach, this hotel has rooms and pool villas and the ‘Sky Hug’, a dining sala in the trees overlooking the ocean. The Koh Samui Hotel Amari Palm Reef Resort 4* is near to Chaweng Beach. It offers two pools, airy rooms in traditional-style buildings, a fitness centre and a diving school. There is a choice of accommodation from a suite to a family duplex. For a luxurious Koh Samui Hotel, look at the Langham Place Resort & Spa 5*. It features the Chuan Spa, which provides traditional Chinese and Thai treatments, infinity baths and aromatherapy. It is located on Lamai Beach with accommodation in pool villas and suites. The one airline that flies direct to Koh Samui is Bangkok Airways, offering around 10 flights a day in high season. Koh Samui Deals include Jet and Qatar flights from the UK that connect with Bangkok Airways in India. Air Emirates connects in Dubai. It is possible to fly with Thai Airways to Surat Thani airport and transfer by bus and boat to Koh Samui.  Visitors to Koh Samui are attracted by the pristine waters and white-sand beaches and all the activities these provide. Diving and snorkelling are popular, along with sailing trips around Ang Thong National Park. There are great sailing conditions between May and November.  Koh Samui is a convenient base for trips to its nearby islands; Koh Tao for great diving, Koh Pha-Ngan for the legendary Full Moon Party, Koh Tan and Koh Nang Yuan. Thailand is a beautiful year-round destination but there are certain times of the year that are better for lounging on the beach. Koh Samui is great in the months from February to June. This is the hot, dry season in Thailand. It rains occasionally during July to October and it can get windy from October to January. For scuba diving, visibility is a little lower from October to December due to the wind. Prices are much higher during the UK Christmas holidays, despite wetter weather. You are more likely to find cheap holidays to Koh Samui in April and May, except during Easter and school holidays.