Koh Samui – A complete guide to the romantic tropical paradise
Koh Samui with its finest white sand beaches, lush tropical surroundings and luxury accommodations makes for an ideal romantic getaway. It is the third largest island in Thailand with plentiful beaches of every kind. Some beaches are the hub of activities and nightlife whereas some provide the much needed quiet and solitude. The island is also home to some of the most stunning Buddhist temples. So you see, Koh Samui provides the best of both worlds irrespective of what kind of traveller you are.
How to Reach Koh Samui
Samui has a small airport (but the cutest one and well equipped too ) with a number of flights operating to/from Bangkok. The flying time is just about an hour. Even in the shoulder season, we had to pay a hefty amount for our return air tickets. But it is definitely the quickest and the easiest option to reach the island.
Another cheaper yet longer option is to take an overnight train from Bangkok to Surat thani. Then a bus to the Surat thani Pier to catch the ferry to Koh Samui. You can also reach Surat Thani by flight from Bangkok and the rates are much cheaper than the ones to Samui.
Things to do or experience in Koh Samui
There are a lot of things to do and see in Koh Samui. Choose depending on your liking and available time.
The Majestic Temples
Thailand has some amazing temples and Koh Samui is no different. There are many temples scattered throughout the island. But when you have limited time, we recommend visiting at least the 2 prominent ones. Both these temples are hardly 5 mins drive away from each other.
Wat Phra Yai or The Big Buddha Statue
A huge 12 meter high golden Buddha statue sitting on an elevated platform and rimmed by the sea – this is a must see in Samui. The place has a very unique and calming vibe. And the view of the ocean from the mesa is breathtaking. This is my personal favourite from Samui. Because even with tourists around, as I sat down and closed my eyes, I felt exceptionally calm inside.
There is also a small market with a handful of shops in the surrounding. You can buy clothes (especially beach clothes), hats and other knickknacks at a good price (need to haggle a bit for fair price though).
Additional things to know
Airport Transfer: For transfer from airport to hotel and vice versa, check with your hotel once for charges. Sometimes the cost is lower than what the taxis at airport charge. Shuttles are also available at the airport.
Early Check In: The hotels and resorts in Koh Samui have check-in time around 2-3 PM. So plan your visit accordingly. There are less chances to get an early check in during high time.
Do not get too obsessed with photographs that you forget local culture. We saw people jumping near the deity for pictures and stepping on the deity’s platform with shoes on. Please avoid such things.
Water sports and bike rent: Have heard of many scams regarding this. So consult with your hotel to find a trust worthy provider for renting scooters. Also, check the vehicle thoroughly (take pics and videos too) before you bring the bike along. Same goes for waters sports. Or you may end up paying more.
Keep enough cash for paying for small purchases. Though hotels and restaurants majorly accept cards, smaller outlets, adventure sports etc. will require cash. Koh Samui has many ATMs for cash withdrawal.
Wi-Fi works well in the hotels, cafes etc. Yet it is good to have a local SIM card with data/call facilities. We took one from Bangkok.
Thats all. We had spent days researching and planning for this trip. And now we have included all that information in this article so that you can plan your trip smoothly. If you liked this article or have further queries, do leave us a comment and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
Love visiting beaches? Check our other articles here.
