Koh Samui, an enchanting island in the Gulf of Thailand, welcomes visitors with breathtaking beaches and an array of activities. Although it has been a popular destination since the 1980s, its popularity has not diminished its appeal. It remains one of my favourite islands!
1. Visit Wat Phra Yai -
In the north of the island is Wat Phra Yai, or 'The Big Buddha'. This impressive Buddha stretches for 12 metres, and from the top of the stairs you will enjoy a magnificent view of the stunning blue sea.
2. Wat Plai Leam
A little further away is Wat Plai Laem, a Buddhist temple complex with a striking white 18-armed statue of Guanyin. Wat Plai Laem offers visitors an insight into Chinese-Thai beliefs, as well as a collection of elaborate art and architecture with a Buddhist theme. To add to the sense of tranquillity, the temple is surrounded by a lake teeming with catfish. You can even make a donation to the temple and get a bag of food to feed the fish.
TIP: Keep in mind to dress appropriately when visiting temples.
3. Hin Ta & Hin Yai -
Hin Ta and Hin Yai are intriguing rock formations on the south side of Lamai Beach. Discovered years ago by locals, these rocks are still a source of giggles and wonder to this day, as the rocks resemble male (Ta) and female (Yai) genitalia.
TIP: Delicious homemade coconut ice cream is sold here!
4. Sunset on Nathon Beach -
On the return journey after a long day on the scooter, we ended up at Nathon Beach, where we experienced a magical sunset. The special thing was that it was low tide, which meant you could also walk the mudflats. One advantage of spending the night on islands is that you can (almost) always experience sunrises and sunsets. It's the perfect end to a wonderful day, knowing that something more beautiful awaits tomorrow.
TIP: Another popular spot to watch the sun set is the Hin Ta and Hin Yai viewpoint.
5. Samui Elephant Sanctuary -
One of the things we absolutely wanted to do during our trip was to visit an elephant sanctuary. The Samui Elephant Sanctuary is a small sanctuary where 11 elephants have been rescued who previously made hard days in the tourist entertainment industry (also known as Elephant Tracking) or in the logging industry, often for more than 20 to 35 years. The aim of Samui Elephant Sanctuary is to give the herd a happy home in the wild, where they are free to express their natural instincts and receive the care and respect they deserve.
TIP: At this sanctuary, there is no opportunity to take (mud) baths with the elephants. This is purely because elephants prefer to bathe alone or with other elephants. They need space to splash, roll, submerge and cover their bodies with thick mud. We respect this, of course.
6. Fisherman's Village -
Fisherman's Village Samui used to be home to a fishing community and is a historic part of Bophut, with rustic buildings, boutiques, trendy restaurants, spas and a small selection of hotels along the narrow Beach Road. We ate here almost every night, and every Friday the whole area of Fisherman's Village turns into a Walking Street market, which attracts many shoppers from all over the island for its amazing variety of goods and lively atmosphere.
TIP: After dinner in the evening, head to Coco Tam's beach bar for fancy drinks!
7. Ladyboys Cabarets Show -
Ladyboy Cabarets may not be for everyone, but on Chaweng Beach you can enjoy a scintillating evening with this fun entertainment. A typical show includes lip-synching interpretations of popular songs, complete with elaborate costumes and make-up. Some performances are expertly choreographed, and the tone is light-hearted, sprinkled with glitz & glamour. Be open and enjoy the show!
TIP: After the show, head to Ark Bar, a lively cosmopolitan beachfront venue nearly 150 metres wide. The bar offers great food, drinks, DJs and a relaxed atmosphere to socialise with travellers from all over the world. There are also fire shows on the beach and a lively atmosphere until late at night.
8. Ziplining trough the jungle -
If you like adventure and adrenaline, this is the perfect activity. Canopy Adventures in Koh Samui offers a zipline experience through Koh Samui's tropical jungle. This activity gives you panoramic views of the rainforest with tall trees and waterfalls. You float at speeds of almost 80 km per hour from 7 platforms high in the trees via 6 exciting cable cars.
TIP: If you suffer from vertigo, this is not the most enjoyable activity. (Fortunately, though, I managed to convince Marc to do this activity😏)
9. Wat Khunaram's Mummy -
Koh Samui's mummified monk at Wat Khunaram is an unusual sight, but offers a unique insight into Buddhist and Thai culture. Monk Luong Pordaeng died in 1973 in a sitting meditative position, and since then his body (including sunglasses) has been on display in a standing glass case at the temple. Remarkably, even more than 30 years on the monk's body shows few signs of decay. For some visitors, it may be a shocking sight to have a dead man in full view, but for Thais, it is something to ponder and honour.
10. Koh Pahnang's Full Moon Party -
This unique event often features on bucket lists as one of the essential Thailand experiences you must have experienced at least once in your life. The Koh Phangan Full Moon Party is a world-famous beach party on the southernmost tip of the island of Koh Phangan. With more than 12 powerful sound systems, great music, fire shows, glow-in-the-dark body paint, lots of drinks and as many as 30,000 partygoers, the 800-metre-long beach turns into the most vibrant open-air nightclub, with a festival-like atmosphere. Be sure to check out our Thailand vlog to get a good impression; for us, it really comes highly recommended!
TIP: The party starts quite early in the evening, but it is recommended to arrive a bit later, around 10pm - if you want to have any hope of making it through the morning!
11. Rent a scooter
Hire a scooter and head out! Driving around on a scooter is one of the most fun things to do on Koh Samui. Since the island is not that big, you can easily drive around the whole island in one day. We loved riding around and discovering the hidden waterfalls, cute cafes and all the other beautiful nature the island has to offer!
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