Samui activity guide
By Dave Rudd
The waters are typically clear and the fish abundant
Koh Samui has a vast choice of activities and events to partake in, from diving and fishing to Thai cooking and buffalo fighting. The usual collection of water sports are available on the main beaches, including jet-skiing and parasailing, while kayaking, bungee jumping, and golfing are other popular pastimes.
The following is a complete breakdown of the activities available on Samui:
Diving and snorkelling are among the favourite activities in Samui owing to the abundance of coral and sea creatures, as well as clear, warm waters. It is possible to dive and snorkel virtually year-round off Samui’s beaches, although June to August are the best months.
The visibility in many dive and snorkel spots here is as much as 30m in-season and rarely less than 10m at any time. The underwater features are pretty impressive, to boot, with mountains, stunning rock formations, both hard and soft corals, and an array of fish, including whale sharks. Top dive sites in Samui include the Samran Pinnacles, which is best for experienced divers only due to strong currents, and Koh Kra and Koh Losin islands.
Fishing in Samui is very popular. There are all sorts of fishing charters available on all tourist beaches of Samui and an impressive range of fish to hook up, including barracuda. Most tours leave from Ko Tong Krut.
Sailing is lots of fun in Samui and the day cruises and sunset cruises on the large Kia Ora catamaran are particularly interesting. You can also rent out dinghies by the hour.
Kayaking tours are offered to nearby Ang Thong National Marine Park, which lies between Samui and the mainland. You are transported by boat to the park and then paddle around the many islands of this stunning archipelago. Shorter kayak tours around Samui are also available.
Windsurfing workshops on Koh Samui are good for those who fancy trying this sport out and are cheap compared with learning elsewhere in the world. Beginner courses go for five hours. The best windsurfing in Samui is towards the end of the year when the wind picks up.
Beach volleyball is played all over Samui, but particularly in Chaweng and Lamai. The best time to get a game in is late afternoon when locals and expats set up makeshift nets on the beach.
Gallop along the sand at sunset
Kite boarding is an exciting activity in Samui and is taken quite seriously at the Koh Samui Kite Centre, which is at the Samui Orchid Resort in Laem Set. There are a bunch of courses on offer here, from beginner to advanced, which are best done from November to March.
Golf options on Samui are not extensive, mainly owing to the undulating terrain of the island. Santiburi Samui Country Club in Mae Nam (near Bo Phut in the north) has the island’s only 18-hole course. It is pretty challenging as the terrain is so abrupt, yet the fairways and views are gorgeous. Golf carts are obligatory here. Other golfing options on Samui include the Samui Golf Club and Driving Range in Chaweng and the Lamai Driving Range. For more on golf on Samui.
Mini-golf is a great family activity and there are a couple of options on the island, including Mini Golf International Ban Plailaem in Bo Phut, and the nearby Treasure Island Mini Golf.
Football golf is as it sounds, where players boot a ball around a course that has very large holes. Samui Football Golf is in North Chaweng, not far from the Imperial Boat House.
Frisbee golf, where you attempt to flip a Frisbee into a chain net, is also possible in golf-heavy Bo Phut at Frisbee Golf.
Thai boxing, known as Muay Thai, is very popular in Koh Samui, with gyms in Lamai and Chaweng - Lamai, Pinyo, and WMC. Matches can be seen at the Muay Thai Boxing Stadium, Chaweng Beach.
Bungee jumping has also made it to Samui at Chaweng Lake. The jump site, Samui Bungee, is on the Reggae Street side of the lake and free hotel pick ups are offered.
Trekking on Samui is a fun experience. Not many folk venture far enough from the beaches to enjoy Samui’s interior, yet the island is very hilly and heavily jungle-clad, making it perfect for trekking. Trekking to Na Muang Waterfall in the south is popular and there are also many elephant trekking operations here.
Canopy is the act of zipping through the forest high in the air from wires. Koh Samui Canopy Adventures (tel: +66 77 414 1501) is based in Bo Phut Beach where there is a network of high wires set up.
Bird watching in Samui is as good as other places in Thailand, if not better. The island is awash with dense jungle where many common and rare species nest.
Horseback riding in Samui is offered by Horse on Samui, who have experienced horses and a range of package deals. The office is near Chaweng Tesco Lotus.
Paintball can be arranged at Mae Nam Beach in the north of Samui. There is a professional outfit here with a great course and a decent range of weapons.
Bowling lanes include Living Bowl Centre on Chaweng Beach Road and Major Bowl Hit in Tesco Lotus, Bo Phut.
Thai cooking is best learned at the Samui Institute of Thai Culinary Arts (tel: +66 77 413 172). They teach the basics in how to prepare a Thai meal and also train to professional standards. Many Samui hotels also offer Thai cookery classes, including the Central Samui Beach Resort and Imperial Samui.
Meditation is one of the main tenets of Buddhism and visitors can practice meditation at many temples in Samui. There is also a meditation course on every month at the Samudra Retreat.
Best Samui events
Buffalo Fighting Festival is a big deal on Samui and is held on New Year’s Day and over Songkran, as well as during other special events. It is in no way barbaric, like a typical Spanish bullfight, where the beasts are tortured and killed, but is all for show.
Fisherman's Village Festival is a five-day festival with lots of eating and music. The quality and variety of food during this festival is bewildering, with many tents churning out inexpensive food. The music is performed by local artists.
Avis Samui Tennis Open is a yearly amateur tennis tournament which takes place in Samui in July.
Travel insurance: going on holiday is all about trying new things. However, it is always wise to be cautious and take out comprehensive travel insurance in case of injury. We recommend the online travel insurance site Travel Insurance Discounts for visitors from the UK.
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