A three-day tour of Samui
Located in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of Surat Thani province, Koh Samui is the largest of a group of 80 islands. The first foreign visitors began arriving here in the 1970s, and since then Samui has become a firm favourite among travellers.
The island’s airport opened in the late 1980s, enhancing Samui’s accessibility. The island now competes with Phuket as the most popular holiday destination in Thailand. As Samui is relatively small, there are fewer attractions to take in than Phuket, but the island offers a more laid-back atmosphere. The island’s beaches - Chaweng in particular - are among the main reasons to visit Samui, alongside the sun, sea and variety in entertainment at night.
Here is our recommendation to get the most out of three days on the island.
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Day one
The Big Buddha is Samui’s big tourist landmarkA good way to start your visit is to spend a morning relaxing on the island’s white sands or in the warm clear waters of the Gulf. After a morning at leisure, you’ll be ready to try out the great seafood on offer, and you won’t have to venture far from the beach to find it. After lunch, you might want to have a look at some of Samui’s attractions: a tour around the island will reveal its beauty and variety of natural features from mountains to waterfalls.
It’s easy to arrange a tour or you can hire a motorbike and show yourself around. One of Samui’s main attractions is the Big Buddha which is located on a small island connected to Samui by a causeway. This is also a perfect spot to watch the sun go down. The highlight here is the 50ft high Buddha image. When you’re visiting, be sure to dress modestly and remove your shoes when entering the temple next to the statue. There are other temples well worth visiting too, such as Wat Hin Lat in the southwest of Samui and Wat Laem Saw near the southern tip of the island.
After sightseeing, exploring the restaurants and nightlife around Chaweng is the perfect way to end your first day here. You’ll find eateries ranging from fast food fare to fine dining, and a good selection of bars and pubs located along the street running parallel to Chaweng beach.
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Day two
After a relatively relaxed first day, day two might be a good time to expend a bit of energy by heading out on a mountain bike or going on a dive. There are lots of options in the realm of unusual things to do here, including mountain biking along Samui’s west coast, through the island’s coconut groves and small villages. Alternatively, you can go scuba diving in the warm, clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Bungee jumping, elephant rides and even jungle trekking with a guide to the highest waterfall on the island are other options.
SunsetAfter a morning of activity, there’ll probably still be time to take in a crocodile show or see the monkeys performing at the Samui Monkey Theatre, near Bophut village. The monkeys put on a good show, complete with costumes and funny tricks that will entertain the kids.
An alternative option is to go on a full-day cruise by speedboat to Angthong Marine National Park, where you’ll be able to enjoy an island tour, sea kayaking, snorkelling and a visit to the well-hidden Emerald Lagoon.
Another evening spent sampling Samui’s bar, restaurant and entertainment options is recommended. From rustic pubs to the well-known cabaret show at Christy's, at the north end of Chaweng, you’ll find plenty to choose from.
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Day three
Chaweng is the nicest beach on the island, and busiestOn your last day on Samui, you’ll probably want to take advantage of the sand and sea again, and spending a morning on the beach is a good start. You might try following this with a traditional Thai massage or even a spa treatment before heading out for some shopping to find something special to take home. You’ll find the island’s main shopping areas in Chaweng, Lamai Chaweng featuring the best choice and Lamai beach boasting the greatest array of unique shops.
If you still have time, you may want to explore a bit more of the island. A recommendation is to head for the well-known Na Muang waterfall. If you plan on staying at one of the falls for a good part of the day, it’s best to set off early so that you won’t be caught in the jungle after the sun sets.
Although there’s plenty to do on Samui, there are also lots of reasons to do very little at all. You may well find that your three-day trip is not long enough, in which case you might want to consider extending your visit or begin to plan a return trip!
