This beautiful island off the coast of Thailand is a honeymooners paradise. With its palm lined beaches, sandy coastlines and beautiful sunsets it is easy to see why people are so drawn to this island gem. Koh Samui has something to cater to every demographic.
Best Beaches
There are a variety of gorgeous beaches on the island it really depends on what you are looking for. The most popular and favourite for the more extroverted traveller is Chaweng Beach where you will find bars, restaurants and street side markets, Chaweng comes alive at night time. The next popular destination for beach goers is the more relaxed Lamai Beach, which offers a slower pace but not completely isolated from the local hustle and bustle. Bophut is another favourite, popular with honeymooners and couples. Silver Beach is beautiful just north of Lamai Beach. The beach is lined with excellent restaurants offering local and western cuisine.
Stays
Koh Samui offers a range of options depending on what you are looking for. Since it is an island the stays tend to be low-rise boutique hotels, beach bungalows and condos. Koh Samui also boasts a large selection of spacious luxury villas for holiday rental, these may come fully serviced or are close to local restaurants and cafes. For a private luxury thai getaway check out Villa Samprasada, or the Four Seasons Koh Samui.
What To See
A few of my favourites are Fisherman’s Village Bophut for local and western cuisine and some street side markets. Angthong National Marine Park, a beautiful natural archipelago of islands, you can book day trips to tour these islands by boat. Chaweng Beach for a cocktail and maybe listen to some beachside tunes.
Slightly further would be Koh Phangan famous for it full moon parties, but you can still enjoy tranquil natural beauty. Check out Santhyia Koh Phangan for the perfect thai style getaway, on a secluded beach away from the party scene. The nearby small island of Koh Tao is a favourite spot for dive enthusiasts, and worth visiting for its quiet beaches and natural island beauty.
How To Get There
A few carriers fly to Koh Samui Airport, stopping over in Bangkok then flying direct. Another option is to fly to Surat Thani which is generally cheaper, then catch the ferry from Surat Thani across to Samui, this will add potentially an additional 3 hours to your trip. You can catch direct flights from Phuket to Koh Samui too. The duration to fly from either Phuket or Bangkok is approximately 60 minutes to Samui Airport.