What is interesting about a holiday on Koh Samui? What is interesting about a holiday on Koh Samui Interesting places and attractions of Koh Samui

The tropical holiday begins right at the airport, which can safely be called a local attraction that deserves attention. The departure and arrival areas of this international airport, which serves at least a million passengers a year, have virtually no interior spaces. All modern functionality is perfectly organized under canopies, among flower beds and fountains. At this moment, both the long, exhausting flight and all the problems are forgotten.

Where to stay on Koh Samui

Samui offers guests luxurious five-star hotels, comfortable hotels, and bungalows a few meters from the sea. Hotel service on Koh Samui is exemplary, regardless of the number of stars. Due to the small size of the island, you can get from any point to the airport or attractions in no more than half an hour.

What attractions are there on Koh Samui

Among the most interesting sights of Samui are the beautiful Hin Lad and Na Muang waterfalls, lost in the jungle. Na Muang is located within a natural park and can be reached by 4x4 ride with guides or take an elephant ride. In addition, there is a snake and crocodile farm in the park.

Hin Lad Waterfall is located near the city of Nathon. It can only be reached on foot, after walking along a jungle path for about two hours. The waterfall consists of multi-level cascades that end in a pool.

Those who like to snorkel and enjoy the beauty of uninhabited tropical islands should definitely visit the Ang Thong Marine Reserve. This is a unique complex of 42 islands, mostly made of limestone. The height of some of them above sea level is 400 meters. The observation deck offers a beautiful view of the Emerald Lake of volcanic origin and steep cliffs.

Those planning to visit cultural attractions will find a 12-meter gilded statue of the Big Buddha - not only a tourist attraction, but also a place of worship for the island's inhabitants. You should definitely remember this when visiting this architectural complex. Local residents must take off their shoes before climbing to the Big Buddha - tourists should not neglect this rule either.

High in the mountains is the Magic Garden (Garden of Miracles) - a real gallery of stone sculptures located along the bed of a mountain river. According to legend, the park was founded in 1976 by a local resident who, already at an advanced age, decided to master stone carving. Fourteen years were devoted to creating a composition depicting scenes from the life of Buddha and paradise. Now the garden is open to everyone for a nominal fee collected for the restoration of the statues.

An independent trip to Thailand took us to the island of Koh Samui, when we decided to swim from the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand. There are myths about Samui that living on it is beyond the means of an ordinary traveler, so we were anxious about leaving our beloved Phuket. We lived on the island of Koh Samui for two weeks and in fact it turned out to be no more expensive than Phuket, and there are also many interesting places on it, which I will tell you about today, what to see on Koh Samui on your own.

• TOP 15 things to see on Koh Samui on your own

Koh Samui Thailand how to get there

To come to Koh Samui from anywhere in Thailand, you just need to buy a ticket from a local travel agency. Typically, a single ticket (ticket) can include a train, bus, ferry, depending on where you are going from. Since our move to Samui took place from Phuket, we first took a bus to the city of Surat Thani. Then at the pier we boarded a ferry that followed the route from Surat Thani to the pier on Koh Samui.

I think many people know what a double-decker tourist bus is. And the ferry is a large ship with three floors - you can choose any seat, except for the VIP zone (surcharge for it is 500 baht per person). There are air conditioners on two floors and it is quite fresh, on the top one - essentially the roof of the ship, you can sunbathe. I’m still “not an astronaut” and I always get motion sickness, but this has never happened on Thai ferries, even during long trips.

The top floor of the ferry

The main passengers of such ferries are tourists who have chosen a wild holiday in Thailand on their own. These are European youth of student age - they always behave very relaxed, talk loudly, sit and sleep on the floor or drink beer and dance. Everyone definitely has a tattoo on their body, and guys always look much neater and more well-groomed than girls.

Among the foreigners there are many pensioners traveling in pairs or alone with backpacks on their backs, gray hair tied at the back of their heads in a ponytail, and many bracelets on their wrists and ankles. We haven’t met any Russians on such trips; probably everyone is staying in Phuket on ready-made tour packages. Our people are not yet ready to travel abroad on their own, which cannot be said about foreigners who have been using this budget method for a long time.

How to get from Samui Pier to the hotel

As always, we looked for a suitable hotel on Samui in Thailand through the service for travelers from hotellook.ru. But you need to keep in mind that if you book on your own, you will not be met by a ferry transfer, so you will have to get to your accommodation yourself. You can find out what mode of transportation exists in Thailand. We always choose the cheapest one for 40 baht - this is a public bus or songthaew in Thai.

Songthaews stand on the pier and wait for newly arrived tourists; each truck has a sign with the name of the beach. For one passenger, the minibus driver on Samui asked for 100 baht, which is very different from the prices in Phuket, where the same buses charge 40 baht. The driver needs to tell the name of the hotel, and he will drop you off on the ring road, in the right place.

TOP - 15 things to see on Koh Samui on your own

We lived on the island for two weeks. But even in such a short time, we tried to explore Koh Samui as much as possible. The first myth, that Samui is a vacation for oligarchs and is not accessible to the budget traveler, has not been confirmed. Life on Koh Samui is cheaper than in Russified Phuket and much calmer. The island reminded me of a large village, there are no high-rise buildings, all hotels are maximum two-story, there is no frantic traffic, no crowds and crowds.

In addition, the police here are more loyal to tourists and do not stop you, even if you are driving without a helmet. Whereas in Phuket, local policemen organize raids and fine people for driving without a license. Moving around Samui, choosing your own route, is a fascinating activity, there are many beautiful places, and if you love nature, you will definitely like it here. So below is my personal rating of what you can see on Koh Samui.

1. Beaches of the island

You can travel around the beaches of Koh Samui along the ring road on a motorbike, or by taking a songthaew minibus. Each beach has its own characteristics, some have coarse sand, some have fine sand, some have palm trees or not. We have been to almost all the beaches of Samui and noted a few that caught our eye. If you are looking for where to stay on Samui, then first of all I advise you to pay attention to the top three according to reviews from vacationers, what makes them such is a comfortable entry into the water, a clear sea, developed infrastructure, and clean beaches.

TOP 3 best beaches on Koh Samui:

• Lamai Beach,
• Chaweng
• Thongtakian.

Beach (Lamai Beach) - entry into the water is smooth, in the off-season there are small waves near the shore, but swimming a little further you can swim without waves. The water in the sea is clear, you can snorkel with a mask and find such sea treasures. According to the same characteristics, good beaches on Samui include Chaweng, Chaweng Noi Beach, Maenam Beach, Ban Thai BeachBo Phut Beach.

The beach is the best beach on Koh Samui. It has several names - Silver beach and Thongtakian. It is located next to Lamai Beach. We've been there a couple of times and it really lives up to its name as the beach with the clearest water and the whitest fine sand. Entry to Silver beach is free. From the photo you can see that it is better to enter the water on the left side of the beach, on the other - the bottom is coral and the entrance is only possible with special shoes.

2. Shopping, night market, Russian cuisine

On Samui there are large supermarkets Tesco Lotus, Makro, Big C, where cashless payments are made by card; in food courts at shopping centers there is a menu with Russian cuisine, where you can eat borscht with sour cream, okroshka. Also a big plus for tourists is the night market - Night Market, which are located in the center of large beaches such as Lamai, Chaweng, etc. We always came to the night market for dinner. Prices are the same as in all night markets in Thailand, very low. There are tables at the market, prices for dinner for two start from 100 baht.

On Samui you will find restaurants with Russian cuisine, for example, one of them is located at the K.T. Samui Residence. If you come on holiday to Thailand as a savage, then this is an excellent place for a Russian person hungry for familiar food.

K.T. Samui Residence

Vladimir, a sincere person, works here as a cook, so all his dishes turn out to be delicious at home. We finally ate potatoes and dumplings at his place. The prices for food in the restaurant are quite budget-friendly, judge for yourself.

Menu with Russian cuisine at the K.T. Samui Residence

3. Grandmother and Grandfather Stones (Hinta & Hinyai)

On Lamai Beach there are such attractions of Koh Samui in Thailand as (Hinta & Hinyai), which have the appearance of female and male genitalia.

Admission is free, parking is free.

Where is it located: near Lamai beach, GPS coordinates - 9.452011, 100.039836

Grandmother and Grandfather Stones (Hinta & Hinyai)

4. Mummy of a monk

(mummified monk) Luang Pho Daeng is a local shrine on Koh Samui. A real human mummy with hair and teeth present, the body in the lotus position is placed in a glass box and put on display.

Admission is free, closed clothing is required. Parking is free. The opening hours of the temple are from 6.00 to 18.00.

Location: On the main ring road, near Lamai Beach and Namuang Falls at Wat Khunaram, GPS coordinates - 9.450212, 100.000595.

Mummified monk

5. Big Buddha statue on Koh Samui

The giant 12 meter statue is the most visited attraction on Koh Samui. We recommend taking cash with you, as there is a market next to the Temple where you can bring unusual gifts from Thailand.

Admission is free, there is also free parking for motorbikes and cars.

Where it is located: near Bangrak Pier and Samui Airport, GPS coordinates - 9.570853, 100.059844.

6. Happy Buddha

If you are not tired of Buddha statues and temples, then you can go to another local attraction - the statue of the Laughing Buddha on Koh Samui. It is a symbol of wealth and prosperity in Thailand. In addition, there are many beautiful buildings around, made and painted by hand. I’ll tell you a secret that it was here that I made my most cherished wish, which later came true!

Admission is free, parking is free. Closed clothing is required, there is a rental place nearby.

Where is it located: near Bangrak Pier and Samui Airport, next to the Big Buddha statue, GPS coordinates -9.571510, 100.067129

7. View points (observation platforms)

There are many observation platforms on Koh Samui, which can be found by signs along the roads with the inscription “view point”. The sites are usually located on hills, and to get to them you need to walk uphill or ride along serpentine roads on a motorbike.

Lamai view point

The closest to the ring road and easily accessible is Lamai view point. The best time to visit this viewpoint is early in the morning as it offers stunning views of the sunrise. At the top there is an equipped platform, a cafe, an artificial waterfall and a fish pond where you can exfoliate your feet. (fish peeling). The observation deck is fully equipped for tourists; there are comfortable steps leading up, so even children can climb the climb.

Opening hours from 9.00 - 18.30 daily.

Entrance - 100 baht, lift (cable car) - 200 baht, cafe menu - freshly squeezed juice - from 50 baht.

Where is it: on Lamai beach, behind the Makro Lamai supermarket, GPS coordinates - 9.458767, 100.035437.

Lamai view point on the mountain

View Point near the Grandmother and Grandfather stones

Another observation deck on Lamai beach, located on a small hill, on huge boulders, but its significant advantage is that it is located right on the beach and you can enjoy the sea view from here almost right next to the sound of the waves. You won’t find any special entertainment here; you can visit it in combination with an excursion to the Grandmother and Grandfather stones.

Entrance - 50 baht.

Where is it located: near Lamai beach, near the Grandmother and Grandfather stones, GPS coordinates - 9.452011, 100.039836

View of Lamai beach from the observation deck near the Grandmother and Grandfather stones

ViewPoint at Varinda Resort

There are also observation platforms at cafes and bars. One of these is located in the hotel. You don't have to be a hotel guest to attend. The Varinda Rezort hotel is located just above the Russian cuisine hotel K.T. Samui Residence. You need to go up a winding road that will lead you to a pool with a bar, the cool thing about this pool is that it is made so that it seems as if you are hanging over an abyss. Do not skimp on buying something from the friendly bartender, and complete relaxation overlooking Lamai beach is guaranteed.

Where is it: on Lamai beach, entrance from the ring road opposite the Makro Lamai supermarket, GPS coordinates - 9.458644, 100.039568

View of Lamai Beach from the observation deck of the Varinda Rezort

Best Mountain Viewpoint

There are no songthaews to reach this view point, it is located in the center of the island and you can get to the best viewpoint on Samui on your own by bike or as part of a “Jeep Safari” excursion. There is a good asphalt road leading to the lookout, but 300 meters before the top it ends and a dirt road begins. From here you have a panoramic view of Koh Samui and in good weather you may be lucky enough to see neighboring Koh Phangan. For those who like to have a snack in the mountains, on the approaches to View Point there is a restaurant called the Lookout.

Admission is free, parking is free

Where it is: entrance from the ring road from Maenam Beach, GPS coordinates - 9.530713 99.99052.

8. Waterfalls

Since Samui is a mountainous island, there are many waterfalls - rivers descending from the mountain tops. You can find your way to the natural phenomenon by driving along the ring road. There will be a Waterfall sign at the side of the road, which translates from English as waterfall, with its name.

Don’t rush to visit all the waterfalls on Koh Samui, but go only to the largest ones, such as Namuang-1 (18 meters) and (80 meters). Since the rest of the waterfalls, smaller ones, may dry up in the off-season, and when you come to them, you may be disappointed that there is no water in them. In addition, the path to the waterfall is usually accompanied by trekking up the mountain, which is not easy for an ordinary tourist. The season for waterfalls on Koh Samui is autumn in September and October and winter in late January and all of February.

Admission: 50 baht per adult and 30 baht per child

Where is it: the entrance to Namuang Falls and Safari Park from the ring road will be marked “Waterfall 2”, GPS coordinates - 9.466381, 99.983949

9. Glowing plankton

On Lamai beach, for the first time in our lives, we saw a miracle of nature: how plankton glows in the water. Remember the movie “The Beach” and the scene when DiCaprio and a girl kissed underwater, and tiny lights swirled in the water? When we went into the sea during a night swim and swam a little from the shore, we saw that there seemed to be a flock of small fireflies around us. It was indescribable! It felt like we were in outer space, in a galaxy, and there were billions of little stars around. If you are not afraid of night swims, then this glowing plankton is not near the shore - you need to swim more than a meter and dangle your feet and hands in the water.

Then we read that this is a rather rare natural phenomenon called bioluminescent waves. It cannot always be observed, only if the sea is calm, but such a galaxy in the water is formed by one of the types of phytoplankton. Thank you to the universe for letting us see this with our own eyes!

Then, while traveling in Abkhazia, I happened to see fireflies; this sight also causes great delight, especially among children. It’s as if nature is sharing its miracle with you. But the most memorable moments in life are not buying a new phone, but moments of happiness shared with loved ones.

10. Aquarium & Tiger Zoo

At the Samui Zoo you can see Bengal tigers, leopards, monkeys and tropical birds with your own eyes, but the size of the establishment is not that large and one hour is more than enough for you to explore it. The Samui Aquarium is home to sea crabs and turtles, sharks, rays and other species of fish that live in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.

Opening hours: 9:30 - 16:30 daily. Show with fur seals and parrots - starts at 13.00, Tiger show - 14.30.

Admission is 750 baht for an adult and 450 baht for a child, children under 2 years old are free. Photo with fur seals 100 baht, photo with a tiger - 700 baht, feeding turtles - 20 baht. Horse carriage rides are free and included in the entrance ticket price.

Where is it located: the aquarium is located in the southeast of Samui near Ban Harn beach, from the ring road there will be a sign towards the sea, GPS coordinates - 9.431130, 100.016540.

11. Paradise Park Farm

This is the best place on the island for a family holiday with children, an analogue of a petting zoo, where you can touch the zoo’s inhabitants with your hands. All animals are kept in enclosures close to their natural habitat. In the zoo you can see unusually colored pigeons, peacocks, herds of deer, gibbons and other animals. The park has a cozy cafe and a swimming pool with panoramic sea views.

Opening hours: 9.00 – 18.00

Entrance - 400 baht for adults, 300 baht for children, children under 2 years old are free. Bird food is free, swimming pool is free, towels are a deposit of 200 baht.

Where is it: Paradise Park on Samui is located in the center of the island, from the ring road on the Lamai side there will be a sign “Paradise Park” from the turn you need to drive 7 kilometers uphill into the island, GPS coordinates - 9.486224, 99.982882

12. Chinese Temple of Guan Yu

The huge statue of a red-faced Chinese warrior is impossible to miss and is located right on the main ring road of the island. Around the monument there are small buildings and a chapel, where you can walk and see unusual things, such as rooms for tea ceremonies, a stove in the shape of a huge human head, and gongs for rituals. This place was intended as a cultural center for the residents of Koh Samui, so inside the rooms you can see photographs of ordinary islanders.

Opening hours: 8.00 – 18.00

Entrance is free, candles and other ritual paraphernalia start from 50 baht.

Where is it: on the ring road near Hua Thanon Beach, GPS coordinates - 9.445515, 100.024259

13. Magic Garden of Buddha

This garden is a kind of fairy tale in the forest, created by an ordinary local farmer with his own hands. He filled the area with sculptures carved from wood and stone. Inside the park there is a beautiful waterfall, Tarnim waterfall. By the way, the ashes of the farmer and his family rest right there in a crypt, like a stone bungalow.

Opening hours – from 9.00 to 18.00

Entrance - 80 baht

Where is it: in the south of the island along the ring road from Lamai beach, you need to turn off at the “Magic Garden” sign, the turn is located opposite the Temple with a mummified monk, GPS coordinates - 9.482916, 99.994480

14. Red Temple (Wat Ratchathammaram)

This Temple is notable for the fact that it is all made in the same color; nowhere else in Thailand have we seen such a terracotta Temple, and you definitely won’t find another like it on Samui) The building itself looks quite chic and photogenic, although it is made of the cheapest material . On its walls you can see bas-reliefs and stucco everywhere, and everything is done so finely that you can see the outlines of people’s faces, their facial expressions, jewelry and clothing. An interesting fact is that tourists are directly involved in the construction of the Temple; in donations for the construction, a large share of investments belongs to vacationers; this place is, as it were, a symbol of the unity of local residents and visitors.

Entrance is free, closed clothing is required, entry to the temple without shoes.

Where is it located: The Red Temple is located near the Grandmother and Grandfather stones, GPS coordinates - 9.451184, 100.030955

15. National holidays

Celebrations and celebrations are celebrated on a grand scale in Thailand, so you would be lucky if you could attend at least one of these events. I will tell you about the largest ones, when you can see colorful processions on the streets, even with the participation of animals. Just imagine a column of elephants walking through the streets; such a sight will definitely leave you with an unforgettable experience for the rest of your life! So, plan your vacation ahead of the holidays in Thailand and lively emotions are guaranteed.

• Chinese New Year. Every year the date of this holiday in Thailand changes and falls on two months of the year - January and February. But if your arrival in the Kingdom is planned in the winter season, then you will most likely be able to catch it, because it lasts exactly two weeks. At this time, all the streets are decorated with traditional red lanterns, colorful dragons are hung, concert stages are assembled on the beaches, and residents prepare treats and set festive tables.

Where it is held on Samui - traditionally the Chinese Temple, Nathon Beach and Maenam were chosen as the venue.

• The Flower Festival is another colorful event that is not inferior in its implementation to the New Year's event. If you come to Thailand for the first time, you will immediately notice the Thai habit of decorating everything with flowers; they love to weave flower wreaths, collect bouquets and turn their gardens into greenhouses. Flowers can be seen on boats, in vases everywhere on the streets, and temples are also full of freshly cut flowers. But nothing can compare with the abundance these days in Thailand, namely on the first Friday in February, when processions of Thais in costumes, decorated with flower arrangements, walk through the streets.

• Thai New Year - . In my opinion, the most fun way to celebrate the New Year was invented in Thailand. The celebration begins the day before the solemn date of April 13, and if you are in the Kingdom of Smiles at this time, you will never be able to miss it. Because on the street, every local resident will rush to congratulate you in the traditional way - by smearing you in clay and dousing you with a basin of ice water. Thus, he wishes you well-being and prosperity in the coming year)

• Loi Krathong - Floating Boat Festival. Loi Krathong is held annually in November, on the day of the full moon, and this date was not chosen by chance. During this period, the rainy season ends in Thailand and the reservoirs are filled with water. Thais consider it their duty to launch a boat into the water, thus expressing respect to the goddess of water. They release a boat with a burning candle into the water and make their deepest wishes.

The best excursions in Koh Samui

For those who like a comfortable holiday on Samui, local travel agencies organize excursions, which already include transfer, lunch and a memorable program. You won’t get to places like caves or paradise islands on your own, so where travel outside of Koh Samui is planned, it’s better to contact local guides or book your place online, which is basically the same thing.

In our travels, we use the search engine from Sputnik8, where you can book a place and be sure of a return; it also contains reviews from tourists, on the basis of which we always choose the best guide for ourselves.

We enjoyed our holiday on Koh Samui so much that we later recommended it to our friends. We hope that our reviews of what to see on Samui on your own will help you make your vacation interesting.

So, first let's look at where the attractions are concentrated to create the best route.

2. Temple complexes

2.1. Big Buddha

The huge Buddha statue, 12 meters high, is the hallmark of the island! This place is simply a must visit! The statue is located on top of a hill on a small island connected to the island by a causeway. The territory of the complex is small and consists mainly of shops with souvenirs and clothing.

It’s a pity that the photo does not convey the scale of the statue:

And from the site where the Big Buddha statue is installed, there is a stunning view, so it’s worth coming here if only for that:

By the way, a visit to the Big Buddha statue is usually included in a sightseeing tour of Samui, so if you want to see several attractions at once and you like the format of the excursions, you can go, for example, to.

2.2. Wat Plai Laem

But if we talk about the temple complexes of Samui, then the coolest and most interesting place is the Plai Laem Temple. The complex is located not far from Big Buddha, so you can combine visits to these two places (and at the same time compare which is more interesting).

Lake in the Wat Plai Laem complex:

The temple complex has a large area on which a variety of huge figures are located, and there is a lake (where you can ride a catamaran and also feed the fish).

Sculpture of Goddess Guan Yin:

It’s nice to just walk here, plunging into the atmosphere of Buddhism. The complex was built quite recently, but despite this it is really very cool here! If, for example, you are with children, then Wat Plai Laem will definitely be more interesting than Big Buddha.

All detailed information is available. You can look at the option with a tour or.

2.3. Mummified monk

There are actually several mummified monks on Koh Samui, but the most famous one is in the small Khunaram Temple. It has become so popular among tourists simply because it is conveniently located - not far from the turn to Namuang Falls.

To be honest, I don’t know what there is in particular to see there, it’s a creepy sight - the monk is completely visible, although his eyes are covered with glasses, but nevertheless, the entertainment is so-so.

2.4. Magic Garden

The magical garden contains many stone sculptures of Buddhas, various animals, demons and ancient deities. All this is shrouded in vines, and the stone buildings are overgrown with moss, so the place seems really very mysterious and mysterious. If you come here in the evening, it will be a little creepy.

To get to the garden, you need to go towards Paradise park, following the signs. Entrance costs 80 baht, children are free.

3. Natural attractions

3.1. Namuang Falls and Namuang 2

Namuang 1 and Namuang 2 waterfalls are located in the same place, only Namuang 2 is higher. Most tourists, of course, stop at Namuang 1 waterfall and do not go higher.

The waterfalls are actually not that impressive, but the nature around them is worth a visit. Namuang 1 falls directly into a small natural pool where you can take a swim. The bottom, however, is not visible there, so it can be a little creepy.

Mom was really scared to go into the water alone!

On the other hand, it all depends on the time of visit; it is best to go there early in the morning, when excursions are not yet available. Otherwise, you risk getting into “rush hour”, when besides you there will be another 20 people in this pool:

The beauty of the waterfalls also depends on the time of year - in summer the waterfalls dry up from the heat and turn into thin streams. We didn’t see the gorgeous waterfall:

A visit to the waterfalls is also included in most sightseeing tours of Koh Samui. You can see what else the sightseeing tour includes, as well as find out prices.

3.2. Grandmother and Grandfather Rocks

We never got to these rocks, and it’s not very clear what’s so interesting there. Just a few rocks, shaped very much like male and female genital organs... But in general, the place is very popular, all tourist excursions (for example, this one for $38) include a visit to these rocks. So if you want to complete the maximum program on the island, then go there too.

3.3. Beaches

This is truly the main attraction (so to speak) of the entire island. Because people go to Samui, first of all, to lie on a beautiful beach, run on the snow-white sand - in general, enjoy a beach holiday.

Lamai Beach:

There are a lot of beaches on Koh Samui; if you want, you can go around them all, because they are very different from each other. If you think that every first beach you come across will be like the Bounty picture, then you will be disappointed. The beaches are different - party Chaweng, family Maenam, popular Lamai, there are also a bunch of small beaches. Everything is different - entry into the water, the presence of algae and debris (although this rather depends on the time of year and the tides), the quality of the sand (from coarse yellow to fine gray-white).

4. Where to see animals

4.1. Paradise Park

Paradise Park is one of the best places on the island! This is definitely must see for any category of travelers. There is everything here - amazingly diverse nature (there are so many different species of plants in no other place on the island!), a petting zoo, a children's playground, and a panoramic pool with a breathtaking view:

You can take pictures with exotic birds or colored pigeons:

The territory is very large, you can spend half a day (or even a whole day) here, walking through picturesque places. The park is located in a mountainous area, the entire territory is at different levels, so you will have to overcome hundreds of steps, going down and up, to get around everything:

Very cool place, more photos, as well as useful information with prices, how to get there, etc. located .

You can get there either on your own (on a bike or a rented car) or. If you go on a bike (as we did), then be very careful - the road is difficult, and not every bike can handle all these steep climbs.

4.2. Safari Park

Safari Park is much more popular than Paradise Park, but despite this, it greatly disappointed me. In this park you can watch 5 different animal shows, ride an elephant (or take a photo with it), but at every step you will have to pay for literally everything, even if you go with.

Elephant ride:

The area is small, there are not many animals. But, nevertheless, if you have not been to such shows, it might be interesting.

You can also take beautiful photos:

All contacts, detailed information, our impressions and video show can be viewed at.

4.3. Zoo and aquarium

It is located near Lamai beach and will, of course, be primarily of interest to children. The zoo and the aquarium are located on the same territory, but, judging by the reviews, most of it is still an aquarium. There are not many animals, so if you have been to large zoos and aquariums, you will not see anything particularly impressive here.

In addition to viewing animals and marine life, you can also see shows with animals (fur seals, tigers, birds). The ticket costs in the area 750 baht(adult) and 450 baht(for children), allow no more than an hour for the entire visit.

If you are not particularly interested in marine life, then, in my opinion, it is much more interesting (and even cheaper!) to go to Paradise Park, where you can easily spend half a day!

4.4. Crocodile farm

There is also a crocodile farm on the island where you can watch shows with crocodiles and snakes. It is located near the airport, the entrance ticket costs 500 baht. It’s probably better to go straight to the Safari Park - there will immediately be snakes, crocodiles, monkeys and elephants.

5. View Points

In fact, there are many viewpoints on Samui - from Lad Kho (on the ring road between Chaweng and Lamai) to views from Paradise Park, located high in the mountains. You can simply drive around the island along the ring road, stopping in beautiful places, or you can go for lunch or dinner in a cafe with a beautiful view. Among these cafes, the most popular is Gekko Bar, located in the Bo Phut area.

And I wrote about our favorite viewpoint in, from there there is a stunning view of the sea:

6. Excursions

If your time on Samui is limited, but you want to see more, it is better to go on one of the complex excursions to see as much as possible in a minimum amount of time.

Advantages of organized excursions— maximum attractions, included transfer directly from the hotel, and, most often, a Russian-speaking guide.

Well and among the minuses- limited time for each stop and slightly higher cost.

6.1. Jeep safari around the island

You can go for half a day or a whole day.

What is included in this excursion? Elephant rides, crocodile shows, monkeys on a coconut plantation, water slides, a visit to the Magic Garden and a jeep ride along the mountain trails. The full-day safari additionally includes visits to the Wat Phra Yai temple complex, which is great for watching the sunset. You can view detailed descriptions and prices here:

6.2. Fishing

If you like fishing, you can go to sea with a special excursion. The price includes transfer, everything for fishing, as well as lunch on board the fishing boat.

6.3. Dolphin Journey

Another excursion that the whole family can take is a boat ride in search of dolphins. In addition to watching dolphins (although it depends on your luck), the excursion includes a visit to mangrove forests, a mystical cave, and the island of Tan.

6.4. Sightseeing tour of the island

Many travel companies offer sightseeing tours around Samui. Basically, they all include visits to all the most interesting attractions. In 1 day you can see all the best on the island.

You can go on this excursion:

And if you are with your family or company, then one of these:

7. What else to do

7.1. Go to the evening market

We were at the evening market in Lamai (), and in the fishing village (Fisherman's Village). At the market you can buy all sorts of cool souvenirs, but the main thing is to have a very tasty dinner!

Once a week (Fisherman - on Friday, Lamai - on Sunday) walking street turns into a night fair of a wide variety of delicacies. There is so much to choose from here - from soup with 7 types of mushrooms or crocodile kebab to regular rolls or sweet waffles. Everything is prepared right in front of you - the freshest and most delicious.

7.2. Ride elephants

One of the most popular entertainment for tourists in Thailand. You can ride an elephant in Safari Park, coming here on your own or as part of an excursion:

This pleasure is not cheap, prices start from 500 baht for 15 minutes.

7.3. Go to one of the night pubs/clubs

There is simply a sea of ​​nightclubs on Koh Samui! Just get on your bike and ride around the tourist spots. Most of the clubs are located in the area of ​​Chaweng and Lamai, so if you want to live in a party place and visit such establishments more often, then it is better to immediately find yourself accommodation somewhere nearby, in the center of the island’s party life.

Reggae bar on Koh Samui

7.4. Explore the nearest islands

Koh Samui is a large island, but if you still want to go somewhere else, explore other beaches or snorkel, then it is better to go to the nearest islands. The easiest way is to go on an excursion to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan. The trip will cost from $76 per person.

7.5. Spend a day at a yoga center

You can sign up for a yoga class, but it’s more interesting to spend the whole day at a yoga center and combine yoga classes, a relaxing massage, relaxing in the pool and spa treatments. The price also includes three meals a day. You can view the details here:

What other interesting places on Samui do you know? Share secret information in the comments! Also write about your impressions of the island - what you liked and what you didn’t, where else would you like to go?

By the way, if you are just going to Koh Samui, but have not yet chosen a hotel, then I advise you to look at hotellook search engine site out of 5)

In the last article we discussed how to plan a trip to Koh Samui on your own, and in this article I will talk about what to do on Koh Samui, how to get around the island, where to eat, how to have fun and how much it costs🙂 Start here:

How to get around Koh Samui

Koh Samui is a big island, but there is no public transport here 🙁 No buses, no stops, etc. How to get around Koh Samui?

Songthaew

Songeto is something like a minibus - tuk-tuk. There is no timetable and no clear cost. Within one beach the price is 20 baht, between beaches 50-60 baht, from Nathon Pier to Lamai they want 100 baht per person, although there is a sign on the pier with a price of 60 baht. After 6 pm, the songthaew turns from a minibus into a taxi.

The other day I was traveling by songthaew from ours to the Festival Center in Chaweng. I paid 60 baht (I gave the money immediately without change), and all foreigners paid 100 baht per person!

Transport on Koh Samui is very expensive

Taxi

Taxis on the island are expensive. The taxi driver will not go for less than 200 baht, even if it takes 15 minutes to walk there. Between the nearest beaches 300 baht. Nathon - Lamai - 500-600 baht.

Moto taxi

This year a lot of motorcycle taxis have appeared on the island, but to be honest, I don’t risk riding with them :) Cost from 50 baht.

Car rental

The car can be rented both from numerous agencies and from network offices. For example, . The cost of renting a car is from 800 baht per day and from 12,000 baht per month.

Bike

Bike is the main means of transportation on Koh Samui. Mostly all tourists travel around the island on bikes. If you have never driven a bike, be extremely careful, especially in the mountains. It is better to learn and improve riding a bike in the south of the island – the roads there are almost always empty.

A bike is the most convenient means of transportation around the island

During the day there are not many cars on the roads of the island, but from 4 pm to 7 pm there are even traffic jams on the roads of Samui. One of the dangerous sections of the road is the hills between Lamai and Chaweng.

On the roads of Koh Samui

Cost of renting a bike on Koh Samui:

• Honda Click 125 - 150 - 250 baht per day or 3000-4000 baht per month
• Honda PCX 150 – 200 – 300 baht per day or 4000 – 6000 baht per month

In the high season (winter) prices are naturally higher than in the low season. Once in January we had difficulty finding a bike for a month; everyone wanted to rent it out only on a daily basis, because... it's more profitable.

Bike

The cost of renting a bicycle is almost equal to the cost of renting a bike, so it is more profitable to buy a bike and then sell it before leaving. But there are not many cyclists on the island; cycling around Samui is not very convenient, and sometimes even dangerous (just like walking!). We only saw a few tourists on bikes in the west and south of the island.

Things to do on Koh Samui

1. Explore all the beaches of Koh Samui

Lipa Noi Beach on Koh Samui

2. Visit the jungle and waterfalls

3. Admire the beauty of the island from numerous viewing platforms

In the mountains of Koh Samui
Stunning view from The Giant Summit Cafe

4. Look into the temples

There are many Buddhist temples on Koh Samui
One of the temples on Koh Samui

5. Travel to, in the mountains and visit the Fan Peninsula

Magic Garden on Koh Samui

6. Watch sunsets and sunrises

Sunset at Taling Ngam Beach

7. Visit neighboring islands,

Nang Yuan Island - view from the observation deck

8. Relax and enjoy a leisurely life in a tropical paradise :)

Evening walks on the beach

Food: shops and cafes on Koh Samui

Where to eat on Samui, what are the prices for food on Samui, how much money should you budget for food - these and other questions concern many vacationers, especially those who are traveling to Thailand for the first time.

There are no problems with food in Thailand :) There is a lot of food, there is food on every corner, everywhere they cook something, fry something, bake something :)

But not everyone will like Thai food; for example, I don’t like anything Thai other than spicy Tom Yum soup and Noodle soup. I don’t eat rice at all, and I didn’t like Pad Thai, although many tourists are crazy about Thai cuisine. If you do not like spicy food, then when ordering a dish always say: “Not spicy.” We love spicy food, but sometimes even for me, Thai food can be very spicy, especially in non-tourist places.

You can eat on Samui both very cheaply and expensively, it all depends on your appetite and financial capabilities.

Cheap street food, pop-up shops, evening markets on Koh Samui

Cheap food on Samui in street roadside cafes, markets, food courts of shopping centers, and evening markets. About our favorite places with cheap street food on Koh Samui:

Some prices for street food in Koh Samui

• Noodle soup with meat – 50 – 60 baht
• Dishes with rice and meat – 50-80 baht
• Tom Yam – 80 – 110 baht
• Rice – 10 baht
• Small kebab – 10 baht
• Fish baked in salt - from 150 baht
• Fruit shakes – from 30 baht
• Pancake with banana – from 40 baht

Inexpensive street food on Koh Samui

I must say that the prices on Samui for street food are more expensive than in Samui, and we haven’t found our favorite tasty places here yet :) It seems that everything is cheap, but for example, I can’t get enough of Tom Yam alone! I read on someone’s blog that people eat like this: rice and 2 kebabs (10+20 baht for a total of 30 baht). How??? We need to eat 2 dishes to be full. The portions are quite small. Those. you need at least 200 baht for two, or even more.

Cafes and restaurants on Koh Samui

There are a lot of cafes and restaurants on the island. Samui offers cuisines from different countries of the world, many pizzerias and Indian cafes, there are cafes with Russian, European, Mexican food, Australian steaks and various seafood. Cafes and restaurants are located both in shopping centers, on central streets, and on the seashore. Of course, Samui also has McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, Starbucks and other chain cafes.

Inexpensive pizzeria Napoli
On Koh Samui you can also organize a romantic dinner on the beach

Some prices in cafes on Koh Samui

• Pizza – from 200 baht
• Spaghetti – from 200 baht
• Borscht – from 100 baht
• Second course – from 200 baht
• American breakfast – 100 – 200 baht
• Cappuccino – 80-100 baht (at Starbucks from 125 baht)
• A piece of cake – 80-120 baht (at Starbucks from 135 baht)
• Ice cream at McDonald's - 50 baht
• Fruit shake – from 50 baht
• Alcoholic cocktail – 80 – 200 baht
• Glass of wine – 140 baht
• Beer 0.33 – 60-70 baht

The average bill for dinner for two is 500 – 1000 baht. We're living on Lamai Beach this year and haven't found our favorite places to dine yet. I wrote about our favorite places for dinner in the Maenam and Bophut area.

In the photo: rice with seafood - 90 baht, Tom Yum - 100 baht, large salami pizza - 230 baht, rice with seafood - 80 baht

Shops on Koh Samui

Any products in Saumi can be bought in numerous shops on the island. Read more about stores; in the near future I will try to write an article with current prices for products in stores for the summer of 2015.

The shops on Koh Samui have all the ingredients to prepare our usual dishes. In the photo: my signature borscht and lard salted by Lesha. Handmade dumplings 🙂 - not very beautiful, but tasty!

Fruits can be bought on the beach (expensive), at stands along the roads, in markets or in supermarkets. The cheapest market is the morning market in Maenam (open from 5 to 9 am, we sleep at this time). Fruit prices greatly depend on the season.

Some prices for fruits on Koh Samui (summer 2015)

• Pineapple – 30-40 baht per piece
• Watermelon – 20 baht per kg
• Small bananas – 20-30 baht per bunch
• Mangosteens – 40 baht per kg
• Dragon fruit – 50 baht per kg
• Green firm mango – from 30 baht per kg
• Sweet yellow mango – 80 – 120 baht per kg (now is not the season)
• Durians – 50 – 70 baht per kg (now is the high season for durians 🙂)

How much money do you need for food in Saumi?

If you come to Samui on vacation for only 2 weeks, I don’t think you will look for the cheapest cafes, but go where there is a pleasant atmosphere and a varied menu. Sometimes you want both dinner on the seashore and a cocktail or beer in a bar. Approximate cost per day for food for two:

• Breakfast in a cafe – 200-300 baht
• At lunch, a snack with fruits, sweets, water - 200-400 baht
• Dinner – 500 – 1000 baht

Total approximately 900 - 1700 baht per day for food on Koh Samui

Sports, massage, beauty

Sport

There are quite a few gyms and yoga studios on Samui; in Lamai alone I know three good (by Samui standards) gyms. Cost of visiting a gym on Koh Samui

• Single visit – 170 baht
• Monthly subscription – 1700 baht
• Subscription for 10 classes – 1300 baht
• Yoga – from 200 baht

Massage

The cheapest massage on Samui, oddly enough, is in Chaweng.

• Foot massage from 150 baht (in Lamai 200 baht)
• Thai massage 200 baht (on the beach from 300 baht)

Prices for various types of massage in one of the many salons in Lamai

beauty

I don’t trust Thai masters for manicures, pedicures, hair dyeing, and haircuts and only get them done by Russian girls. Prices are NOT low:

• Manicure 300 baht + gel polish 500 baht
• Pedicure 700 baht + gel polish 500 baht

I think that this is very expensive, I found only one girl who does manicure + pedicure + gel polish coating and all this for 1000 baht.

Hair dyeing one color + trimming bangs in a Russian hairdresser – 1700 baht

Just a cool monkey :)

Koh Samui Map

I hope my article will help you navigate and prepare well for your trip to Koh Samui :) If you still have any questions about the island, Please ask them in the comments to this article! You can also subscribe to blog news and my channel

Is it worth going to Koh Samui? Of course, without a doubt, definitely, on the first flight! Ask why there is so much emotion in response to such a simple question? Because I just returned from this wonderful island a month ago and I still can’t calm down from the emotions and impressions that have captured me.

This vacation left only positive emotions, a lot of positivity and a great desire to return to Koh Samui again.

Judge for yourself: magnificent nature; clean beaches that are cleaned every morning; gentle warm sea without a single wrinkle of the waves; very smiling and friendly Thai people. Without exaggeration, the food on the island is very, very tasty. Compared to Phuket, European food here is much better. If you ask for something not spicy, then the dish they bring is not spicy according to European standards, and not according to the standards of the Thais themselves (as was the case with us in Phuket).

Getting around the island is a pleasure. All roads are either asphalt or concrete with a very good quality of road surface. On the island you can rent a car or motorbike and calmly travel from one end to the other, completely independent of the whims of excursion tour operators. We rented a motorbike and enjoyed traveling around all corners of the island, and the road in the center of the island is also excellent, so it’s quite possible to overcome it even on a bike. The island itself is not large, and if you plan a trip to any attraction in the morning, you can calmly and leisurely ride there and back, and still have time... read more

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Weather on Koh Samui by months:

Month	Temperature		Cloudiness	Rainy days / Precipitation	Water temperature in the sea	Number of solar hours per day
	During the day	At night
January	29.3°C	27.3°C	37.8%	8 days (180.9 mm.)	28.0°C	11 o'clock 36m.
February	29.4°C	27.4°C	35.4%	4 days (53.7 mm.)	28.3°C	11 o'clock 49m.
March	30.3°C	28.1°C	28.8%	5 days (95.1 mm.)	29.2°C	12h. 4m.
April	31.4°C	28.9°C	23.0%	5 days (93.0 mm.)	30.2°C	12h. 20m.
May	32.3°C	29.6°C	25.2%	7 days (78.5 mm.)	30.8°C	12h. 33m.
June	32.1°C	29.1°C	35.2%	8 days (104.3 mm.)	30.2°C	12h. 40m.
July	31.7°C	28.7°C	37.1%	9 days (104.8 mm.)	29.6°C	12h. 37m.
August	31.6°C	28.5°C	35.7%	6 days (90.3 mm.)	29.4°C	12h. 26m.
September	31.2°C	28.3°C	38.0%	10 days (119.9 mm.)	29.3°C	12h. 10m.
October	30.9°C	28.3°C	35.5%	12 days (173.8 mm.)	29.2°C	11 o'clock 55m.
November	30.7°C	28.5°C	39.1%	16 days (308.3 mm.)	29.2°C	11 o'clock 42m.
December	29.9°C	27.9°C	40.4%	12 days (238.3 mm.)	28.4°C	11 o'clock 35m.

*This table displays weather averages collected over more than three years

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How much does a holiday on Koh Samui cost? August 2017.

tour cost

I planned the excursions and the entire trip myself. Tickets for two adults + one year old child (Novosibirsk-Bangkok-Samui-Hong Kong-Novosibirsk) about 60 thousand rubles (tickets were purchased in Tomsk, at the place of residence). Visas for a month are free, we went once for a visa run to Madaisia, after which we lived quietly for another month. We didn't pay for the transfer - we were met by a guy we knew in a car. In total, we lived for 2 months without 4 days. We rented a house for 2 months for 15,000 baht (30,000 rubles/month).

We took only 1 excursion from the SamuiDays company - to the Paradise Park National Park (with a child it cost 6,500 rubles for three)

Food and products

On average, food cost 500 baht per day - about 1000 rubles. With this money we could easily eat in large shopping centers like BigSea on the 4th floor in the food court, in small eateries, of which there are a lot on the island. Sometimes we bought ready-made food at 7/11 or FamilyMart. We didn’t cook it ourselves. We didn’t go to expensive restaurants either. For example, a large portion of Tom Yam, or chicken noodles, costs 40-50-60 baht (80-120 rubles). Beer on average is about 90-120 rubles. We bought fruits at the markets, but they were more expensive than we even got - bananas from 70 baht (140 rubles), pineapple 80 baht (160 rubles).

Where is the best place to stay?

Hotel Anjali is a 3* mini-hotel located next to Maenam Beach. I had a room with an ocean view. There are many cafes and restaurants nearby. Of the minuses: glass doors did not provide good sound insulation, as a result of which street noise was often heard. Despite this, I was very pleased with the choice: reasonable price, nice spacious room, very friendly staff and magnificent view.

The breakfasts seemed a little overpriced to me (as it later turned out), so I went to nearby cafes.

Maenam Beach is a very long beach located in the north of the island. Pleasant sand, good deep sea, practically no waves. Gentle entry into the sea. Along the beach there is a palm grove where you can hide from the sun. The beach, in my opinion, is suitable for people who prefer a relaxing holiday or for families with children. There are few cafes and bars, and the beach is generally not crowded. In the evening, only a few bars are open and you will hardly see anyone on the beach.

Next to Maenam Beach is Bo Phut Beach and is radically different from its neighbor: in the evenings it is fun and crowded. I really liked the embankment. It seemed to me that the place was more suitable for youth recreation.

Lamai Beach is a sparsely populated beach (at least it was like that in March). Hotel beaches are equipped with everything necessary; no showers were seen on the rest of the territory; toilets are only for cafe visitors. You can get sun loungers there, but there are not too many of them and not enough for everyone (100 baht). If you don’t have an umbrella, you’ll have to bask in the sun, since there is no (or almost no) natural shade on the beach. The beach is quite long. I was in its southern part: a deep sea with large boulders that you can suddenly stumble upon while swimming. It was stormy for several days, I understand that this is not uncommon in March.

Where can I eat?

I really liked Mae Nam (Maenam Beach): excellent cuisine at the level of a good expensive restaurant, despite the fact that the prices are average. I note that they are not lower in comparison with other places, but in most cases the cuisine was inferior in comparison with Mae Nam. In addition, the establishment is distinguished by high quality service. Excellent presentation of food.

About the quality of food and service

Good cuisine (with rare exceptions). Service varied, sometimes there was a long wait.

How much does it cost to eat? About food prices.

Breakfast is around 150 baht (not far from the hotel) - mainly coffee and something to go with it. Lunch cost me about 150-200 baht: as a rule, it was limited to one or two dishes, depending on the size of the portions, since the portions are often large, and I am, in principle, a restrained eater. It could be: pizza (180-280 baht), seafood salad (80-130 baht), vegetable salad (70-90 baht), chicken salad (100-130 baht), fresh juice (60-80 baht), soup (60-80 baht). Fast food was also present: burgers (130-150 baht), tuna or chicken sandwich (100-130 baht). As for dinner, it turned out differently depending on the place and mood.

Mae Nam: rice with shrimp and vegetables – 120 baht, fresh juice – 60 baht, tom yum – 150 baht, seafood salad – 139 baht, burrito – 195 baht, pineapple baked rice – 160 baht, coconut shake – 80 baht.