- Koh Samui beaches
- Ang Thong National Park
- Religious buildings of the island
- Attractions on Koh Samui
- Delicious points on the map
- Children's holiday on Koh Samui
Koh Samui is a popular beach destination in Thailand. The largest in the Champon archipelago, it has the second largest area among all the islands of the kingdom after Phuket. Until the 70s. of the last century, few people heard about Samui, until it was chosen by travelers who prefer to rest "savages" in the bosom of nature and far from civilization. Backpackers set a new direction, and after a couple of decades, infrastructure appeared on Koh Samui: hotels, a ferry crossing and even an international airport. Visitors to the island are not limited to just a beach holiday, although the coast here is one of the most beautiful in the region. If you are going on a trip and looking for information on where to go in Koh Samui, pay attention to the national park, Buddhist temples and natural attractions.
Koh Samui beaches
If you collect all the sights of the island on one side of the scales, and put the beaches of Samui on the second, it is not a fact that the first will outweigh. No wonder that fans of recreation in Southeast Asia claim that the island is a real beach paradise, and its shores deserve to occupy the highest lines in the ranking of the world's most beautiful resorts.
There are more than three dozen beaches on Koh Samui, among which the most famous are called:
- Chaweng Beach is a straight stretch of coastline with perfect white sand, beautiful sea and many entertainment options. Those who have chosen it for a vacation on Koh Samui do not have to wonder where to go to have fun. Chaweng is considered the informal center of the resort. Dozens of establishments are concentrated on it - restaurants, bars, clubs, massage parlors and spas.
- The wealthiest travelers stay at Chaweng Noi. The reason is the largest selection of luxury hotels. You can get to the sea on Chaweng Noi only through the reception of some of the hotels.
- Perfect photo shoots can be arranged at Lam Nan Beach. The sea on this part of the coast is very shallow, but the color shades of the water are striking in their diversity. The surrounding landscapes are also ideal.
- Experienced swimmers often swim on Lamai. The depth begins on this Koh Samui beach almost immediately off the coast. Reverse currents are not uncommon on Lamai, with which beginners may not be able to cope.
- Kitesurfers hang out in Nahai. The bottom here is clear of stones, the depth begins only after a few tens of meters, and a convenient access is organized to the beach. On Nahai Beach, you will find kitesurfing schools.
- Bang Khao beach in the southeast of the island looks original. There are few tourists here, the hotels are beach bungalows with no special amenities, and there are several Buddhist temples in the southern part of the beach.
- If you are planning to make trips to the mainland, choose Lipa Noi Beach, located near the Raja Ferry Pier. Ferries depart from it. The sea in this part of the island is not too deep, and even children can swim safely on Lipa Noi.
The best beach for families on Koh Samui is considered to be Menam. It stretches for 4 km in the northern part of the island. From the pier in Maenam, high-speed catamarans leave for the national park and the small islands of the Champon archipelago, and there are several restaurants and diving equipment rental centers on the beach itself.
Ang Thong National Park
The most famous attraction of Samui is Ang Thong National Marine Park. It is worth going there on a high-speed catamaran or yacht, even if you are not a diver, have never been snorkeling and generally prefer a contemplative vacation. Located in the Gulf of Thailand, the South China Sea, the reserve includes 42 islands and occupies about 100 sq. km. The most beautiful park was formed in 1980.and has since been protected by the state. Angthong is referred to by divers around the world as the "Golden Pool", but its beauty can be appreciated from the board of a kayak or yacht.
The landscapes of the park are a combination of bizarre limestone rocks that grow out of the water and are covered with emerald tropical greenery. The waters are full of colorful fish and corals, and the color of the sea is amazing for photographers.
The climate in this part of the Gulf of Thailand is influenced by the monsoons, and the rainy season lasts from May to November. The greatest amount of precipitation falls in autumn. The best time to visit the National Marine Park near Koh Samui is early spring.
Religious buildings of the island
As elsewhere in the Kingdom of Thailand, Koh Samui is home to many Buddhist temples and buildings. The most famous among them are Wat Khunaram and Laem Sor.
One of the most revered shrines of the Khunaram monastery is the mummy of Luang Pho Deng, who was the abbot of the monastery and predicted his own mummification. After his death, the body was truly magically mummified, and many tourists come every day to look at the temple and the remains of a monk sitting in a glass cube in a traditional orange toga and for some reason wearing dark glasses.
The pagoda at the Laem Sor temple is interesting for its location. It is located on the seashore, an ordinary road leads to it, and the structure suddenly appears on the horizon, soaring into the sky like a gilded spire. The entrance to the pagoda is preceded by two tall sculptures depicting mighty warriors, and a figure of Buddha is installed inside.
The sacred deity is represented on Koh Samui more than once, and you can go to the largest Buddha on the island, being near the Maenam beach. Big Buddha is installed on the Fan Island, connected to Samui by the isthmus. The Buddha is covered with gilding, its height is 12 meters, and the deity sits in the traditional lotus position. The Buddha was seated on Phan Island in 1972 and since then it has been considered the most important shrine for local residents and a tourist attraction for guests. You will have to climb to the Buddha barefoot on a staircase of 60 steps. A bonus for the conquerors will be magnificent views of the surroundings and the sea from the foot of the sculpture.
Attractions on Koh Samui
The list of the few attractions of the resort includes a few more objects, where a tourist's foot will certainly step, even if he flew on vacation with the unshakable intention of “just relaxing on the beach”:
- The history of the creation of the Magic Garden of Buddha began many years ago. A local farmer who grows the durian fruit, popular with food extremists, decided to collect sculptures in order to create heaven on earth. For a decade, Nim Thongsuk and his wife have set up sculptures of Buddha and other deities and mythical creatures in the forest surrounding their home. Nobody knows the exact number of monuments, and the statues appear in front of the guests of the park very unexpectedly. They seem to emerge from the thickets of tropical bushes, visitors begin to think that they have failed at another time or even another dimension. There is also a crypt in the Magic Garden of Buddha, where the creator of the park and his wife are buried. The garden is located in the mountains at the peak of Khao Yai.
- An excursion to a rum distillery near Bang Khao looks much more prosaic against the background of the previous adventure, but it doesn't make it more boring. Rum appeared on Koh Samui thanks to immigrants from France who settled in the south of the island. The settlers began to use local sugarcane, but the equipment, according to rumors, was brought from a distant homeland. One way or another, a rum distillery on Koh Samui is a place worth going even for staunch teetotalers. It is not even the tasting that is mesmerizing, but the story of how the process of making the drink, which has already become a kind of symbol of the island, takes place. Many ingredients are added to rum on Koh Samui, and you can buy coconut, lemon, banana and other drinks as souvenirs.
- Samui waterfalls occupy a worthy place among natural attractions. The picturesque Khin-Lad is especially famous, which can be found not far from Nathon. Walking through the jungle in anticipation of meeting a cool miracle is already a great pleasure in itself, but the result of the excursion, believe me, will exceed all expectations. The water falls down in several steps, forming a natural pool at the foot of the cascade. The color of the water and its purity defy description, and therefore everyone who is fortunate enough to swim in Khin-Lada has difficulty choosing words to leave a review about the excursion.
The list of places worth visiting on Koh Samui looks incomplete without Grandma and Grandpa - rocks that imperceptibly or even quite distinctly, depending on the angle, resemble human reproductive organs. The stone couple rises in the southern part of Lamai Beach and is popular with anyone who collects photos for a memorable trip album.
Delicious points on the map
Despite the common culinary traditions, Samui restaurateurs are ready to fight for the client, inventing their own chips and giving their establishments special significance in the eyes of tourists. For example, at the Relax sunset bar & restaurant in Bang Po you can sip a cocktail while lying in a hammock by the sea, while at Brown Sugar on Lamai you will not be able to splurge even if you spend all your free time there - its owner guarantees such pleasant prices. Listening to Bob Marley's hits is best at Reggae Bar in Bang Po, tasting Chicken Masala at Babu’s Indian Hut in Maenam, and you can taste the perfect hummus at Nadimos, which is kept by a family of hospitable Lebanese in Bangrak. Order pasta at Pepenero on Chaweng! There she can be washed down with real Chianti. Try Enchilados on the same beach, but only in Gringos, and mariachi and sombrero songs are included by default!
Children's holiday on Koh Samui
Going to the resort with the whole family, be sure to study the question of where to go with the children when the beach begins to cause them a completely natural yawning reflex. The Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo - a complex on the territory of which an aquarium and a zoo are located - will come to the aid of parents. In the marine part, you will not only get acquainted with the inhabitants of the underwater fauna of the Gulf of Thailand and the adjacent seas, but also feed the turtles, whose size inspires respectful respect. Numerous felines are widely represented in the zoo - from traditional tigers to lions, cheetahs and leopards. Tabby cats participate in the show every day, and the rest of the time, guests are entertained by the inhabitants of the primate enclosure. The park is located in the southeast of Koh Samui next to Natien and Laem Set beaches.
