Thailand Travel Information - Samui
Hotfoot your way to one of Thailand's most popular islands where beautiful beaches and the good life beckon
Samui is an island getaway that's almost a compulsory stopover for devout sun-worshippers wishing to admire Thailand's renowned beaches. From the secluded, inaccessible island of yesteryear to the popular island peppered with plush hotels Samui has morphed into today, the island stands proud as a lush island destination - a combination of rustic charm and excess modernity.
The legion of backpackers who visited the island during its eighties hippies' heydays will remember the Reggae Bar, the Green Mango, or even Munchies and its "magic omelettes". Today, all these hangouts have been undermined by the more plush and commercially viable venues.
Although the mushrooming of infrastructure continues as part of the island's ongoing development, Samui's laid-back roots which helped to catapult it to its status as a tourist heavyweight today, remain. The backpacker huts are still there, the coconut trees and yoga aficionados still gather in droves, and it is this eclectic mix of the old and the new that characterizes not only Samui, but much of Thailand's islands.
To get a taste of history, visit Naa Thon and walk down alleys lined with Hainan-influenced teak shophouses. Samui's north coast is made up of Bo Phut (pronounced Baw-Poot) and Haad Bangrak, also known as Big Buddha Beach.
The east coast is blessed with clearer waters but the trade-off is there's no sense of privacy. Chaweng Beach is known as much for its powdery sand and swimmable waters as much it is for wild beach parties that go on until the wee hours of the morning. If it's tranquility you're after, then Phang Ka (on the southwestern tip) or Laem Set might be just what you're looking for.
The crystal clear waters of Lamai Bay means it's very popular with visitors and has inevitably become a bit of a tourist trap so avoid it at all costs.
The legion of backpackers who visited the island during its eighties hippies' heydays will remember the Reggae Bar, the Green Mango, or even Munchies and its "magic omelettes". Today, all these hangouts have been undermined by the more plush and commercially viable venues.
Although the mushrooming of infrastructure continues as part of the island's ongoing development, Samui's laid-back roots which helped to catapult it to its status as a tourist heavyweight today, remain. The backpacker huts are still there, the coconut trees and yoga aficionados still gather in droves, and it is this eclectic mix of the old and the new that characterizes not only Samui, but much of Thailand's islands.
To get a taste of history, visit Naa Thon and walk down alleys lined with Hainan-influenced teak shophouses. Samui's north coast is made up of Bo Phut (pronounced Baw-Poot) and Haad Bangrak, also known as Big Buddha Beach.
The east coast is blessed with clearer waters but the trade-off is there's no sense of privacy. Chaweng Beach is known as much for its powdery sand and swimmable waters as much it is for wild beach parties that go on until the wee hours of the morning. If it's tranquility you're after, then Phang Ka (on the southwestern tip) or Laem Set might be just what you're looking for.
The crystal clear waters of Lamai Bay means it's very popular with visitors and has inevitably become a bit of a tourist trap so avoid it at all costs.
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Breakfast on the beach at The Library Resort
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YL Residence No. 17 exclusive luxury
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Lazy days by the pool at Suralai Villas
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W Retreat, where white-glove luxury is the norm
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The Gurich Samui's luxurious pool villa
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The Scent Hotel overlooking Bangrak Beach
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