Attractions
Amongst the many attractions to visit on the island are several beautiful waterfalls in the jungle, where you can swim in the refreshing pools, surrounded by lush, shady foliage. Many of the
temples,
or Wats are worth visiting, the most popular being the Big Buddha temple, Wat Phra Yai, where Thailand’s largest seated Buddha figure looms over an island peninsula on
the northwest coast of Samui. If your visit coincides with Loy Kratong, the festival of light in November, or Songkran, Thai New Year in April, don't miss the huge celebratory festivals held at the Wat.
Please remember when visiting temples, to remove your shoes at the entrance, and to dress and behave respectfully. Climbing on,
or defacing Buddha effigies is a criminal offence, and swimwear is not considered suitable attire in temples. Monks are celibate, and it is not acceptable for women to touch them, even for a group
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Natural erosion has created the incredible sculptures of the grandmother and grandfather rocks on the coast south of Lamai, which bear uncanny resemblance to aroused genitalia. High in the
mountains you can visit Heaven's garden, where a collection of sculptures has been created around a series of cascading waterfalls. The artist, Nim Thongsuk, created the sculptures, which are based
on Buddhist scriptures, between the ages of 77 and 91.
Tropical family fun can be found at the monkey theatre, aquarium, butterfly garden, crocodile farm, snake farm, elephant trekking sites, and zoo, where you can pet and bottle-feed the tigers.
Unique to Samui, and the most recommended animal adventure is swimming with sea lions.
Dining
Samui offers a lot of restaurants with superb cuisine from all over the world. The food is fairly safe and all the major credit card are accepted by. As having your own kitchen in the villa,
it affords you the possibility of shopping in the local markets for seafood, fruits, and vegetables, many of which you may have never tried before. You may shop in the major supermarket or check out
the market which is down the villa. There is a morning markets in Maenam, while Nathon, Laemdin in Chaweng, and Lamai have farmers markets open from dawn until dark. The best fish market is Big Buddha
outside the temple, where you can buy fresh catches directly from the fishermen, or their wives. The Tesco-Lotus superstore, Big C and Macro offer all the supplies you may need and they all open 7
days a week.
Shopping
All the holiday essentials are widely available around the island. Chaweng offers the greatest range of boutiques, with everything from clothes, books, souvenirs, and art, to drug stores
and opticians. Lamai and Nathon also offer similar arrays of goods, with many bargains to be found, or made after some haggling. Tesco-Lotus superstore stocks a huge array of goods in it’s
air-conditioned halls with the luxury of fixed prices.
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Massage is an essential part of life in Thailand, and can be found all over the island Numerous massage parlours and beach masseuses can offer Thai or oil massages, and there are many luxury
spas offering a wide range of treatments around the island. It is very easy to organize massage in the comfort of your home by contacting any of the spas or parlours directly.
Nightlife
Restaurants, bars, and clubs are found all over the island, from the beaches to the hilltops, but the largest and busiest nightclubs are found in Chaweng and Lamai and they open until 2 am.
Sport
Golf is a new thing in Samui with the impressive 18 hole championship Santiburi golf course now open. There is a motor cross track,
with both ATVs and dirt bikes, and a Go-cart circuit. Two bungee jumping centers offer adrenaline charges in Chaweng and Lamai. Samui shooting sport provides an impressive arsenal of weapons to test
your marksmanship. Ten-pin bowling can be found in Chaweng. Thai boxing can be studied at a training academy, and practiced at the stadium. Pool is probably the most popular sport on the island, with
many halls, and tables in most bars.
Water sports can be found at most of the beaches with operators offering rentals of sea kayaks, windsurfers, and Nacra beach catamarans. Larger yachts available for tours and charter include Kia-Ora, a 52-foot catamaran, and Tangaroa, a Chinese junk. Power boats offer diving trips, water skiing, wake boarding, and excursions to surrounding islands. Jet-skis can be hired in Chaweng and Bophut. The clear waters around Samui offer great snorkeling opportunities, and SCUBA diving schools and tours offer dives at all the best sites.
Events
Major annual festivities on Samui include New Year, Chinese New Year in February, Songkran (Thai New Year) in April. There is the full moon party in Ko Phangan each month and it attracts a lot of visister.
Health
Samui has four well equipped, modern hospitals, all employing Western doctors. Several alternative health centers offer a variety of treatments, including Ayurvedic therapy, acupuncture,
cleansing and fasting programs, yoga, reflexology, and Tai chi. In the event of diving accidents, a hyperbaric chamber centre is available for emergency recompression. Over the counter medication
is available from the island’s many drugstores, including the international chains, Boots, and Watsons.
Weather
The weather on Samui although tropical, is moderated by the shelter of the Gulf of Siam, which keeps the island free of monsoons, typhoons, and cyclones. Average air temperatures range from
23 to 33 degrees centigrade, and there is generally a refreshing sea breeze to be found on the northern and western shores.
Check the weather on Samui now at www.weatheronline.co.uk.
Transport and schedules
Cars, Jeeps, and motorcycles are widely available for rent, as are taxis and limousines. Ferries operate regular services
to the mainland, Koh Tao, and Koh Phangan.
Surrounding islands
The most fantastic islands in the Gulf of Siam can be found in the Anthong National Marine Park, which can be visited on speedboat tours
for snorkeling and sea kayaking amongst the 40 undeveloped islands. Of the inhabited local islands, the most developed are Koh Tao and Koh Phangan, which can only be reached by ferry or speedboat.
Both islands are favoured by divers and backpackers, although higher standard accommodation is also available.
