Ko Samui Tourism And Travel Guide

One of the most favourite destinations for a myriad of travelers from around the world, Koh Samui is much more than just beaches. Being the second largest island in the gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui offers beautiful beaches, cliffs and heavy doses of beautiful scenery to the relaxing tourists. While the travelers can hang a hammock and relax in the palm groves watching the sun go down, they can also go out to party to their heart’s content. There is also a lot to look forward to for the yoga and wellness enthusiasts.

While Koh Samui has a beautifully sunny weather during a majority of months in the year, the best time to visit Koh Samui is between January to April when the humidity is low. The destination also witnesses 2 months of rainfall, making it a green paradise. This is one of the most travelled tourist destinations in the world, offering a bit of something to everybody. Here is a tourism and travel guide to Ko Samui for your next travel plan.

An island just off Kra Isthmus in Thailand, Koh Samui can be best reached via road or by air. The island has its own international airport and is also easily connected via Bangkok’s Svarnabhumi Airport and Don Mueang Airport.

By Air:

One can very conveniently travel from India to Koh Samui by way of flights. All the major cities of India, including Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore and Chennai are directly connected with Koh Samui via Bangkok. The average flight time is approximately 6 hours, making it a preferred mode of transportation.

By Road:

Offering an exciting ride to travel junkies, India to Thailand is connected by way of a trilateral highway via Myanmar. This journey of 4300 km starts at Moreh in Manipur and terminates at Mae Sot Tak in Bangkok. Once there, you can take a bus to Surat Theni and an ongoing ferry to Koh Samui.

Getting Around:

Koh Samui is an island and the best way to explore it is by way of a bicycle. Other options include tuk-tuk and scooter taxi.

Koh Samui offers a pleasant weather to its travelers round the year. While summer is the main season around here, the island also witnesses rainfall for two months, making this an ideal place to be at. The best time to visit Koh Samui is between the months of January to April owing to a warm and sunny weather. It is advisable to plan your trip according to the weather.

Summer (June to August): 

With a hot sun, the months from June to August become a little warm for the tourists. Offering a good visibility of the beach and the perfect time to be a water baby, the tourists can enjoy water activities like surfing, kayaking, swimming and many others. It is a good time to hang the hammock and see the sun go down. This is also the time for the onset of rains.

Monsoons (September to November):

Witness torrential rains during the months of September to November in Koh Samui. While the island does become green and is a welcome relief from the blazing sun, it is almost impossible to enjoy the beach during this time. However, tourists may indulge in shopping and a bit of sightseeing.

Winter (December to February):

The months from December to February are the best time to visit Koh Samui. The sun is refreshingly warm and one can find greenery all around. Water activities like scuba diving and snorkelling are best done during this time. With almost no rain, January and February are pretty dry.

While Koh Samui offers a bit of something to everyone, here are a few things that the visitors may want to try:

Scuba Diving:

Explore the marine life of the waters of Koh Samui with Scuba Diving. One can spot corals here, making Thailand one of the most favourable spots for Scuba Diving in the entire world. 

Sea Kayaking:

Explore the beautiful coves in the waters of Koh Samui and make the sea your friend. While this is mostly a couple activity, one can go solo too.

Beach Parties:

How can you go to Thailand and not party hard on its beaches? Cheweng Beach, one of the most hip places in Koh Samui, is always sparkling with beautiful lights and invites tourists to party from dusk till dawn. The Full Moon Party at Koh Phangan is also worth attending.

Spa Treatments:

How can you go to Thailand and not get at least 4 massages a day? It's the mandatory thing to do here. Relax and rejuvenate with spa sessions in Koh Samui. Undertaken by professional spa therapists, these sessions relax your body and are worth every penny.

Koh Samui, a melting pot of cultures, offers a wide variety of cuisines including Thai, Chinese and Indian. High on spices, the use of turmeric, cardamom, cinnamon and cloves in many dishes make them aromatic and flavourful. Most commonly available items are Thai Curry and Rice, Coconut jam, chicken soup, and sea foods featuring octopus and a variety of fish. One can also try Chicken Satay, Pad Thai, Kway Tiao, Panckaes and fruits.

To find local flavours, one can visit Ban Lamai, Ban Chaweng, Ban Meanam, Ban Choeng Mon and Bo Phut.

From flea markets to huge emporiums, Koh Samui has it all. If one is looking for street-style jewellery, clothes, beachwear and sportswear, Chaweng Beach Road Shopping is one of the best options. Fisherman’s Village Walking Street lists downs boutique stores, affordable cameras and other electronic items. Other shopping venues include Lamai Night Plaza and Maenam Walking Street.