Koh Samui

Beautifully located in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui is an island paradise that will captivate every visitor.

Its beautiful beaches are its brightest gems. But, the island is not just about glittering coastlines – teeming sea wildlife and ecosystems, historical and cultural locations, tranquil and priceless landscaped and bustling day and nightlife are parts of its allure. These are reasons enough to visit Koh Samui and these will be just part of the reasons to not leave when you’re already there.

Attractions

Of course, when talking about an island paradise, we can not start without featuring its exhilarating beaches – Koh Tao or Turtle Island is just one of them. The island is also a valiant advocate of preservation as evidenced by the magnificent underwater sights in the Angthong National Marine Park. Other than these natural blessings, the island is also teeming with cultural and historical spots like the Big Gilded Buddha and entertaining Ladyboy Cabaret Shows. Such examples are just a few of the surprises waiting in the island.

Getting There

There are two practical ways to arrive in Koh Samui, but they have a big price difference. The affordable one is via a domestic flight from Bangkok to Surat Thani, the nearby mainland district from the island, and then a ferry ride to Koh Samui – the downside of this option is the additional travel time of up to 4 hours. The convenient and faster alternative is to take a direct flight to Koh Samui from Bangkok – just watch out for those prices.

Money Matters

The island is a tourist hub, and this means that the local economy is thriving and hence, a lot of financial institutions are offering their services. Rightfully so, the city area of the island is teeming with ATMs from different banks. Most of the island establishments also accept card transactions. Still, the most practical decision is to bring a sizeable amount of cash, as hidden charges might catch you off guard. The local currency is the Thai Baht (THB), and the US Dollar is the easiest currency to exchange it with.

Weather

The best time to visit Koh Samui depends on your fancy actually. But, here are some tips that might help you decide accordingly. The island is in the tropics and only has two seasons: rainy and dry. The rainy season falls from October to December, when the monsoons are strong and rainfall is abundant. The sunniest months with small chances of drizzles are felt from February to March. April is its peak as it is the hottest month with lots of clear skies. On the other hand, the coolest time to visit Koh Samui is during January. So if you’re a beach-goer, then the best time is around February to April.

Getting Around

There are a lot of transportation options in Koh Samui – the tourist industry forced the transportation sector of the island to meet its demands. These transport services come in the form of the songthaew (customised pick-up trucks turned into a jeepney type), taxis, scooter taxis, scooter rentals, motorbikes, and cars, and dependable walking. Aside from walking which will save you a lot of money and boost your health, the songthaews are the most affordable way to explore the island. Albeit, it isn’t as comfortable as taxis or rented cars. But, if you want to have free rein and get the maximum local experience, rent a scooter or motorbike – you will get addicted.

Food

There are a lot of influences in Koh Samui cuisines – the island’s food establishments had also come to terms on how to prepare Western dishes and Western variants of local dishes to suit most tourists. But, of course, Koh Samui is still part of Thailand and Thailand’s favourite ingredients include chillis and coconut milk, so expect these two to still be used. The fresh seafood catch of the island is served to tourists with explosive flavours – especially on the spicy side. Their curry and rice dishes and even snacks are abundant with the richness of coconut milk, it’s just purely mouthwatering. Both of these strong flavours are highlighted in Koh Samui’s seafood Tom Yum. A masterpiece of seafood – delicious huge shrimps as an example – and a broth complete in flavours with the prominence of milkiness and spiciness.

Koh Samui’s paradise status has been cemented by the experiences of multiple tourists’ memorable experiences. So, what are you waiting for? You will never regret adding your voice to those who say “The Koh Samui Vacation was one of the best travel decisions I’ve ever made!”