Ko Samui Nathon Shopping Area Nathon town is Samui's administrative centre.
Visit Nathon to do some real shopping at very low prices. The Nathon Shopping area, Ko Samui, is one of the main shopping and stalls are spread on the two main roads at Nathon and they sell silk goods, shoes, souvenirs, electronic and household silver, gold and precious gems. You can also head for Nathon Books for a wide range of books of different genres. Mart is one of the most famous departmental stores in Nathon shopping area, Koh Samui, and they sell everything from international
Chaweng Beach covers a large portion of the island's northeast coast, and is easily the most crowded and tourist saturated region on the island. The beach itself, while beautiful and clean often suffers from seasonal overcrowding as ever increasing numbers of visitors discover the island. Several hotels, ranging from budget resorts to luxury villas line up the shore. Restaurants are set right along the beachside, making Chaweng Beach seem to glow from within the sands.
Set back about 100 meters from the sand the one way beach road in Chaweng has developed into a bustling international tourist town packed with every kind of resort, restaurant, and bar (ranging from busy traditional family-run open air sea food and noodle Thai at Ninja, through exclusive Thai-Californian fusion food at Francesco's Bellini to Irish Pubs and American Fast Food places McDonald's and Starbucks), Fine art, tailors, and souvenir shops, markets and wild, rambunctious, or chilled out nightclubs.
It gets ultra busy on the beach road at night with a crazy and colorful mix of pedestrians, motorcycles, and 'Songtaos', or small truck-taxis carrying people up and down the village. Chaweng is a jumping place with people exploring the shops (which also stay open late) and dancing the night away. There is plenty of nightlife, and Soi Green Mango is ground zero for a raging club and bar scene that typically peaks between midnight and two am.
In the summer months the waters in Chaweng can occasionally have some wind swell & surf, so be prepared for strong rip tides or side shore currents. The waters are shallow, but inexperienced swimmers should either stay close to shore or swim with other people.
Map Of Koh Samui
Lamai Beach, Also on the East coast is Lamai, just south of Chaweng and smaller, but Lamai's beaches are clean and occasionally less crowded than Chaweng. Lamai was the original destination for travelers to Samui, and compared to Chaweng the town is a bit more tawdry and low budget, but it has its own distinct charms.
Greater Lamai is actually a large and beautiful valley, and as one travels inland away from the beach village the landscape is striking. Lamai has some pretty outrageous 'social' bars in the middle of town, and the once a week all girl Muay Thai boxing matches always seem to draw an eclectic crowd. Lamai has a lovely old Wat(temple), and is also the location of two of the most endearing original spas on the island, one on the beach, a hipster paradise called 'The Spa', and the other called 'Tamarind Springs', which has long been the class act on the island.
Maenam Beach,In the center of the North coast of the island, Maenam offers spectacular views of Ko Phangan to the North, and the Ang Thong National Marine Park to the East. The waters are calm and clean, being protected from the North Easterly currents by Ko Phangan. Because the sans are golden rather than white Meanam is usually much less crowded than Lamai or Chaweng, and Maenam's restaurants and bars still retain much of the local Thai flavor as well as being more reasonably priced, or even inexpensive. Overall Maenam is quieter, more relaxed, with local Thai community still pretty much intact. Meanam is also home to the Santiburi Resort, still considered by many to be the premier hotel on the island. The major golf course on the island is also in Maenam.
Bophut is the beach/bay just to the east of Maenam. Its lifestyle is relaxed and more traditional than the larger communities, referring to itself as Fisherman's Village. Bhophut's laid back vibe is popular with the more chic sort of travelers, and has a number of pricey but very good French-owned cafes and restaurants.
Big Buddha : Wat Pra Yai.,Bo Phut
Bang Rak, just two kilometers east of Bhophut, and part of Bhophut 'province' is also known by the name Big Buddha Beach, after the 19-metre gold tinted statue of the ancient spiritual master which overlooks the entire bay (Big Buddha). Bang Rak is quite close to the airport, and is one of the calmest beaches, though the huge sweep of its jade colored waters are often a bit murky. Bang Rak is the jump off point to sister island Ko Phan Ngan, and the ferry goes every day.
Choeng Mon is one of the smallest of Samui's tourist beaches, but lies in a secluded bay on the northeastern tip of the island, making it perfect for those who want peace and quiet. It doesn't have much of a town but there are a number of small restaurants and a couple of shops, in addition to some very luxurious (and expensive) hotels that surround the bay...and it is only five minutes north from the bright lights of Chaweng.
Ao Tong Takian is a small cove north of Lamai beach. It's long been popular among stoners and hip tourists for its inviting white sand, and is also known as Silver Beach. Here you will find five resorts: La Mer Samui Resort, the Samui Yacht Club (with no yachts or sailors at all), Tong Ta Kian Villa, Silver beach, and Crystal Bay. This used to be a relatively unknown spot. There is great swimming here if the local fishing boats are not around. Be a careful if you are walking in the water, as Tong Takian has a lot of sharp rocks.
Nathon on the Southwestern coast is the island's main port and the beaches here lack the beauty or deep water found on the east coast of the island. The city of Nathon offers great shopping with some of the best prices to be found anywhere on the island, as well as some truly good local restaurants, including a fantastic place on a side street where you can get a low priced Chinese Duck lunch. The open-air food market is piled high with inexpensive and fresh local produce. Some of the shops in Nathon are really offbeat, selling umbrellas, computer parts, stationary, and cheese in a single shop. Banks and Travel agencies here make it happen for travelers, and the ferry to the mainland and point beyond departs from this port.
Lipa Noi is really the only useful swimming beach on the west coast, and its wide sweep of sand is the last quiet place on the island. Lipa Noi faces due west and looks directly into the stunning Thai sunsets. It won't last long, but this is the part of the island where you can still feel like you are free from the tourist circus. It's really romantic, and there is not much to do.
Tong Krut on the South West corner of the island is currently one of the quieter areas of Ko Samui and is being proposed as the site for the islands future mega-yacht harbor.
Koh Samui, situated off the East coast in Southern Thailand, is the largest of an archipelago of more than 59 islands, for the greater part uninhabited, the Angthong Marine National Park (The Golden Bowl).
Of a surface area of about 253 square kilometres, it is the third largest island of the Kingdom after Phuket and Koh Chang. The most close continental city is Suratthani at about 84 kilometres westwards.
Discovered at the beginning of the 70s by backpackers when there were only huts without electricity and tap water, and a population which lived mainly on the fishing and coconut plantations. Presently, Koh Samui still sends more than 2 million of coconuts a month to Bangkok.
Tropical island lined with coconut palms and with white sandy beaches, Samui is connected several times a day by boats and planes. It is part of Suratthani's province.
Within two decades, Samui became a choice destination in Asia. Today, with its guests, Samui built up itself a robust reputation of small tropical paradise.
Koh Samui,One of the famous island in Gulf of Thailnd located in Surat Thani province,south of Thailand. Koh samui is the third biggest island in Thailand, 21 kilometers at its width and 25 kilometers length. It is approximately 84 kilometers east of Surat Thani province and about 700 kilometers far from Bangkok.
The district is subdivided into 7 tambon. In the past the islanders plant coconut and sell it for income so Koh Samui known as Coconut Island. In fact Tourist arrivals have been increasing steadily in recent years but it still maintain its charm. White sand beach, warm water so if you love to lay on the nature beach do not miss this islands. There are a lot of places to see and things to do at Koh Samui and its neighbor islands. Travel to Koh Samui you will enjoy lay on the beautiful beach and enjoy nightlife along beach which quite easily be found. However, Samui is mostly visited by holiday-traveler and want away from busy city so the main attraction of Koh Samui is its white beach.
After read a lot of information you may want to go there. The question is how to get there. The easiest way to visit Samui is by air, you can fly to Samui by Bangkok Airways from Suvarnabhumi Airport. But if you want spend more time on train also you can take train to Surat Thani and follow by ferry transfer to Koh Samui. Another you can take bus to Surat Thani and follow by ferry to Koh Samui. After you arrived at Samui the most popular way to get around is to hide motorcycle and ride it around. Due to road on Samui already developed compare with another island so no need to worry about the road. However, there are plenty of taxi on Koh Samui and songthaews (pick-up trucks) serve as taxi also. From:http://travelguidetothai.blogspot.com
Getting Around Koh SAmui
.....Koh Samui is remarkably easy to get around. A round trip by car can be done in about an hour. Anyway, it makes much more sense to take a little longer and see some of the sights along the way to explore Koh Samui. Songthaews
The main mode of public transport is by covered red pick-up trucks called "songthaew", served as local buses. Each songthaew's destination is clearly marked in English on the front and sides of the truck. It is usually found in Nathon picking up people from the ferries but there are no official stops around the island. Just flag down the first one you see and tell the driver where you want to go. Press the ringing button or bang on the roof to signal when you want to get off. The fare starts from 20 baht, depending on the distance. From Nathon to Chaweng, the fare is about 30-50 baht per person. You can negotiate the fare with the driver. Drivers usually set for 10-20 baht per person for rides within Chaweng's Beach Road strip, about 30 baht for Chaweng to Lamai and about 50 baht for the popular Chaweng to Nathon. The official songthaew service time is until 6.00pm and after that plenty of them are still available but the fares are higher depending on where you are going and how many people are travelling. It is better to agree on a fare before getting in. As a rule, the more people who are ready in a songthaew at night, the cheaper it will be.
Jeep & Car Another way to traveling around the island is driving a car. Samui offers you many cars for rent which can be easily found around the island; or just ask the hotel where you stay. For renting a jeep , it will cost you around 800 - 1500 Baht per day (24 hours). If you like it more comfortable you can rent a car from one of the bigger rental companies which delivers the car to your hotel or awaits you at the airport on your arrival. It is also a good way to discover Thailand as you can return the car everywhere in the country.
Motorbike
In the old days, the only way to get from one beach to another beach on Samui was by motorcycle. The "roads" were really just dusty bullock, cart tracks but out of the jungle and in the rainy season they turned into long narrow swamps that were impassable to anything with four wheel. But in the last couple of years the provincial government has done a truly remarkable job of road building and now you can go from one end to the other end of the island without ever losing sight of the ocean on wide, well-maintained roads. There are three types of motorcycle generally offered for rent on Samui. The most popular are the "Step throuhts" these are small, usually no more than 100cc's, and have automatic transmission. If you want to rent, it will cost you around 100 - 170 Baht per day (24 hours). In the days before the new roads, the only type of bike offered for rent was the "dirt bike" and even though there are few places left on the island where knobby tires, low gear ratio and high center of gravity are necessary. It's almost always a single, mail tourist who rent them. This bikes are not recommended for the beginning rider. For rent this kind of motorbike, plan on paying 150 - 200 Baht per day (24 hours).
The third choice for bike riders on Samui is fairly new phenomenon, the "chopper". These are big bikes, anywhere from 400 - 900 cc's made exclusively for highway touring. A chopper has a big power plant that can take you down hundreds of kilometers of tropical highway without strain, and seats that are almost as comfortable as those in any small car. Their only liabilities are the rental price, 500 - 700 Baht per day (24 hours).
Motorbike Taxis
Motorbike taxis can be idenfied by their coloured, numbered vests. They are far cheaper way of getting around, although you still need to negotiate a price with them.It can be very convient to travel by motorbike.Fares start from around 30Baht upwards depending on where you are going. Motorbikes can be dangerous and even more so when carrying bags or shopping. The Taxi bike riders do know the roads and can be a bit aggressive in there riding skills...They do speak english so you can tell them to slow down if neccessary.
Taxis
Taxis: Samui has dozens of yellow, metered taxis for those who prefer to travel in air-conditioned comfort. They can be found at the airport and cruising the islands major roads throughout the day and night. The downside is that it's virtually impossible to get drivers to actually turn on their meters and prices can be high, so try to negotiate a reasonable fare before departing. Unfortunately a local mafia has seen to it that taxis are limited and as a result they charge outrageous rates - but compared to back home you'll hardly notice. Just be aware of their game from the start, especially as you emerge from the airport.
Tourist attractions
Angthong National Marine Park Angthong National Marine Park, consisting of 42 islands featuring limestone massifs, tropical rainforests, secluded beaches and wildlife, was established as a national park in 1980. Also known as the Golden Basin, the park in Ko Samui is renowned for activities like snorkeling, walking and swimming. Similar nearby islands are Ko Sam Sao, Ko Prayad, Ko Hin Dap and Ko Kha.
Wat Khunaram Ko Samui This temple is the island’s most famous temple for its mummified monk on display. The mummy sits upright in a glass casket and devotees offer it flowers and incense. The mummy is in fact the body of a very revered former abbot of the temple who was also a meditation master and was reputedly able to predict his own death.
Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo Ko Samui The undersea world of the aquarium has an amazing collection of tropical fish and other vibrant aquatic animals such as turtles and colorful coral. The tiger zoo is home to Bengal tigers and leopards. Those who are daring enough can have their photograph taken with the animals.
Laem Sor Pagoda Ko Samui This chedi (pagoda) situated at Laem Sor temple is one of the most important shrines on Ko Samui. The structure with its yellow tiles which gives off a golden aura is quite impressive.
Big Buddha is a twelve-metre high statue of the Buddha, which lies at the top of ceremonial dragon-steps at the Wat Phra Yai. Samui also has a number of other impressive temples, including Wat Khunaram, where the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, a monk who died in a meditating position is on display.
The Grandmother and Grandfather rocks on the south end of Lamai beach are an occasional source of amusement for tourists due to their striking similarity to a vagina and penis. For those who would like to hear a legend or two surrounding the rocks, they need only ask a local.
The mountain jungle in the interior of the island is an excellent day out, and is home to a number of impressive gardens built by legendary Samuia farmer Nim Thongsuk, the impressive waterfalls at Na Muang, real working rubber plantations and the most amazing views over the Ang Thong archipelago. The roads in the jungle are an adventure in themselves, and tourists normally take a tour with an experienced local Samui driver/guide.
Muay Thai boxing takes place regularly at the island's stadiums in Chaweng and Lamai.
Numerous animal attractions are dotted around the island, including a crocodile farm, monkey theatre, elephant trekking, a snake farm, an aquarium and a butterfly garden.
Most visitors to the island take a day trip out to the beautiful Ang Thong National Marine Park at least once on their stay in Samui. Boats leave Na Thon several times a day.
Ko Pha Ngan has a full-moon party at the appropriate time each lunar month, and tourists in Samui often hop a slow ferry or speedboat to the nearby island to join in the dusk to dawn high energy dancing and drinking marathon. From:http://en.wikipedia.org
Administration
Ko Samui is an Amphoe (district) of Surat Thani Province, subdivided into 7 subdistricts (tambon). The complete island is one municipality (thesaban mueang). The district covers the island, as well as the Ang Thong archipelago and some other small islands nearby.
Ang Thong
Lipa Noi
Taling Ngam
Na Mueang
Maret
Bo Phut
Mae Nam
Beaches
+Chaweng
+Lamai
+Maenam
+Bophut
+Bang Rak
+Choeng Mon
+Ao Tong Takian
+Nathon
+Lipa Noi
CHINESE TEMPLE :
Koh Phangan.The Chinese Temple is located on the road between Thong Sala and Chalokium It was built after a woman had a dream in which the (Chinese) Buddha spoke to her. The Temple offers an impressive view over Chalokium Bay and is newly renovated with beautiful traditional buildings and decor. (open 8.00 am. —5.00 p.m.)
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downside is that it's virtually impossible to get drivers to actually turn on their meters and prices can be high, so try to negotiate a reasonable fare before departing. Unfortunately a local mafia has seen to it that taxis are limited and as a result they charge outrageous rates - but compared to back home you'll hardly notice. Just be aware of their game from the start, especially as you emerge from the airport.
