Travel Diaries

Thailand is the ultimate vacation spot- somewhere between the hustling busy cities and the peaceful serene beaches , this country has something to whet every traveler’s appetite. Among Thailand’s many holiday gems, you will find the lovely island of Koh Samui. This small, unassuming island off the east cost of Thailand is a treasure of hidden wonders, pearly white beaches and the most hospitable of residents. A highly recommended destination if you are looking for a holiday to unwind and truly relax in mother nature’s personal spa. 

While I doubt anyone would have a bad experience at Koh Samui, to be on the safer side I have listed down some things you should check before planning your visit to the island.

1. When to visit? – The best part about visiting a tropical island is that they have consistent weather pretty much all year round! Other than October-November when monsoons hit the island, the weather is always warm and sunny. Since it is a tropical island, there will always be unexpected showers but the off season rains are light and brief, thus not a cause of worry. In fact they might bring down the temperature a bit, making your vacation more enjoyable.

2. Accommodation – While Koh Samui has umpteen resorts to choose from there are a few things you should keep in mind. For one, don’t bother about the distance from the airport, the distance you should be worried about is from the town centers. Koh Samui has mainly two town centers – Chaweng and Lamai; Chaweng being the bigger one. If you are put up far from these centers you will have to depend on your hotel for transportation every time which can get expensive(There is no Uber here!). Staying in or near these centers provides you easy access to cabs, supermarkets, Forex,etc.
3. Travel – Since I already brought up travel in the last point, let me just expand on the same. There are only a few ways to get around Koh Samui – cabs (air-conditioned sedans or open air jeeps) or rentals(cars, bikes, scooters). If you have a valid international driving licence renting a vehicle would be the best option. It provides you the flexibility to move around as you wish and is also more economical. 
4. Water Activities – the most popular day trip from Koh Samui is to the Ang Thong national marine park. It starts pretty early with a boat ride to the marine park and includes snorkeling, kayaking and hiking. This is a must do in Koh Samui if you are a nature lover. If scuba diving is your thing, then you should book a trip to Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan to discover coral reefs and other marine life. Other options like jet ski, jet pack, boat rides and the likes are available at all the beaches.

5. After hours – there are many places to check out in Samui after sundown. Muay Thai boxing matches, lady-boy cabaret shows (only if it is your cup of tea) , street shopping, the famous Thai massage, or enjoying a couple of drinks at the beach bars are some of the many things you can do. Quite contrary to what I expected this quaint little island gets quite lively at night so there’s no excuse to hit the bed early. I highly recommend visiting Fisherman’s village, Bhoput at night for a variety of experiences ranging from street shopping to beach bars and fire shows.

6. Food – I am yet to come across someone who does not love Thai food. What is there to not love? Pad Thai, Green Curry, Red Curry, Sticky rice pudding and the list just goes on. Koh Samui offers amazing, authentic Thai food and a whole range of fresh tropical fruits at every nook and corner. Food that you can eat all day, every day with no complaints. Though, just on the off chance you are not a huge fan of Thai cuisine, fret not, because there are many other cuisines available on the island. In fact there is a mall right in the town center which has many well known cafes and restaurant chains.
7. Local amenities – Though Koh Samui is a small island you will never have to go far in search for any necessities as essential stores are present at every corner.  Every few miles you will find a line of Forex, 7-eleven , family mart, ATM and pharmacy followed by a stretch of untouched nature…  And then repeat. So you basically never have to worry about running out of supplies or currency. 
8. Sights to soak in – if you ever want to take a break from swimming in the ocean (seriously? you do?) there many places to visit on the island. The Big Buddha temple, Namuang waterfall, Hin Ta and Hin Yai rock formations, Secret Buddha gardens are some of the good sights to enjoy away from the sand and water. 

9. What to pack? – OK, maybe this one should be obvious but I really want to cover some vital points just in case. First is clothing, only pack light cotton or linen clothes! Denim is a big no no. Thailand has a tropical climate so the weather is warm and humid so choose materials that are light and let your skin breathe. While the beaches have no restrictions on clothing be mindful of what you wear at the temples. Please respect the culture of the place and wear clothes that cover your shoulder and knees while visiting places of religious importance. No amount of sunblock is too less, you can always buy more from the local stores but it might cost more over there. Anything else you need to protect you from a sunburn too. Also bug spray and a stash of your standard over the counter drugs should be with you for any emergencies.
10. And last but not least – Leave Your Worries Behind! The main agenda here is to take a break from regular hectic schedule and just chill for a bit. So please do not spoil the beauty of Koh Samui by carrying your work or worries or both, with you to the island. Throw your phone, laptop and stress in the ocean (probably not the first two) and dive deep within your mind to find peace and calm among nature’s beauty… (cue the sound of waves and chirping of birds)

… And that pretty much covers anything you need to know before setting off to Koh Samui. Hope you find this post useful. Will be back with another post sooooon!