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Guide to Koh Samui, Thailand
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Click to go to Flight Prices for Koh Samui
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Koh Samui Thailands third-largest island, Koh Samui (sometimes referred to as Ko Samui), is an island of beautiful hills, dense forests, and coconut plantations. However, its not as calm and peaceful as it once was. What used to be an island inhabited by wild, indigenous creatures, Indians, and the occasional merchant, is now a place of luxury resorts and planeloads of vacationing beachgoers. Though it is very much Bangkoks main source of coconuts, Koh Samui is bigger on the tourism industry than anything else (in fact, the coconut plantations themselves are tourist attractions). Of course, if you know where you go on the island, you can enjoy your own private getaway to the quiet and undisturbed places of Koh Samui.
When to go:
Most travelers visit Koh Samui in the winter, between December and January. However, this is not the best time of year, weather-wise. You will find that, immediately after high-season, the days begin to experience comfortable temperatures, sunny skies, and the rare sprinkling, freshening things up a bit. By no means should you visit Koh Samui in the summer. Its dreadfully hot, and the rains start to come in full force, and they increase seemingly-exponentially throughout the autumn season. Simply, visit during spring, and be free of worry.
Getting there and around:
Most flights to Koh Samui are not direct. Only flights from Bangkok and a few locations in the Indian Ocean region offer direct access. Flights from all other international locations will have to stop-over in Bangkok, and possibly change carriers while there. However, at arrival, youll be stunned by the beauty of the airport itself. It is a concoction of open-air pavilions, thatched roofs, and gardens with palm trees. If youve arranged accommodations with any of the major resorts in Koh Samui, youll probably be picked up personally by their shuttle service. If not, you can always hop aboard one of the minivans available for a reasonable price.
The best way to get around Koh Samui is by Songtao. Songtao is an organization that runs vehicles all around the island, much like taxis. They are cheap, drivers know their way around, and you can ask to detour to specific destinations (for a higher price of course). We dont suggest renting a car, even though many agencies exist here, and though the island isnt the largest of Thailand, its best not to try to walk your way around.
Attractions:
There are more activities to take part in than attractions to see, but sights are still plentiful and youll be needing a few days to experience them all (you can circle the entire island in less than 3 hours by Songtao, but youll just be getting passing glances at the wonders of the island). In between the scuba diving, bungee jumping, jungle trekking, and exotic culinary classes, you can see some great attractions; some manmade, some natural, and some unusual.
The Wat Phrayai (Big Buddha) is a gold-tiled statue standing 80ft tall at the top of an island off the coast of Koh Samui. An island off an island? Well, Koh Faan (Barking Deer Island) is technically an islet, connected by a dirt causeway spanning some 300 meters. The Wat Phrayai is one of most visited sites of all Thailands islands, and you can take a ride via Songtao to see it.
The Na Muang Falls are also wonderful attractions visited by the kings of the Chakri dynasty. Its somewhat secluded, though you may encounter fellow visitors. You can ride an elephant to get to the falls, and take a dip in the natural pool here, or break for a picnic. (Note: the elephants are not wild, and you have to go to an agency off the nearby road. Also on the top of animals, you can take a trip to one of the many coconut plantations and watch the trained monkeys climb the palm trees, spin and drop coconuts, and collect them at the bottom.
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