The Best Areas to Experience in Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui is part of an archipelago of more than 80 islands off the east coast of Thailand. Though it has been inhabited for hundreds of years, the first roads – and tourists – only came to the rainforest-covered, beach-fringed island in the early 1970s. It came to broader attention in 2000 as the setting for the movie The Beach. Now there is a clutch of 5-star resorts here, it seems the backpacker-only days of the island are gone. But high-end resorts don't appear without reason; the beaches, lagoons, coves, and forests still entice. Koh Samui is also known for its nightlife. Note the weather is kindest between January and April.

Koh Samui's top attractions are generally on or near the beach. Its 2 main beaches are Chaweng and Lamai, and both get crowded in the high season (mid-December to mid-January). If you're looking for a quiet beach, Choengmon is 10 minutes from Chaweng. Most diving is done in the nearby Angthong Marine National Park, and you can book day trips from the dive shops based at Chaweng. Visitors to the island often stop to see the Big Buddha Temple – a 12-metre-tall statue built in 1972. There's a butterfly garden/insect museum in the island's southeast and swimming at the waterfalls at Na Muang is also popular.

If you'd like to try Koh Samui restaurants a few notches above the rest, your palate may appreciate the fare at these resort eateries: Dining on the Rocks (at Six Senses Samui); H Bistro (at Hansar Samui); Flames (at the InterContinental) and Saffron (at Banyan Tree). But cheap really can be cheerful too. The most local cuisine has its roots in Malay, Indonesian and Indian food and is known for its spiciness. The beach village on the northern coast of Koh Samui, Bophut, has preserved some of the original Thai Chinese atmospheres the island has been known for. This is one of the best places on the island for dining.

If you're seeking nightlife, the best Koh Samui accommodation for you will be around Chaweng and Lamai. Mae Nam or the South Coast provide quieter beach experiences and Nathon is in the central part of the island. Budget properties still abound in Koh Samui though the 4- and 5-star hotels are sharing the holiday vibes. Hostels start from as little as R100 per night, so you may well stay a while... If you want to go upmarket, try InterContinental Baan Taling Ngam Resort, Conrad Koh Samui, Banyan Tree, or Four Seasons.

Koh Samui shopping, not to put too fine a point on it, isn't really its main drawcard. Sure, you can get any number of cheap items at the tourist strips along Chaweng and Lamai; but sundresses, ceramics, DVDs, and skin care products mainly span the gamut of available items. If you want to add spa treatments to the shopping list, that's another story. Most high-end resorts here have a spa and the better ones are to be found within Six Senses, Banyan Tree and Tamarind Springs. If shopping is really your thing, save the suitcase space for Bangkok.

Locals in the know love the seafood feast available at the beachfront restaurant, Krua Chao Baan. It's south of Lamai and about 1 kilometre before you reach Hua Thanon fishing village. A Koh Samui bar/restaurant newcomer, 9Gems, has been described as 'Miami Vice meets Buddha Bar' – eat tapas and sip cocktails with views over Chaweng Lake. Thinking you'll need a break from the beach? Try a zipline/flying fox run above the jungle treetops near Mae Nam. A little too fast and furious? Explore the Magic Buddha Garden created by an elderly fruit farmer. (It's Koh Samui, it's a bit off-beat.)

We at Flight Centre wholeheartedly recommend that visitors make use of these to ensure that your holiday is as hassle-free as possible.

For more information contact us directly and our travel expert will be glad to assist you.  But, whatever the case, do yourself a great big favour and book your trip to Koh Samui today!