Koh Samui with its finest white sand beaches,
lush tropical surroundings and luxury accommodations makes for an ideal
romantic getaway. It is the third largest island in Thailand with plentiful
beaches of every kind. Some beaches are the hub of activities and nightlife
whereas some provide the much needed quiet and solitude. The island is
also home to some of the most stunning Buddhist temples. So you see, Koh Samui
provides the best of both worlds irrespective of what kind of traveller you
are.
We chose Samui for celebrating our 9th Wedding
anniversary and loved our time there. Here is our guide to this romantic
tropical paradise.
How to Reach Koh Samui
Samui has a small airport (but the cutest one and well equipped to ) with a
number of flights operating to/from Bangkok. The flying time is just about
an hour. Even in the shoulder season, we had to pay a hefty amount for our
return air tickets. But it is definitely the quickest and the easiest option to
reach the island.
Another cheaper yet longer option is to take an overnight train from
Bangkok to Surat thani. Then a bus to the Surat thani Pier to catch the ferry
to Koh Samui. You can also reach Surat Thani by flight from Bangkok and the
rates are much cheaper than the ones to Samui.
Best time to visit Koh Samui
Now, this is a tricky question. Koh Samui with
its tropical climate receives some sort of rainfall all through the year. So
there is no guarantee that you will get all sunny and shiny weather for all the
days. Having said that, there are months that are considered Dry Season with
hardly any rainy days and the Wet Season that receives more rainfall. It
actually comes to your preference of what you want to experience. So here
are a few suggestions.
Late December – Feb (Dry Season): Sunny,
less chances of rain and relatively cooler days. The best time for sunbathing
and spending time at the beach. But also the busiest months. So expect more
crowd and higher charges everywhere.
Mar-Apr (Still Dry Season
with minimal rainy days): Days start getting hotter with April bringing the
Hottest days. Yet lesser days of rain. Good time for getting involved in water
sports like snorkelling or scuba diving.
May-June (Start of Wet Season – Approx 14
days of Rainfall): Shoulder
season (Avoid the school holiday time in June). There are lesser tourists on
the island and it feels much more peaceful. Easier to get hotel bookings and
other things at a cheaper price. But expect some rainy days. Occasional showers
and overcast sky are a thing during this time. But it is not always rainy and
you will have hours or days of sunshine at a stretch with rains in late
afternoon and evenings.
July-August (Start of Wet Season – Approx
14-15 days of Rainfall): Popular
months for visit. So plan your trip in advance and make prior bookings. Expect
similar weather like June.
Avoid the typical rainy season which lasts
from September to Mid December.
Things to do or experience
in Koh Samui
There are a lot of things to do and see in Koh Samui. Choose depending
on your liking and available time.
The Majestic Temples
Thailand has some amazing temples and Koh Samui
is no different. There are many temples scattered throughout the island. But
when you have limited time, we recommend visiting at least the 2 prominent
ones. Both these temples are hardly 5 mins drive away from each other.
Wat Phra Yai or The Big
Buddha Statue
A huge 12 meter high golden Buddha statue sitting
on an elevated platform and rimmed by the sea – this is a must see in
Samui. The place has a very unique and calming vibe. And the view of the ocean
from the mesa is breathtaking. This is my personal favourite from Samui.
Because even with tourists around, as I sat down and closed my eyes, I felt
exceptionally calm inside.
There is also a small market with a handful of
shops in the surrounding. You can buy clothes (especially beach clothes), hats
and other knickknacks at a good price (need to haggle a bit for fair price
though).
Wat Plai Laem
Wat Plai Laen complex has 2 huge open-air
statues, one of a Laughing Buddha and another of the Goddess of Mercy with 18
hands. Both statues are placed on platforms over a lake and have a beautiful
set-up. There are also few other ornate shrines in the compound. The place is
very photogenic and the attention to details amazing. Oh yes, there are a lot
of fishes in the lake that you can feed too. Read the full post here.
Love visiting beaches? Check our other
articles here.