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Think about what you want from your vacation.
Young couples seeking a private, romantic and tranquil setting will
probably be happiest staying at a medium-sized hotel or a bungalow
resort in Mae Nam, Bophut, Choeng Mon, Coral Cove, or anywhere on
the southern or western coasts. Families
with active and sports-loving youngsters, and those who don't want
to be more than a few minutes from nightlife and shopping, might
opt for Chaweng, located on the east coast.
Chaweng
Chaweng beach |
Chaweng is the largest tourist resort
on Koh Samui. It has two big attractions, one is the beautiful
sloping beach of white sand, superb for swimming and snorkeling.
Watersports are available at several locations, including dive
centers, jet skiing, para sailing and waterskiing.
Beach vendors sell food and souvenirs. During the months of
January through to April, the sea can be rough and the waves
high, but on these occasions other sheltered beaches can be
easily reached.
The other attraction is the 'Strip' a road running behind the
beach where there are numerous shops selling an assortment of
merchandise, souvenirs, clothes, tailors,
pharmacies etc, also many restaurants of varying prices and
nationalities, the choice is huge. These are all open very late,
and there are several night spots with entertainment, dancing
and live music until the early hours. Taxis can be taken to
and from the other resorts, they are frequent and easily obtained.
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Maenam
Maenam beach |
Maenam is more laid back, and cheaper,
than other resorts, and there is not much in terms of nightlife.
There is a 4 kilometer sandy beach, with lots of watersports
activities, fishing trips are also easily arranged. Souvenir
sellers and food vendors stroll the beach which is lined by
small restaurants. There are unspoilt views of the neighbouring
Koh Phangan island.
The village
has two main streets with several small restaurants and shops.
Maenam is one of those places on Samui where life carries
on regardless of visitors, who are made most welcome, so Thai
life can be observed. There are many pleasant walks and cycle
rides in the hills above the village for nature lovers.
For people who want a quiet peaceful holiday but with the
occasional venture to some bright lights, Chaweng is easily
accessible.
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Choeng Mon
Choeng Mon beach |
Choeng Mon is a beautiful bay with a
lovely sandy white beach lined with casuarina trees and some
small restaurants. There is a small island
opposite that can be reached at low tide.
On the main road nearby there are
shops, tailors and a selection of restaurants serving Thai
and western cuisine. For those wanting nighlife Chaweng is
a 10 minutes taxi drive away.
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Laem Set
Laem Set Beach |
Laem Set is a very secluded unspoilt quiet
area just beyond the village of Ban Hua Thanon. It is quite
rocky which means good snorkeling, there is a long reef, but
perhaps not such good swimming. It has great atmosphere and
nature lovers will find this part of
the island idyllic, specially as there are several places
of interest nearby to visit, a snake farm, butterfly farm
and tiger and bird sanctuary, and two health spas.
Within walking distance is the muslim fishing
village of Ban Hua Thanon where there is a market, and the
intricately painted boats of the fishermen can be seen.
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Nathon Town
The islands capital Nathon
town |
Nathon is the island's capital, it has
two main roads operating a one way system. There are several
banks, the main post office, money exchanges and a variety
of shops. There is a large pier with lots of boats ferrying
in supplies, a small bus terminal, and a food market. Taxis
can be got to any other part of the island. Souvenirs can
be bought cheaper than at the other resorts. Along the road
running beside the sea are several small restaurants which
serve excellent Thai food. Nathon is well worth visiting to
get a feel of true Thai life.
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The island's liveliest resort, it is home to
many of Samui's larger hotels with their recreational options, as
well as the island's most robust commercial center with its many
restaurants, bars, nightclubs and discotheques. Further south but
also on the east coast, Lamai is almost as bustling as Chaweng,
but the lodgings tend to be built on a smaller scale and more economical
Lamai
Lamai beach |
Lamai is the second largest entertainment
resort on Samui and is excellent for those seeking a lively
holiday. For daytime it has a beautiful beach lined with palm
trees and small restaurants and fringed by green hills. There
is an assortment of beach activities, snorkeling, jet skiing
etc, and vendors sell food and souvenirs.
On the road at the back of the beach are
many shops, tailors, massage parlours etc and many different
restaurants serving Thai, European,
Lamai beach sign |
Japanese and many other types of food.
At night the choice is very varied with lots of hostess bars,
bars showing all the latest national football games, night
clubs with live music and much more, all open into the early
hours.
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Bophut
Bophut beach |
Bophut has a reputation for peace and
quiet. It is inpart, a typical Thai village, but it has the
cuisine and architecture in some places that give it a mediteranean
feeling. It has a pretty main street comprising of old Chinese
wooden shop houses, many converted into stylish boutiques and
restaurants of many nationalities, French, German, Italian and
Spanish included.
Nightlife is subdued, but there is, at the
end of the village, a very popular club with a wide range of
music from soul to reggae, sometimes live.
There is a lovely beach with lots
of watersports, and a pier. Bophut is a great place to dine
with its great variety, even staying elsewhere and a stroll
along its small main street after dinner is romantic and peaceful
and gives all the flavour of the East.
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Chaweng Noi
Chaweng Noi beach |
Located south of Chaweng beach. Chaweng
Noi is a curving sandy beach in a rocky bay. The beach is lined
with palm trees and has many small restaurants
towards the south of the beach. It makes for an ideal location
for those wanting a quieter alternative to its lively big sister
Chaweng.
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Coral Cove
Coral Cove bay |
Coral Cove is located half-way between
the main resorts Chaweng and Lamai where the road climbs and
dips around the coastline. There are two small sandy beaches
which are hemmed in by jurassic style bolders
and rocks. This area is one of the best for snorkeling around
Samui.
There are a few restaurants attached
to bungalow resorts. Nightlife can be found in Chaweng and
Lamai about a 10 minute taxi drive to both resorts.
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Ban Taling
Ngam
Ban Taling Ngam bay |
A remote secluded area ideal for those
who want perfect peace with no other distractions other than
the beauty of the scenery and views over
the sea to the islands and mainland.
There is a flat sandy beach but you have
to be careful as the coral can sometimes make swimming difficult.
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Lipa Noi
Lipa Noi beach |
South of Nathon, the main town, at Thong
Yang beach is one of the best places on the island to see
the beautiful sunset.
There is a wonderful beach too, fringed
by palm tress and the water is shallow, so it is very safe
for children and those nervous of deep water.
Nightlife is subdued.
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