Koh Samui

Haven for Romance
Koh Samui known as “ Coconut Island “ is one of those romantic places which cater to couples whether you’ve been married 24 hours or 24
years.
This beautiful exotic island located in the Gulf of Thailand remains relatively untouched compared to other Thai islands like Phuket and Pattaya.

By: Lisa Kaaki
Koh Samui is just 21 kilometers at its widest point and 25 at its longest. Its hinterland consists of forest hills of limestone and granite, and the shoreline is made up of countless palm-fringed beaches and bays.
The best beaches are at Chaweng and Lamai on the East Coast where you can find a wide choice of accommodation ranging from 5 Star Hotels to budget bungalows that remain from the early days when Samui was a backpacker’s refuge. For more privacy, head to the Baan Taling Nigam beach, where you will bask alone on a private beach. The newly opened Royal Meridien, the most luxurious hotel on the Island is located here.

If you don’t want to spend all your holiday lounging on the beach, then Samui is remarkably easy to get around. A round trip by car can be done in about an hour.
Bophut is easily the most charming village on Samui and is made of a single strip of old Chinese shophouses, many converted into restaurants, shops and guesthouses. Hua Thanon is a Muslim fishing village famous for the intricately painted boats docked just offshore from the thriving market. Lipa Noi is a good place to catch the sunset. It is known for its shallow water. You can wade for 200m and the water is still no higher than your waist.

The island’s natural environment is its biggest attraction. If you want to get a bird’s eye view of the jungle you can take a ‘ canopy tour ‘ which will allow you to travel between treehouses in a harness attached to a high tensile cable.

If you like to enjoy the scenery without the noise of an engine then why not go on an elephant trek? Despite their huge size, elephants are incredibly sure-footed, even on steep and narrow trails and the view is great from their backs, three meters up!

Koh Samui is also famous for its waterfalls. Na Muang I is 18 meters tall while Na Muang II stands at 80 meters and offers a breathtaking view of the Island.
Beyond Samui lies Ang Thong National Marine Park a compact archipelago of mostly deserted islands that provided the setting for the film The Beach. Kayaking is a great way to explore the caves of this area. It also offers the best diving and clearest waters

With Koh Samui now established as an international spa destination, the island’s Health Spas offer a wide range of treatments including the famous Thai Herbal Compress Massage. When practiced effectively, a Thai massage relieves aches and pains, relaxes joints, and reduces muscle tension. The herbs used in a traditional Thai compress vary and can be mixed in specific ways to deal with certain types of ailments. Special poultices have been created to soothe women’s abdomens both during pregnancy and after childbirth, and a wide range of herbs have now been identified as having their own particular beneficial properties.