For more information and to book please visit www.mrandmrssmith.com or let us arrange your whole trip, by calling +44 (0)20 8987 4312 or from the USA dial 1 866 610 3867.
Koh Samui
Thailand
- Coastline
- Lush, sun-kissed tropics
- Coast life
- Beach-basking and bar-hopping
Trimmed with gorgeous beaches and filled with cool, verdant forests, Thailand’s third largest island is an altar to carefree tropical leisure.
Samui was once the destination of choice for the baggy-panted backpacker crowd eager for the party pleasures of the infamous Full Moon celebrations. These days, the island has grown into a sophisticated tropical retreat, replete with private boutique resorts, world-class spas and tantalizing Thai restaurants. Some parts of the island have succumbed to the rather raucous effects of over-development but, with a little effort, it’s still possible to find that idyllic paradise beach and a shimmering vermillion sunset.
Planes, trains, automobiles, or maybe even helicopter – we tell you the best way to go.
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Highlights the best Koh Samui has to offer, from art and culture to fun-packed activities; we've even found the most inspiring place to enjoy the views from.
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We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Koh Samui.
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Here is the map of Koh Samui; each Mr & Mrs Smith hotel is marked by a flag; click it for more details.
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Local knowledge
- Taxis
- Cabs cruise around the more populous areas of the island. Meters are installed but their purpose seems to be primarily decorative, so agree a fare beforehand. Check the standard rate with your hotel or get your concierge to hire one for you.
- Tipping culture
- A 10 per cent service charge is usually added to hotel and restaurant bills, but staff seldom see this. Leave a cash tip for especially impressive service.
- Siesta and Fiesta
- When it comes to time, tropical habits apply. Some shops open late – and we mean late – in the afternoons.
- Packing tips
- Bermudas, singlets, bikinis and sundresses are de rigeur. Flip-flopping is acceptable everywhere. Make sure you’re armed with insect repellent – Samui has some very single-minded mosquitoes.
- Recommended reads
- The Beach by Alex Garland; The Chronoliths by Robert Charles Wilson and Thailand: True Stories by James O'Reilly and Larry Habegger.
- Cuisine
- Koh Samui tantalises taste buds too. Its island nature helps ensure its seafood is particularly noteworthy – and it’s also blessed with an abundance of coconuts thanks to the prolific palms. Thanks to tourist-led rejuvenation, the dining scene is thriving, diverse and surprisingly sophisticated, owing a lot to the diligence of the Samui Culinary Circle, an association of idea- and ingredient-sharing chefs and caterers (www.siamdiningguide.com).
- Currency
- Thai baht. £1 is approximately THB65.
- Time zone
- GMT +7
- Dialing codes
- Country code for Thailand: 66; local code for Samui is (0)77.
- Do go/don't go
- The high season from May to November produces an unusually high number of sun-burnt bodies and motorbike mishaps. It’s still pleasantly sunny during the off-peak periods, although be prepared for rain and the power cuts that come with it.
It’s impossible to miss the posters for the Full Moon Party when in Samui. Every lunar month, nearly 20,000 visitors take the 50-minute ferry ride from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan, disembarking into a party whirlwind that borders on the decadent. It’s an experience in itself if you’re young-at-heart or plain curious. Smart hoteliers have also begun chartering boats to take you out and back for a short glimpse of the party – long enough to have fun, short enough so you won’t feel stranded; we recommend one of these abbreviated journeys for those who want to see what all the fuss is about without the experience turning into an endurance test. For pleasures of the more sedate sort at Koh Phangan, there are acclaimed yoga institutions such as the Chakra Yoga Centre (+66 89 908 8620) and Agama Yoga (+66 (0)89 233 0217), both offering lessons and training certification.
We've tracked down the best cafés for people-watching, the bars with the coolest cocktails, the most accomplished restaurants and the liveliest local nightlife in Koh Samui.
Cafés
Starfish & Coffee
Starfish and coffee aren’t the most obvious bedfellows, but this quirky Bophut café makes then seem the most natural of marriages, recreating Mediterranean-chic within its brick walls. Nosh aside, this inimitable joint offers massages and boasts an attached boutique.
51/7, Moo 1, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7742 7201
Restaurants
Bellini
Charming Italian chef Francesco Vitagliano cooks up a fine selection of traditional rustic dishes in this elegant Chaweng eatery. Pizzas, pastas and seafood are all rendered with flair and complemented with a meticulously selected wine list.
Soi Colibri, Chaweng South, 46/24, 26, Moo 3, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7741 3831
Betelnut
Run by an American chef who loves talking to his customers as much as he likes to cook, Betelnut is a cool, casual institution. Chef Lord’s fusion cuisine – an exquisite collision between Thai and Californian – is familiar and exotic, like the beach scene just outside his doors.
Soi Colibri, Chaweng South 43/04-5, Moo 3, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7741 3370
The Mangrove
The Mangrove is an excellent off-the-radar French restaurant operated by a talented French/Belgian couple. Enjoy alfresco dining overlooking the mangrove forest that gives the place its name, and listening to the sounds of the surrounding jungle. There’s a roster of daily specials but house favourites include the wonderful Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Béarnaise Sauce. Make sure you order a post-prandial rum ginger.
Airport Road, Big Buddha Beach, 32/6, Moo 4, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7742 7584
Tropical Murphy’s
The only Irish pub on Koh Samui, this cheerful Chaweng landmark serves up a mean Ulster Fry to kick-start your day. After all, you can’t live off of buffet breakfasts and banana pancakes all the time. Portions are just as generous for the Thai-slanted pub grub.
Chaweng Beach Road, Chaweng Centre, 14/40, Moo 2, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7741 3614
Lom Talay
At sunset, make a beeline for the terrace of this Thai-cum-Mediterranean hotel restaurant and watch the sun sink over the sea. The hilltop restaurant overlooks Ang Thong Marine National Park and serves fresh local seafood that’s as good as the view.
Baan Taling Ngam Resort and Spa, 295, Moo 3, Tambon Taling Ngam, 84140 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 7742 9100
Bars and clubs
Guapa
If Mexican sunsets came in a can, Guapa’s walls would be painted with them. Live jazz and latin music ease the evening along, aided and abetted by quality cocktails, an impressive wine selection, Cuban cigars, and an innovative tapas menu created by Betelnut’s chef.
Soi Colibri, Chaweng South, 46/12, Moo 3, Tambon Bo Phut, 84320 Koh Samui, Suratthani, Thailand
+66 (0) 897 242 843
Q Bar
This Bangkok-born Thai nightlife institution (www.qbarsamui.com) overlooks Chaweng Lake. Cutting-edge music and stylish decor attract a well-heeled party crowd.
Solo
Solo is an oasis of ivory cool in the heart of Chaweng. The couch seats on the first levels are great for unwinding while people-watching.
+66 (0) 7744 0125
Bar@C
For somewhere a little swankier, head to Amari Palm Reef Resort’s own cocktail lounge. Yummy daiquiris are the poison of choice at this sophisticated beachfront bar.
+66 (0) 7742 2015 19
Pictured: Six Senses Hideaway Samui
