Jeep and other Ko Samui, Thailand Things to Do Tips

Rent a jeep for a couple of days to sea the island. This is good way to see the main sights of Samui and really cheap (about 800 bahts). You can find rental jeeps or bikes anywhere along the strip in Chaweng. It can be a bit daunting because they don't look particularly professional places to hire from (when we got there early in the morning there was someone asleep on the floor!!), but it all turned out well in the end.

The island itself it very easy to get around especially the coastal areas as a road circles Samui, so it's impossible to get lost. There are plenty of signs too. The jeep and the days we had it for were great although it did takes some time to work out how to get the key out of the car (Japanese cars!!).

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Near Lamai Beach you must go and see these rocks (Hin Yai/Hin Ta), naturally formed into male and female private parts.... The Grandfather rock is easy to spot but the Grandmother rock can be a little more tricky. You need to climb down a huge rock until you're almost sea level and look back. The locals will point you in the right direction.

The story has it that an elderly couple went out sailing to a nearby province but during their voyage, their boat was taken by a storm, the old man & his wife were unable to swim ashore. They died at sea, turning into rocks to be remembered forever.

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Directions: Near Lamai Beach. Well signposted.

Visit Big Buddha (Wat Phra Yai Temple), 12 meter high gold Buddha and it is probably Samui's most visited tourist attraction. There are a number of stalls and shops selling souveniers. You can pay 200 bahts to sponsor a brick, write a little message on it and add it to the huge collection which will go towards building a new temple, a nice way to leave your mark on the island. We were also blessed by a Buddhist Monk when we were there and I still wear the orange string around my wrist as a reminder.

Remember this isn't just a tourist site, many Thai's come here to worship so you should wear the appropriate clothing and you must take shoes off before climbing the stairs, no matter how hot the ground is!!

Can be a little crowded but it is a must and will probably one of the last sites you'll see when flying out of the island.

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Directions: Not too far from Chaweng, maybe 20 minutes drive north along the main beach road, you can't miss it.

Bo Phut, a little further long from Bug Buddha beach and much more peaceful than Chaweng. The village is beautiful and the beach is lovely. The sand is not as fine as on Chaweng and the sea is less shallow as there is a port here I think BUT you don't get the hassle, it's idyllic and very quiet. Have yourself a nice Thai massage on the beach while you're there too - perfect :)

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A typical Thai experiance but it can be a little brutal. The fights start around 9.00pm in the Chaweng Stadium and seats cost from 800-1100 bahts for ringside seats and tables. Fights are usually held twice a week on Mondays and Fridays and lasts for about three hours. Just listen out for the announcements from the cars during the day around town.

The Muay Thai boxers start off generally quite young, the youngest being maybe 9 or 10. There were about 10 fights in all and the match is preceded by a wai khru dance performed by the contestants.

Chaweng Stadium is just along from the lake and the Reggae Pub. Ladies be prepared as it is quite seedy and I would not really recommend using the loos if you can avoid it... Worth going to for the experiance but I'm not sure I would go again.

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Could be seen as a bit of a tourist trap but still it was great fun. Along Chaweng Beach Road you can find a number of tourist shops/agencies that will organise day trips for you and the 'eco tour' on Samui is well worth it. For around 1,700 bahts for half day, they will pick you up from your hotel about 8.30. The tour takes you to 2 waterfalls (the first on the elephant is more of a trickle though), the elephant trek through the jungle being the main highlight, you'll get to see and taste some traditional Thai cooking (YUM!), yellow curry which was hot but lovely. They will take you to another location and show you rubber tapping. How they send monkeys to fetch the coconuts from the tall palms and finally lunch. They have squeezed a lot in the half day but a good trip.

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Nothing beats lazing on the beach with the sea lapping at your feet. The beach here although at times a little overcrowded with numerous beach sellers was one of my favourites. The sand was white and soft, the sea was shallow and perfect. If you can get used to the hassle it's worth staying in Chaweng.

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There are a number of massage shops around Chaweng both on the beach and on the strip. Some look quite seedy so do look out for those that look busy, clean and where the staff are wearing uniforms. These normally open until well after midnight so nice to pop in for a foot massage after dancing all night! You will normally be given a drink and you'll be totally relaxed after.

As for the masseurs on the beaches, again just use your judgement.

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Visit the Na Tian Butterfly Farm at Laem Set, in southern Samui. Thousands of multicoloured butterflies live in a natural garden protected by a large net cage. In the grounds of the park you can also visit traditional Thai beehives and an insect museum.

Outside of the farm though you're guaranteed to spot huge butterflies floating around the island. Every morning I would sit out on my balcony and watch them flying around the pond, some looked liked birds they were so big! :)

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Phone: 0 7742 4020-2, 0 7723 2146-7
Address: Central Samui Village, 111, Moo 2, Tambon Maret
Directions: Na Tian, on the south of part of the island.

Lamai Beach is not as as long as Chaweng but it is quieter, despite this I preferred Chaweng. The southern part of the beach is better than the northern end, as there are not so many stones and corals there. At the southern end you'll also find the Grandfather/mother rocks. Lamai is located in South of Chaweng, about a 15-20 minute drive.

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