Pick-up Point in Downtown Samui

Koh Samui: Large Island, Low Profile

Malay fisherman first inhabited Koh Samui almost 15 centuries ago, and its believed the island name comes from the Chinese word Saboey, which means “safe haven.” The island remained disconnected from the mainland until late in the 20th century, when the export of coconut and rubber became a big business for residents of Ko Samui.

Now the island’s business is mostly tourism, and was highlighted when Cunard’s flagship “The HMS Queen Victoria” docked in 2008 during the ship’s world cruise.

Today, almost 2 million visitors arrive here a year, with most heading for the plentiful resorts and the beaches that Ko Samui has to offer.

Things To Do

Koh Samui offers over a dozen full-featured beaches, but here are a few of the high points if you want to get out of the sun and off the sand:

Visit the Old House, a Chinese-style house that’s over 200 years old and is telling in regards to Samui’s cultural and lifestyle. Just see Grandpa Si or Grandma Maen Hancharoen, who will open the house to visitors and give you a friendly tour.

Walk in to Namtok Na Mueang Waterfall, which just takes about 30 minutes or less. There are purplish rocks that surround the flow of water gushing from a height of about 79 meters.

Drive to Namtok Hin Lat Waterfall, as this multilevel waterfall is easily accessible by car. Some of the many lower levels of the falls have big enough basins for swimmers to do laps in.

Go fruit shopping at Ban Lipa Yai Village, as this town grows the best Thai fruits: including mangosteen, rambutan, durian, and the famous langsat.

Take a drive around the island — check out 1StopSamui’s Koh Samui tour ideas, SamuiGuide.net’s Samui Guide and TourismThailand’s official Koh Samui guide or just search on Google for some other sites.