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Information about Koh Samui for Thai Food Lovers

Koh Samui lies 80 kilometers off the east coast of Thailand. Short flights leave many times a day from Bangkok. You can also fly here direct from Singapore and Phuket.

Once a favorite destination of sunseekers in search of far-flung tropical hideaways, the island (also spelled) "Ko" Samui, has in recent years become world famous for offering a wide range of accommodations, while retaining its tropical splendor, bucolic charm, intimacy and easy pace of life.

Getting Around

The adventurous rent motor scooters or jeeps to explore the island, while the more cautious will use the many inexpensive public taxis. The most popular leisure activity is sun and sea bathing on the island's many white sand beaches. For the active, sports facilities like Mountain Biking, Tennis, Scuba Diving, Sailing, Windsurfing and Waterskiing are available at many locations.

Other Attractions

Recreation and entertainment options include Elephant Trekking, Performing Monkeys, a Shooting Range, Mini-Golf, a Snake Farm, and Aquarium. Strongly recommended if your bones can take it, is a guided tour of the island's lush and mountainous interior in a four-wheel drive vehicle. You'll be treated to some spectacular flora and panoramic views of the surrounding forest and the sea.

Samui Nightlife

Samui is as lively at night as it is sleepy during the day; especially in Chaweng and Lamai. Many restaurants and nightclubs feature live entertainment, and two or three of Chaweng's discos are hugely popular, and often packed into the early morning hours.

Eating on Samui

Thai and Western-style eateries range from simple street carts where you can stop for a plate of Phad Thai (sometimes spelled Pad Thai) at 40 baht, to lavish seafood buffets on the beach at luxury hotels. There are also a good many pizzerias, European-style bakeries, and ice-cream parlors.

Health and Fitness

The island is gaining a reputation for being a kind of regional health retreat, not only because of its stress-free way of life, but also because of the growing number of spas with aromatherapy massage, herbal steam baths, and retreats where disciplines like meditation, fasting and Yoga can be practiced. There are also fully-equipped fitness facilities where short-term memberships can be purchased.

Language and Culture

The local language is Thai with a Southern accent. Most in commerce make a cheerful effort to speak English, and manage reasonably well.Thailand is a mostly Buddhist country. Temples and monasteries can be found everywhere, and Ko Samui is no exception.

Safety and Wellbeing

Until recently social and political upheavals had been rare in Thailand, and the Thai have a well-deserved reputation for being an extraordinarily tolerant and peaceable people, This is evidenced by the fact that political demonstrations that closed Bangkok's airport for two weeks in late 2008 remained entirely peaceful, with the exception of a few incidents in Bangkok that took place away from areas frequented by tourists. As they have for years, foreigners still feel safe when traveling throughout the Kingdom.

There have been no outbreaks of any serious diseases on Koh Samui in recent years, and according to the authorities, Malaria does not exist on the island. There are several hospitals with modern facilities, and medical clinics and pharmacists exist in every small village. While the water supply is relatively clean, you are advised to drink bottled water.

The Climate and the Seasons

The weather can be unpredictable on tropical islands, but like most, Samui is sunny most days of the year, though showers can occur unexpectedly. Following are some pretty fair generalizations:

Between the months of January and August, most days will be filled with sun. The months of March and April are the hottest. The rains usually come in October, and last until around the end of the year, during time which frequent showers alternate with sunny spells. Water sports enthusiasts and divers should be aware that the sea can be rough at this time, causing a degradation of undersea visibility.

Arriving by Train and Ferry

If you would like to economize a little, a scenic and inexpensive (but more time-consuming) alternative to flying to Samui from the mainland, is to come by rail and boat, a one and a half day's journey from Bangkok. A sleeping berth in an air-conditioned night train is fairly comfortable, or if you've never tried it, a cozy private cabin in first-class can be very romantic.

One of the things that makes Koh Samui so appealing, is the wide range of accommodations available in every price category. For example you can spend most of your stay in a comfortable budget guesthouse (there are many close to SITCA) for as little as 500 baht a night. Or, if you feel like splurging on a luxury resort hotel for a day or two, you'll find that many offer exceptionally good value.

Hotels & Resorts on Koh Samui

"Commuting" to Class

If you plan to rent a jeep or motorcycle for the duration of your stay, you will be able to drive to the SITCA Thai Cooking School from most hotels in 30 minutes or less; so where you stay is largely a question of your budget and preferences.

On the other hand if you intend to get around by walking or by taxi, we suggest that you choose a hotel or resort in Chaweng, where you will be just minutes away.

For complete information on all aspects of travel on Koh Samui including accommodations, we recommend visiting the many websites devoted to this.