Koh Samui

is synonymous with coconut trees – there are literally plantations all over the island, and until tourism arrived, coconuts were the main industry here.

How do you get the coconuts?

Enter the monkey, considered as man’s best friend, these industrious little animals are greatly prized and give a demonstration of their incredible dexterity in the outdoor theater.

The most famous temple on Samui is Wat Phra Yai temple in the northeast of the island between Bo Phut and Choeng Mon – more usually known as Big Buddha.

The temple itself has a small compound just outside with several Thai-style cafes and souvenir shops which are well worth exploring.

Hin Ta & Hin Yai are probably the most visited sights in Koh Samui.

Hin Ta & Hin Yai, Grandfather and Grandmother Rock respectively, is a pair of rock formations along the southeastern coast of Koh Samui, about 1 km south of Lamai.

Lamai is the second largest tourist center. The beach is a little bit more rough and the water is deeper. It’s an excellent location for swimming and has a well-known nightlife.

Although Ko Samui is in southern Thailand, the original inhabitants of the island, known as ‘Chao Samui’, are predominantly Buddhist. In the past, most of the locals made their living in the coconut farming business. Nowadays, however, most work in jobs related to tourism.

The south of Thailand is a melting pot of Buddhists, Thai Chinese, Muslims and traditional sea-faring gypsies. Ko Samui does not seem to suffer from the religious tensions in communities along the southern border of Thailand, and in general the locals live in harmony. Outside of the tourist areas, the Thai language is spoken with a thick Southern dialect which can be difficult even for northern Thais to understand.