MAKE A SPLASH IN KOH SAMUI

There are so many gorgeous beaches in Koh Samui for you to enjoy. 

If you’re going to Thailand, it’s not at all possible to stay dry for long anywhere you go. Even if you skip Phuket and head to other islands like Koh Samui, your stay in the country will be just as satisfying. At the heart of Koh Samui attractions are the white sandy beaches fringed with coconut trees and everything you can possibly do on water.

Initially, the warm weather will make you feel gloriously lazy especially if you’re staying at ShaSa Hotel – Samui Boutique Hotel where you can have the best of two worlds – a view of the sea from the hillside while staying at a luxurious hotel. So actually, you get a taste of Koh Samui attractions right away, without going places yet. Check with the travel and tour assistance staff if they can make arrangements for watersports activities.

Of course, you couldn’t just stay indoors though it would be tempting. You just have to explore the island beyond the ShaSa property because it is what you came here for. There are two main Koh Samui attractions that would come highly recommended by locals and other tourists.

Chaweng Beach is the largest beach in the island. Here you can arrange for sea kayaking or canoeing, snorkeling and diving in one of the many resorts or diving shops because the island is near to Ko Tao and the Angthong National Marine Park where hydrophilics or water lovers go. Though the best time for diving is between June and August, it is definitely possible to enjoy this activity all year round. These activities are highly recommended Koh Samui attractions even for first-timers. In Lamai, you can expect the same thrills though you are likely to have less company here because it’s next in size to Chaweng. There are other beaches for those who need a place to reflect on the beauty of Mother Nature. For instance, there is the Laemset beach is one of the most relaxing beaches on Koh Samui and it's located only a few steps from the ShaSa hotel. This private beach is quiet and beautiful. 


Of course, you can’t just stay in the salty waters admiring the corals all the time. Relax and go sailing on one of the charter boats. Or you will have to walk on the island again. You will admire breathtaking waterfalls (one of Koh Samui attractions you must not miss) especially Namuang near Banturian. And there are other must-see places like the infamous Grandmother and Grandfather rocks and the sacred temples.


At the end of the day, back at the ShaSa Hotel you can rewind memories of Koh Samui attractions in the past hours and resolve to get more of them the next day.

GRANDMOTHER AND GRANDFATHER ROCKS

The Grandfather Rocks looks like a males reproductive organ, while the Grandmother rocks looks like a women's region. Both rocks have become big tourist attractions in Koh Samui.  (photo courtesy of panoramio.com)

The rock formations popularly known as Hin Yai (Grandmother Rock) and Hin Ta (Grandfather Rock) have certainly become one of the most visited and most photographed Koh Samui attractions. Located on the southern tip of Koh Samui island between Lamai beach and Hua Thanon, the two rock formations have been formed due to natural erosion of inland boulders by the waters of the Gulf of Thailand. A half-day tour of the city wouldn’t be fulfilling enough if these Koh Samui attractions are not made part of your travel itinerary.

How They Look Like

Before you start expecting that these Koh Samui attractions resemble grandmother and grandfather images, well you’d be in for a great surprise. Grandmother Rock resembles a woman’s groin area; Grandfather Rock rises up into the air like a man’s phallus. Grandmother Rock is characterized by a crevice that has been naturally formed from the repeated action of the sea against what probably had been a straight slab; the sea could have created the ridge. The second of these Koh Samui attractions sticks out sharply among the other rocks just near Grandmother Rock; Grandfather Rock is a huge seemingly “capped” pillar projecting from among other rocks.

Folklore

Interestingly enough, the signboard for this pair of Koh Samui attractions tells an interesting tale of an old couple, Ta Kreng (Grandpa Kreng) and Yai Riem (Grandma Riem), who had decided to marry their son off to Ta Monglai’s daughter. A violent storm caused their boat to capsize, drowning the old couple. To show how sincere and noble the couple’s intentions were of having their son marry the bride, they were transformed into those two interesting Koh Samui attractions that have become mesmerizing spectacles to this day. This story appropriately shows how Buddhist culture can weave legends into interesting components of nature.

How to Get There

Shortly after getting off Lamai beach, go south and take a left off the main coast road. You will get to a pay parking area near the end. Find the small street lined with food, drinks and souvenir shops and stalls leading to the rocks. Follow the small street until you come upon Grandmother Rock; you’ll find Grandfather Rock just to the right. Visitors find these two Koh Samui attractions great spots to take amusing photos. You need to walk farther ahead to make out the crevice that forms Grandmother Rock’s famous anatomical characteristic. Grandfather Rock would be, for obvious reasons, much harder to miss.