The easiest way to get around Koh Samui is by boat
Tourists or travellers arriving in Koh Samui can
pretty much easily orient themselves to the various attractions in this island
located at the east coast of Thailand. Those coming in by ferryboat will make
their landfall at Koh Samui’s Nathon pier on the island’s west coast. Flying
in, on the other hand, will mean landing at the Koh Samui international airport
at the island’s northeastern peninsula.
Arrival by boat, hence, will mean immediately having a
glimpse of the Lamai and Chaweng beaches located at the west coast of Koh
Samui. Airline passengers, for their part, will have a bird’s eye view of a neighbouring
island Koh Pangan which can be reached either by ferry from Nathon or shuttle
boats from the Koh Samui northern beaches of Maenam and Bophut.
Moving
around the island
Locating a Koh Samui hotel for accommodations or where
an advanced reservation has been made won’t be much of a problem. There’s only
one major circumferential road around the island. Tourists who prefer more
luxurious lodging facilities will be pleased to note of the many options
available, among which is ShaSa Resort at the southern end of Koh Samui.
Visitors arriving by plane will surely notice that the
central part of Koh Samui is comprised of a mountainous tropical jungle, which
sure is an inviting proposition for nature trekkers. However, this area is
military land, and for those truly determined hikers, some prior clearance from
authorities should be the first step to take. As a more convenient alternative,
the nearby Koh Pangan Island also has forested areas for trekking, in addition
to its beaches as equally fabulous as Koh Samui’s.
Mix of
local transport modes
There are several modes of transport in moving around
Koh Samui. Taxicabs are available, but the tourists should better be prepared
to do some haggling on fares. As in many popular travel destinations, taxi
drivers in the island are wont to charge tourists higher. They can ask between
200 and 300 baht for a single trip and forego using their taximeters, a
practice frowned upon by local authorities yet it persists.
The less expensive option would be taking the local songthaews,
modified pickup trucks with benches at the back. The fares charged in these
public transport vehicles ranges from 50 to 60 baht. Renting a car or a
motorcycle are also added options. Notably, traffic in the island flows on the
left side, requiring extra caution for those accustomed to driving right-hand
side.
