BIG BUDDHA BEACH

With views like this one, no wonder the Big Buddha beach is one of the most popular Koh Samui beaches.

A Koh Samui beach list wouldn’t be complete without inclusion of Big Buddha Beach. Situated between the islands of Koh Farn and Koh Sam, this Koh Samui beach lies on the northeast tip of Koh Samui island. It is strategically located a mere 15-minute-road trip away from Chaweng, a popular nightspot for night owls, and just 25 minutes away from Nathon, the capital of Koh Samui. The village of Bophut also lies nearby.

What to Expect

Anyone out looking for a great time at night doesn’t have to look very far once they’re in the vicinity of this Koh Samui beach. Nightlife has never been more glamorous with the network of bars, nightclubs and restaurants that cater to various clients with the most discriminating tastes. The captivating peace in this Koh Samui beach provides a great place to hang out in, have a long, unhurried stroll on, or simply enjoy the soothing smell and taste of seawater to dispel those cobwebs of care from the confused mind. Big Buddha Beach offers tranquility in the right doses, as well as a healthy helping of nightlife noise to individuals out for a rocking good time.

Who Will Enjoy The Big Buddha Beach?

Practically anyone can treat themselves to the fascinating sights and sounds of this Koh Samui beach. With backpackers making up a good majority, Big Buddha beach also has much to offer to families, children and tour groups. The famous statue can be beheld in its magnificence towering at twelve meters at the highest point of a wide flight of stairs, with intricate dragon details characteristic of the brilliance of Thai art ingenuity. An added attraction is the array of art shops surrounding the temple of Wat Phra Yai, which houses the statue. Hunt for handcrafted silver jewelry in these fine shops.

What Can You Do at Big Buddha Beach?

Big Buddha Beach is a Koh Samui beach that has so much to offer. Go swimming with the entire family on this safe area where the water doesn’t run too deep and the current isn’t too strong. Get that much- wanted tan while engrossed in a great book. Go kiteboarding, snorkeling, and rock-walking. Immerse yourself in Koh Samui beach village culture by visiting the surrounding areas where a variety of services and shops from cybercafés, supermarkets, diving instruction schools, car and bike rentals, travel agencies, gas stations, a post office, can be availed of. This is Koh Samui at its best—at Big Buddha Beach. 

Songkran in Koh Samui

Spending your Songkran in Koh Samui is an unforgettable experience.  

Songkran in Koh Samui island is one of the most popular and widely anticipated festivals in Thailand. “Songkran” is also known as the “Thai New Year” or the “Water Festival”. Water is a sacred symbol for Thais that is often associated with cleansing or washing away of bad luck. Most foreigners know the 

Songkran as the Water Festival of Thailand. This celebration is held each year from April 13 to April 15. Expect Songkran in Koh Samui island to be wild beyond your expectations. It is a time for festivities and enjoyment for the Thais and the best place to experience the Thai New Year is in Koh Samui island.

This Water Festival originates from a Sanskrit origin that denotes the movement of the sun or the changing position of the sun into the zodiac. In Thailand, Songkran was traditionally a mark of the time of year when Thais would travel back home to visit their family and to give honor to the elders. In earlier times, the Songkran was a humble pouring of water over the family members and the friends’ shoulders and hands to wash away bad luck. Nowadays, it is a celebration in the whole country which is often celebrated by pouring bucketfuls of water.

In Koh Samui island, Songkran is widely celebrated. Usually, the locals go to the temple to offer a prayer and food to the temple monks. It is a celebration filled with merriment and well wishes. The whole community gathers together in well wishing. This celebration is likened to the combination of Chinese New Year and April Fool’s Day. 

Songkran usually takes place during the warmest season of the year. Since it is so warm, people find good reason to have water fights on this day. In Koh Samui island, the people prepare buckets of water, water hoses and gallon drums of water as “weapons” for the water fight. The whole day, you will witness people, both locals and tourists, joining in on the fun of water fights. There are pickup trucks and cars parked all over the island.

If you want to join in on the fun at Koh Samui island, bring a water pistol, a bottle of water or a bucket if you want. The rule of the water fight is simple: attack with your own “weapon” to those who least expect it. People are expected to play nice if the truly want to participate in this silly yet enjoyable celebration. Bring your nice attitude into the playground and leave your viciousness behind. It’s all about clean fun.  

Those that have “immunity” from the water fight are the uniformed police, the elderly and those that are driving. The common problem during this celebration is road safety because motorbike and scooter drivers often get shocked with the water bombs coming their way. However, among players, you can expect that there will be those mixing four, soap suds, talcum powder and other such things with the water. Some even chill the water near freezing point to add shock value. 

SWIMMING IN KOH SAMUI

You go swimming in one of the ShaSa's many beautiful pools (pictured above) or at one of the popular beaches nearby. 

Whether you want salty or fresh water, Thailand is still one of the best countries in the world for swimming. You may have heard of Phuket numerous times but it doesn’t mean Koh Samui beaches will give you less value for your travel money. Samui’s hotel resorts are also one of the best finds in Thailand.  Case in point is  ShaSa Hotel where you don’t need to be forced to get initiated in Thailand swimming in one of the hotel’s cascading pools overlooking the sea.

Swimming may sound like a lazy tourist’s activity as opposed to kayaking, jet skiing, and other watersports. Yet, it gives you the best chance (on the boat you are more likely to be looking offshore) to look attentively towards the shore to admire the coconut palms slowly waving, the powdery sand, and the spellbinding landscape. Actually, your mind is the best camera for taking photos of beautiful Koh Samui beaches.

Where do you get wet in Thailand’s third largest island? Almost everywhere because you can only walk on the streets looking for Thai stuff to bring home, sleep on your bed at one of island’s best resorts or look at mysterious rock formations. Probably ninety percent of the time, you’re in Koh Samui beaches giving your feet a grand vacation on the sand and then before you know it you will be surrendering your body again to the sea. Swimming is the most natural thing to do in this island for every member of the family.

If you like places with a more festive mood, go to Chaweng and Lamai, the biggest Koh Samui beaches. While waiting for the night market or the bars and discos, you can take a dip into the sea and rush to nearby drinking and dining spots to re-charge. Changwe is also the island’s departure point if you want to go swimming and snorkeling in Ko Tao and Angthong National Marine Park. For true-blue backpackers who would like to pretend keeping the sea for themselves, there are Koh Samui beaches that won’t disappoint. Check out Choeng Mon on the north coast. It offers a series of bays and the clean waters are absolutely great for swimming, snorkeling and scuba diving. If you want to check out  a quiet private beach you should head to the Laem set beach located right next to the Shasa hotel. 

The amazing thing about a few days of life in this island is that you can go to the sea in all directions. Koh Samui beaches have everything to offer whether you like socializing with a crowd of beach folks or contemplating on the vastness of the sea by yourself or with just a few people.

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. 

KOH SAMUI BLACK MOON PARTY

Koh Samui's Black Moon Party is one of the biggest parties held on the island every month. 

One of the more interesting Koh Samui things to do is the traditional Black Moon party. Captivated by the absence of lunar light, party people gather together at various Koh Samui venues to drink, chat, dance, and basically have a blast with other partygoers. If you’re planning your own itinerary of Koh Samui things to do, then this is definitely one event you won’t want to leave out.

What is a Black Moon Party?

Held two weeks before and two weeks after a full moon, a black moon beach party is mounted on a much smaller, more intimate scale than other moon parties and thusly is one of those rare Koh Samui things to do that simply anyone must do. With Koh Samui offering a spectacular vantage point that literally “lights up” the entire party scene, black moon parties have surely become a spectacular component of Koh Samui things to do.

What Happens at Black Moon Parties?

With the moon absent from the sky on such events, expect a lot of neon art and one-of-a-kind ultraviolet decorations to provide that special glitter to this fundamental of Koh Samui things to do and give that extra oomph that any party goer will die for. The beach literally comes to life at black moon parties. Mind-blasting musical element is provided by excellent DJs who create the perfect atmosphere for such a unique occasion. Playing throbbing tunes like underground house and psych trance, the DJs guarantee the best musical experience for dancers on the floor--nothing less than the most excellent among the many Koh Samui things to do.

Other Things to Enjoy/Consider

Black Moon parties,  being only one of the more interesting Koh Samui things to do, is also an event that showcases the skills of fire dancers. As the fire dancers wildly swing their sticks any which way, they provide great entertainment for party goers. In addition, a lot of drinking is to be enjoyed by all, along with enough energy drinks to keep everyone’s energy up for all-night dancing and partying. Drugs have never been allowed at such venues, and party people are cautioned from trying to get away with using them during the party. 

It is also recommended that guests bring along their hotel’s business card in unlikely emergency episodes that could happen while at the party. Visitors should keep themselves hydrated at all times, as excessive alcohol intake and all that dancing and moving around could easily deplete their bodily water reserves. And what happens to be the most important thing? Just kick off your shoes, let your hair down, and GO PARTY!

CHOENG MON BEACH

The Choeng Mon beach is a nice quiet, private beach in Koh Samui  located only a few minutes away from the ShaSa resort. (Photo courtesy of samuiontour.com)

Comparatively more upscale than neighboring Big Buddha Beach, Choeng Mon beach is one of those Koh Samui beaches that promises to live up to its higher class image.  Nestled on the northwestern edge of Koh Samui, Choeng Mon offers exclusivity to the more discerning traveler who prefers a more private setting for a holiday at any of the popular Koh Samui beaches. The elite handful of resorts that offer either three- or five-star accommodations attests to how individuality is nurtured on this side of the island.

How To Reach Choeng Mon

The serene setting of Choeng Mon is reachable by proceeding east past the airport turnoff. In similar fashion to most other Koh Samui beaches, the area is primarily a coastline setting and lies barely 15 minutes north of Chaweng. This captivating bay expanse is characterized by sprawling and pristine sandy beaches. Rock formations capture the imagination, and a small island on the other side mesmerizes with its own beauty. Choeng Mon, as many other Koh Samui beaches, offers much in the way of making more discriminating travelers feel they are truly away from the hustle and bustle of a very public world.

Resort Regulars

Beguiled by the relative seclusion offered by Choeng Mon, patrons who choose this beach among all other Koh Samui beaches belong to the older, package tour crowds. Frequenters are visitors from France and Germany, which is why entertainment and food selections are mostly geared toward this group. The spiciness of typical Thai cuisine is normally tempered down this side of Thailand. Most of the resorts have been designed to be self-sufficient within themselves, offering in-house entertainment to clients who do not wish to go venturing out for such. Western pop tunes are given expert covers by a good number of Filipino bands; traditional Thai dancing is also a staple in this upscale element of Koh Samui beaches.

Where to Stay

Choeng Mon beach naturally has several coves and islets just waiting to be explored by visitors out for some exploring to do on Koh Samui beaches. Luxurious resorts have been erected in a number of these islets and coves. The unbelievably two-level traditional teakwood Thai boats or barges and spectacular villas that make up The Imperial Boathouse provide breathtaking views of the surrounding areas, which have no villages but abound with tour counters, restaurants and minimarts. The White House,  considered by many as possibly the most romantic spot on this part of the island, offers exclusivity coupled with Thai hospitality. The Nara Garden offers captivating views and ultimate pampering to visitors out for a good dose of Thai warmth. 

KOH SAMUI SHOPPING: ESSENTIAL BARGAINING TIPS

Be sure to read this blog post to get some Koh Samui shopping advice. 

During your stay at ShaSa Resorts and Residences, you’ll know doubt want to get out there and hit the shops and markets that abound everywhere on Koh Samui island, and pick up some of the excellent bargains in clothes, gadgets, jewelry and souvenirs just waiting to be had.

Koh Samui shopping is both cheap and plentiful on the island – at every single beach, every single town and village, you’ll find vendors and stalls, shops and malls all vying for your business. But while you’ll notice that the price of goods is much cheaper than your home country than they are when Koh Samui shopping, you still might end up paying over the odds if you’re not too careful.

There’s a trick to Koh Samui shopping that every shopper needs to be aware of – you gotta bargain hard to get what you want at the right price! Bargaining is pretty much the done thing in Thailand – unless the store is an official one with clearly marked prices, virtually everything you buy has to be negotiated. 

So how to negotiate? The trick to bargaining when Koh Samui shopping is to first of all, know what a realistic price is for the item you are trying to buy. Second, always bargain with a smile on your face – don’t get angry or upset as this won’t get you anywhere. You can bargain hard, but always keep it friendly.

To begin with, ask the Koh Samui shopping vendor what the price is. Naturally, the vendor will always start off with a high price, perhaps two or three times the actual price. For example, if you’re buying a T-shirt and the vendor asks for 500 baht, then the real price is probably going to be more like 200 or 300 baht. Offer him 100, but do it with a smile on your face. Guaranteed, the vendor will look shocked! But it’s also guaranteed he or she will make a lower counter-offer. He might say “okay, 350 baht”. In that case, offer 200 baht, and then he or she’ll probably say 300. Now you’re getting closer! 300 baht isn’t a bad price at all, but with skill you may be able to get that T-shirt for even less, but remember not to push too hard or they may just refuse you altogether! With practice, you’ll soon get the hang of it.

And of course we should mention that if you can speak some Thai, even if it’s only a few simple phrase such as “How much is this?”, your Koh Samui shopping will be much easier and the prices you’ll be quoted much cheaper.

Have fun with your shopping!