Koh Samui is Thailand’s second largest island. Legend has it in that in 1971 two brave backpackers took local buses and boats down to the island in the deep south of Thailand and stumbled upon an island paradise. Word quickly spread about the beautiful beaches of Koh Samui and within 30 years it had become one of the leading holiday destinations in the world.
The main tourist hub on Koh Samui is undoubtedly Chaweng on the east coast. It is a long beach with perfect white sand and good year round swimming. Parallel to the beach is a large area composed of bars, restaurants, hotels, shops and night spots. Day and night Chaweng is busy. For many the frenetic activity of Chaweng is appealing, for others it is too much. Young women are openly for sale.
For those who don’t enjoy the atmosphere of Chaweng a great alternative is the beach of Bophut in the north of Koh Samui. The beach is nearly as good as Chaweng and the sea is fine for swimming. The great draw card of Bophut is Fisherman’s Village. It is a small area near the pier that consists of bars, restaurants and shops that have retained the original Chinese wooden architecture. The bars are not sleazy. They offer beers from back home, delicious Thai and Western food and great sea views. The area has a stylish, boutique feel. Rather than being frenetic Bophut has a laid back charm that helps you unwind from all the cares you have left back at home.
The accommodation in Bophut matches Fisherman’s Village. There are a number of sophisticated mid-range resorts that back onto the beach. Zazen Boutique Resort uses bold dashes of Mediterranean color in its design and the rooms feature flat screen HD televisions, Play Stations and iPod docks. The Anantara Bophut Resort and Spa has luxury villas set in a large tropical garden some of which feature private pools.
At night Bophut is lively without being seedy. It is an ideal place for couples and families who enjoy a beach with plenty of eating out options and places to buy souvenirs.
There are a few interesting attractions near to Bophut. There is the 12 meter high golden Buddha in Bang Rak. It is Koh Samui’s biggest and most famous monument. On a more secular note, there is a go-kart place not far from Bophut beach with both powerful and not so powerful karts to hire. For those who enjoy a round of golf, Koh Samui’s only full size course is just 10 minutes away at Santiburi Samui Country Club.
Finally, Bophut is well placed – it is just 15 minutes from Koh Samui Airport. It is only 15 minutes to the excellent Tesco Lotus, and of course Chaweng is just 20 minutes south of Bophut. For those keen to explore the Gulf, Bophut pier has regular boats to Koh Phangan.
Things on Koh Samui have changed dramatically since those first two backpackers arrived on the island. They might not approve with the course of development that Chaweng has taken, but I’m sure they wouldn’t mind spending a few nights in Bophut.
September 3, 2011
Travel