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 Pha
Ngan
Pha Ngan is easily accessed by daily ferry boats from Surat Thani,
or from Maenam and Bophut piers in Samui. These boats call at Thong
Sala and Haad Rin from where many resorts are accessed by pickup
truck over rough tracks. A few can only be reached by small boat.
Koh Pha Ngan is particularly beautiful, being high and rugged, wiitht
rocky headlands of huge granite boulders separating the many tropical
beaches set in coves lined with coconut palms.
Koh Tao
 Koh
Tao is the smallest and remotest of the three major islands. While
it takes most boats about three hours to get there from Samui, the
new speedboat service from Bophut and Na Thon can do it in under
two hours. But the most important access is that through Chumpon,
from where there are both speedboat and ferry service. The island
is similar in geography to its bigger brothers to the south, Samui
and Pha Ngan. Here again are many rocky headlands piled high withhuge
granite boulders. There are fewer beaches, though those few are
particularly beautiful.
Koh Tao's real fame the underwater realm surrounding the island
that has established its reputation. There is a thriving dive industry
on the island, and for those who have never dived before, Koh Tao
offers ideal conditions in which to learn.
Chaweng
This is the most popular and developed of Samui's beaches. Despite
the recent development ,Chaweng maintains the classic image of a
tropical beach fringed by coconut palms.
With the new popular bars and quality restaurants along the back
road, Chaweng is the nightlife centre of the island. Right on the
beach itself, a selection of quiet bars and restaurants, together
with a superb view of the Gulf. Chaweng has the greatest number
of dive shops on Samui. A couple of them organize night dives right
off the beach.
 Lamai
This second- most popular of Samui's beaches. Visitors are charmed
by the open market and the old monastery, which includes a local
museum. Take a walk or ride a mountain bike just back of the beach
road and you'll discover peaceful coconut and fruit groves.
Beachside attractions include health and meditation centres, dive
shops and a Thai boxing school. The Grandfather and Grandmother
rocks at Lamai are worth a visit.
North Coast
This part of the island is less developed than the east coast beaches
of Chaweng and Lamai, and may afford a greater sense of having got
away from it all. This is one of the best beaches on the island
for windsurfing or sailing dinghies and catamarans.
The Big Buddha, a huge Buddha image presiding over a popular shrine
is a prime attraction for visitors. Bophut is also one place to
get boats across to Koh Pha Ngan, to the north.
West Coast
Many visitors never see much of this side of the island beyond the
pier. There is much to reward the explorer, however, often right
in town. There's a fascinating fresh food market and some back streets
with old houses displaying very traditional lifestyles.
Just beyond town there are scenic walks up to waterfalls high in
the hills, and rustic herbal medicine centres. Some of the island's
best know temples are found along the west coast, as well, and make
for a relaxing morning's excursion.
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