I have lived on this Thai island for over three months and even though it seems relatively small, (compared to my home town of Cape Town in South Africa), there’s an abundance of things to do here during the day and in the evenings. The best way to explore the island is by riding all the way around it on a scooter.
- Koh SamuiR E M I B R I D O T / Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA
Here are a few of my favourite things to do on Koh Samui:
- Shop at the night markets
Locals call it a ‘walking street’ and there is nearly one market for every night of the week. On Wednesday nights, it takes places beside the waters of Muang Safari Hotel in Choengmon, Thursday nights in Maenam opposite Soi 5 and on Friday nights in Fishermen’s Village Bophut and on Sundays in Lamai. You can find anything from oil burners, to clothing, cocktails and all kinds of various foods. You can bargain for the best prices here and often find live entertainment such as Thai dancing, rock bands or Muay Thai demonstrations.
- Snorkel, sun and swim at the beach
There are so many beaches to choose from but that all depends what you feel like doing. Silver Beach is great for snorkelling, Taling Ngam and Nathon are perfect for sunset and Bang Por beach is where you can still find peace and quiet away from the crowds. On the odd occasion, you may find waves at Chaweng’s crowded beach which is ok if you’re craving a surf.
- Hike up to the waterfall
Hiking in the humidity is not the best feeling, but once you reach the top of Namuang Waterfall Two it will be worth it. It is 80 meters high and cascades down over multiple levels of rocks. From the top you can look down into the tropical vegetation of the island and swim in its natural pool with its cool waters. Be sure to take mosquito repellent, sun block, water and a swimming suit.
- Bowling at Tesco Lotus
You can’t imagine how much fun a group of you can have at the bowling alley at the Tesco Lotus in Chaweng. Bring socks with you and pay 40 baht to hire the shoes and you’re ready to try your luck at knocking all the pins down. You can order food and drinks while you’re bowling and challenge each other to four rounds of bowling.
- Trekking through the center of the island
Many safari companies take tourist through Samui’s mountainous interior in 4×4 vehicles. We however did it on our scooters. The thrill of riding up steep inclines and hills overlooking forests of coconut tree is quite exhilarating. Downhill is even more exciting, but be warned this is not for novice scooter riders. Go with someone who has experience and control over the bike as you’ll encounter deep crevices in the path and slippery gravel roads. It is probably the most fun you can have on two wheels here.
