Car Hire Koh Samui - Mini guide to Koh Samui

While Phuket enjoys international fame as a gorgeous beach resort haven, Ko Samui attracts those who want to avoid the hype and settle down for more down-to-earth relaxation.

Situated off the east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui’s image has become more upmarket and a popular destination for the smart travelling set, which explains the opening of an international airport in 1988.

Yet Koh Samui is still an idyllic tropical retreat with little traffic, clean warm water, fine sand beaches, and accommodation ranging from simple bungalows to high end beach resort. The island’s seafood is renown and served up in Thai and -European restaurants with the day’s freshest catch. And the cornucopia of tropical fruits and fresh coconut only add to the culinary experience of this tropical destination.

The best way to get around the island is by hired car or motorbikes. Start a day’s itinerary at Ko Samui's famed Wonderful Rocks - the most important of which are the sex-organ-shaped Hin Yaay and Hin Ta (Grandmother and Grandfather Stones). They are located at the far southern end of Lamai Beach.

For an imposing view on the northeast coast of Koh Samui, visit the gold-tiled Wat Phrayai (Big Buddha), sitting atop Ko Faan (Barking Deer Island), a small islet connected to the shore by a dirt causeway.

At Ban Hua Thanon in the southeast corner, the main island road climbs north past Na Muang Falls, a pleasant waterfall once visited by many kings of the Chakri dynasty. The Ban Thale teakwood Wat is worth a detour, it was built approximately 150 years ago without nails and shows off many beautiful woodcarvings.

Koh Samui is a divers and snorkeller’s paradise with beautiful coral reefs offshore. The many diving schools on the island are usually PADI accredited and offer world class service with great diving destinations to match.

Nearby are two other popular islands. Koh Pha Ngan attracts backpackers and the bohemian to its monthly full moon parties, and is unspoilt by tourism development, while Koh Tao, further north, is one of South East Asia’s best diving locations.

There are domestic flights by Bangkok Airways from Bangkok to Koh Samui. Flights can also be had to Phuket, and other international airports in the region. There are also several daily ferries to and from Don Sa (Surat Thani) on the mainland, as well as the adjacent islands.