Samui Island, also known as Koh Samui in Thai, is the second largest island in Thailand. It’s a fun and lively island filled with beautiful resorts, trendy restaurants, loads of interesting attractions, and lovely views to enjoy.
Although there are plenty of things open on Koh Samui, there are many restaurant, stores, and night clubs that are still closed. Club hopping is still not an option as of July 2020, but we still had a great time despite some venues being closed.
Accommodations
We stayed at Eden Beach Bungalows and were lucky to get 50% off due to the low occupy since the pandemic. We practically had the place to ourselves and got to enjoy the beautiful pool and the peaceful beach in relative seclusion. The sand on the beach is quite coarse though and the water a bit slimy most likely due to seaweed. We definitely enjoyed splashing around the pool much more than the beach in this case and spent most of our time at the hotel enjoying the view and relaxing around the pool.
Big Buddha Temple
For sight seeing, we went to see the Big Buddha Temple which is huge! You can climb the stairs to see the Buddha and nice sea views of the Gulf of Thailand. Modest dress is required, or if you make a mistake like me, you can borrow a scarf to cover up your shoulders.
Plailaem Temple
Next, we saw Plailaem Temple which has 3 beautifully colorfuled Buddha’s set on a peaceful lake. You can feed the pigeons and ponder the beauty of nature that surrounds you at Plailaem Temple
Hinta-Hintai
Next, we saw Hinta-Hintai. These seaside rock formations look like male and female genitala. The myth is that a husband and wife were taking their son to a neighboring island to meet a girl for their son to marry. Their boat was shipwrecked in a storm and these rock formations were formed to show their sincere intention for a prosperous marriage between families.
I mean how else can you explain rock formations like this?
Tarnim & Magic Garden
Next, we drove up the mountain to see great views of the island and to see the Tarnim & Magic Garden. This garden has a gentle waterfall that creates a soothing Zen like experience. You can see the fascinating statues and dip your feet into the pool for a fish foot massage. The fish here will nip at your feet to give you a little pedicure. It tinkles like crazy but was fun and refreshing.
Na Mueang Waterfall
Next, we went to see Na Mueang Waterfall. You can admire the waterfall from the side or jump into the refreshing running waters.
Elephant Sanctuary
The elephant sanctuary just closed for the evening when we arrived, but we still got to see the elephants eating their dinner as they don’t live very far from the waterfall at all.
Mad Sum Island
The next day, we took a 4-hour boat tour. Our first stop was Mad Sum island. Here, we got to enjoy the beauty of the fine white sand and visit with the wild pigs that live on the island.
Snorkeling
The best part of the day was snorkeling. I have not snorkeled in 18 years and was it was great to see the different colored corals and the beautiful fish.
Fisherman’s Village
The Fisherman’s Village is a nice place to go for dinner and night life. It’s still pretty quiet here since the lockdown. Only a handful of restaurants, shops, and spas are open. None of the nightclubs appear to be open. I’m sure this place is quite lively in high season but as of July 2020. It’s still pretty quiet.
We ate dinner at Alla Baia Restaurant which has lovely sea views and tasty Italian food.
Coco Tam’s Restaurant
Our favorite restaurant was Coco Tam’s. We wound up eating here twice because they have a beautiful view of the water, delicious speciality drinks, nice food, and great music. Our last evening there they even had even some fire dancers performing on the beach. They really put on a great show and it was as exciting way to end our 3 night stay on Koh Samui!
To see Koh Samui come to life, please watch our video travel guide below so you can feel the excitement of Koh Samui for yourself!
