Ko Samui has much to offer golf fanatics, whether they are pros, or just looking to whack a few balls for exercise. Those visiting with kids will enjoy the more family-orientated options available. Here’s a round-up of the golf opportunities to be found on the island. Santiburi Golf Course and Country Club, one of Asia’s … read the full post

With Samui’s rainy season on the doorstep, it’s best to be armed with a few bad weather alternatives — even if they are not exactly authentically Thai — for when the heavens open up. Samui does not have big malls like Phuket, but a few indoor entertainment options offer some family fun. Samui is home … read the full post

Thinking of a beach wedding? Ko Samui has a selection of professional wedding planners you can turn to for all the organising, and with postcard-view beach backdrops, it makes an ideal wedding location. If you’re coming here from the West, in general favourable currency exchanges — in Thailand and elsewhere in Southeast Asia — mean … read the full post

Exploring Ko Samui’s beaches, towns and interior makes for uncovering quite a few out-of-the-ordinary sights. Here we showcase a selection of the type of things you might see while tripping around — go on, snap more than the usual holiday pictures while you’re here. Above you see a pig-tailed macau monkey, used as a coconut … read the full post

A funky new yoga studio-cum-cafe has opened down a quiet back street of Ko Samui’s cosmopolitan Fisherman’s Village. The village is known for its east-meets-the-Med appeal, where trendy coffee shops bump shoulders with upmarket boutiques, and bars and restaurants trade from old Chinese shophouses. The effect is eclectic and charming, making a perfect location for … read the full post

Ko Tao is dotted with beaches and bays and picking where to go snorkelling can be difficult; what you choose to do will depend a little on how much time you have and what you want to both see and experience. You can take the decision away by simply booking an around-the-island snorkelling trip. Your … read the full post

The Nikki Beach group is renowned world-wide for throwing legendary events, with locations in party hubs such as Cabo San Lucas, Marrakech, Miami Beach, Mallorca, Marbella, St Barth and St Tropez. Nikki Beach Lipa Noi is the first to include accommodation in the mix, adding villas for partygoers to recover in. The accommodation consists of … read the full post

A big red head. That’s what you see poking through the top of a building when driving along Ko Samui‘s ring road in Hua Thanon, just south of Lamai. So what is it? Virach Pongchababnapa, an islander of Chinese decent, aims to build a 16-metre tall bronze statue of Guan Yu, valued at 20 million … read the full post

Personally I would say, “No way Jose!” to anyone contemplating the undeniably risky method of getting about by motorbike on Ko Tao. However it would then be fair to accuse me of a certain amount of hypocrisy as I do indeed own and drive one. Well, chances are that unlike me — I own my … read the full post

As its name suggests, Boudoir in Ko Samui’s Mae Nam oozes sex appeal and romance, with opulent decor in rich colours, mood lighting and comfortable seating that encourages guests to linger over another bottle of wine. Huge portions of rustic French country dishes are served up at reasonable prices, making this small French restaurant one … read the full post