Water sports on Ko Samui

With Ko Samui’s beautiful beaches and generally calm waters, there is a lot more to do than just lay on the beach. Samui offers opportunities to try kayaking, kiteboarding, stand-up paddling, jetski-ing and sailing (among other water sports) and here’s a round up of how and where to check them out.

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Kayaks are available to rent on most beaches for around 200 baht per hour. This is great upper body exercise and an interesting way to see the shoreline. Single and double kayaks are available on many beaches, and most will provide life jackets (on request). For something more packaged, Blue Stars Kayaking offers trips to the Ang Thong National Marine Park starting at 2,500 baht for adults and 1,600 baht for kids for a daytrip to the park – you don't kayak the whole way there though! Once at the park, you'll be able to explore unusual rock formations, hidden caves and inlets. See marine and bird life without disturbing it, and see where pirates used to hide their loot.

Kayaks at rest on Bang Po beach. Photo taken in or around Water sports on Ko Samui, Ko Samui, Thailand by David Luekens.

Kayaks at rest on Bang Po beach. Photo: David Luekens

As Samui generally doesn’t have strong and reliable winds, kiteboarding is more popular than windsurfing, as less wind is required. Kiteboarding locations vary depending on the prevailing winds, taking place either near Nathon on the west coast between May and October, or by Hua Thanon at the south east (south of Lamai), between October and April.

Kiteboarding at Laem Set in southern Samui. Photo taken in or around Water sports on Ko Samui, Ko Samui, Thailand by Rosanne Turner.

Kiteboarding at Laem Set in southern Samui. Photo: Rosanne Turner

SUP or stand-up paddling is another popular option on Samui. Basically standing atop an oversized surfboard and paddling as if on a gondola, SUP is an easy skill to learn for beginners, as the large boards are stable, and with little wave action, it’s hard to capsize. SUP can be hired at Lipa Noi via Samui Paddleboard. In the northeast of the island, iSUP Samui rent boards, offer lessons and can also organise SUP tours to Ko Som (a small island off the coast of Plai ... Travelfish members only (Around 500 more words) ... please log in to read the rest of this story.