12 Best Sights in Koh Samui, The Gulf Coast Beaches

Quaint and romantic Bophut has a devoted following of return visitors who enjoy its quiet vibe. This north-shore beach is narrow, but more than wide enough for sunbathing. The water is like glass, making it good for swimming, though it's deep enough to be unsuitable for young children. Bophut has a smidge of nightlife. Central Bophut, known to everyone as Fisherman's Village, has a beachside strip of old houses that have been converted into restaurants, bars, and boutiques. Amenities: food and drink. Best for: swimming.

The smaller and less developed of the east-coast beaches adjoining Chaweng town, Chaweng Noi lacks the charms and spectacular golden curve of its bigger brother, Chaweng Yai. It's quieter and more relaxed, though, and there are nearby resorts where you can grab a snack. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: solitude.

Travelers in search of sun and fun flock here, especially during high season. The northern half of this beautiful east-coast beach is a hit with backpackers because it's lined with budget lodgings. The southern half, more popular with the package tourists, has more in the way of high-end resorts. Chawaeng Yai is a great swimming beach. The fine sand is brilliant white, and the waters are clear and usually calm. During the day, tourists pack in and the water buzzes with Jet Skis and banana boats. At night the streets come alive as shops, bars, and restaurants vie for your vacation allowance. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming.

A mellow spot on Samui's northeastern coast, this beach is blessed with crystal-clear water. Choengmon was once pitched as the island's next big thing. There's hardly a boom, but a few guesthouses, a handful of luxury resorts, and some restaurants are scattered along the wide shore. The sand is firm and strewn with pebbles and shells, but the beach is adequate for sunbathing. A few of its food options are right on the beach. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming.

Just offshore at Choengmon Beach is Koh Fan Noi, a little island with a narrow strip of sandy beach. The waters are shallow enough to wade to the island. Despite the hectic pace of development on Samui, the beautiful beach here remains nearly deserted.

Popular Lamai lacks the glistening white sand of Chaweng Beach, but its water is clear and the beach is ideal for swimming. The steeply shelved shoreline might be too much for kids, though. Numerous bars and restaurants which line the beach underscore that Lamai has a strong nightlife slant. Almost every visitor to Koh Samui makes a pilgrimage to the point marking the southern end of Lamai Beach to see two rocks named Hin Yai (Grandmother Rock) and Hin Ta (Grandfather Rock). Erosion has shaped the rocks to resemble weathered and wrinkled private parts. It's nature at its most whimsical. Laem Set Bay, a small rocky cape on the southeastern tip of the island, is just south of Lamai. It's a good 3 km (2 miles) off the main road, so it's hard to reach without your own car. Head here to escape the hustle and bustle of the tourist areas. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: partiers; swimming.

The long, curving beach at Mae Nam has coarse, golden sand shaded by tall coconut trees. It's one of the island's more unspoiled beaches—inexpensive guesthouses and a few luxurious resorts share the 5-km (3-mile) strand. Quiet both day and night, this north-shore beach has little nightlife and only a scattering of restaurants. The shallow waters are suitable for swimming, and several water-sports companies operate in the area. Amenities: food and drink; water sports. Best for: swimming.

This archipelago of 42 islands covers some 102 square km (40 square miles) and lies 35 km (22 miles) northwest of Koh Samui. It's around 45 minutes there by speedboat from Koh Samui. The seven main islands are Wua Talap Island (which houses the national park's headquarters), Phaluai Island, Mae Koh Island, Sam Sao Island, Hin Dap Island, Nai Phut Island, and Phai Luak Island. The islands contain limestone mountains, strangely shaped caves, emerald-green lakes and ponds. Most tourists visit on a one-day trip, which can be arranged from Koh Samui. Numerous operators offer trips; a recommended company is Samui Explorer ( www.samuiislandexplorer.com). Prices vary depending on the tour (some offer kayaking around several islands, and others take you out on small speedboats for snorkeling or cave tours). The park is generally open year-round, although it can be closed from November to mid-December when the seas are rough and the water less clear. The monsoon lasts from October to December.

On the inland road to Na Thon lies the village of Baan Thurian, famous for its durian trees. A track climbs up into jungle-clad hills to the island's best waterfall, Na Muang. The 105-foot falls are spectacular—especially just after the rainy season—as they tumble from a limestone cliff into a small pool. You are cooled by the spray and warmed by the sun. For a thrill, swim through the curtain of falling water; you can sit on a ledge at the back to catch your breath.

Koh Samui has a few top-end spas, as well as several in the luxury hotels, but the island's ultimate spa experience is at Tamarind Springs. Many different treatments are available, from hot-oil massages to herbal rubs to the Over the Top massage package, which lasts 2½ hours. The spa employs the latest treatment methods, including the use of Tibetan singing bowls. The plunge pools, hot tubs, and tearoom are built harmoniously into Tamarind's boulder-strewn hillside.

Off the northeastern tip of Koh Samui is Koh Fan (not to be confused with Koh Fan Noi), a little island with a huge Buddha. Indeed, the statue is better known as the "Big Buddha." The island is best visited at sunset, when the light off the water shows it at its best.

This peaceful temple complex in the island's northeast is overseen by a striking 18-armed statue of Guan Yin, known as the Goddess of Mercy, that stands 5 meters (16 feet) high. The temple's interior walls are embellished with murals of Buddha's life.