Koh Samed Hotels

But as a perfect tropical retreat with white sandy beaches and clear water, Koh Samed can’t be beaten. Unlike a person, an island’s brilliance often lies in its simplicity – and that’s definitely the case with Koh Samed. And if you do get bored, they do fire-spinning classes down in Nadan Village…

KOH SAMED’S TOP 10

KOH SAMED EVENTS

Celebrating the ripening of local fruit, growers from across the islands join together in May to swap (and steal) secrets at the Rayong Fruit Fair.

A local literary legend and poetry god is celebrated in June during Sunthorn Phu Day, with processions, poetry competitions and local mural painting.

The five-day Banpae Beach and Koh Samet Festival sees locals and international adventurers compete in feats of strength and stamina each December. For the less physically adept, there’s also a quiz show based around squid. Seriously!

November’s religious festival The Robing of the Phra Chedi Kiang Nam includes local music and a procession, but the real draw card is the boat race around the island.

Intense rave parties take place every Full Moon. Cocktails come in buckets, music is blaring and the hangovers are as crazy as the rave itself.

WHEN TO VISIT

• November to February is the best time to visit, when days are warm and nights cool.
• The cool season is also the busiest as backpackers from around the world flood the island to get sunburnt and boozed.
• March to May and June to October are less busy, but the respective heat and wet are even harder than crowds to deal with.

GETTING AROUND

• Travelling via songthaew is a Koh Samed right of passage and perfect for tackling the main (and only) road.
• Motorbikes are also a good way to get around, but avoid having your first lesson here.
• It’s a small island, so one of the best modes of transport is walking.

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