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Ko Samui


If you can’t afford to stay at the ultra-swanky Library, have a meal at its beachside restaurant overlooking the azure waters of the Gulf of Thailand. It's not cheap, but lunch is a bit more casual and affordable, although you’ll miss the designer lighting in the evening. A sunrise breakfast is also worth considering.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Ko Samui attractions

1. Hat Chaweng

0.2 MILES

Lovely for sunrise, by evening this is the busiest and loudest beach on Ko Samui, and during the day it's often hopping too, thanks to the sheer number of…

2. Wat Khao Hua Jook

0.73 MILES

This golden pagoda – gloriously illuminated at night – sits on top of the hill north of Chaweng Lake, offering spectacular panoramic views over the island…

3. Lad Koh Viewpoint

1.92 MILES

This great viewpoint, a short distance south from Dr Frogs at the top of the hill on the way to Lamai, looks out onto supreme views of the Gulf of…

4. Samui Elephant Sanctuary

2.17 MILES

The (high) entrance fee here reflects visitors desire to support a project genuinely caring for rescued elephants, and the half-day experience is more an…

5. Hat Bo Phut

2.95 MILES

Rather coarse and shelly, Bo Phut’s beach inclines quite steeply into cloudy water, but the views are scenic to Ko Pha-Ngan, an island that acts as a…

6. Fisherman's Village

3.01 MILES

This concentration of narrow Chinese shophouses in Bo Phut has been transformed into cool boutique hotels, restaurants, cafes and bars. The accompanying…

7. Wat Phra Yai

3.03 MILES

At Samui’s northern end is Wat Phra Yai. Erected in 1972, the modern golden Buddha (sitting in the Mara posture) stands 15m high surveying an area…

8. Wat Plai Laem

3.09 MILES

The most arresting statue on the island is the thousand-arm Guanyin (Kwan Im), the Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, displayed with 18 arms in a fan…