Around The Island

Chaweng

Located only twenty minutes from the villa, this is Samui's most popular and lively beach. Along the seven kilometer stretch can be found some of the island's best hotels, together with and endless number of bungalows, beach bars restaurants, discos and shops. The strip splits naturally into three sections, with the resort town located in the central area. In recent years it has blossomed into the island's second largest town, and is a magnet for visitors from all over the island. 

All the attractions are easily accessed by the road which runs parallel to the beach. Central Chaweng Beach has the greatest concentration of venues, and most of the nightlife attractions are located here. A good choice of music venues ranges from traditional Thai to jazz, rock to reggae, and many of them keep going until dawn. For a quieter evening there are plenty of bars and restaurants right on the beach, offering a dreamy view of the Gulf. Food lovers can find just about anything, whether it be Thai or western, and there are some very good seafood restaurants. Chaweng has the greatest number of scuba diving shops on Samui, many of which organize night dives off the beach. Despite all the activity, however, Chaweng still maintains the classic image of a palm-fringed tropical beach.

Lamai

Samui's second most popular beach, Lamai is a little quieter, a little looser, and a little cheaper than Chaweng. There is something distinctly boomtown about the main strip, which is generally referred to as Lamai Gulch, with its bars, diners and shops crammed together along the roadside and down the dusty side-lanes. 

Ride or walk to the back of the beach road and you're in the heart of banana groves and coconut plantations, and you can take a mountain bike ride up the hill-tracks and into the rugged interior. Or follow the road down past the headland where the famed Grandfather and Grandmother rocks (Hin Ta and Hin Yai) attract picnicking Thai’s. There is a charming old monastery with a tiny museum, and a number of local gyms where you can take Thai boxing lessons. Also a choice of dive shops and even a couple of meditation centers.

After dark Lamai Gulch changes its sleepy daytime midnight and becomes a jumping nightspot. There are some real home-style alfresco places with Thai and western food, the saloons offer live bands, video features and a variety of food styles, and there are several discos which start swinging at about midnight.

Maenam

This beach is located directly opposite the Villa’s entrance of Santi-Thani, only 5 minutes away. Maenam Beach is some two kilometers to the west of Bo Phut. There is a largish village here with several small restaurants and some dive and windsurf centers. Maenam has a smooth white beach running for four kilometers along the calm, scenic day. This is a pleasant, secluded spot for swimming and sunbathing, and attracts families and honeymooners. Customers of the villa exclusively have discounts to select restaurants and bars in this area.

Bo Phut

Bophut is only a ten minute drive from the villa and well worth a visit, especially in the evening. Bo Phut is one of Samui's oldest settlements and remains a quaint little fishing village, with several of the seafront shop houses converted into restaurants. The beach itself is some two kilometers of white sand, and the tranquility of the bay makes this a popular spot for water skiing. Located within Bophut is Fisherman’s Village, where you will find a charming and romantic atmosphere, perfect for a little privacy, with a whole array of restaurants and bars to suit all tastes. Customers of the villa exclusively have discounts to select restaurants and bars in this area.

Big Buddha

Twenty minute drive from the villa to the North-East of the island. Big Buddha Beach is to the east of Bophut and takes its name from the twelve meter tall statue sitting out on an islet connected to Samui by causeway. This is part of the Koh Fan temple, which is the focal point of this area; there is no town as such, although there are plenty of little shops and restaurants around the temple. The beach itself is very quiet and peaceful and the waters are calm.

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