Joanna James
If you're planning post-pandemic travel and want to embrace tropical life, Koh Samui, Thailand makes for a heavenly location. Here are some hidden gems to explore.
A quick 5-minute drive from the famous Lamai beach, Overlap Stone viewpoint in Kh Samui is extremely easy to locate – just use google maps! Despite having to pay a small entrance fee, the gravelled pathway that leads you to this viewpoint is worth every step of the way. There is a man-made bridge which connects you to the stone, and the crème de la crème of this location is that it's untouched by humans. What doesn't get better than that?
Located between the Lamai and Chaweng beach areas, this ginormous rock formation is named 'elephant' simply due to its immense size. The area around is rather rocky, and makes for quite a challenging hiking expedition if you're up for it! Once you reach the summit, you're gifted with stunning views of the Gulf of Thailand, perfect for those much-awaited Instagram photo ops! This unique locale is often overshadowed by the more popular attractions it's surrounded by but is undoubtedly worth the hike for the serene views on top.
You're sure to visit quite a several temples and religious locations during your time in Thailand, but when in Koh Samui, a must-visit is Wat Khuranam. Not too far from the many Koh Samui resorts, the likes of Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort, this temple is famous for a very distinct element. Within the walls of this temple sits the mummified body of a monk, Luong Pordaeng who died in 1973. The most remarkable aspect, you'll come to learn, is the fact that the monk died seated in a mediative position, the very same position you'll see to this day. While this may be a rather peculiar sight to some, Thais hold it in very high regard.
If you're on the lookout for a pristine beach, taking a break from the more crowded options, the Silver beach is ideally tucked away in a tranquil location. You don't have to be a guest of any of the hotels in the area to access this stunning beach, which runs across 250 metres. The beauty of Silver beach is unparalleled, you're never going to want to leave its stunning shores.
A spellbinding beach, Laem Yai is lesser known. Your trip to Koh Samui is incomplete without a stop at this exotic beach, said to be one of the best in the whole of Thailand. The beach is ideal to catch a few sunsets, relax and take photographs. Apart from the beautiful sunsets you get to witness, the white sandy beach and turquoise waters are reason enough to stop by and visit. You're never short of beaches when in Koh Samui!
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