Life on the island is what you make it. Koh Samui has many attractions and activities, here are just a few examples of what this paradise island offers:
The Samui Butterfly Garden features an enclosed tropical park containing hundreds of butterflies, a display of moths and insects and some beehives. Here you will be able to get up close to many species of butterfly flitting about in natural tropical foliage.
Elephant trekking is very popular on Koh Samui. At Namuang Safari Park you will be able to take a trek to a local waterfall where you will be able to swim. There are many other attractions at Namuang Safari Park including various Animal Shows, ATV Quad biking and Tree Top Cable Rides.
On Samui, Monkies qualify as man's best friend. They are used by the coconut farmers to climb the trees and pick the ripe nuts. All around the island there are places by the roadside where you will be able to watch a demonstration of this. You will also see how many uses a coconut has,the products made from it, sample the juice as a drink, and taste the velvety flesh inside.
Here on Koh Samui, the enormous water buffalo often seen tethered by the roadside or in amongst the forest areas are mainly used for fighting. This is a sport specific to the south of Thailand, and on this island it generates a lot of excitement. Often when travelling around the island you will see a large clearing amongst the palms with a wall of bamboo matting or coconut leaves. This is designed to hinder the view of those who have not paid to watch this popular event. Unlike Spanish Bullfighting, the Buffalo Fighting Festival on Koh Samui is a fairly harmless contest. The buffalos lock their highly decorated horns until the weaker one submits. The first buffalo to turn and walk away is the loser. The champion buffalo is worth several million baht.
A visit to the Samui Crocodile Farm and Reptile Zoo near the airport, is very entertaining. Here you will see many crocodiles and other amphibious animals and there is also an opportunity to see several species of snakes that are found here in Thailand. There is also a separate Snake Farm on the south of island.
Diving is very popular on Koh Samui and the surrounding islands. There are many Dive Schools offering PADI Dive Courses, from Discover Scuba diving to Instructor Level. The warm tropical waters of the Gulf of Thailand offer a rich aquatic life and an underwater landscape full of variety and adventure. If you don't want to dive, then snorkelling is also a good way to see the fantastic array of fishes and corals.
