Lonely Planet Pocket Ko Samui

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• Publisher: Lonely Planet
• Year: 2018
• Print ISBN: 9781787012639
• eBook ISBN: 9781788681971

Lonely Planet: The world's leading travel guide publisher Lonely Planet's Pocket Ko Samui is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Nap under a coconut tree after an early morning yoga class, enjoy five-star international cuisine and sip fancy sunset cocktails, and discover the island's technicolour dive kingdom - all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Ko Samui and begin your journey now! Inside Lonely Planet's Pocket Ko Samui: Full-colour maps and images throughout Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sightseeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss Free, convenient pull-out map (included in print version), plus over 13 colour neighbourhood maps User-friendly layout with helpful icons, and organised by neighbourhood to help you pick the best spots to spend your time Covers Hat Chaweng, Bo Phut & the North East, Mae Nam & the North Coast, Hat Lamai & the South East, Na Thon & the West, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao, and more The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet's Pocket Ko Samui is our colourful, easy to use, handy guide that literally fits in your pocket, providing on-the-go assistance for those seeking the best sights and experiences. Looking for a comprehensive guide that recommends both popular and offbeat experiences, and thoroughly covers all of Thailand's islands? Check out Lonely Planet's Thailand's Islands & Beaches. About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, nine international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more. 'Lonely Planet guides are, quite simply, like no other.' - New York Times 'Lonely Planet. It's on everyone's bookshelves, it's in every traveller's hands. It's on mobile phones. It's on the Internet. It's everywhere, and it's telling entire generations of people how to travel the world.' - Fairfax Media (Australia)eBook Features: (Best viewed on tablet devices and smartphones) Downloadable PDF and offline maps prevent roaming and data charges Effortlessly navigate and jump between maps and reviews Add notes to personalise your guidebook experience Seamlessly flip between pages Bookmarks and speedy search capabilities get you to key pages in a flash Embedded links to recommendations' websites Zoom-in maps and images Inbu

Ko Pha-Ngan

This gulf isle offers much more than the Full Moon Parties that made it famous. Choose quieter days in the lunar calendar, or the smaller (but still raucous) half-moon party periods, and the island’s charms are brought to the fore. It’s easier to get a room, prices are more reasonable and far fewer people are on the island, meaning more solitude and tranquillity. Even Hat Rin – party central when the moon is round – is quiet and relaxing during other periods, and the beaches are kept clean.

There’s a lot to explore on the island, so it pays to be selective. Breakfast at Nira’s is always an excellent start to the day, but if you want to catch sunrise, ride a scooter to Hat Than Sadet on the east coast and pick your way over to Hat Thong Reng. Consider hopping aboard a long-tail boat to Hat Khuat, or you can bounce over the waves south to Hat Rin, via Hat Thian. The Domsila Viewpoint, on the hike above the waterfall at Nam Tok Phaeng, is worth either a morning or afternoon of your time. For sunset libations head to the Secret Beach Bar or explore the brew sensations at the Belgian Beer Bar.

Long-tail boats, Ko Pha-Ngan | DKART/GETTY IMAGES ©

Getting There & Around

As always, the cost and departure times for ferries are subject to change. Rough waves are sometimes known to cancel ferries between November and December.

Top ExperienceKo Pha-Ngan’s Hidden Beaches

Ko Pha-Ngan is fringed with delightful bays, inlets, coves and beaches and if you avoid the full-moon and half-moon shenanigans, you may even find them largely deserted. Even Sunrise Beach, transformed into an arena of sound during the Full Moon, is quiet for the rest of the month, but if you’re willing to explore, you’ll stumble upon some real gems.

KEITH POYNTON/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO ©

MAP GOOGLE MAP

yTop Tips

AIf walking to any of these beaches, head off early in the morning to avoid the midday sun.

AIf returning on foot, give yourself enough time to avoid the dark, but pack a flashlight for emergencies.

AWear a light pair of long trousers if trekking, to protect your legs from insects and plants.

5Take a Break

Hunger pangs? The restaurant at Mai Pen Rai is a good...

Table of contents

• Table of Contents
• Welcome to Ko Samui
• Top Experiences
• Eating
• Four Perfect Days
• Need to Know
• Ko Samui Regions
• Bo Phut & the Northeast
• Hat Chaweng
• Hat Lamai & the Southeast
• Mae Nam & the North Coast
• Na Thon & the West
• Ko Pha-Ngan
• Ko Tao
• Survival Guide
• Language
• Behind the Scenes
• Our Writer