Despite the million visitors a year to an island just 15km across and down, Samui's great natural beauty remains thankfully unspoiled, from the more commercial areas at Chaweng and Lamai (which are fairly crowded in high season) to the more peaceful and secluded beaches on the west coast. Whilst the main attractions are its stunning beaches, the coral beds at Laem Set and Thong Takhian are amongst a variety of treasures to explore in one of the best, and safest, diving destinations in the world. Once you've dined on the local seafood and enjoyed a free sample from the local rum distillery, find time to see the local butterfly garden (featuring some butterflies up to 12 inches wide) and the massive Buddha image on Fan Isle. Make an offering to the mummified monk at Wat Khunaram temple, take in a monkey show at the open-air theatre by Bophut beach and come to your own conclusions about the legendary grandfather and grandmother stones.
There is only one 18 hole golf course on the island, but given it is a world class one a Samui golf holiday will be far from a disappointment. Avoid the tourist trap that is the Bophut Hills 9 hole course and head instead to the Santiburi Samui Country club, a championship course with its own unique character. Winding up and down the creeks and cliffs of a mountain populated by coconut forests and unique tropical fauna, this beautiful course, a regular fixture on the Asian Tour, was voted one of the top 5 courses in Thailand.
Note: the weather on Samui is a little different from the rest of Thailand, being fairly dry from April to September but wet from October to December. However, from January to the end of March you can pretty much guarantee clear blue skies on your Samui golf vacation.
