Fathima Muzammil
Professor J. Akana
HMGT 1101
16 December 2016
36 Hours in Ko Samui, Thailand
Ko Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is known for its beaches, rainforest’s,
resorts, spas and much more. Ko Samui is Thailand’s second largest island.
Manathai Koh Samui is located on Lamai Beach. Through Expedia, I paid $70 per night. It
contains 148 rooms, boundless gardens, five restaurants, bars and two swimming pools.
Services offered by the hotel are Wifi / Internet Access, parking, babysitting on request,
fitness centre and dry cleaning / ironing.
For lunch, I took advantage of one of the restaurants offered by the hotel called Waterline.
Waterline has an oceanside view and offers exquisite dishes of a variety of cuisine’s such as
Mediterranean, European, Italian, Asian and much more. Waterline offers guests free Wifi
and serves alcohol. The prices were reasonable and ranged from $7 – $24.
While exploring the Island, I decided to kayak at Ang Thong Marine National Park in the
Gulf of Thailand. I paid 2,423 THB (Thai baht) which is about $68. It is known as one of
the world’s most stunning sea kayaking locations as tourists kayak through caves and
around Phi Phi Island. It was a magical experience as I relaxed and enjoyed the breath
taking view of Thailand.
Before heading back to the hotel, I decided to go snorkelling in Ko Tao. Guests can hop
from one bay to another in Ko Tao and explore each island. I paid 2,530 THB (Thai baht)
which is about $71. The water was crystal clear, shallow and calm which made it suitable
for both adults and children. I was able to see a variety of colorful sea creatures and corals
as I enjoyed the warm weather.
After a long fun filled day, I decided to head back to the hotel and take advantage of one of
the restaurants in Manathai Koh Samui. For dinner, I went ahead and tried the famous
fried noodles offered at Pad Thai. Pad Thai is a traditional restaurant with recipes handed
down for generations and pairs Thai techniques with western flavors which takes the dish
to new heights. The prices were reasonable and ranged between $9 – $30.
After having dinner, I decided to relax by one of the pools at Manathai Koh Samui.
Fortunately, it wasn’t as crowded as I expected. I was able to swim all night and enjoy the
calm summer breeze. It was a beautiful and quiet moment I treated myself to, as I
reminisced over the perfect day I had as my day came to an end.
For breakfast, I decided to take a stroll around the island and found a restaurant called
New Hut Cafe. New Hut Cafe serves both Thai food and western food. I opted for a light
breakfast and had some toast and scrambled eggs with a side of vegetables, a mixture of
fruits and orange juice. The restaurant had a beautiful view of the beach and the prices
were reasonable as it ranged below $25.
After having breakfast, I decided to explore the island and have an adventure. I chose to fly
over Samui’s tropical rainforest on zip lines at Koh Samui Canopy Adventures. I paid
1,200 THB (Thai baht) which is about $35 for a ride. Riders were given a 20 minute
practice session beforehand by professionals. Afterwards, I zip lined at a speed nearing 80
kmph as I enjoyed the breathtaking waterfall views.
For lunch, I went to Spices Cafe near Samui Canopy Adventures. It was a lovely little
restaurant that served authentic Thai food. It was a family owned restaurant and the chef
served the guests a variety of fresh thai cuisine using bold flavors. I ordered prawn with
panang curry, deep fried sea bass, soft shell crab salad, etc. The prices were reasonable as
it ranged below $20. Overall, it was a great atmosphere as I enjoyed the hospitality Spices
Cafe had to offer.
After I had lunch, I wanted to do something sporty and fun. I decided to ride a powerful 4
wheel ATV bike along the dirt tracks of Ko Samui. It was a unforgettable experience as I
enjoyed the countryside of Thailand. As I passed by the rainforest I was able to witness the
diverse wildlife in Ko Samui. I rode on hills, sands and river fronts as I made my way to a
waterfall named Maenam Soi 5. I paid $85 dollars to ride an ATV bike and now I can check
that off my bucket list.
Before heading back to the hotel, I still had a few hours left to spare. After riding on a
powerful 4 wheel ATV bike, I was all drained out of energy. I wanted to end my day with
an activity I can sit back and relax, so I decided to hop on a Safari Tour by a
4WD Jeep. Through this tour, I was able to see a few religious sites, waterfalls, gardens
and mountains overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. I paid $53 dollars for this wonderful
experience I got to share with my best friend.
After a long day filled with fun and sporty activities, I wanted to head back to hotel and
have a quiet and peaceful dinner at one of the restaurants in Manathai Koh Samui called
Colours. It was the perfect way to end my day as I was able to enjoy the warm hospitality of
a home cooked meal. The prices were reasonable and ranged below $35. I had a pleasant
trip to Ko Samui, Thailand and I would highly recommend people to visit and create
memories they’ll never forget.
T H A N K Y O U !