Santiburi Golf Course and Country Club, renowned as one of Asia’s finest golf courses, is located in Mae Nam Hills, north of the island. The fairways and greens are set in 23 acres of coconut groves, with views over the bay and to the neighbouring islands equally as spectacular as the landscape.
The 9-hole Bophut Hills Golf Club is located in the hills behind Big C and was designed and built by world renowned golf course Architect, Piraporn Namatra, who also produced the Santiburi Golf course on Koh Samui.
Golfers of all levels are welcome at Bophut Hills Golf Club, and their casual and relaxed atmosphere means that there is no dress code, making it suitable for all, from beginners and families through to professionals and experienced players.
The Royal Samui Golf Club is situated in the hills where Chaweng meets Lamai, and is signposted from the ring-road. This 9-hole course offers panoramic view across the bay and to neighbouring islands. The course is relaxed and is suitable for all levels.
Samui Golf Club and Driving Range can be found high up in the hills overlooking Bophut, The name ‘Samui Golf Club’ is however misleading, as it is a driving range and putting green rather than an actual course. The driving range extends over 250 yards and the putting green is a good spot to practice between games at one of the island’s courses. Golf tuition is also available in English and German and there is a golf shop on site too.
Samui’s other driving range is in Lamai. Lamai Driving Range is located on the ring-road just past the post office, so if you are staying in this area, it’s a good place to hit some balls and brush up on the strokes.
Set amid a coconut grove near Choeng Mon beach, the fairways and greens offers a fair amount of shade, but an early morning or late afternoon start would still be recommended. Regular golf rules apply, but instead of using clubs, a football is kicked from hole to hole, making a fun family day out when one tires of the beach. Balls are provided, so no kit is required. The grounds of the 18-hole, par 66 course are well maintained, and the course is easy to follow. Open daily 9:00am – 6:00pm. 650 Baht per adult and 300 Baht per child for 18 holes, with one free soft drink included.
Samui has several options for mini golf enthusiasts. Two of these are in Choeng Mon – one at the Arayaburi Resort and the other in Plai Laem on the 4171 road leading into Choeng Mon. Treasure Island Mini Golf is adjoined to Gringos Mexican Restaurant in Chaweng, just off the Beach Road.
This is a pleasant way to encounter these animals that were once employed in Thailand for traditional logging work, and trekking is offered in several locations on Samui. The most popular locations are either at Namuang 1 Waterfall, or at Wat Hin Lad in Nathon. Sit in specially designed seats strapped to the elephant’s back and explore the jungles and rivers of Samui’s interior on these sure-footed pachyderms. Trekking activities is often incorporated into the many safari tours operated on the island. Standard rides last half an hour, but longer are available.
Many of Samui’s resorts offer cooking lessons to guests, so enquire at yours about times, menus and prices offered. Often the cost includes a trip to the local market to help the chef choose local fresh produce, as he explains the different exotic ingredients available. Most hotels charge between 1,500 – 2,000 Baht per person for a cooking class, and it usually involves sitting down to enjoy the efforts of your labour afterwards.
Tropical Garden Restaurant and Water Slides at Namuang 2 Waterfall.
This newly built water park forms part of the Tropical Garden Restaurant, located at the Namuang Waterfall 2. There are two slides, one of 65m and one of 20m, and is open from 10:00am to 5:00pm daily. Entrance costs 300 Baht per adult and 200 Baht per child.
The Koh Samui Shooting Range is located just off the ring-road between Chaweng and Bophut and is open seven days a week from 10:00am to 6:00pm. They carry a range of weapons including rifles, pistols and even semi-automatic guns. As live ammunition is used, shooters are strictly supervised and a list of rules needs to be observed. Costs start at 300 Baht for ten shots.
The Sky Fox is a fantastic ride through the jungle, allowing you to experience speed and a feeling of freedom. Feel what it must be like to fly, as you slide along the cables from platform to platform between the seven stations. Sky Fox guarantees to rid you of any boredom, and according to them, the ride is not scary. Riders can go back on a separate station should they not want to proceed further, but most people enjoy the thrill so much, that they can’t wait to move on to the next line. Sky Fox can be enjoyed by all ages, from 10 years to young-at-heart senior citizens. After your ride, Sky Fox’s guide will take you on a 15-minute trek through the jungle to cool down in a magnificent waterfall.
Sky Fox was created by a team that has built cable rides around the world. Safety comes first, and the equipment is imported from France. As you climb the ladders, or wait on platforms, you are clipped to a safety line that will lock should you lose your footing, and all cables are regularly inspected. The cost is 1700 Baht per adult, and 1100 Baht per child, with pick up included.
Canopy Adventure. Explore the jungle above Mae Nam while whizzing along a zip line suspended high above the ground. This is a true forest experience, making a break from the beach scene. The trip includes a 4×4 ride to the location, a short trek through the forest, followed by several cable rides to platforms high up in the trees. At the end, cool off in the waterfall, or calm the nerves in the bar next to the falls. No experience is needed, and the staff will assist you with landing on the platforms. Remember to use mosquito repellant as you are in the jungle.
Several companies on the island offer their own version of a jungle safari, covering adventure activities, cultural excursions and viewpoint sights. Most tours include hotel pick up, and a choice between half and full day trips.
Yoga is popular on Samui among both the locals and expats. Many studios welcome short term visitors, allowing holiday makers the opportunity to carry on with their yoga routines from back home. There are several detox and wellness retreatson the island, and these offer yoga as part of their packages.
Samui has several Muay Thai training facilities. These training centers are often frequented by some rather famous fighters – both traditional western boxing as well as martial arts, who come to hone their skills with Samui’s Muay Thai trainers. The intensive fitness routines have a reputation for sculpting the right muscles, losing body fat and strengthening both mind and body. Novices and professionals alike attend training camps so you may just have the chance to rub shoulders or spar with one of your heroes who is training incognito.
Muay Thai training centers offer various packages and will tailor-make one to suit your needs, including nutrition when required. Packages included fitness training, self-defense, boot camp, Muay Thai, weight loss, strength and cardio. Group training sessions include skipping, floor exercises, stretching and sparring and usually last two hours.
Several of the Muay Thai training centres offer general fitness and weight ng in addition to the martial arts training. Many of the larger resorts also offer fitness rooms as part of their facilities. Other than these, there are several gyms on the island, most being along the northern and eastern busier part of the island; these include World Gym and Super Bodies, both in the Chaweng area. Along the Ghost Road that joins Bang Rak to Chaweng, you will find Yato Fitness, the Samui tennis club as well as a badminton courts which are located at the 99 sports club.
Samui is home to 2 venues for those looking for speedy thrills. Both offer options to suit all levels of experience, from complete beginners to budding F1 champions.
Samui Go Kart is located on the ring-road in Bophut, near Peace Resort. The track offers karts from 100c to 200cc, and is open daily from 9:00am to 7:00pm
EasyKart is located on Soi Reggae next to Chaweng Lake, and offers 2 different tracks – a shorter one for beginners and kids, and a longer one for more advanced drivers. Open from 10:00am – 1:00am
EasyFly allows you to experience the thrill of freefalling without having to jump out of a plane. Located on Soi Reggae next to Chaweng Lake.
Open from 10:00am – 1:00am.
The Samui Arena is the first step in bringing professional football to the island. Under cover to protect players and spectators from the tropical sun, the arena boasts two pitches with artificial turf, floodlighting and change rooms. An after-school coaching programme is offered to children, and the venue is ideal for hosting inter-school events and matches. Pitches are available to rent for private matches.
Samui doesn’t have much in the way of cliffs or high bridges, so bungy jumping happens from a crane, located near Chaweng Lake in Soi Reggae.
Quad biking is included in many of the safari and adventure packages, but can be done by itself as well. Namuang Safari Park near the Namuang Water Fall offers ATV trips. This is a fun way to explore Samui’s interior. Samui Quad ATV tours in Mae Nam offers several options, including a obstacle course or trips through the jungle.
Samui Bicycle offers various bikes for rent and for sale. Tours are also available, with options depending on fitness level and ability. This is a great way to see Samui’s ecology as bicycles are much quieter than motor vehicles, so disturb the wildlife less. See waterfalls, coconut groves, rubber tree plantations and jungle. Remember to drink plenty of water in the tropical climate.
Badminton is a popular way to stay fit with expats and locals on the island. The 99 Sports Club, part of the Samui 99 Hotel, down the Monkey Theatre Road, near where it joins the Ghost Road, has 12 courts to rent, at 200 Baht per hour per court. It’s open from 06:00am to 09:00pm, and there’s plenty else to do there too, such as a swimming pool, foosball, pool (snooker), karaoke and a fitness centre.
There are several places to play tennis on Samui.
Samui Tennis Centre in Maenam is open every day from 7am to 10pm and have 2 courts available. 250 Baht per court per hour. Rackets and balls can be hired too.
Koh Samui Tennis Club is located on the Ghost Road in Bang Rak. Several hotels on the island boast tennis courts, and some rent out their courts to those not staying at the hotel too:
If you’re an avid tennis player, perhaps booking in to a hotel with a tennis court is your best bet. Aside from the ones mentioned above, the following hotels also have courts: Santiburi, InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, Samui Buri and Code Boutique Hotel.
If you fancy yourself as something of a modern day William Tell, then Samui Archery Thai is the place to hone your skills. Located Mae Nam Soi 1.