The Splash of Songkran

The Songkran festival has been known to be one of the most foremost and grandest events of Thailand. It is a time of Buddhist rituals, of house gatherings to pay gratitude to elders and of course of water splashing. Deriving from the Sanskrit word, "Songkran" means to pass or to move into. In this case, the meaning implies the movement of the sun, the moon and other planets into one of the zodiacal orbits. And the Grand Songkran Festival which falls on the Aries indicates the novel era of the original Thai New Year. In order to welcome the New Year, the celebration will consist of the fun-filled local entertainments which consolidate the mutual relationship between members of the family, the community and the surrounding.

Having the influence from India, the Songkran festival mirrors the original mode of life of the Thais which involves the cultural and agricultural aspects. Free from their quarterly routine task, the Thai citizens will find time to accomplish their every year rites of showing respect to their elder relatives and departed ancestors. Moreover, there is a deep spiritual aspect to this grand festival nationwide. Even though Thailand has adhered to the international calendar since 1941, celebrations of the Songkran festival, presently set on April 13 and extending over the following two days, remain a more auspicious opening than January.

Songkran Samui

Historically speaking, the Songkran festival has its origin during the Sukhothai period. It was practiced both in the royal court palace and among the ordinary citizens. However, the dimension of the celebration had not been as boisterous as of today. In the old days, civil servants and other government officials would pay homage to the king and would drink the oath of allegiance to the government, while the king would confer every year wages to all officials. Later on in the Ayutthaya period, the festival had been extensive by along with the bathing of the Buddha images. Also, the celebration would consist of the forming of sand pagodas and colorful activities. In the Rattanakosin period, the festival had been performed in the same way as those during the Ayutthaya period.

The Songkran festival extends three foremost ritual days, from April 13-15. These days are called respectively: Wan Sangkan Long, Wan Nao and Wan Taleung Sok. It is original that during the Songkran festival there is an proclamation of the name of Nang Songkran of the year, her vehicle, her food preference and much more. To forecast the affluence of that year, it is worth knowing the estimate of rainfalls and the estimate of Naga or legendary serpent which is responsible for the provision of water. The prediction for the New Year will be done in relation to that particular day of the Nang Songkran. This year, the Songkran's Day falls on April 14. This means that Nang Songkran for 2007 is "Kimitatevee", dressed in white with topaz ornament, preferred banana, dagger in the right hand, Indian vina in the left hand and buffalo as her vehicle.

Songkran is a festival that serves a multitude of collective and religious functions. It typically involves merit making, releasing birds and fish into rivers, presenting food and other offerings to monks, listening to sermons, construction sand pagodas, paying respect to elders and splashing of water. Traditionally, houses have been meticulously cleaned the day before to ensure no bad luck is brought into the New Year. Later on the day in hidden ceremonies away from the temple, parents, grandparents, older relatives and teachers are honored by younger generations in a sacred ritual. Young people will pour fragrant water onto the palms of the older persons and also give them new clothes to show their respect and gratitude. It is believed that this watering ceremony would bring the young exquisite health, longevity and prosperity.

The Songkran festival is essentially connected to water as Thai people believe that water splashing will bring abundant rainfalls in the incoming year. Water is also a seal of fertility and is employed to clean up bad things. It is thus used widely in different ceremonies and rites of passage. Not surprisingly, one of the most vital parts of Songkran is the bathing of Buddha images. people will sprinkle water onto the images as a gesture of respect. A procession of Buddha images will be made prior to the bathing. After that people will also bathe the senior Buddhist monks by pouring water over them. The chief monk or abbot will then give a sermon and bless people who partake in these bathing rituals. And finally, people will enjoy splashing water at one another.

Like many other festivals in Thailand, Songkran is paramount with a zest and passion for having a great time that is uniquely Thai. In Bangkok, some paramount venues for the Songkran festival consist of Khao Sarn Road, Bang Lamphoo District, Sanarm Luang and Phra Arthit Road in the Rattanakosin Island. Other sites of interest and events are Krung Kao Ayutthaya Songkran Festival (Old Capital of Songkran), customary Thai-Mon Songkran Festival in Samut Prakan, Nong Khai, Chiang Mai and Phuket. In addition, the neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos have organized this type of festival with high-spirited celebrations.

Highlights of the Songkran festival in these major cities consist of manufacture merit to the monks, Buddha image procession, bathing Buddha images, setting free of birds and fish, erecting sand pagodas, blessing and being blessed by elders and senior government officers as well as enjoying water splashing. Additionally, tourists can watch original Thai performances as well as contemporary films and music, competition in the topic of the history of Songkran. There are also parades, carnivals, charm contests (Miss Songkran and Miss Ladyboy Songkran) as well as the light and sound presentation relating to the legend of Songkran. The consumption of much local food, Thai sweetmeat cooking, local sports and art exhibitions perfect the festival.

Across the country, most young Thai people celebrate the New Year by moderately throwing water over one and all with a word of blessing. Scoops from a silver bowl are traditional, but these days more effective soakings come from plastic buckets, pump-action water guns and even oil drums with stirrup pumps mounted on trucks. It is, however, all good-natured with the Thai's communicable sense of fun. While the more original rites are best observed today in the villages and although Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Chiang Mai are known for the most exuberant celebrations, you will get wet and encounter Songkran wherever you are. It is the festival to give a lot of fun for all of us and welcome the original Thai New Year with a cool soaking of water in the most sweltering time of the year.

The Splash of Songkran

Thailand Festivals - The Best Time to Visit Thailand And Enjoy Their paramount Festivals

Thailand is abundant with festivals and quite assuredly there is no time of year when you cannot find a festival to enjoy, any way here are some of the more favorite festivals colse to Thailand throughout the year.

Beginning the year, the month of January offers the Chiang Mai Winter Fair in Chiang Mai and the River of Kings Festival in Bangkok. The Chiang Mai winter fair offers booths, music, competitions, and even charm pageants, while the River of Kings festival is a bit more formal with a theatrical yield describing the history of Thailand.

Songkran Samui

February continues the year by contribution the Chiang Mai Flower Festival complete with flower covered parade floats and the Bangkok China Town Festival which celebrates the Chinese New Year.

As the peak season begins to wind down, March brings about the Asean Barred Ground Dove Festival where dove owners from colse to the country acquire in Khwan Muang Park, in Yala Province to display their doves and compete for prizes.

April celebrates the Thai New year with the Pattaya Festival, followed by the Songkran Festival which also takes place nationwide but is particularly colorful in Khao San Road, Bangkok, and Chiang Mai.

May is a particularly celebratory month with the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in Bangkok which celebrates the starting of the rice planning season and the Visakha Bucha, a religious celebration of Buddha famous nationwide and the Yasothon Rocket Festival which awards the most explosive rockets. It's an eye and ear occasion festival sure to please both young and old alike.

July brings about the well known Candle Festival in Tung Sri Muang, Muang District, Ubon Ratchathani Province. Visitors will find tall, beautiful, candles displayed and presented to local temples.

August celebrates the nationwide Birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

September is the world famous Phuket Vegetarian Festival (famous for the gory displays of people impaled by a collection of objects and not for the faint of heart) and the significantly less gory Phichit Boat Races along the Nan River.

October celebrates the Wax Castle Festival famous nationwide but is particularly spectacular in Sakon Nakhon, the Chon Buri Buffalo Races, and the Illuminated Boat Procession Festival along the Mekong River.

November begins the peak trip season by being an additional one celebratory month with the Loy Krathong famous Nationwide, the Surin Elephant Roundup, the River Kwai bridge week in Kanchanaburi, and the Phimai Festival.

December ends the year with a nationwide celebration of the King's birthday and the Phuket King's Cup Regatta.

Festivals in Thailand are planned on the lunar calendar. Check for the exact dates of each festival before you make your hotel reservations and trip plans.

Thailand Festivals - The Best Time to Visit Thailand And Enjoy Their paramount Festivals

Ko Samui - Crown Jewel of Thailand tourist Spots

A lot of us tend to underestimate the grandeur, splendour and majesty of the many gorgeous islands of the country of Thailand. While we are on this topic it is unfitting not to remember the magical gift that Ko Samui makes to the traveler attractions of Thailand. It plays its part perfectly providing every vacationer with a valid surmise to return again and again.

This island, Thailand's third largest, is located roughly 35 kms. From the town of Surat Thani and offers commuters an international airport, which is humble in its form and yet boasts of a uniqueness that is yet to be matched. This is the exquisite place to land giving you a subtle hint of a vacation spot out of a fairytale world. Transportation within the island is not a problem. Samui is known for its Pickup taxis that will take you colse to the island, and are easy to come by while the day and at night. You can also rent yourself a jeep or bike at an extremely inexpensive price, if you want to observe the island for yourself; extremely recommended by any tourist.

Songkran Samui

The main areas to visit in Ko Samui are Chaweng and Lamai. They are celebrated among all tourists alike for their bustling streets while the day gift exquisite Thai cuisine, an exhaustive range of shops for the compulsive shopper and their commonly animated atmosphere. Night life in Cheweng and Lamai is no less exciting. They have their own choice of bars and discotheques and pubs to welcome their visitors to arguably the best nightlife around. The Green Mango, Reggae Pub, Santa Fe and Bauhaus are the most celebrated night spots on the island.

We can't forget one of the major reasons anyone would want to visit Thailand. Of course, it's the sprawling Thailand beaches, giving all tourists the opening to soak up the sun. Ko Samui offers no less to its tourists. Some of the great known Thailand beaches in Ko Samui are Chaweng Beach, Lamai Beach and Mae Nam Beach, each providing the traveler with separate experiences and activities, but all providing the same warm Thai hospitality.

The traveler attractions in Thailand are also its varied Thailand festivals. In Ko Samui, just like any other part of Thailand, they celebrate, in expanding to New Year's Day and the Chinese New Year, the Thai New Year. It is known is Songkran, a word derived from Sanskrit, and is celebrated every year from 13th April to 15th April. Loy Krathong is someone else unique Thailand festival held in Ko Samui.

So if you want a truly Thai branded experience, Ko Samui is no less a haven than any other mysterious island of this magnificent country. A journey to this animated place will leave you always coming back for more.

Ko Samui - Crown Jewel of Thailand tourist Spots

Thailand's New Year Celebration

Thailand's New Year celebration is one of the most awaited events of the year for the Thai People. It is also known as the Songkran Festival. Unlike on the other countries nearby the world that preeminent New Year on the month of January, Thais' New Year is preeminent on the mid of the hottest month of April.

You might be wondering on how local Thai celebrates this once a year event. On this day, they commemorate the revered Buddha by visiting the monasteries and offer prayers while extending the blessings that they have received by giving alms to the monks after feeding them with the food they prepared. They get ready enough for this big event by accepted cleaning of their house beforehand. Thais believe that they have to clean and rejuvenate not only their house but more especially themselves. They take off all the house rubbish and bathe Buddha images so that they'll have victorious year ahead.

Songkran Samui

Thailand's New Year celebration is incomplete without the Big Water Battle. Even the motorist and by passers are unexcused for not being soaked on water on that day. Water is the stamp for cleansing and removing all the bad things from the past and takes away the bad luck for the whole year ahead. So you must be blessed if you get drenched with water.

Vacationers who search for this celebration truly amazed on how Thai habitancy supervene their traditions. During this time, the strong family ties clearly articulated by means of giving respect to the elders and other members of the family. You'll never feel that you are a traveler in this place. It is one place that you can feel as if you have found your homeland. Thais are very accommodating and nice in every tourist. It is one of the main reasons why travelers decide on spending their holidays in this spectacular, island.

You'll never get wrong in choosing Thailand for your next holidays. Having all as if you have found your dreamland is surely great! If you are planning to visit Thailand, April month will be exquisite for you. Aside from the good weather health you will be able to sense and appreciate Thailand's many pride or the Thailand's New Year celebration!

Thailand's New Year Celebration

Thai New Year

Songkran Day or Thailand New Year is one of the biggest events in Thailand each year. Thailand must be the only country in the world that actively celebrates 3 distinct New Years each year! There is the New Year on the 31st of December, then there is the Chinese Lunar New Year that takes normally place in February and there is the Thai New Year itself which is in April each year.
There is nothing that compares to the Thailand New Year. Dream parades, shows, music, lots of people having fun and the biggest water fight in the world! Songkran is a Thai word which means "move" or "change place" as it is the day when the sun changes its position in the zodiac.
There are 2 main parts of the Thailand New Year water plays: Water of course and white powder that people will put in your face.

On the streets, many stalls will be selling water guns of all sizes for 100-about 800 Baht for the biggest ones. Now all you need is some water which you can also buy on many places on the street. Normally, shop keepers will have big barrels of water standing on the streets that are permanently refilled with water. You can pay a small fee and are then able to use the water non-stop. It is a lot of fun. Just beware of the ice water that some are using! Songkran is a original festival and before it comes people concern upon environment with cooperation such as to clean houses, public places, temples and official buildings.

Songkran Samui

Songkran is a time when workers in Bangkok from surface of town, head back home in droves. All forms of transport are booked months in enlarge and if you don't have a reservation, forget it, you are going nowhere. It is categorically a nice time of the year to be in Bangkok, for the Songkran duration it is relatively deserted.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand organizes the walking streets in front of Central World Plaza, one of the big Thailand property, all the way straight through Silom Road and up to Siam square where someone else event will be held the platform at Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace.

There are some extra activities will be held to make it more enjoyable such as, Djs will be playing all kinds of music, people throwing water on each other and putting powder on their faces as well as dancing on the streets.

Not only tourists, but also investors who want to invest in asset in Thailand like to visit Bangkok while the Songkran day and they also take part in these activities. When you are going out while the festival then wear the worst clothes or buy a cheapest one because you are going to be wet for sure. people normally don't bring their movable phone and camera when the celebration is on the peak then its very difficult to safe all these things.

The Songkran day which is known as the Thai New Year brings more joy and happiness and people eagerly wait for this festival every year. They categorically enjoy every occasion of these four days and have fun in their life.

Thai New Year

The First Must-Visit Place in Thailand

Among numerous traveler destination in Southeast Asia Thailand is the most attractive. Here you can find almost anything: crystal blue beaches, dense jungle, a wide collection of fun activities, experiences, and must-see places.

The first must-visit place is Koh Samui, or Samui, situated in the Gulf of Siam. It is also known as Coconut Island being called so due to multiple coconut trees and their monthly rich crop.

Samui Thailand

The main attraction of this place is its lush tropical ferns, granite stones, peaceful atmosphere, pure white sandy beaches, crystal blue water, swaying coconut trees, wonderful waterfalls, and luminous ponds. Exotic and fascinating, Thailand is a magnet for travellers the world over.

A picturesque cave, Wua Ta Lap, is one of the most renowned Koh Samui's sights as well as Phra Yai or the Big Buddha, a 12 mt tall golden idol, probably most renowned island landmark housed at the northern part and illustrated from many kilometres away. And one of the best places to be visited by the whole family is Na Thian Butterfly Garden. It is a small organery with small waterfalls inside and a small river, bridges, a bee house, and linked to the organery a Thai type home.

Viewing such wonderful creations, like Hin Ta - Hin Yai, even scientific purists would be tempted to believe that nature too, can be as whimsical as the most eccentric artist. These 2 stones mean Grandfather and Grandmother and are treated as the start of the Mui people.

You can gawk diversity kinds of unusual tropical fish and maritime fauna in the Samui Aquarium. Other places of interest comprise Tham Bua Bok, Thale Nai, the statue organery exhibiting a collection of Buddhist and Hindu Statues.

Besides Samui has a prestige for its pristine white beaches the most renowned of which are Bophut, Chaweng, Maenam Beach and Lamai, flooded with plentifulness of activities to exertion and new adventures to endeavour. Koh Samui attracts diving fans and enthusiasts by the wonderful diving opportunities and sites, so visitors may dive to enjoy the colourful coral off the beaches or at the around islets, such as Koh Som, Koh Mad Lang, and Koh Taopun.

Except diving, the next activities also await the traveller here:

Boat Voyage. As Koh Samui has a prestige for its wonderful landscape there's so much to do and see on and off the island so why not book a tour to broaden your perspective and to see the best of Samui, to gawk the killing lime stone islands where you can stop for a dive, snorkel or just go for a swim. Such aid is offered in many of the Koh Samui's hotels so make inquiry at your hotel.

Climbing. If you need a break from all that lounging on the beach, you may really try rock climbing. Skilled climbers as well as the beginners are offered easy way to numerous stacks at most of Koh Samui's hotels and resorts. And when you are fed up with the climbing, you can try a refreshing dip in a around beach or pool or a soothing massage instead.

Samui's pristine forests are decent for bird watching. Unspoiled forests are home to varied species of birds such as fly eater, white-bellied sea eagles, mangrove pittas, ruddy kingfisher, and the mangrove whistler.

As an alternative you can plainly go out of your hotel for walking around the island and get a watch of primary Thai island life. You can also gawk the local community, to gallivant among the coconut plantations and small villages.

Shopping is an integral part of any trip. There are a lot of shops for souvenirs and crafts on Koh Samui, where you can find anyone to your taste.

Beside the island offers great opportunities for bowling, with over 10 pin bowling. If you are an inveterate shooter, you can practice your shooting skills at the Shooting Gallery.

Fans of greatest sports can find some consummate alternatives for them such as Bungy Jumping in Chaweng. Nightlife on Samui is varied and not quite. Discos, clubs, bars, pubs, music venues, classical Thai dancing. Plus, a huge collection of wonderful restaurants straight through the island.

If you need something dissimilar or definite on your trip, then Thai boxing match will suit you never better, or you may learn how to get ready some renowned Thai specialties. In case if you would prefer elephants to Jeep you can also try an elephant trekking.

The followers of more quiet fun can try some other alternatives, for example Treasure Island Adventure Golf procedure or a tennis court or use kart amenities as well. If you are looking the occasion to rejuvenate yourself multiple spa facilities providing varied massages and herbal treatments are to your service.

Whatever you may pick for Samui is gift a great collection of accommodations, fluctuating from hotel rooms and beach bungalows to some of the most luxury villas in the world.

Coming to Thailand many citizen can't help wishing to stay there well beyond their primary plans and many others never find a imagine to leave.

Whatever your cup of tea is, they know how to get ready it in Thailand.

The First Must-Visit Place in Thailand

Koh Samui Holiday room Info

Koh Samui in Thailand is one of the most notable holiday spots in the world. Population from throughout the world come here every year in order to spend some quite time with their family. Tourists come here to get some down time from their intense work agenda and forget all their worries. Koh Samui is the ideal place if you are curious in unwinding yourself. One major surmise why this island is notable is the innumerable chamber alternatives and the friendliness of the natives. Here you can get chamber facilities of all types and they lie from prudent to high-priced elegant ones. If you are curious in enjoying the grandeur lifestyle of Ko Samui, opt for the Koh Samui bungalows and use their services yourself.

The Samui bungalows offer numerous leading services to make your stay here comfortable. Some of them include: king size hidden bedrooms, having all the vital living amenities; kitchen fitted with the dining requirements; scholar staff; lovely swimming pools; bars serving drinks and mock-tails; restaurants gift delectable cuisines; 24-hour transport facility; and tour guide. The best way to spend your holidays is to lie on the beach, participate in the water sports, go sunbathing the whole day and then arrival back to the Samui bungalows and soak in the luxuries. The swimming pools in the bungalows are lovely and have bar on deck amenities. You can swim with your spouse to touch some tender moments or sit on the deck with the drink. The restaurants in ko samui offer great food, which is not only salutary but also unusual.

Samui Thailand

All this will ensure your trip to Koh Samui will be unforgettable.

Koh Samui Holiday room Info

Some Reasons For Renting a Car While in Kho Samui Thailand

Koh Samui is a small Island, the many resorts are spread out over this necessary coast line. Samui town itself is the central evening attraction with a host of bars, nightclubs and restaurants.  Given that your resort may be miles from the town town and that Samui offers many other attractions such as day spas or curative centers you precisely do need a hire car. Whilst your resort may have a first class bistro Samui town offers a wide choice of seafood restaurants all of equal quality, the seafood is displayed on ice in the front of the restaurants to entice you in.

Tip allocation and Thai Rent A Car have depots at the open air tropical airport , both offer first class cars and good guarnatee cover. Cars can be rented direct from our resort but quality and age will be an issue.

Samui Thailand

Koh Samui at one time was very cheap and catered mainly to the backpacker that is no longer the case with 5 star hotels in abundance, however some resorts do still cater for the allocation traveler. Samui is also popular for the healing or spa type holiday with many first class spa resorts situated along the coastline. They offer all forms of alternative rehabilitation together with colon cleansing . If you are on a traditional  holiday it is still possible to go along and feel a day of spa treatments. 

A rental car  is not expensive to run as petrol is cheap in Thailand and parking is free. Do book your car hire in enlarge with a reputable company to avoid ending up perhaps with a car with worn brake pads, no power steering and perhaps no or limited  guarnatee cover.

If you resolve not to rent a car the you can avail of the local taxi service which consist of of  open back pickups with 2 rows of seats ( no seat belts ). These can be flagged  down  just like a taxi and will bring you back to your resort, do agree a price upfront to save on any misunderstanding, a copy of hotel name card will also help.  

Tip : Samui Island is full of local and tourist on motorbikes, do give them the right of way and a wide berth as most will not be wearing protection helmets and some may have been drinking.

Some Reasons For Renting a Car While in Kho Samui Thailand

How to Thailand Holiday Packages Tips

Thailand, island nation settled in the south east of Asia. Thailand is a country rich in culture and natural beauty. It has been hallowed with liberal natural parks, efficient plains, isolated jungles, beaches washed by turquoise waters and humid islands bathed in endless sunshine. The country has more illustrated historical indication of its past cultures than any other country in Southeast Asian. Its history is very composite, piquant the incursion of many distinct peoples, the rule of distinct kings, the concern of discrete kingdoms and the interaction of distinct cultures. Thailand is known for its foremost hospitality, sacred temple, and amazing natural beauty.

Thailand offers something for all type of travelers. Thailand's restrictions stretch to adjacent regions of Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Gulf of Thailand and the Indian Ocean. You plan to visit Thailand between July and November; the weather can be awkwardly for you. Colse to July and November, it will be rainy season in Thailand. The weather is at its best from February to March. It is exquisite time to go to the beaches. Places of tourist point in Thailand include Phuket, Koh Samui, Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi, Pattaya, Hua Hin, Koh Chang and Koh Samui while provinces like Krabi, Koh Libong, Koh Hai provides great photographic memoirs of Thailand as a tour destination.

Samui Thailand

Buddhism is the main religion in Thailand with the King of Thailand respected as the consummate emperor and also the supporter of all religions embraced by the people. Thailand truly is an amazing place, with so much to offer tourists. The regular and most popular destinations of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Samui, Chiang Mai etc are only a small part of the country, and there are so many more undiscovered charms to be found. Thus, Thailand has spiritual forbearance wicker into its collective structure and respects people of all races. This multiculturalism makes Thailand a hot much loved as a tour destination for the global tourist with add-on visits to Colse to cities like Singapore, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Butter worth and other major southern Thai towns being part of an avid tourist's list. You visit Surin islands, again stopping at a incorporate of top lunge sites.

The sea is mediator and there is less sickness. We again see some truly amazing fish while diving in the clear steamy water. But the most amazing moment comes when a small husk of dolphins swim alongside our boat. How are barely credible to see this while traveling to and from tropical paradises. There tends to be more boats that have come from Phuket for the diving Colse to the Simolan Islands. The largest groups of non-Thai people are the Chinese who have traditionally played an very foremost role in the economy. Many have assimilated into majority Thai society, and do not live in Bangkok's Chinatown on Yaowarat Road. After the end of the Vietnam War, many Vietnamese refugees settled in Thailand, generally in the northeastern region. Muay Thai, after they retired from the army, these soldiers often became Buddhist monks and stayed at the temples. Most of the Thai people's lives are closely tied to Buddhism and temples; they often send their sons to be educated with the monks. "Muay" is also one of the subjects taught in the temples.

How to Thailand Holiday Packages Tips

A Scenic Trip to Koh Samui by Train

Most citizen visiting Thailand and Koh Samui on holiday pick to fly to this remote paradise island, placed as it is, a four hour boat journey from the mainland. Although there is nothing wrong with this, it is the quickest and easiest way to reach Koh Samui, there is someone else more appealing option, one which many travelers find enjoyable.

Every day there are any trains which leave Hua Lamphong center in Bangkok, and make the long run south the city of Surat Thani. Train voyage in Thailand is slow going, and this 800km journey takes some 12 hours, a grueling journey sitting in a vinyl seat. However, there is a added option. Each evening, a singular sleeper train leaves Bangkok, and makes the same journey overnight.

Samui Thailand

Although there are three classes of sleeper berths on this train, we are going to speak about first class in this short article. First class train voyage in Thailand is inexpensive. Booking a private first class sleeper cabin from Hua Lamphong center to Surat Thani station, for two people, costs around 3,000 Baht, 90 dollars or 60 Uk pounds. For this price you get a private cabin, with two beds, a sink unit, and all night room service, bringing food and drinks, along with alcohol. The first class bathroom facilities are far good than second class, and have a Western style toilet and a shower.

We can see that the chamber is quite comfortable, and the cost is negligible, but why would anything want to spend a night upon a train when they can fly for a itsybitsy extra money? The riposte is simple; the journey to Koh Samui itself is fascinating. Not the sleeping part, but what comes after. In the morning you will be woken by a train porter, who will turn your beds into a comfortable seat. You may then order breakfast, and spend the next two hours watching the jungle slide past the window, as you cross the last part of Southern Thailand from Chumpon down to Surat Thani, some truly delightful scenery.
When you disembark from the train at Surat Thani station, the next part of your journey to Koh Samui begins.

Once you exit Surat Thani train station, you need to head to the sea port at Donsak, where you will catch the ferry across to Koh Samui. There are two options for this part of the journey. Just exterior the center you will find one or more coaches, waiting for the train, so that they can pick up passengers heading to the ferry port at Donsak. These coach operators sell a combined ticket, which includes both the coach and the ferry. Although this is the cheapest option, it is quite a long journey by coach, as they tend to take a roundabout route, picking up other passengers. Perhaps the best selection is to take a taxi, this is quite uncostly and is much more comfortable, as well as a lot quicker.

There are two main ferry operators, the first is Seatran, and this is a passenger only ferry. The second is Raja and this is a combined passenger and vehicle ferry. Most citizen seem to prefer Raja, probably because the ferry is larger, with plentifulness of room to walk around.

This is the most charming part of the trip, as you take a slow two and a half hour boat ride from Donsak sea port, to Koh Samui. On the way you will pass the Ang Thong National marine Park, and will voyage very intimately to many small deserted islands. The trip is almost always calm, and refreshments are served on board the ferry.

So there we have it, how to voyage to Koh Samui by sleeper train from Bangkok, and then by ferry from the mainland. A much longer journey than flying to Koh Samui, but a far more appealing one.

A Scenic Trip to Koh Samui by Train

Koh Samui, Thailand - Attractions

Koh Samui has many attractions together with the Butterfly garden and the large Buddha. The big Buddha idol is possibly the most celebrated attraction in Samui. But there are other attractions that are also beloved and must be visited.

One of them is the Phallic rocks in Koh Samui. They are a hit not just with foreigners, but also with the natives. They are precisely Grandfather and grandmother rocks. According to the local legend, the rocks symbolize 2 star crossed lovers. They sunk themselves in the sea, as their families were opposed to their relationship.

Samui Thailand

The street surrounding the rocks is home to many stalls. These stalls sell a wide collection of coconut wood items and garamear, which is Samui's local coconut candy. This candy is not precisely ready at other places on the island and is the specialty of this place..

Another celebrated attraction in Koh Samui is the Big Buddha model that lies on the northern coast of the island. It is unarguably the most beloved emblem of Samui. This model is a 12 meter tall golden Buddha. This idol is precisely noticeable even from a great distance, making it a must see attraction.

Encircling the temple, there are various types of shrines and other smaller ornamental Buddha statues. There is also a small market selling a large wide range of lucky charms and other mementoes, besides many food stalls.

For ardent nature lovers, Koh Samui is precisely a place not to be missed, since there is a butterfly garden having a big range of colorful butterflies and bugs, housed within it. So either you love nature, beaches, outdoors or exotic food, Koh Samui has all that for you. You can stay at the best hotel in samui and enjoy the scenic beauty of the paradise.

Koh Samui, Thailand - Attractions