Big Buddha Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand - Travel Guide

Big Buddha Beach, located on the northeast coast of Koh Samui Island, was originally a back-packer beach. It is still relatively inexpensive and undeveloped although that is changing, at least to a certain degree.

It is still relatively uncrowded and the ocean waters are shallow and calm. These factors help make it a nice place for families, or for those who simply want to get away from it all.

It isn't, however remote or isolated. It is only a few kilometers away from the island airport and about 15 minutes drive from Chawaeng, the center of island nightlife, and about 25 minutes from the island administrative center, Nathon.

In addition, there is a ferry boat service in Big Buddha Beach that goes to Koh Pha Ngan Island, the site of the original full moon party.

The coast of Big Buddha Beach – also known as Bangrak Beach – stretches for approximately three meters between a statue of the Buddha, located at the eastern end of the beach on the island of Koh Farn, a geological formation called "the rocky point".

At the western end, which is considered an excellent location for snorkeling. The sand is fine and the water calm, although in fairness, it is said that the beach at Chawaeng is a little better.

It should also be noted that there are bungalows and restaurants along the beach, so it is not free of commercialization. This, though, can also make the beach experience more accessible and enjoyable.

It is possible to do the usual variety of water related activities found at many Thai beaches: water-skiing, snorkeling, jet-skiing and scuba-diving. These activities are, however, usually available only during high season.

Accommodation

There is reasonable accommodation along the beach road, which runs parallel to the beach.

Most of it is in the form of bungalows rentals – there are around twenty operators and most of them are on the beach side of the road.

It is usually possible to find something in the range of 500 to 700 hundred baht a night, especially during low season.

Houses area available - fully furnished – and they are also said to be quite reasonable, often under 5,000 baht a month.

There are, of course, several full service and fairly highly priced resorts – usually in the range of 1,500 to 3,500 a night – nearby. Most of these are "on the beach" and treat the beach as a private beach.

Among these are Bacaya, Ban Haad Sai, Como Resort, Destination Beach Resort and Spa, Nara Garden Beach Resort, Punnpreeda Hip Resort, Saboey Resort, Secret Garden Beach Resort, Tassana Pra, and Villa Tanamera.

Some of these have bungalows which they rent at lower prices. Both the lower range bungalow places and the higher range resorts usually have restaurants, or bars and grills.

Most of the above guesthouses or resorts have restaurants. Those at the upscale resorts are usually pricier than the budget conscious traveler would prefer, but those at the ordinary bungalow and guest house places are quite reasonable. There are also Thai food stands along the beach which offer quite good food at low prices.

Restaurants

Those eating establishments which come highly recommended are:

• Shabash Restaurant and Beach Bar, which has an Indian-British cusine and excellent vegetarian dishes (Chalee Beach Bungalows)
• Quo Vardis, which has a South American cusine (Saboey Resort ad Villas)
• Secret Garden Restaurant and Beach Pub (Secret Garden Beach Resort)
• Le Mas de Province, Elephant Castle and Pub (British/Scotch cuisine)
• The Mangrove Restaurant, which has a French cuisine.

Most places also offer most standard Thai dishes. It is usually possible, but at the upscale establishments and the more reasonable places, to dine either on the beach, or with a nice view of the beach.

Bars and Pubs

It certainly is possible to get a drink in Big Buddha Beach although the beach is pretty quiet at night. Much of the drinking activities go on at the bars or restaurants of the individual resorts. It is probably more accurate to call many of these establishments restaurants that serve drinks rather than bars.

Some other establishments considerered to be good bars, or to provide good drinks – most also provide good food – are:

• Heart and Soul, a jazz and soul place outside Sunset 2 Resort
• The Sunset Bar, close to the ferry pier
• Sibelius, near the Nordic Complex
• Billabong in Bophut village – a small fishing village on the other side of the "rocky point"

The Big Buddha Statue

The Buddha statue is the focal point of beach interest and activity. It is the primary attraction in Big Buddha Beach that tourists come to visit, although others do come to take the ferry to Koh Pha Ngan Island or to visit the five star Ban Sabai Health and Massage Center at the other end of the beach.

Visible from the airport, the statue, which was built during a two year period in the late 1970's, resides on a hill and is described as being anywhere from 12 to 22 meters high, depending upon if one counts the base of the statue in the measurement.

Numerous foodstalls and shops surround it. It is especially active during the festival times of the year. The statue area is an excellent place for viewing the surrounding area and enjoying a lovely sunset. A nice western style restaurant, The Big Buddha Cafe, is located there.

Nightlife (Better to Get to Chawaeng Beach)

Those who desire a more exciting nightlife can go to nearby Chawaeng, but there is no public transportation on the island after 5:00 PM. During the day time songthaews or mini-buses, which are combination mini van and pickup trucks, provide reasonable transportation around the island for set prices of roughly between 20 and 60 baht. The destinations of the songthaews are clearly marked in English.

At night, however, travellers are at the mercy of the taxi. A yellow taxi is the only option travellers have ater 5:00 PM – unless they rent a car or motorbike – and, although the taxis have meters, the drivers refuse to use them. It is necessary to negotiate rates and achieveing a 33 percent reduction in the original asking price is considered appropriate.

It is possible to rent vehicles in Koh Samui – although maybe not in Big Buddha Beach – for between 800 and 2,000 baht a day (motorbikes are less). Those that do this must be very cautious. Automobile insurance is tricky and there is no insurance for motorbikes. Some rental agents ask that customers leave their passports with them until they return the vehicle.

Note: there are few public services in Big Buddha Beach. There is a post office and a "nursing care unit" near the main temple, located midway between the eastern and western points of the beach. The Gulf of Thailand emergency decompresion chamber for scuba divers is located nearby.

Video of the Big Buddha Beach