Samui

After hard days on the beach and wild nights, take a break for some recreational activities on the coconut island. Ko Samui offers memorable experiences, not only educational, but also enjoyable. All ages are welcome.

Samui's Butterfly Park, Bee House and Insect Museum: For nature enthusiasts with an interest in tropical insects, Samui's Butterfly Park houses brightly colored butterflies and dozens of species of famous lepidopterons from Southern Thailand. They live in a peaceful garden setting under a huge net cage. The Butterfly Garden has a beautiful garden featuring rocks and many kinds of tropical plant species including herbs and jungle vegetation. It is on a hillside sloping towards the sea with a spectacular view. It is probably worth visiting for the nature trail although the price is quite expensive. The admission fee is 120 baht for adults and 60 baht for children under 12. It is open daily from 9 am to 6 pm. For more information, please contact +66 77 424 020 to 22 or +66 2 424 8196 to 7.

At Samui's Butterfly Park there is also a Bee House. All bees are kept in an old traditional Thai-style house and visitors are allowed to closely observe the activities and lives of bees. Rare insects from Thailand and other countries are on display in the Insect Museum. The Butterfly Park is situated in Laem Set on the southeast coast of Samui off Highway 4170.

Samui Aquarium: The aquarium has many species of fish found in the waters around Samui Island. It is a place of interest for the entire family, not only educational, but also fun, Samui Aquarium is a nice place for all ages. Unlike other aquariums in the southern region, the Samui Aquarium is privately owned. They maintain the salt-water environment and grow coral as well.

Samui's Monkey Center: Samui's Monkey Center is located on highway 4169 near Bophut. There are funny and enjoyable elephant and monkey shows. There are daily elephant rides for an adventurous journey of jungle trekking. The Monkey Center is open daily from 9 am until 5 pm. Show times are 10.30 am, 2 pm and 4 pm.

Samui Snake Farm: The farm has many species of tropical snakes on display. It also offers interesting shows featuring snakes. The shows are indigenous to Samui and including centipede, scorpion and cock fighting shows. You will find it informative, but entertaining. This is a nice place for all family members. It is located in Tambon Taling Ngam and is so frequently visited that there are signs throughout the island. The farm is open daily and the show times are 11 am and 2 pm with an admission fee of 150 baht per person. For more information, please contact tel. +66 77 423 247, or +66 1 476 5700 in Bangkok.

Buffalo Fights: Buffalo fights with one buffalo battling another are unique to Samui Island. Check with local authorities for the venue and times. There is an admission fee of 200 baht for tourists.

Hua Thanon: Hua Thanon means a village at the head of the road. It is a busy Muslim community with a fishing village feeling. You can find a lively market and a couple of restaurants, but probably not much more than that. In a sense, the village offers just local and authentic ways of life. There are no bungalow resorts, but a number of houses for monthly rental. The only recommended thing to enjoy is to go shopping for food. Hua Thanon is the best place to buy superb fresh seafood at reasonable prices. You are guaranteed that seafood here is better than anywhere else on the island. One can take a songtaew from anywhere on the island as they run to almost every nook and corner around Samui with the price depending on the distance.

Thong Krut: Thong Krut is a busy little fishing village located on the far southwest of the island. The village is crammed with tour companies and restaurants as it is the departure point for boarding ships to Ko Tan and other small islands off Samui's south coast. One sure thing about the beach of Thong Krut is that it's not good for swimming at all, not to mention any other water sports. It is really just a mudflat so it's better to go further north and east for wonderful sandy beaches. The village is worth visiting to see the 'Kor Lae', brightly colored fishing boats, and experience the authentic culture of a Muslim fishing neighborhood. You can also visit the village to view the spectacular scenery across to Tan and Matsum Islands. The tour companies concentrated within Thong Krut offer boat trips to the islands and fishing trips. Not only the jumping point to islands offshore south of Samui, Thong Krut is also the best area for fishing.

	Check our featured recreational sites index in Bangkok or across Thailand and discover great ideas for your next trip

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