Bophut Beach - Koh Samui
Bophut is really two places: Bophut beach, which sweeps down several kilometres between Big Buddha and Maenam beaches and perhaps one of the oldest places on the island, the charming Fisherman's Village, which takes up the middle section of the beach.
Fisherman's Village is fast gaining a reputation that stretches way beyond Samui for being the most elegant and well-preserved place on the island. Lined by old wooden Chinese shop-houses, interspaced with a few modern buildings that match the tone, it retains a distinctly Mediterranean feel. This has probably got a lot to do with the fact that it was the main French outpost on the island for many years.
Mixed in among the shops are several boutiques, selling high quality clothing and jewellery. There are also some dive shops in the area, offering scuba lessons or day dives to sites in the famous Ang Thong Marine Park, Sail Rock or Koh Tao Island.
La Sirene also offers some selected tours to secret spots in the surrounding islands or some Jeep rides to places difficult to access for visitors not familiar with the island, mainly the Secret Buddha Garden. Try an elephant ride in the tropical forest or go for a fishing trip on a local fishing boat (with local fisherman) around the island of Koh Phan Ngan. |
Bophut beach is a great place to buy beautiful furniture and the Fisherman's village has some nice souvenir shops. The best way to shop in Bophut is to park up and have a good stroll around especially in the small streets of the Fisherman's village.
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Accommodation is limited in Fisherman's Village itself, though one of the island's best small hotels, The Lodge, and the stylishly upmarket Apartments are located beachfront here.
At the western end, beyond Fisherman's Village, the area is undergoing a dramatic transformation. No less than three five star resorts are under construction in close proximity to each other. That said, the average quality of accommodation in Bophut has always been higher than in neighbouring Maenam and the existing resorts tend to attract well-heeled independent travellers drawn to funky, fashionable, places like Gecko Village, which is rave central for house music fans, and the Bali-Med style Zazen Resort.
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Popular Bophut Beach Attractions and Activities
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From beer and wine, to cocktails, Bophut has earned an excellent reputation on the alcoholic beverage front with the island's locals. If you seek a pleasant location for a quiet evening drink, or want to catch up on local gossip as you chat with a local pub owner, this is the place to do it.
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Bophut is one of the best places to eat on Koh Samui, especially if its a romantic evening you're after. Away from the crowds of Chaweng but still with plenty of choice of restaurants and cuisine, Bophut offers the best of both worlds. Fisherman's village houses several funky restaurants and pubs, while dining on the beach gives beautiful views of Koh Phangnan and Koh Tao. If you need a change from the delicious local food joints, there are several elegant upmarket restaurants to tempt you. Bophut is renown for having an excellent supply of fresh seafood, whether you're in a food stall or a five star venue. So head to Bophut and see what takes your fancy....
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