OVERVIEW

Relax in complete comfort at Beyond Samui, a waterfront resort that goes above and beyond to make your time there a delight. The resort follows a strict policy of sustainability and that commitment to being eco-friendly will be apparent from the moment you arrive. The setting on Chaweng Beach couldn't be more naturally beautiful as the resort is lushly landscaped with indigenous flora, especially coconut palms. A special area has been reserved for you to thoroughly enjoy the amenities. The beach is a natural draw as it is long and wide and just steps away. Feel free to stretch out in the sun, gaze out over the Gulf of Thailand in a lounge chair and comb the powdery white sand for shells. The water is typically calm and clear, which invites a refreshing swim. Another option is to lounge about the swimming pool. A sumptuous lunch will be served in one of the restaurants.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax at Beyond Samui, an exclusive resort on Chaweng Beach.
• Do whatever you please as the resort setting and amenities are yours to enjoy at leisure.
• Swim in the sea, lie back on a lounger, stroll the beach and enjoy a hearty buffet lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Bring a swimsuit, towel and sunscreen.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Discover a truly unique lifestyle and culture during your visit to Ko Samui, the Island of Coconuts.

Take a scenic coastal drive past exquisite beaches and lush coconut plantations en route to Ko Samui. Stop at the Big Buddha Temple, or Wat Pha Yai. The Big Buddha Temple features a 36-foot golden statue perched atop a wide staircase decorated with dragons.

You will also visit the Plai Laem temple. Surrounded by a lake, this serene modern temple features a towering white statue of Guanyin, a goddess who is believed to be the protector of all beings and a source of unconditional love. Her many arms are thought to represent her ability to reach out and provide help. Along the way, stop at a viewpoint overlooking the beautiful Chaweng Beach.

After lunch at a local beach resort, you'll visit a local home and coconut plantation to explore how the islanders live and work. During your visit you'll learn how the monkeys found on the island are domesticated and trained to pick ripe coconuts, as centuries-old tradition that certainly comes in handy as Ko Samui produces over three million coconuts per month. Observe the exceptional abilities of these entertaining creatures, along with their amusing antics.

Visit the Kunaram Temple, a small, unique monastery that embodies a true sense of simplicity and tranquility and make. During your visit, you'll have an opportunity to view the body of Samui's most famous mummified monk, Loung Poh Deang, in a seated meditation position. A short stop will be made at a coconut plantation where you'll be treated to an impressive monkey at work show.

Stop at the Big Buddha Temple, or Wat Pha Yai, which features a 36-foot golden statue perched atop a wide staircase decorated with dragons. The statue is visible from several miles away, and creates an impressive silhouette against the sea and sky behind it. Considered one of the most colorful temples, you'll visit Wat Plai Laem for its notable statue of Kwan Yin (or Guanjin), an 18-armed Buddhist avatar of Mercy that sits in the middle of a lake. A short stop at a scenic viewpoint will be made en route.

Discover the highlights of Ko Samui during an orientation tour of this island. Enjoy a scenic coastal drive past exquisite beaches and lush coconut plantations. Find yourself learning how locals use monkeys to pick ripe coconuts as you attend their impressive show and gain an understanding on how this centuries-old tradition certainly comes in handy for Ko Samui, the Island of Coconuts.

Transfer to local coconut plantation you will attend a monkey show to learn how locals use monkeys to pick ripe coconuts. This centuries-old tradition certainly comes in handy as Koh Samui, the Island of Coconuts, produces over three million coconuts per month. You will marvel at the exceptional abilities of these entertaining creatures, along with their amusing antics.

Stop for a visit at the Big Buddha Temple, or Wat Pha Yai, which features a 36-foot golden statue perched atop a wide staircase decorated with dragons. The statue is visible from several miles away, and creates an impressive silhouette against the sea and sky behind it. You'll also visit Plai Leam temple and make a short stop at Chaweng viewpoint before the return back to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Experience the flavors of Ko Samui during this unique guided visit to a local market, followed by an exclusive Thai cooking lesson at the beautiful Nora Beach Resort & Spa. Depart the pier for the drive to a local market, which features a wide array of food and goods consumed by the islanders. Wandering among the tiny, packed stalls of this fascinating site is truly a unique experience and it offers excellent insights into the local way of life. Your guide will explain the essential ingredients in the preparation of a typical Thai meal. Please note that you will not be purchasing your ingredients for the cooking class here as they have already been prepared by the school. Next, you will be escorted to the Nora Beach Resort & Spa for a memorable cooking class and lunch. Upon arrival, you will be welcomed at the resort with a traditional Thai Herbal beverage prior to your cooking class. You will then watch and learn how the chef prepares the food and explains the traditional methods used in Thai cooking. During this 90-minute cooking demonstration, you will be invited to don an apron and chef's hat and help prepare your meal before enjoying the results of your efforts. You will begin with a delicious bowl of chicken soup made with fresh coconut milk. Next, you will dine on deep-fried stuffed crabmeat served with Thai noodles. Refreshing seasonal fresh fruit will cap off your meal. Before returning to the ship a stop will be made at the Big Buddha Temple. It features a 36-foot golden statue perched atop a wide staircase decorated with dragons. The statue of Buddha is visible from several miles away and creates an impressive silhouette against the sea and sky behind it. Surrounding the Buddha, you will find a number of meditation huts, or kutis, along with several striking golden statues and shops.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Meander through a market observing the bounty of fresh, locally sourced foods.
• Join a cooking class at a resort and prepare dishes with ingredients like those at the market.
• Savor the freshly prepared dishes, which will reflect traditional Thai cuisine.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

OVERVIEW

Spend hours relaxing however you please at the Peace Resort, a waterfront property that definitely lives up to its name. The resort overlooks Bophut Beach, a beautiful stretch of sand on the northeast coast of Ko Samui. You will be free to enjoy the amenities however you please. You might lie back in a lounge chair and bask in the sun, stroll along the lengthy beach as the waves gently lap the shore and take a refreshing swim in the sea. The resort's expansive pool is just steps away if you prefer that setting for swimming and lounging about. Both Bophut Beach and the pool offer plenty of shade from coconut palms, which are so prevalent throughout Ko Samui that it is known as the Island of Coconuts. Around midday, a sumptuous lunch buffet full of tropical-inspired Thai dishes will be served at the resort.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Relax at the exclusive Peace Resort on lengthy Bophut Beach.
• Do whatever you please as the resort setting and amenities are yours to enjoy at leisure.
• Swim in the sea, lie back on a lounger, stroll the beach and enjoy a hearty buffet lunch.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.