KOH SAMUI ISLAND -- area code (66-77)

Koh Samui, located next to the National Marine Park in the southern Gulf of Thailand, is an ideal place to chill out and experience the tropical island dream. Samui is growing in popularity as a holiday destination for gays and lesbians who come from all over the world to dive, golf, shop, dine, party, splash in waterfalls, trek, ride elephants, drive from beach to beach or melt their cares away in exotic spas. Biking around the island on an easy-going day trip will bring you to small villages, Thai and Chinese temples, old Chinese heritage architecture, lush coconut groves and laid-back seaside restaurants on beaches you can nearly call your own.

Fifty years ago, Samui was home to coconut farmers and a haven for fishermen. In the 70’s, backpackers discovered this tranquil paradise. Since then the island has gone decidedly up-market to become one of the fastest growing tourist destinations in Thailand and the spa capital of the region. There are a significant number of entrepreneurial Thai and Western gays and lesbians operating businesses in tourism, hospitality, alternative medicine, real estate, design and other sectors of the island's boom economy.

Samui can be reached by frequent daily Bangkok Airways flights from Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi a daily flight from Singapore and direct Samui/Hong Kong flights. Thai airways has two Bangkok/Samui flights a day while Fire Fly has a Samui/Kuala Lumpur flight four times a week. You can take a train, bus or drive from Bangkok or Phuket to Don Sak or Khanom which offer hourly ferry services to Nathon, the administrative capital of Samui.

Gay life in Koh Samui

Samui gay life is a relaxing, quieter contrast to the exuberant gay life of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket. Bars and clubs are more laid back and friendly. The local gay community is easy to encounter at gay and mixed venues or as you enjoy the island's many leisure offerings. Samui men and women tend to be more down to earth and not as flashy as those in the larger gay destinations -- a good reason why many gay tourists prefer Samui. It is worth noting that on Samui most gay Thai men do not work in gay bars or cabaret. Many work in senior and executive positions in hospitality and tourism.

Chaweng is the center of gay nightlife, with the largest concentration of gay businesses along the very long Chaweng Beach Rd from North Chaweng at the Nora Beach Resort to Poppies Resort in South Chaweng. Please note: not many Taxi or motorcycle drivers on Samui know destinations other than major hotels so check your map before you go out and note the name of the biggest hotel nearest to your destination. Gay venues carry magazines with gay Samui maps.

• Gay Koh Samui General information for gay and lesbian travelers to Koh Samui.
• gay-samui.com Koh Samui and Koh Phangan gay scene info.
• Koh Samui gay events
• Men in Samui message forum
• Travel in Samui message forum

The updated and expanded Utopia Guide to Thailand offers a comprehensive glimpse at the gay and lesbian scene in 23 cities including Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Samui, and Pattaya. Listings include organizations, bars, discos, accommodations, spas, restaurants, and more. A special section highlights venues that are especially welcoming for women. Enjoy savvy comments and recommendations from hundreds of local Utopians and gay travelers. Click here to order the collector's First Edition

• Advantage Properties (real estate)
  126/18 Moo 3 Tambon Maret, 077-418-891, FAX 077-418-892, email.
• Samui Network Realty
  142/48 Moo 4, Tambon Maret, 086-060-6321, FAX 077-458-148, email. Gay and lesbian-friendly agents managing real estate sales, developments and project support on Koh Samui Island and other surrounding islands.

• D.J. Paradise Tour
  126/18 Moo 3 Tambon Maret, 077-418-891, FAX 077-418-892, email. Gay-owned tour operator and travel agent. English and French speaking. Utopia Member Discount
• Lost in Thailand
  52/4 Moo 3, Tambon Bophut, 077-230-203, FAX 077-230-373, email. Gay-owned travel site with online hotel and resort booking in Samui and around Thailand. Comprehensive guides and maps in and around the kingdom.

086-272-0980, email. Exclusive gay tours on land and sea. Daily Samui Island tour and snorkeling trips to remote off-shore islands. plus trekking, cycling and scuba diving in the best locations in Southeast Asia. See their website Event Calendar for upcoming tours and in action on You Tube. Email for an appointment. Utopia Member Discount

Comments from Utopians:

"What a great time we had. We found this company via Utopia. I had never been snorkeling before so my plan was to stay on the boat and look pretty, but Adam was so helpful. I ventured into the water and I was so happy I did. It was beautiful. Thank you, Rainbow Scuba & Tours, for a great day!" -- beyourhero, Aug 6, 2010

• Saai Travel Service
  124/1 M.1 Chaweng, 077-230-477. Specializes in arranging diving trips. Japanese speaking.
• Samui Dream Holidays
  Bangrak Village, 089-866-2659, FAX 077-484-683, email. Gay-owned travel agency. They can organize all that you need for your visit, with friendly service and their slogan "one stop service for your best holiday, ever!"

Click here for Samui hotels and accommodations.

Click here for Samui bars and clubs.

Click here for Samui cabaret.

• World Gym (mixed)
  On the main ring road, almost opposite Haad Chaweng No 3 Rd leading to Dow and Laem Din markets.

Click here for Samui massage and spas for men.

• Chaweng Beach
  Take the very short Sala Koy Rd left off Chaweng Beach Rd as you head south (opposite the Family Mart, about 600m past McDonalds). The beach here is a popular place for local Thai out for an early evening swim, or relaxing beach dinner bought from vendors. Some gay Thai go there about 5pm, often in groups, to relax (it's not a gay beach).
• Chaweng Beach Road
  Always busy with gays, especially in the evenings and at night after the bars close at 3am. Very cruisy, but take care as ladyboys work this road late to dawn and some can be extremely pushy and aggressive with some incidents of intimidation and theft having been reported.
• Laem Din and Dow Markets
  Haad Chaweng No 3 Rd (south end of the lake) is about 1km long and runs between Chaweng Beach Rd and the main ring road. The Chaweng Beach Rd end of Haad Chaweng No 3 is not sign-posted but starts directly opposite the short Sala Koy Rd (close to the OTOP shop). Both markets are great places to buy inexpensive fresh fruit, flowers, meat, seafood and other food items (not to mention Thai eye candy). Pay particular attention to the fish mongers in both Markets, but in particular Laem Din. For Laem Din walk along the Haad Chaweng No 3 Rd, away from the beach. When you come to the fork in the road, take the soi immediately on your right and directly in front of the 7-Eleven. At this point you will find many small Thai fast food vendors, well worth trying. Dow Market is about 500m further along the main road from the first 7-Eleven. When you see the second 7-Eleven on your right you are at Dow market which straddles both sides of the road. Both markets are busy from 5pm onwards when locals come shopping on their way home.
• Tesco Lotus Supermarket
  On the main ring road behind Chaweng and beyond the lake. This large supermarket complex is a popular meeting/cruising place daily.
• Volleyball
  On the beach in front of OP Bungalows, Central Chaweng. A gay Thai guys and ladyboy volleyball team plays here each evening about 4:30 pm. Gays turn out to watch the fun, but note, the Thai guys and ladyboys are not happy to have farang join in what they see as their game and which they take seriously.

AKWA Restaurant & Bar
28/12 Chaweng Beach Rd, 084-660-0551, email. Gay-owned restaurant located at the quiet end of Chaweng Beach. Pop Art inspired restaurant with a fun and relaxed environment, featuring western café fare including burgers, pizzas, risotto, and salads, inexpensively priced. Bar also has extensive range of cocktails.

• Bookazine
  Two shops in Chaweng, both on Chaweng Beach Rd. One opposite Starbucks (central Chaweng close to Pizza Hut and Burger King), the other further south next to Baan Samui Resort. Gay guidebooks for Thailand and Asia, newspapers, magazines and books in several languages and coffee table books, gay publications, cards, maps, calendars, etc.
• Double Dutch
  At the Big Buddha Wat and tourist destination. Gay-owned. Selling a large range of home wares and personal items made in Thailand. Open daily.