Bang Por Beach & Banyan Villas
Koh Samui’s quiet north coast
The palm-fringed white sands of Bang Por Beach lie on a quiet stretch of the northern coast of Koh Samui, facing towards the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan. The beach itself stretches some 4km between Ban Tai in the east and Bang Por in the west, with beach restaurants an easy stroll along the shore.
The calm shallow waters in this part of the Gulf of Thailand offer excellent snorkelling opportunities with shallow coral reefs and many colourful fish within easy reach of the shore.
Quiet and lacking the mass-tourism development found in other areas of the island, there is no noisy nightlife in the immediate vicinity to disturb the tranquillity, and only small neighbourhood shopping outlets.
On an island of this size however, nothing is ever very far away. Just a 5 minute stroll down the beach you will find yourself at Jun Hom beach restaurant offering excellent Thai cuisine. Nightlife in the old fisherman’s village of Bophut is a mere 10 minute drive, and the main tourist centre of Chawaeng just 20 minutes away.
Getting to Banyan Villas
- By air
- Most visitors to Koh Samui, whether domestic or international, will reach the island by air.
- Bangkok Airways own the private airport on the island and operate flights from Bangkok every thirty minutes from early morning until 9pm. With a flight time of just 45 minutes it is but a short hop!. They also operate direct flights from other cities within Thailand, as well as international locations such as Singapore, Hong Kong and China. Check the schedule on Bangkok Airways website for details.
- Thai Airways now also operate domestic flights between Bangkok and Koh Samui, along with Berjaya Air and Firefly operating internationally from Subang, Malaysia.
- By road & ferry
- If driving through Thailand then head for the small port of Donsak on the southeast coast about 70km from Surat Thani. There are two car ferry services operating from here, with crossings to/from Koh Samui every hour between dawn and dusk.
- Visas
- Thailand does not require visas for most European, North American, Australasian or ASEAN nationals if travelling for the purposes of tourism. It is best though to be sure and if travelling from overseas we advise you to first check with your travel agent, or nearest Thai Consulate before beginning your journey.
On the island
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