Bophut
From Wikitravel
Bophut is a beach village located on the northern coast of Ko Samui, Thailand. Confusingly, Bophut is also a large administrative and postal district (Amphong), even encompassing Chaweng. A Bophut address therefore, is no guarantee that it is located in or around the village.
[edit] Understand
One of the few places on Samui that retains some of the island's original Thai-Chinese atmosphere, Bophut has recently experiencing a boom with new hotels and guesthouses sprouting up at a frantic pace. The traditional core of Bophut, known as the Fisherman's Village, is on the east side of the beach while the new developments are to the west. However, unlike in Chaweng to the south, there has been a conscious effort to dissuade the more commercial elements of Thai nightlife from setting up shop and instead aiming for couples and young families.
Although there is some new construction, the beach road, which runs through the village retains much of its charm. Old Chinese shop-houses crowd the narrow street, many with sympathetic conversions to modern use as restaurants and cafés. The beach itself encompasses some 2km of white sandy shoreline fringed by coconut palms and the calm waters of the bay make this a popular spot for playing or relaxing.
[edit] Get in
Bophut is just 5 minutes away from the airport by bus or taxi. Many ferries from Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao dock at the small pier in eastern Bophut.
[edit] See & Do
Activities on Bophut are pretty much limited to the beach, which is quite narrow and drops off rapidly. Bophut is famed for its sunsets, fine restaurants, numerous pubs and complete absence of girly bars.
[edit][add listing] Buy
There are a number of minimarts and souvenir shops in the Village, including a few moderately interesting Chinese-themed boutiques.
[edit][add listing] Eat
Bophut has a reputation for being one of the best places to eat on Samui. The village boasts many fine restaurants offering a wide choice of specialty cuisines in addition to a wealth of Thai dishes. French, Italian, BBQ, Indian and seafood outlets predominate, but there are several pubs and two bakeries offering standard European style snacks and typical British and Australian pub grub. Currently some 30 bars and restaurants are located in little more than 700m of village street. All the places below are clustered in the Fisherman's Village within easy walking distance of each other.
- Villa Bianca, tel. 077 245 041. Generally regarded as the best Italian restaurant on the island. True to the name, it's decorated with a stark white color scheme that stands out from the crowd, but the beachside tables are popular (book in advance!). Fairly pricy, figure on B500 per head with a glass of wine.
- La Sirene, 65/1 Moo 1, tel. 077 425 301. A French-Thai restaurant with good seafood. Same price range as Villa Bianca.
- Happy Elephant, in the Village, is a popular Thai seafood joint with an extensive menu. You can pick and choose your dinner and the cooking style from today's catch. Most fish B50 per 100 grams, so figure on a few hundred baht per head to stuff yourself. Live music some evenings.
- Starfish and Coffee. Despite the odd name, this is an almost exaggeratedly romantic beachside restaurant with reclining divans, flickering oil lamps and yards of red plush. Unfortunately the rather dull food isn't quite up to the same standards, so you might just want to pop in for a drink instead.
[edit][add listing] Drink
- Frog & Gecko (tel. 077 425 248), next to The Lodge, is a relaxed beachside Anglo-American pub with cold beer and great BLTs. Musically stuck in the 70s, but packed on Wednesdays for their quiz night.
- The Pub is on the main road, beach side, between the Frog & Gecko and The Beatles bar, a little closer to the Beatles. A nice place to grab a pint and watch some football or cricket unless there is Rugby being shown as that takes precedence here! A good place to find folks from the UK. Only serves food during lunch, but offers some imports at a good price.
- Billabong is close to The Pub, on the beach side on they way to Frog & Gecko, this is an Australian pub, also a nice place to watch football or cricket. Good food, but not for vegetarians.
- Beatles Bar On the main drag, close to the pier. An old teak shophouse, tastefully and comfortably renovated. Music as you would expect from the name, plus some cool jazz, cocktails quite cheap plus good snack food. Staff charming and very friendly.
[edit][add listing] Sleep
Recently constructed luxury hotels have found their way to Bophut's western end of the village, but there are plenty of midprice options.
- The Lodge, 91/1 Moo 1, tel. 077 427 565. An elegantly decorated little hotel right on the beach in the Fisherman's Village, with great views of Ko Pha Ngan and the setting sun from every room. Air-con, fan, hot water, minibar, satellite TV. Standard rooms B1500 per night.
- Eden Bungalows, 91/1 Moo 1 (across the road from The Lodge), tel. 077 427 645, [1]. Lacks the beach views but makes up for it with a small pool and a delightful garden. Standard bungalow B1190-1990 depending on the season, caters particularly to French speakers.
- Zazen Boutique Resort and Spa, 177 Moo 1, tel. 077 425 085, [2]. At the far western end of the beach and recently renovated with half-elegant, half-tacky pan-Asian decor, all flower-draped Ganesha statues, yin-yang mosaics and staff gliding about in designer silk. Beachside location, pool, massage in the gardens, great bar, all in all a steal with rates starting at B2190 (although beachside deluxes cost nearly twice that).
- Baan Bophut, 6/9 Moo 1, tel. 077 245733, [3]. A small, family run hotel right on Bophut Beach. All ten beachside rooms have views of Bophut Bay and Ko Pha Ngan. Furnished in a contemporary SE Asian style, the hotel boasts of the comfiest beds on the island. All rooms have air-con and the usual 3/4 star amenities, some have Wifi. Families are welcome but very small children are not encouraged (the pool & verandahs could be dangerous for unsupervised small children). A continental breakfast is included.
- The Waterfront [4]. At the far eastern end of the beach, this is a lovely little resort run by a British couple. All rooms have waterfront view and include breakfast. The resort offers a very family friendly style for both children and adults, and the proprietors make you feel right at home, and so do the other guests. A short walk from Fisherman's Village for restaurants and bars.
- World Resort Samui. Thai style bungalows provide comfortable accommodation in a tranquil setting.Room rates range from 1,550 baht onwards.
- Lawana Resort and Hotel. Located on Bo Phut Beach, Lawana has a range of private bungalows and rooms. The resort has pool and jacuzzi and the South China Sea is a few metres away. There is an openair beach front restaurant. Rates are from 2,400 baht upwards.
[edit] Contact
[edit] Get out
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