Tag Archives: Samui

Festivals and Events in Samui That Honour Tradition – Embracing Local Heritage 

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Samui, an island paradise in Thailand, offers more than just stunning beaches and crystal-clear waters. Immerse yourself in the rich cultural heritage of Samui by experiencing its traditional festivals and events, each a vibrant celebration of local customs and heritage.

Songkran Festival

Celebrated in April, Songkran marks the Thai New Year with water fights and religious ceremonies. Experience the joyous atmosphere as locals and tourists come together to splash water and pay respects to elders. If you’re looking for things to do in Chaweng during Songkran, this is the ultimate event! Be prepared to get soaked! Water guns and buckets are everywhere, and the streets transform into a giant, playful water battleground. It’s a fantastic time to embrace the local tradition and cool off in the Thai heat. For a fine stay during this vibrant celebration, consider Avani Chaweng Samui, conveniently located near the action yet offering a tranquil haven to relax after a day of revelry.

Loi Krathong

Also known as the Festival of Lights, Loi Krathong takes place in November when people release beautifully decorated krathongs (floating lanterns) onto rivers and lakes to pay homage to the water goddess and seek forgiveness.

Samui Regatta

Held annually in May, the Samui Regatta is Asia’s leading sailing event, attracting sailors from around the world. Watch as sleek yachts race against the backdrop of Samui’s scenic coastline, accompanied by lively social events and parties.

Buffalo Fighting Festival

A unique tradition dating back centuries, the Buffalo Fighting Festival sees adorned water buffaloes engage in friendly battles during the harvest season. Witness the spectacle and cultural significance of this event, which also includes music, food stalls, and festivities. If you’re looking for things to do in Chaweng during your downtime between festivals, you can explore the island’s lush interior with its waterfalls and temples,  indulge in authentic Thai cuisine, or browse the local markets for unique souvenirs. Samui truly has something for everyone.

Samui Triathlon – Where Valor and Stamina Compete In the April Sun

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Droplets of golden sweat will glisten on brow and back while silver-blue splashes of cool water will dance to the rhythm of the moving hand at the Samui Triathlon that will take place in the bright heat of April in Samui, Thailand.
The cheering spectators will witness the athletic forms of the competitors who will be participating in the Triathlon, striving hard to win the gold in cycling courses, swimming courses, and running courses. The Bicycle zone undoubtedly will be the centre of attraction, as wheels speed like the wind in Nathon. Much color will be added by the merchandizing zone and Animation zone which will be added on close to the Bicycle zone.
The participants of the bicycle course will pedal a total distance of 122km 650m, which is basically one and half laps around the island, while the Running course will cut across Nathon and the southern part of the island on a 30 km single lap. Both courses will be demarcated by vertical and horizontal arrows, while policemen and volunteers will facilitate the smooth flow of the races and remove any obstacles or hindrances that the participants many face during the course of the race. The roads will be closed during the races, which will further enhance the quality of the event by providing the necessary environment needed to the athletes to finish their course with minimum disturbances.
The swimmers on the other hand will find the required assistance in the form of buoys and water lines complemented with boats for assistance and race control as well as medical assistance and essential supplies. The course will include 2 laps of 2 km with Bophut will mark the end of the first lap.
If you wish to witness the glory of the Samui Triathlon in April, accommodation at a hotel in Samui is best advised reserved in advance as the competitors, journalists, and organizing team of the event will flood in during the period to Koh Samui Resort options will vary depending on the budgets of the individuals. Anantara Lawana Resort & Spa Koh Samui can be recommended to those who wish to witness the races while indulging in the luxuries unique to the great country on Thailand.

Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday. Google+

Samui Fine Dining Festival – a gourmet celebration in Samui

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Sample a fusion of mouth watering flavours at the popular Samui Fine Dining Festival. Stay at a Samui hotel or even a Samui resort such as Anantara Bophut, Koh Samui from where you could delight in such festivities you are not bound to come across anywhere else in the world.
Some of the best restaurants in the area host leading names in the culinary trade as they cook up your favourite dishes you would love to have throughout your stay. From tasty starters, sorbets, succulent meat courses to extravagant desserts, the special six course menus are sure to entice your taste buds on a whole new level. Discover the best of what Samui has to offer discerning travellers by experiencing the Samui Fine Dining Festival bathed in all its glory and local charm. World class champagnes can also be savoured at this festival that will lead foodies on an unforgettable journey of great discovery and fulfilment. If you are coming over to Samui on holiday, be sure to mark down this event on your travel plan well in advance so that you do not miss out on this spectacular celebration of culinary treats.

Nigel Walters is a travel writer, who writes under the pen name, Fritzjames Stephen. His content is based on the myriad of experiences and indulgences that the world has to offer travellers across all walks of life. Google+

Display of Gratitude – National Elephant Day in Thailand

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Each year on the 13th of March elephants in Thailand have a special day all to themselves. On this day they do not have to toil for their keep. Elephant day was first mooted in 1998 and is now firmly established as an important national event. Celebrations start a week ahead mainly to draw attention to efforts for elephant conservation and to protect their disappearing habitat. Each region, resort, elephant camp and conservation centre has their own programmes for commemorating Elephant Day. One of the best outcomes of the day is seeing a large number of elephants in one place looking as if they enjoy the attention.

On this special day many events are organized to honour and express appreciation for the animal that has been very much a part of the country’s culture and history. For most pachyderms the day starts with being blessed and holy water sprinkled on them and a street parade. Thereafter traditional merit making activities such as offering alms and robes to Buddhist priests take place. In some resorts and elephant camps awards are presented to the best mahouts, the best wildlife photographer among others after which the elephants settle down to a feast with all their favourite vegetables and fruit. In some cases the food is placed before individual elephants or handfed by visitors while in other cases it is arranged like a buffet and the elephants line up in orderly rows to enjoy it under the guidance of mahouts. As this is the largest gathering of elephants that anyone would see until the following year, the feast attracts quite a crowd wherever it takes place. Elephant conservationists use the activities to explain the importance of elephant conservation to local people. This is also the time that Thai people can get close to tame elephants to offer them food and in some cases for the children to touch them. An elephant show is usually staged towards the end of the day in most elephant camps. With the number of elephants in captivity almost equaling those in the wild, the plight of elephants in Thailand is highlighted on this their special day.

Stay at the stylish Anantara Bophut Koh Samui to enjoy a typical Thai resort experience. While the spacious and beautifully appointed resort rooms of this Samui hotel offer the necessary comfort and privacy, the excellent facilities on site cater to the leisure and food and beverage needs of its guests. Enjoy Samui from a much appreciated Samui resort that goes to great lengths to provide memorable holiday experiences for its guests.

Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.

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