Discover Koh Samui's hidden charms and embrace the enchanting island at Samujana
Oct 10, 2024
Unwind in the intimate luxury of Samujana, where local culture meets breathtaking vistas, just a short flight from Hong Kong
At the tail end of the summer season, when the island is quieter and the streets a little less crowded with tourists, Koh Samui buzzes with an intimate charm reserved for locals.
The direct three-hour Bangkok Airways journey from Hong Kong was a breeze. The island steadily welcomes more Hongkongers back post-pandemic as Bangkok Airways resumes the only direct flight from the city.
Making the journey even more seamless is a stay at Samujana, a private resort boasting 23 villas in the heart of the Gulf of Thailand just a 10-minute car ride from the Samui International Airport.
The resort boasts a sprawling lawn and has been an institution of sorts in Koh Samui. The beautiful estate has seen its fair share of weddings and parties over the past 11 years since it first welcomed guests.
With anywhere between three to eight bedrooms, the villas offer the comfort of a home away from home. It's especially suited to the needs of post-pandemic travellers who've become accustomed to more private vacation abodes as they now prefer to stretch their holidays longer.
Each beautiful villa is immaculately appointed, with perfectly manicured greenery and infinity pools. The seasoned housekeeping and service staff team has mastered the ultimate art of hosting – attending to the guest's every need while maintaining a virtually invisible presence.
Private facilities include a myriad of common living spaces, a theatre, a gym, living spaces, and even dedicated office space in some of the villas for those who like to keep busy while on the go. Guests can get creative with how they want to spend time in the different indoor and outdoor spaces in each villa. Private yoga classes by the pool or a late-night foot massage with friends in the theatre are just ways guests can unwind and relax.
With help from the butler, team of housekeepers, and Samujana's private chefs, villa guests can host private dinners and parties. Full kitchens and the bar and dining spaces mean guests can enjoy local and international cuisine on demand in the comfort of their private slice of the ocean view. For the ultimate al fresco experience, the butler can arrange drinks or a barbecue feast by the pool. The beautiful blue sky's the limit when it comes to how you want to indulge in the luxurious confines of the villas.
Located near some of the more popular hotspots around the island, including Chaweng Beach, an afternoon strolling local shops or a night of dining followed by dancing is just a short car ride away.
For the road less travel, head to Bangkok Airways Samui Community Outreach partners Rose Honey Herb Garden and Chao Mui Coffee Farm for an intimate look at local life.
Rose Honey Herb Garden is a 45-minute drive from Samujana. Here, coconut oil and herbal compress massage balls are still made by hand using traditional techniques. The farm offers visitors a unique cultural experience, allowing them to see how Thai herbs and spices such as turmeric and pandan are incorporated into Indigenous holistic wellness regimes.
Visitors can try extracting coconut flesh from their hard shells, which is used to make organic oil. The farm's owner, Khun Manee, a gentle Koh Samui native, shares her insights into how organic coconut oil is made into elixirs for massages by incorporating it with herbs.
The sweet owner leads an herbal compress massage ball workshop, allowing travellers to make their own to take home. She provides each guest with a mini massage using the steamed herbal compress, sharing that the turmeric in the compress has exceptional healing properties that alleviate tired and strained muscles. It was truly a special experience being able to catch a glimpse of how locals continue to keep these Thai traditions alive.
Continuing the cultural journey is a visit to the 2 Bay Cafe, where the owners, Khun Sut and Khun Lek and their dozens of free-range chickens greet visitors at the entrance. The humble roadside cafe has a small menu serving coffee harvested from the family's estate, the Chao Mui Coffee Farm. Khun Sut planted coffee trees on the family's durian farm during the pandemic in hopes of restoring the island's greenery to its former glory after years of over-logging.
A 30-minute uphill drive from the cafe, the farm is nestled far away from the familiar sights of buzzing beachside restaurants and bars. Along the way, Khun Sut points out the various flora indigenous to the islands, including select varieties of bananas and mangosteens.
Planting coffee alongside decade-old Monthong durian trees has produced amazing results. Only the reddest of coffee cherries are handpicked, giving Khun Sut’s roast that tinge of sweetness. The boutique farm produces no more than 3 kg of roasted coffee daily. The blend is served exclusively at his cafe and the Bangkok Airways Blue Ribbon Lounge at the Koh Samui airport. Only quantities are available to a few lucky travellers for purchase.
Alongside the cafe's signature coconut iced Americano, the couple also encourages visitors to pair its brew with their farm's rich, custardy durian.
A quick three hours away, Koh Samui harbours a wealth of experiences and a change of scenery for Hongkongers longing for a short escape. From Samjana's warm hospitality to the pride locals carry as they share their culture and the island's riches with travellers, Koh Samui's charm will leave you longing for your next visit.
