Ao Nang, One of Thailand's Premier Attractions

Ao Nang is steadily becoming one of Thailand's premier tourist attractions. Getting there is quite easy, by bus, car, minivan, or plane, but sadly not by train. The Thailand train from the Thai border with Malaysia stops at Hat Yai then goes East across country to Surit Thani thus missing Krabi altogether. Krabi is the main town in this area, and from here Ao Nang is easily accessible.

If you're not keen on a flight to Krabi, which is in fact an international airport, my advice is to take a minivan from the van terminal in Hat Yai which will only cost about 200 baht and takes about three to four hours.

If you're coming from Bangkok, then the train will get you to Surit Thani and from there again I advise a minivan. It's also about 200 baht and takes about the same time.

Once in Krabi a local opened backed bus will take you to Ao Nang for about 60 baht and takes about 30 minutes. The bus ride to Ao Nang takes you through some beautiful countryside and then just as the bus approaches the town you find yourself surrounded by towering limestone cliffs which are a feature of this area. It really is an amazing site. Ao Nang is a small, quaint, seaside town loaded with things to see and do.

There is just one main street that bananas from one side of town to the other. One side of the road is filled with shops and restaurants and the other side of the road is pure beach.

The beach here is excellent, great for swimming, lazing and walking. There is a colony of monkeys at one end that are always ready for a feed and a pose for some pictures. All along this beach you will find the long tailed boats that are ready to take tourists to the many islands and beaches that are easily accessible from here, fares are quite reasonable too.

There is plenty of accommodation here from 2 star upwards and a bargain can always be found. There are plenty of good eating places ranging from the humble street kitchen to top grade restaurants, you will also find the usual fast food outlets.

There are plenty of tour shops, chemists, 7/11's, massage parlors, and bike hire outlets. There are two good bar entertainment areas for those who want to stay up late.

Ao Nang is a great place to spend time on your travels, I did and I will return.

Hello, my name is Jim and I have a website designed to give honest and real advice to travelers going to Thailand, I have toured all over the country and I am happy to pass on my experiences which will hopefully improve your trip. http://www.thailand-cheap.com

By James D Jones

Visiting Koh Samui

Koh Samui is 700 kms to the south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand and 50 kms from Surat Thani. Regular flights are the most comfortable way to reach the island. For those looking to save money, trains, buses and boats can be used. If you have car or motorcycle, there are car ferries.

Via Air

Koh Samui's little open airport has both domestic and international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. There are hourly flights from Bangkok's Suvunarbhumi International Airport between 6 am to 9 pm for Koh Samui everyday. There are hourly Bangkok Airways flights and Thai airways has 2-3 flights per day. These flights cost 2200 - 3500 baht for Bangkok Airways and can go up to 7400 baht for Thai Airways. The duration of the flight is about 1.15 hours.

Bangkok Airways also conducts daily flights to Koh Samui from Phuket, Chiang Mai and Pattaya and twice a week flights between Krabi and Koh Samui. For economical flights, opt for Air Asia's flights from Bangkok, costing 600 - 900 baht. These flights take you to Surat Thani, from where you can take local shuttles or cabs to Donsak Pier or Samui Ferry Pier and then continue further to the island.

For international tourists, Bangkok Airways conducts direct flights from Hong Kong on Monday, Wednesday and Friday; Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and Singapore on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Berjaya Air has 2 flights per week on Thursday and Sunday from Kuala Lumpur.

Via Train and Ferry

You have to buy train & ferry tickets separately. So you have to take local transport from the train station to the dock, where you can buy ferry tickets. To prevent any delay, find out about ferry timings in advance. However avoid online booking of trains from Bangkok to Surat Thani by using your credit card to prevent addition of handling fees to the ticket costs. You may also have to face the risk of waiting for a boat to Koh Samui or being overcharged for local transport to the dock. So it advisable to buy a combined train/shuttle/ferry ticket from one of the numerous travel agencies in Bangkok. There are 2 trains departing from Bangkok's Hualamphong station everyday and arrive at Surat Thani in 8 hours. When you take a combined ticket, you are escorted and taken to the ferry, from where you can arrive at Koh Samui in 1.5 hours. The costs starts from just more than 1000 - 1700 baht, based on the type of train seat selected for the journey.

Via Bus (or coach) and Ferry

For cost conscious, bus and ferry trip is the best option. Air-conditioned overnight buses depart from Bangkok's southern bus station everyday. These buses leave at late afternoon and early evening. On reaching Surat Thani, buses are transported to Koh Samui. Bus fares start from 300 to 400 baht based on the class of service selected and travel time is about 14 hours. Ferry fares lie below 50 baht. Private companies operate coaches and pick up people from numerous spots in Bangkok. They usually let travelers buy a combined coach/ferry tickets from local travel agencies. This journey takes around 13 hours. The cost lies between 350 - 650 baht based on the type of the service. There are daily bus services from Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi. However this trip is meant for the toughest travelers. Unscheduled local buses halt at any spot to pick up anybody looking to board the bus. The trip may take longer than the overnight buses and coaches

Via boat

Express catamaran service to Koh Samui departs from adjacent Koh Tao and mainland ports of Chumphon and Surat Thani. There are also usual ferry service and smaller boat services available. Long-tail boat service operates planned trips to and from Koh Phangan.

Via car or motorcycle

There is a ferry service departing every hour from 06:00 - 18:00 from both Donsak Pier and Samui Ferry Pier. The time taken is about 1.5 hours.

You are welcome to publish the article along with the hyperlinked URL: Samui Hotel

By Jack Dan

Beautiful Island - Koh Samui

Koh Samui or plainly called as Samui is the 2nd biggest island of the nation of islands also called as Thailand. Thailand comprises of numerous big and small islands. Amongst these islands, the most famous one is Koh Samui. Situated in the region of Surat Thani in Thailand, Koh Samui is the highly preferred and chosen holiday spot in the entire Thailand. Ardent holiday lovers from all around the globe visit this island in order to chill and spend some memorable time of love and proximity with their loved ones.

There are many aspects of this island that entice the tourists. But the best ones include its stunning beauty, peaceful atmosphere, views of lovely seas, water sports, white sandy beaches, warmth of the native Thai people, easy yet luxurious accommodation and the vibrant, throbbing night life in Koh Samui.

During your trip to Koh Samui, you will not experience any trouble in getting an accommodation due to abundance of Samui villas, resorts, hotels and bungalows. The travelers who visit this island, take time out from their hectic schedule and enjoy themselves fully here. The beaches on this island are the best aspect of the island that entice tourists the most. They love the white sand on the beaches and spend time lying lazily on the beach, enjoying the warmth of the sun with a drink in hand or having a body massage. You can spend a lot of time staring at the beauty of the infinite expanse of sea water. The water sports are also highly adventurous, as they contain numerous thrilling games. You can find much more details about this exotic island on the net.

You are welcome to publish the article along with the hyperlinked URL: Hotels Samui

By Jack Dan

Koh Samui is a Beautiful Tropical Island in Thailand

Koh Samui is the 3rd biggest island in Thailand that is located in the Gulf of Thailand, around 90 km east of Surat Thani and approximately 750 km south of Bangkok. In fact, it is really an Amphoe (district) of Surat Thani and is divided into 7 sub districts (tambon): Angthong, Bophut, Lipa Noi, Maenam, Maret, Namuang, and Taling Nam. It is also called as the Coconut Island, as it grows over 2 million coconuts each month.

The area is a tropical paradise due to its lovely white sandy beaches, azure-blue sea, vibrant green forested hills, distinct limestone and scenic coves and bays. There is hardly any traffic and the locals are warm and friendly. Due to this, the place has become a hotspot for tourism.

The island is renowned for its glorious shoreline, lined with a long arc of palm lined white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Chaweng Beach is one of the busiest and most famous beaches here. It has a large number of beachside cafes, disco bars, and cocktail bars. Another famous beach here is Lamai Beach, which is full of an assortment of restaurants and amusement centers. It is not very crowded, and so a walk on this beach is actually relaxing and peaceful.

If you want peace and privacy, then head over to Maenam Beach, which is a suitable venue for backpackers and elite. This beach houses few of the excellent deluxe resorts and hotels in the area. Bophut is another lovely beach here and has a quiet fisherman's village, full of tranquil eateries, hip boutiques, and old wooden houses.

Other famous beaches on the island include are Big Buddha Beach, Choeng Mon Beach, and Lipa Noi Beach. Every beach on the island has facilities to let you experience a wide range of activities like diving, snorkeling, swimming, and sea canoeing.

Besides this, there are infinite number of things to see and do in Koh Samui. For nature lovers, a trip to Na Tian Butterfly Garden to see a wide array of different types of brightly colored lepidopterans is a must. It also has a bee house and an insect museum, containing few rare breed of insects.

For animal lovers, there is a Crocodile Farm that contains crocodile species like Caimans and saltwater crocodiles; Samui Aquarium and Zoo containing scores of fish species and specialties such as Asian tigers, sea hawks, and parrots; and Snake Farm housing few rare and most hazardous snakes in Asia.

If you want to go sightseeing, then Koh Samui offers many enchanting attractions. One of them is Big Buddha, the most famous symbol of the island. It is a 12 m tall golden idol of Lord Buddha in sitting pose, which is visible from a distance,

Hin Ta Hin Yai, are spectacular rocks also called as Grandfather and Grandmother rocks and are regarded as the forefather of the Mui race. Magic Statue Garden is an astonishing garden situated at the heart of the forest and accessed by traveling through precipitous cliffs and forested rivers and hills and Overlap Stone, is quite tough to arrive at these remarkable boulders.

Other must-see attractions in Koh Samui comprise of temples like Hainan Temple, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda, and Pagoda Khao Chedi. Other things to see here also include Buffalo fighting, Monkey Show, and conventional Thai Boxing.

Koh Samui is well-connected by sea, land, and air and has excellent accommodation alternatives.

You are welcome to publish the article along with the hyperlinked URL: Hotels Koh Samui

By Jack Dan

Koh Samui is a Luxury Destination in Thailand

Koh Samui, or Samui, is one of Thailand's most scenic islands, situated in the Gulf of Thailand. Located around 85 km east of Surat Thani and around 700 km south of Bangkok, Koh Samui is the biggest island in the Gulf of Siam and 3rd biggest island in Thailand. It is also called as Coconut Island due to its infinite number of coconut trees, giving over 2 million coconuts a month.

Koh Samui's main attraction is its peaceful atmosphere rich in mountainous forest grounds, lush tropical ferns, swaying coconut trees, long section of pure white sandy beaches, granite stones, clear blue water, excellent waterfalls, and luminous ponds. Due to this, many tourists from Europe come here all the year round.

Wua Ta Lap, a dramatic cave is one of the most famous Koh Samui attractions. The most famous attraction of Koh Samui is Pra Yai or the Big Buddha. It is a 12 mt tall golden idol, located at the northern part of the island. This awesome idol can be seen even from afar. Situated at the southern region of the island, lies Na Thian Butterfly Garden. It is one more renowned attraction, containing various types of butterflies. There is a well-kept garden, bee house, and a Thai type home connected to the garden.

There are few attractive places in the area, like Hin Ta Hin Yai, 2 famous granite stones that show up among many other rock structures along the shore. These 2 rocks, mean Grandfather and Grandmother and are regarded as the starting point of the Mui people. Attractions also comprise of the Samui Aquarium having various tropical fish and nautical fauna. Other must-see attractions include Thale Nai, surrounded by mountains; the statue Garden showcasing a collection of Buddhist and Hindu Statues; and Tham Bua Bok.

Besides Samui is famous for its lovely beaches like Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, and Maenam Beach. Every one of them has facilities where you can participate in activities like fishing, boat chartering, and sailing. Also Samui has some dramatic water falls like Namuang. Koh Samui also has some of the excellent diving sites in Thailand, with many stunning islets like Koh Mad Lang, Koh Som, and Koh Taopun.

But Koh Samui's wide range of activities comprises other things besides diving and fishing. It offers great alternatives for bowling, with over 10 pin bowling. If you love shooting, there are excellent facilities available to practice your shooting skills at the Shooting Gallery, which has many guns with actual ammunition.

There are some excellent alternatives available for adventurers. They include Bungy Jumping in Chaweng. Samui's nightlife is vibrant, and there s a wide variety of hot beach bars, cabaret bars, rocking, and pubs. If you want something different while on your trip, then go for Muay Thai (Thai boxing) match or participate in a Thai cooking lesson, conducted by some famous Thai cooks. You can also go on an elephant trekking for a memorable experience.

There are many other alternatives available like Treasure Island Adventure Golf Course and a tennis court as well as go kart amenities. If you are looking to rejuvenate yourself, there are numerous spa facilities to soothe and pamper yourself. Most of the deluxe resorts and hotels provide various massages and herbal treatments.

Samui is rich in accommodation alternatives, ranging from stylish bungalows to sea view villas to beachfront resorts to luxurious hotels. Most of them offer luxurious amenities like air-conditioned rooms combined with en-suite bathrooms, lounge, kitchen, and dining room.

Amenities include barbeque section, baby sitting facility, and car rental. Moreover, most of the villas and apartments provide maid service, besides amenities like excellent swimming pools and free airport transfers. Also, there are few excellent alternatives available for low cost travelers. In particular, many of them give some type of rebates for reserving rooms beforehand.

These attractions and innumerable options available make Koh Samui an undoubted luxury place in Thailand!

You are welcome to publish the article along with the hyperlinked URL: Hotels Koh Samui

By Jack Dan

Very Important Information You Need to Know Before Investing in Koh Samui Property

Koh Samui, Thailand

Koh Samui, Thailand has long been the locale of choice for paradise seeking foreigners from all parts of the globe. Its shimmering turquoise waters and sun bleached, white sandy bays are lined with bungalows, villas and resorts. Its happening night life with a plethora of restaurants feeds the epicureans and provides a magnificent back drop to beautiful sunsets and starry nights. It's no wonder that so many foreigners want to own property in Koh Samui, but like any other property market in the world, it's important to know understand the legal implications, visa requirements, and tax guidelines involved before deciding which property you are going to invest in.

Getting To The Island

Before investing in Koh Samui property, you must first feel confident that traveling to and from the island has been made easy and convenient for tourists. After all, they play a major part in helping Samui's economy grow and helping tourists get to the island should be top priority. The most convenient way to get to Samui is by flying with Bangkok Airways from Bangkok, Singapore, Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai. There are 15 daily 80 minute flights between Samui and Bangkok and 4 weekly 90 minute flights between Koh Samui and Singapore. Alternatively, several ferries and catamarans run from Surat Thani or Don Sak on the Thai mainland. There are almost 10 daily departures between Samui and Ko Pha-Ngan.

The Samui airport is a unique and highly successful experiment in building an airport that is kind to both the cultural and natural environments of a tropical island resort. Flying in, you get brief glimpses of outlying islands, streaks of surf, the wakes of small fishing craft sketched across the calm aquamarine sea. Smudges of coral reef dapple the water as you come in closer still. Then the coast of Samui appears. Two hundred and fifty kilometers of tropical hideaway scalloped by dozens of bays rimmed in white sand, carpeted in lush textures of forested hill and coconut grove, Samui is the centerpiece in a group of 80 other islands set in the Gulf of Thailand.

Located 2km north of the main village Chaweng, Koh Samui Airport serves both domestic and international flights including Bangkok Airways, Thai Airways International, Berjaya Air, and Firefly.

Koh Samui Property Tax Guidelines

If you've already done your research and you are looking to invest in Koh Samui property, you really should understand how the tax liability can affect your overall return.

All Koh Samui property owners in Thailand are liable for tax on rental income, which is based on either standard personal income tax (PIT) rates for "resident" tax payers and a at 15% PIT rate on assessable income for non-resident tax payers. A person becomes a "resident" tax payer if he or she spends more than 180 days in any tax year in Thailand. Thailand does not charge a separate capital gains tax for foreign buyers. All earned income from capital gains is taxed the same as regular income. The highest rate of income tax is currently 37% per year.

When purchasing property in Koh Samui, it is quite standard for the purchaser to be solely responsible for the payment of all transfer fees as well as taxes duly charged by the competent land office in connection with the registration of transfer of ownership of the property. This includes the government transfer fee, withholding tax and specific business tax as well as stamp duty and other costs and expenses arising out of the registration of the transfer of ownership to the purchaser.

Transfer fees are typically 2% of the registered value, stamp duty is.5% of registered value, withholding tax is 1% of the appraised value, and business tax is 3.3% of appraised value. Income tax is usually between 1-3% on Koh Samui property. There are no established rules regarding who pays the income tax while this is simply another part of the bargaining process during the property purchase as are all other costs relating to the transfer of ownership. Tax on Rental Income is 10-30% of rental income depending on the type of property. Lease Registration Fee is 1.1%

Transferring Money To Purchase Samui Property

Unlike most developed economies where transferring money to and from bank accounts is relatively straight forward and easy, this is NOT the case in emerging markets like Thailand. Before purchasing property in Koh Samui, it is very important to understand exactly how to transact and what needs to be done prior to purchase. Reason for the complexity of this issue is because of the Thai laws concerning Foreign ownership of Condominium Property. According to Thai Law, foreigners may own 49 percent of the aggregate sale-able unit space of a condominium building while the remaining 51 percent must be owned by either Thai nationals or majority owned Thai Companies. Below is a step by step guide on how to transfer money when dealing with Koh Samui properties.

1. A Thai bank account must be set up in your name in order to transfer money to yourself before exchanging your currency to Thai Baht. Any foreign currency can be used to purchase a condominium unit. The foreign currency must be transferred into Thailand as foreign currency and then exchanged into Thai Baht by a local bank in Thailand. In many cases, the developer may offer to help you establish a bank account in Thailand due to the complexity of establishing an account yourself. This may come at an extra cost, however developers are always willing to negotiate or waive this cost if it helps get the deal done.
2. Foreigners are required to remit at least USD 20,000.00 into Thailand per transfer to receive a FOREX Transfer Form. (Transfers of funds must be made in FOREIGN CURRENCY only and NOT in Thai Baht, i.e. if you are working in US Dollars then remit in US Dollars. Do not remit in Thai Baht. This form will be needed to transfer the unit under foreign ownership and also remit money back out of Thailand if so needed in the future.
3. Documents needed when buying a condominium: For foreigners to be eligible to purchase a condominium unit in Thailand they must present proof to the Department of Lands that the funds have been remitted from overseas in foreign currency. Without such proof, the Department of Lands will not register the transfer of ownership to the foreign buyer.
4. Remittances must be sent in exactly ("to the letter") the same name as appearing on the purchase contract, (i.e. if Tom Smith is the buyer then the name Tom Smith must appear on the remittance advice. T. Smith or Smith Enterprises are unacceptable.) If the buyers are two individuals, then two names should appear on the contract and two separate remittances should be made by such two persons, in equal amounts.
5. The purchaser has to include the transfer instruction indicating that the purpose of this money is to buy a condominium unit. The bank that receives money in foreign currency will issue the document (Foreign Exchange Transaction Form) which contains the following information:

• The transferred amount in foreign currency
• The transferred amount in Thai Baht
• The name of money sender
• The name of money receiver
• The purpose of transferring

Normally throughout the transfer process, the purchaser has to instruct the gateway bank to identify the name of the sender to be the same as the receiver's. The Land Department will accept the name of purchaser to be either sender or receiver of the transferred money.

**Remark**

If the money receiver is an individual but wants to put the unit in the names of two people, the sender has to instruct the gateway bank to specify the names of two people together with the purpose of buying condominium.

For example:

Mr. Smith transferred money to Mr. John and would like to put down the names of two people, Mr. Smith must also instruct his bank to specify the purpose as being to buy the condominium by both Mr. Smith and Mr. John. In this case, the land department can accept this and permit the transfer.

The Land Department also can accept the transfer even if the sender's name of the receiver's name is not the purchaser's name but the sender should instruct the gateway bank to put the purpose as being to buy the condominium by (Purchaser's name). The amount of money must be equal to or higher than the selling price declared to the Land Department.

Alternatives To Transferring Money To Purchase Koh Samui Property

For the avoidance of any doubt, we recommend wherever possible that Samui property buyers arrange for their local bank to issue the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form for all remittances. In this case you would transfer the funds directly to the Developer's bank account in the prescribed format, and the Developer will arrange for the Foreign Exchange Transaction Form to be issued by the Developer's Bank.

For the buyers convenience, we strongly recommend that you transfer the funds directly to the Developer's bank account, but ONLY do so if you know and trust the developers and know exactly where your money is going. In most cases, the developers will use a third party escrow arrangement typically put together by a local attorney. This is always the most secure way to exchange contracts as the developers are not allowed to access your funds until the title deed on the property has been transferred to you.

Why does the developer need to use Foreign Exchange Transaction Form?

1. Because the Bank of Thailand controls the flow of foreign currency, every single baht must have a source and a reason. The Land Department must perform in accordance with this regulation. By this restriction, every foreign buyer must transfer money from abroad.
2. Non-residents who sell the condominium and transfer the money out of country do not have to pay the remittance tax (normally the tax is around 30%)
3. In case of transferring money out of the country, the tax-free amount is determined by the initial amount transferred.

Transfer of title deed Documents needed: For Individual Purchaser

• Passport (copy if applicable, marriage/divorce certificate including a letter of consent
• From your spouse if married [Thai Language]).
• Foreign Exchange Transaction Form or credit note.
• Power of attorney, if anyone but yourself is representing you, in Thai script with a
• Notarization by Notary Public or if overseas by the Thai Consulate.

Corporate Documents needed: For Company Purchaser

• Certified copy of the certificate of incorporation
• Certified copy of the memorandum of association
• Notaries certificate
• List of shareholders (in English, but must be accompanied by a Thai translation)
• Minutes of directors' meetings, which have a resolution to sell/purchase the property
• (specifying name and number and agenda dealing with the finance of the purchase if the
• company's registered capital is less than the purchase price)
• Letter of advice regarding specific¬ signature
• Power of attorney, if the authorized directors do not make the transaction by themselves
• (Land Department form)
• Free debt letter
• Foreign co-owner letter
• The certified copy of the I.D. Card of the authorized directors
• The certified copy of the house registration of the authorized directors
• Title deed of the condominium unit

Thai Visa Requirements

Please note that whilst we believe the below information is accurate, it is recommended to verify requirements with the Royal Thai Embassy before travel.

Many Non-Thai residents require a visa to stay in the country for more than 30 days. However, most African countries require a visa to enter Thailand - Cyprus, Czech Republic, India, Maldives, Oman, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Ukraine are allowed 15 days under the visa exemption. A Non-Immigrant Visa is valid for up to 90 days, but can be extended for up to a year at a time, depending on eligibility criteria. Retirement visas for individuals over 50 years old are readily available, subject to certain other criteria, tourist visas for stays of more than 30 days and less than 60 days and work permits for those with specific skills can be applied for via the Thai Embassy or consulate in your home country.

Use An Investment Firm Or Relevant Developer To Assist You With The Purchase of Your Koh Samui Property

Well you can't say we didn't warn you that purchasing property in Samui would be extremely complicated which is why we strongly suggest that you use a real estate agent or investment firm to assist you with the purchase of your Samui property. Often times the developer or agent that you are purchasing the property from will do everything they can to make this process as affordable and convenient as possible. After all, it's in their interest to get this property deal done, and they should be more than glad to help you through it. Another reason it is beneficial to use the developer or registered agent, is because they already have the experience and connections to get you through this transaction. Because they've transacted several times before on Koh Samui properties, they know exactly who to go to and for what circumstance. It is very likely that they already have escrow arrangements established and banks in place to handle all of the paper work for you. In many instances, they may even use their company as the "buyer" and then issue shares in the company which then gives you legal ownership. This method of purchase avoids the issue of only being able to purchase 49% of a unit due to Thai law.

One investment firm that has helped clients transact on numerous Koh Samui properties is Elite Global Property, an investment property firm based in Shanghai, China. Because of their relationships with both the developers and local banks in the region, they will be able to walk you through step by step on how to complete on purchasing property in Koh Samui. Elite Global Property does NOT own property in Koh Samui which allows them to provide an unbiased opinion on which developers are safe to work with and will show you how to avoid complications that may occur throughout the process. It always helps when you have a familiar foreign face to get you through the process rather than dealing with legal contracts and bank forms in a native language.

Although quite a complex process, once finished, owning property in Samui will prove to be one of the most exciting and beautiful investments you may have ever purchased. Always remember, if you want to speed things up, just have the developer or a reliable investment property firm help you throughout your next property transaction.

Matthew Clark
Chief Operating Officer
Elite Investment Group
http://www.elite-ig.com
Shanghai, China

By Matthew V Clark

Yoga Travel Reviews - Agama Yoga in Thailand

Yoga Travel Destination: Agama - Thailand

Known for its friendly people, amazing food, and abundance of yoga centers, Thailand ranks high on our list for yoga travel destinations. The beautiful Thai island of Koh Phagnan hosts the flagship site of the international yoga school Agama Yoga. Basing its foundations on ancient lineages of Tantra Yoga, Agama created an authentic practice center in a tropical paradise, making it a popular destination for yoga travelers.

Koh Phagnan is a small island made famous for its legendary full moon parties. Once a month, on the full moon, Koh Phagnan erupts with an influx of party seekers. As the party-goers return back to the mainland, the island calms down to its natural, peaceful equilibrium.

Like everywhere in Thailand, the people are extremely friendly and conversational. Thailand is widely known as "The Land of Smiles."

The food is tasty and affordable, usually costing around $2-$4 per meal. Being an island, the restaurants and food vendors of Koh Phagnan have access to incredibly fresh seafood. The crab fried rice was delicious! Vegetarian fare is somewhat available in restaurants and through limited street vendors. Not so friendly for the yogic diet, Thai street vendors love to BBQ and fry their meat. One option is to purchase your own veggies at the Thongsala market, and cook it yourself.

To reach Koh Phagnan there are a couple of options. The large, neighboring island of Koh Samui is reachable by plane from Bangkok for a cheap price. Travellers would then take a short ferry ride over to Koh Phagnan. Alternately, one can take a train from Bangkok to Surat Thani, a port town in the south of Thailand. Then you would take a 3 hour ferry ride directly to Koh Phagnan.

Our impression of the Agama yoga style is that the practice boasted an extremely authentic and devotional energy. The asana practice was intensive in its physicality as mantras were repeated throughout. The school kindly offers a free class to first timers, so if you're on the island, give it a try. A description of Agama yoga from their website:

Agama is a unique international school offering its students the secret spiritual path of true Integral Yoga in a modern form. Based in the authentic, esoteric lineages of Indian and Tibetan Tantra Yoga, Agama provides an updated and upgraded self-development system whose theory includes comprehensive university-level teachings, combined with those of other sacred traditions from East and West (such as Taoism, Gnostic Christianity, Tibetan Buddhism, and Sufism).

Agama hosts many retreats and workshops throughout the year. Check their calendar and you will find that there are rotating classes of Tantra, meditation, Anusara yoga, detox programs, and yogic healing. My friend attended their detox program and said that it was difficult but "life changing." If you really enjoy the Agama style and want to take it to the next level, the school offers yoga teacher training programs.

Accommodations are not available though Agama, however there is a partner resort (Ananda Wellness) which gives discounts for Agama students. Guesthouses and bungalows are incredibly cheap in Thailand. Usually, your room will be cheaper than your meals, which is cheap! Depending on the quality, you can find something as low as $8/night, depending on the season and the proximity to the full moon party. Be sure to negotiate and let the owner know that you are staying for multiple days. There is a whole art to negotiation in Thailand which is beyond the scope of this article, however we must mention your best tactic will be to keep smiling.

If you decide to take a yoga travel adventure to Thailand, be sure to come back to tell us about how much you enjoyed it. I could talk Thailand all day!

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Matt C. Elmore is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Internet Marketer, and Electrical Engineer. His passions include health, love, the pursuit of happiness, yoga, dance, and travel.

Yoga Travel Blog

Yoga Travel: Agama - Thailand

By Matt C Elmore