Bophut Fisherman’s Village in Koh Samui is Hipster Heaven

Bophut Fisherman’s Village in Koh Samui is a True Beauty

Koh Samui is a good place to head for a few days R&R. The sand is golden, the water is clear and warm and there’s a low-key party scene that will keep you locked in night after night. If you fancy heading to a spot that offers you all your entertainment in one place then Bophut Fisherman’s Village is the place for you. Getting to Bophut Fisherman’s Village from Bodega Koh Samui is best done by bike, so grab a rental and be on your way!

Compared to quieter parts of the island and neighboring Koh Phangan, the Village is a bustling hub of tourist services and it really comes alive on Friday nights when the market hits its peak and locals mix with visitors in a big, friendly crowd.

The Tourist-Friendly Village

If you were to put a Western label on this place then it might well be ‘hipster’, but we mean that in the best possible way! Bophut Fisherman’s Village is a modernized zone of quirky cafes, great restaurants and high-end shopping, where you can get your coffee brewed a thousand different ways and grab some great, unique souvenirs direct from the people who crafted them.

The name harks back to a time when the village really was just a launching spot for fishermen. Those times may have gone and the little wooden fishing boats have moved on to make way for the stalls and markets of modern-day Bophut, but it’s still a lovely place with a great sense of community.

Shopping in Bophut Fisherman’s Village

This is the place to come to shop for high quality arts and crafts, along with women’s clothes, spices, and jewelry. The prices are slightly higher than elsewhere in Thailand but the quality is often better too; it’s still OK to haggle here, so ask for the best price and you might be pleasantly surprised.

At the end of the main street through the village you’ll find The Wharf, a shopping plaza close to the beach. The shops here are the most expensive but you’re paying for the location; this is prime property in Bophut!

If Bophut isn’t quite your style, there’s plenty of other night markets in Samui you can check out!

Take a Break from Shopping for Beach Therapy

Once you’ve had your retail therapy for the day, head to Bophut Beach just a short stroll away from the main street. This gorgeous stretch of white sand isn’t the quietest spot in Thailand but it’s not been ruined by tourism either. Small beach restaurants are dotted along the length of the shoreline and there’s a fleet of jets-kis waiting to be taken for a spin round the bay.

After-Hours Entertainment

After the sun has set and hunger strikes, head back to the main strip to enjoy the evening walking street. Food stalls rub shoulders with artisan craft centers, and the whole place has a real buzz about it. The action kicks off at 5pm but you will still find people willing to whip you up a tasty pad thai or tom yum until about 11pm.

Those in the know head to the strip of beach near Coco Tams, where the music gets turned up and the ubiquitous Thai drinks buckets come out. This isn’t a rave by any means, but it’s a great place to meet other travelers and swap stories.

How to Get to Bophut Fisherman’s Village

Every taxi driver on Samui will know where the Village is, so jump in a red songthaew truck and relax. If you want to self-drive then hiring a scooter is only 150 baht a day so there’s no excuse not to get to Bophut to pick up some bargains! There’s a parking area on the right hand side of the entrance where the attendants will guard your vehicle for a small tip, which is pretty handy.