Kho Samui in the Gulf of Thailand is Thailand’s second larges island and enjoys a year-round tourist trade because of the quality of its palm and coconut tree fringed beaches, the interior jungle and constantly warm and clear waters that gives great diving experiences. Not to mention an extensive archipelago of pristine islands and islets like randomly scattered emeralds on an azure satin sheet.
Samui's Gay Scene
And like other tourist cities and islands of Thailand there is a small yet thriving gay scene, based in the more popular beaches and resorts, the centre being Chaweng Beach and to a lesser extent on Lamai Beach. The gay pubs and bars are welcome to all. The Kho Samui gay scene is quieter and more relaxed than that of Pattaya, Bangkok, Chiang Mai or Phuket, but it is attracting increasing numbers of gay travellers each year.
The population of Samui is relatively small and unlike Pataya or Phuket there is no unofficial ‘gay beach’ but such is the friendly atmosphere that there no need for an artificial demarcation and segregation of territory. All are welcome as long as the local customs, mores and laws are observed.
As in other parts of Thailand the gay bars tend to open at around five or six in the evening and close at two in the following morning. Often the distinction between a beer and a show bar is blurred with many being purely beer bars in the early evening and then at about ten at night transforming into a show bar with a katoey or slightly more risqué and erotic performances. But as the phrase has it “All in the best possible taste!”
Three Popular Show Bars
Three of the most popular bars/show bars are Boy Zone, Boy Box on Chaweng Beach Road and One of Us bar in Lamai. Each offers the usual mix of alcohol and dance shows of a kind.
Boy Zone Kho Samui
Boy Zone is open from 3 pm to 2 am and can be found at South Chaweng at the end of the small shopping lane off Chaweng Beach Road - opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort. Look for a restaurant on the beach road called Chaweng Food Market.
Phone: +66 (0) 7723 0611
The Male Box Kho Samui
The Male Box is open from the early evening until 2 am and is located at South Chaweng at the end of the small shopping laneway off Chaweng Beach Road - opposite Centara Grand Beach Resort, look for a restaurant on the beach road called Chaweng Food Market.
Phone: +66 (0) 8108 31273
One of Us Lamai Beach
One of Us at Lamai Beach is a smaller bar that again opens in the early evening and closes at the official time of 2 am. in Soi filled with a clatter of small girly bars off main Lamai beach road - look for a restaurant called Doctor Frogs
Email: bar@samui-oneofus.de
So for the gay traveller who does not want the raucous and in-your-face activity of Thailand's more famed gay spots Kho Samui offers an excellent alternative.
