Fisherman's Village, Bophut

Bophut was a fishing settlement long before Samui had tourism, and the lane running along its beachfront kept its buildings: two-storey wooden shophouses put up by Chinese and Malay traders, with open fronts, timber shutters and living quarters above, some over a century old. When Samui developed, this street was restored rather than demolished, and it now holds restaurants, bars, boutiques and small hotels behind the old facades - which is either a good outcome or a familiar one depending on your view, and the honest description is that it is a preserved street given over to visitors rather than a working village. On Friday evenings the lane closes to traffic for a walking street with food stalls, crafts and music, which is when it is busiest and worth timing for. The beach in front is calm and shallow, and boats to Ko Phangan leave from the pier at the end. Much of it closes in the low season.

What you actually see

• The wooden shophouses - Chinese and Malay buildings, some over a century old.
• The Friday walking street - the lane closed to traffic for stalls and music.
• The beachfront - shallow calm water in front of the street.
• The pier - boats to Ko Phangan from the end of the village.

When to go

December to April; Friday evening for the walking street. Much of the village reduces or closes in the low season from May to October.

Honest expectations

Restored and given over to restaurants and shops rather than a working fishing village. Prices are high by Samui standards. Crowded on Friday evenings. Low-season closures are substantial.

Nearby

Big Buddha and Wat Plai Laem are east; Chaweng is south-east.