The Five Islands

Discover the real Samui

Koh Samui Island Paradise The Five Islands Restaurant is located on the idyllic unspoiled Virgin Coast of South-West Koh Samui, an area noted for its tropical sandy beaches, spectacular views of the Gulf of Siam, and vivid sunsets across to the mountains of the mainland, distant and hazy, fading to purple as evening comes. The Five Islands is not just a restaurant - it is also an extraordinary experience.

We specialise in creating a unique and natural environment for your special occasion, whether a business function, a romantic dinner for two, a birthday party treat, or a once in a lifetime event. Koh Samui weddings are a delight for those who partake. - Weddings at The Five Islands are magnificent.

Before dining at our Thai fusion restaurant, we suggest taking a Koh Samui tour by private long-tail boat to the five islands – known locally as 'Koh Si-Koh Ha', meaning 'four islands - five islands', as one is hidden behind another when viewed from the five islands beach. From the Five Islands we cruise to Koh Tan where you can snorkel and hand feed a myriad of tropical fish in the crystal clear waters of the Gulf of Siam Alternatively you could stroll down to the fishing village (Baan Taling Ngam) home to one of Samui's most remarkable temples, Wat Kiri Wongkaram renowned for its mummified monk. Nearby is The Five Islands Gallery & CafÊ. The Gallery features distinctive hand made jewellery and Thai designer tropical clothing. Incorporated into the gallery is a cafe and bakery, serving freshly baked bread, delicious fruit drinks, home made Italian ice cream, and fresh ground coffee.

Discover more of the real Samui in our 'SAMUI' coffee table book, for interesting background and information.

Contact us at any time by e-mail

THAILAND TATLER Best Restaurant 2007 / 2009 VANITY FAIR Magazine UK / USA – 2008 Best on Travel The Weekend Australian - Susan Kurosawa

Wining and dining at The Five Islands Restaurant is a totally unique dining experience for the discerning traveller, having over the years established an enviable international reputation for service, cuisine, unique location and the best sunsets on Samui.

The restaurant is a perfect blend of contemporary and traditional design creating the exotic ambiance of a tropical paradise. The overall experience embodies the quintessential Asian aesthetic and philosophy that we seek in the Far East.

Here on our beautiful sandy beach (overlooking five jagged limestone islands for which it is named) the fishermen literally deliver fresh seafood from their boats! Our openstyle kitchen allows you to watch the daily catch prepared before your eyes. It is often said, ‘those who come here wished they'd found the location before – it's that special’.

Join us for lunch, dinner or just cocktails at sunset. The select menu has been created to concentrate on quality & originality, whether seafood, meat or vegetarian. Enjoy a range of delights, such as fresh oysters Thai style, baked seafood served in a coconut shell, roast duck curry with tomatoes & grapes, sweet & sour crispy sea bass or Kantok – a menu of five Thai dishes for two people. Thai fusion cuisine at its best is promised.

Download/view our menu

THAILAND TATLER Best Restaurant 2007 / 2009 VANITY FAIR Magazine UK / USA – 2008 Best on Travel The Weekend Australian - Susan Kurosawa

To be assured of your table you can ring ahead of time or book now by e-mail Tel 077 415 359 alternatively 081 477 5371

Dreams come true at The Five Islands!

The perfect venue for romanticThe perfect venue for romantic, intimate beach ceremonies, where you are surrounded only by nature’s serene beauty.

We specialise in both symbolic ceremonies, such as vow renewals, non-denominational (secular) weddings, together with traditional Thai Buddhist style weddings, and legal weddings.

With a unique backdrop of ethereal desert islands, sparkling aqua seas & tropical palm trees, it is easy to create timeless photos.

You & your guests will delight in being served the freshest Thai Fusion cuisine, & thoughtfully selected fine wines from around the World. Savour, whilst our friendly staff accommodate your every need.

Our years of experience have given us the benefit of being able to offer you a simple series of ceremony packages with extras listed. It is simple to plan & budget, & will cost considerably less than a ceremony in your home country.

Your Koh Samui dream wedding might include the bride arriving on the beach at The Five Islands by long tail boat, with traditional Thai music playing. Guests arrive & watch an elephant procession with Thai dancers. The restaurant & beach are joyously decorated with swathes of exotic blooms. A floral archway leads to the soft sand where the ceremony will take place.

The event is being carefully documented for you by our professional photographer.

As the day turns into evening, it is time for entertainment, whatever your preference, a live band, DJ & disco, or maybe your own favourite iPod collection. The skies lit up by fabulous pyrotechnic art displays, in the form of our Royal Display of fireworks & 9 lucky Fire Balloons. Once lit these float up up & away, taking with them bad luck to make room for good luck!

Our team of professionals pride themselves on our reputation; it is our pleasure to be a part of the most important, unforgettable day of your life. We are honoured to be part of your celebration.

Set in the heart of the spectacular Virgin Coast, The Five Islands is the perfect place to celebrate your love. Let us create memories that you will cherish forever, Relax; all you have to do, is be there.

Please book your wedding at least six months in advance.

Koh Samui Weddings Traditional Wedding : Many of our weddings follow the traditional western style wedding (based on the Christian format) but the format is entirely up to you. A wedding at The Five Islands is a time for relaxation and enjoyment and at a fraction of the cost of a wedding in the UK or Australia Buddhist Wedding : We can also arrange a Buddhist wedding with the couple wearing traditional Thai dress. Before the wedding (usually the night before) the bride and groom, dressed in ordinary clothes, will pay homage to their ancestors with monks present. Kneeling before a Buddhist alter a sacred thread will be twirled around the head of the bride and groom and then unrolled into the monks hand. A bowl of water is then blessed On the day of the wedding the blessed water is sprinkled over those present, including the bride and groom who will dressed in traditional Thai clothes. Again the holy string is twirled around the head of the bride and groom This followed by more prayers with each monk having a token of food and drink before them. Afterwards the monks are given money a sealed envelope, food is eaten and the monks return to their temple The couple then kneel before a small pedestal with hands clasped and garlands around their necks. Each guest then comes forward to sprinkle water into the hands of the couple and the bride and groom hand out token presents to each guest.

Secular Wedding : Secular wedding are becoming more and more popular and we recognize at The Five Islands that many couples prefer a marriage without religious formalities due to humanist or atheist values.

Please contact us for further details or take a look at out wedding FAQs page

Introductory Wedding Package for the bridal couple - Ceremony area set-up and special table with exotic flower arrangements and palm displays - Bridal Bouquet & Groom Buttonhole - Welcome drink of Fruit Punch - Wedding Celebrant - Bottle of De Botoli Champagne style - Dinner / Thai Fusion Orchid Menu - Wedding Cake - Chiang Mai Lantern (Lucky Fire Balloon) - Pick-up and return to your resort by private car - Professional photography (1 hour) Album with 30 photos Price: 30,000 Baht

Thai Fusion Orchid Menu: Appetisers Tom Yam Goong Clear soup with king prawns, lime leaves, galangal & lemongrass served in a coconut shell Tom Kha Gai Creamy soup cooked with chicken, lime leaves, galangal & lemongrass served in a coconut shell

Main Courses Geng Phed Phet Yang Roast duck curry with pineapple, baby tomatoes and grapes Gai Phat Phuk Sai Khing Stir fried chicken with ginger and vegetables Hor Mog Talay Ma Prow On Baked seafood served on a coconut shell Pla Tod Trakai Crispy sea bass with lemongrass Khao Plow – Khao Pad Steamed Jasmine Rice – Fried Rice

Desert Selection of the best Fresh Fruit in Season

Whether you are sealing a deal or sealing your vows, The Five Islands is a spectacular environment for those special occasions. Anything is possible when you allow us to create an event of unforgettable beauty and sensuality in paradise. From business to birthdays - we can make it happen. Situated on a private beach, The Five Islands Restaurant differs from resort venues where a special event can be disturbed by guests.

Weddings in Thailand are becoming more and more popular. Koh Samui, as a wedding destination provides affordability, natural beauty and an unforgettable experience.

Many couples choose Koh Samui because of the romance of being married in a tropical island paradise celebrated for its hospitality, culture, style and grace.

Koh Samui is already a favourite holiday destination for Europeans, Russians and Australians. A wedding on Koh Samui can combine a holiday for your family, friend and a once in a lifetime honeymoon.

Wedding packages are very flexible and can include exotic traditions only found in Thailand such as Thai fireworks, elephant processions, traditional paper lanterns known as Kom Loi, classical Thai music and dancing, to name but a few.

The Five Islands wedding can be as formal or informal as you like, western wedding, a traditional Buddhist wedding, a secular wedding, or simply a renewal of your vows. Also the wedding can be a personal commitment between you and your partner that doesn't have to be legally binding.

There are of course a number of formalities to bear in mind when planning your wedding many of which are answered on our wedding FAQs page, and you can of course contact us directly if you have any further queries.

Discover

The Five Islands Experience

Koh Samui Tours by Long-tail Boat Often said to be “the highlight of many a visitors stay on Koh Samui,” are our private tours of the Five Islands by traditional long-tail boat. During the tour you will see caves; beaches and bamboo dwellings perched precariously on limestone cliffs and pinnacles. On a secluded beach we stop off to swim, snorkel and enjoy refreshments.

The islands are known locally as the “Four Islands-Five Islands” as one island is hidden behind another when viewed from the shore. These islands are protected by Sea Gypsy guards, who deal harshly with anyone trying to sneak in under cover of darkness. Such visitors are not tourists desperate for an adrenaline rush, but poachers who are out to thieve the bird’s nests that are found within the caves and craggy rocks.

The bird’s nests are the principle ingredient of Chinese bird’s-nest soup. At great risk, agile gathers clamber up a web of bamboo poles to reach nests for which Hong Kong restaurants will pay up to $4000 a kilo. Few outsiders have ever set foot on the islands. However it is now possible, thanks to the commitment and trust of Colin Burgess and his team at The Five Islands Restaurant.

The tour will evoke a sense of awe and beauty to take with you on your voyage back to a delicious lunch or sunset dinner at The Five Islands Restaurant. After a refreshing shower you will be served cocktails on the beach before your meal.

There are two private boat tours – one in the morning and one in the afternoon You can choose from two select set menu options pre-booked with your tour.

Please e-mail to book your tour or call: Tel 077 415 359 alternatively 081 477 5371

Discover

The Five Islands Cultural Tour

For a taste of real Thai culture away from the tourist traps of Chaweng and Lamai, we have another private Koh Samui tour - The Five Islands Cultural Tour comprising - a walking of Ban Hua Thanon, a visit to Magic Alambic Rum Distillery and finalising at The Five Islands Restaurant for ‘Kantok’, a selection of

The tour begins at Baan Hua Thanon, a quaint fishing village and one of the oldest communities on Samui. Upon entering the village from Lamai we visit the Chinese temple. Further down the road behind Chinese style shop houses you will find an authentic Muslim market. Food markets are the centre of any Thai community. The market at Ban Hua Thanon, along with meat, fruit, herbs and vegetables is especially renowned for some of the best fish on the island.

From the market along the outskirts of the village is the Mosque. Most of the population of this particular village are Muslim, having their ancestry in the south of the peninsular. From the Mosque

5 kilometres from Hua Thanon, set in a lush little estate on the south coast we visit Thailand's only rum distillery - Magic Allambic Rum Distillery. Authentic distillery equipment is used, imported from Armagnac in France – only 100% pure, fresh-squeezed cane juice is used. This results in 'rhum agricole', or agricultural rum, the most superior type.

Distillery owner Elisa Gabrel, who grew up around the drink in the Caribbean, says of her rum: “We use a half ton of sugar cane just to get 25 litres of spirit. All the impurities are removed, leaving the purest rum. It's aged in stainless steel vats for a year, then brought back to 40 degrees, before we bottle it.”

Here you will see the production itself and taste the various products in the shade of a comfortable Sala. The distinctively labelled bottles also make for unique souvenirs and presents. A visit to this distillery is a delightful experience quite out of the ordinary on Koh Samui.

Finally the tour brings you to The Five Islands Restaurant where cocktails will be served on the beach before your meal.

The Five Islands Restaurant has established an enviable international reputation for service, cuisine and unique location. It is located on the idyllic, unspoiled West Coast of Koh Samui. Here on this pristine beach the fishermen literally deliver the fresh seafood from their boats. *You can choose from two select set menu options pre-booked with your tour.

Discover more about Samui in our 'SAMUI' coffee table book, for interesting background and information.

Just a short walk from our restaurant is The Five Islands Gallery & CafĂŠ, located in the tiny fishing village of Baan Taling Nam, famed for its temple, Wat Kiri Wongkaram and mummified monk.

The CafĂŠ features freshly baked pastries & cakes, the best fresh smoothies, squeezed fruit juices, coffees and homemade ice cream to enjoy as you relax among the locals in the traditional life of a Thai fishing village.

The Gallery features a collection of contemporary Thai designer clothing chosen to complement our range of hand made jewellery and trinkets. The clothing and scarves reflect the island lifestyle, providing comfort and style for the wearer.

Stocked alongside the clothing are an array of luminous pearls, corals, hill tribe bags and silvers, natural shells and beads of remarkable designs.

The Gallery has been tastefully restored from an old Chinese family home, formerly belonging to the Kamnan or regional deputy.

Commemorating plaques to the Kamnan are displayed on the outside. Inside, the history of the village is presented in the portraits of the family leaders for generations.

The Virgin C Baan Taling Ngam

Visitors to Koh Samui rarely venture far from the busy commercial areas of the island, yet only 30-40 minutes away, for those who wish to discover the ‘real’ Samui, a visit to the Virgin Coast on the unspoiled South-West of the island is a delight. The Virgin Coast is known for its wide sweeps of coconut plantations and forests that cover hill slopes rendering the area extraordinarily green. Take the ring road and turn off at Route 4170 and follow the signs to Baan Taling Ngam, and eventually you arrive at two massive elephant statues guarding the road to this rustic little fishing village.

In 1979 the Head Monk, Pra-kru Pairoj Kiriwong of Wat Kiri Wongkaram (Taling Ngam Temple), organized the building of the Elephant Gate to beautify the traditional village entranceway and invite all passers-by to visit the temple. Princess Galyani Vadhana (elder sister of the revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej) came to Taling Ngam to bless the gate and elephant’s eyes of black gemstones that gaze down onto all passing through.

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The center of village life is the local temple, Wat Kiri Wongkaram. There is a special beauty about this place and real mystery as well. It is the mummified body of well-known monk, Luang Por Ruam, who continues to be very much of a presence at the temple today, even though he died in 1966; his body is on display in a glass case. After his death it was found that decomposition simply wasn't taking place. His body has remained in its mummified condition for over 40 years. Given the fact that the air in Thailand is extremely humid all the time, and no chemicals have been used to preserve the monk, his earthly continuation as a corpse is seemingly miraculous. Apparently, both his fingernails and hair still grow with nail clippings made into protective charms. You can still see him today, sitting upright in his shrine, where with perfect equanimity he baffles modern science, as well as everyone who comes to see him. Luang Por Ruam was born near the temple in 1879 and in the early years of the 20th Century made a journey to Burma where he was initiated into deeply mystical Buddhist practices. After which he returned to Koh Samui where he lived a life of purity and meditation.

Taling Ngam has seen the least change of any area on the island, as though time has stood still. Originally named Taling Punk, or Damaged Shore, after a destructive storm in 1900 took the beauty of the shorelines away, it regained its splendour over time and was renamed Taling Ngam, or Beautiful Shore in 1942. Families go back many generations and are content with keeping their traditional lifestyle. They are descendents of mainland Thais and Chinese migrants who made their living through fishing. One of the first seaports was situated here, and was used by merchant traders over 100 years ago. They came seeking water and provisions as they sailed throughout the waters of South East Asia.

Many traditional wooden Southern style houses can be seen still standing in compounds with other out-buildings of the whole extended family. The rivers and bays harbour long-tail boats that bring in a daily catch of fish, while shellfish are collected by hand along the shore. The marshes provide the mineral rich varieties of leafy herbs and green vegetables that grow much like watercress from the damp earth.

These are the delicious greens served on the plate with steaming bowls of soup. The life of hunter and gatherer is still the standard here, which may account for the numerous elderly citizens in good health and vigorous demeanor.

The Virgin Coast has some of Koh Samui's best beaches with palms coming right down to the water's edge, dense greenery right up to the sands with swimming an idyllic experience. Out to sea are five islands known locally in Thai as ‘Koh Si Koh Ha’, meaning ‘Four Islands-Five Islands’ as one is hidden behind another. Beyond the five islands is the mainland, a series of mountains distant and hazy, fading to purple as evening comes.

This coastline is the ‘very point of the western sunset’. Regardless of the weather, sundown is spectacular over the Five Islands, the mainland in the backdrop – every day brings a new palette of unimaginable colour. Along the shoreline there are a few excellent beach establishments to enjoy a cocktail or two, whilst witnessing the sun disappearing into the ocean and lighting up the evening sky.

Truly a visit to the Virgin Coast will be a most memorable part of your Koh Samui experience.

Choeng Mon Mae Nam 4169

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Bo Phut

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Nathon

Koh Samui

Chaweng

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Five Islands

Taling Ngam The Five Islands Restaurant The Five Islands Gallery & Café

Taling Ngam 4169 4170 4170

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Wat Kiri Wongkaram Elephant Gate

Lamai Hua Thanon

Five Islands

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Laem Set

Far from the busy east and north coasts, The Five Islands Restaurant and The Five Islands Gallery & Café are situated in an idyllic beach location on the unspoilt West Coast, amidst all the natural beauty of the old Samui before the advent of mass tourism.

Travel down a road guarded by two massive elephant statues, past the Temple to the traditional fishing village of Baan Taling Ngam. Here, close to the beach, you will discover The Five Islands Gallery & Café.

The Five Islands Gallery & Café is a short walk from The Five Islands Restaurant either by the beach or the road. Make it a part of your discovery of The Five Islands.

For any queries regarding The Five Islands please contact us: Tel: (66) 07741 5359 Mobile: (66) 081 477 5371 email: samui@thefiveislands.com