Serene mountain jungle experience
Nestled in the mountains of Koh Samui far removed from the beaches and winding streets is Phulipa Jungle Camp, a remote-feeling mountain jungle escape whre you can relax, enjoy a drink, and spend the night.
Getting there
The road to Phulipa is steep and rocky, going by motorbike is not recommended. We went by taxi but the driver was not overly comfortable so driving yourself wouldn’t be recommended either. Phulipa provides transport via their truck so that may be the best option. You can also just take a taxi to the bottom of the steep road and then walk up the remaining few hundred meters to the campsite.
Phulipa is a campground but not in the traditional sense. You won’t be expected to pitch a tent and start a fire, instead they offer various types of accomodation including tents, small cabins with shared bathrooms, and larger cabins with private bathrooms and balconies. Note that there are no hot showers so be prepared to take a bucket shower! There is also no air conditioning but they do provide powerful fans which I found to be absolutely fine up in the mountains.
Things to do
You’ll feel far up in the trees and mountains so the main thing to do is just relax, unwind, and appreciate the view. It was cloudy when we were there but you could still see the sea which was nice. Would be even nicer on a clear day. The whole site faces west so you can get amazing sunsets.
They offer guided hikes and ATV tours but I didn’t partake in them. There is another campground just next door with equally nice views. There is a Hulk statue and yellow phone booth which make good photo props.
Food and drink
There is a scenic cafe on site which serves quite good coffee as well as your usual selection of juice, tea, and alcohol. There is a restaurant which was closed when we were there, but it looked like it could get quite fun and loud during busier periods. You can also request meals, including a Thai BBQ which we enjoyed against the sunset which was amazing!
All in all if you’re looking to get away from the usual beaches and busy tourist areas of Koh Samui, look no further than Phulipa!