Koh Samui Footgolf and Botanical Gardens

Footgolf is exactly what it sounds like: a mashup of football and golf, played on a golf-style course with a football and with holes large enough to kick the ball into. The Samui version is laid out within botanical gardens, so as you play you pass through tropical planting, flowering shrubs and shaded paths, and the setting makes the whole thing feel more like a garden stroll than a sports match. It is easy to learn, needs no athletic skill, and works equally well as a competition between friends or a laugh with children. Rounds typically take a couple of hours, which leaves time to explore the gardens, have a drink at the cafe and take photographs. Clubs are not needed, though shoes with a decent grip are, and many operators lend or sell footballs. It is one of the most unusual and least predictable ways to spend a few hours on the island.

The appeal is its simplicity. Nobody needs a handicap or a lesson, and a few holes in, groups find that the competitive urge takes over, especially when a friend sinks a long kick and everyone else misses. The course is designed for fun rather than difficulty, with obstacles, slopes and bunker-like areas adding challenge without making it frustrating.

Think about timing and comfort. Samui is hot and humid, so the cooler morning and late-afternoon hours are the best times to play, and the gardens' shade helps in the middle of the day. Bring sun protection, a hat, a refillable bottle and insect repellent, and wear light, comfortable clothes and trainers or football shoes rather than sandals.

The course is at ground level and quite gentle, but it does involve walking, so those with mobility restrictions should check the layout in advance. In the wetter months from roughly October to December, showers can be heavy and the grass can be slippery, so check conditions before heading out.

The activity suits families with children from about school age, couples who like a bit of friendly competition and groups of friends looking for something different from the beach. It is also a good choice for visitors who do not want an intense or physically demanding adventure, because it is gentle, social and takes place in a beautiful setting. If you are travelling with teenagers who find temples dull and boat trips long, this is a good compromise.

It slots neatly into a wider plan. A morning round followed by lunch and a swim leaves the afternoon free, and it works well on a day when the weather has cancelled boats or when you have recovered from a full-day trip and want something easy. Combine it with a visit to the elephant sanctuary or a cooking class on another day for a family-friendly stretch of the trip, and keep the zipline or the quad bike for the days when you want more adrenaline.

Allow time for a shower and a change of clothes afterwards, since a round in the heat leaves everyone damp, and carry cash for the cafe in case card payments are not available.