Koh Samui info
Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand - Ao Thai - approx. 700 km. south of Bangkok and just 35 km. to the shoreline of Surat Thani Province.
The island covers an area of 247 km²: it's the third island of Kingdom after Phuket and Koh Chang.
Lamai Beach
Samui's archipelago includes more than 80 islands: famous destinations are Koh Phangan or Ko Pha Ngan, Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan and Ang Thong National Marine Park.
THAILAND MAP | ARCHIPELAGO MAP | SAMUI MAP
The climate is tropical and it's pleasant all year around: from 24-25° in November-December (rain season) to 34-35° in April-May (summertime).
The best period for visit Samui is from January to August.
Maenam
Coconut Island
Koh Samui's hinterland is characterized by spectacular granite boulders and limestone hills, fully covered by evergreen dry forest, tropical forest and, above all, coconut trees (Samui is also known as Coconut Island)
Palm trees
The island was probably unihabitated until 15 centuries ago: the historians believe that the first village was settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula.
Hua Thanon, muslim fishing village
Koh Samui was isolated from the mainland and the rest of the world until the end of the Second World War.
The first tourist was a backpacker in the early '70: he had to travel from Surat Thani by a long tail boat for approximately six hours...
Island's economy was based on fishing, a basic agriculture and coconuts. Concrete ring road was finished on 1973 and enlarged on 2009). The airport was built by a private investment (Bangkok Airways) on early '90; after that, tourism became quickly the island's main economy.
Koh Samui is actually the second Thailand tourist destination, after Phuket: every year tourists from all around the world come to discover the island's tropical beauty
Thong Takian (Silver Beach)
Chaweng and Lamai
Chaweng and Lamai, located on the east coast, are the most popular beaches and the major tourist centers.
Chaweng is island's main destination: its offers more than five kilometers of white sandy beach and crystal waters, hotels and resorts for every budget as well as restaurants, shopping centers, pubs, bar, discoteques, international hospitals... anything you need.
After the sunset Chaweng Beach Road became a night bazaar with hundreds of small Thai shops along the way.
Chaweng Beach
Lamai, located 7 km. south of Chaweng, is the second island's destination and it's probably the best beach for swimming all year around.
It's offers a center smaller than Chaweng, with a huge selection of hotels and resorts, restaurants, shops, pubs and bar to enjoy the colorful nightlife.
Lamai Beach
Nathon
Nathon is Samui's administrative centre: here there are all government offices, police and tourist police headoffices, immigration office, banks etc.
Nathon, located on the west coast, is also island main pier and major comunication centre to the mainland (Surat Thani Province).
Fishing boat in Nathon
After the sunset
Despite this fast golden-develpment age, Samui has been able to maintain its natural beauty and its image of tropical paradise.Tourists can relax on the beach surrounded only by the palm trees during the day and enjoy a vibrant nightlife after the sunset.
Samui nightlife
