Koh Samui

Koh Samui

Just a few years ago, an island still relatively unknown — Koh Samui — has now risen to equal popularity with Phuket, becoming Thailand’s other top beach destination. This serene and beautiful land, however, is a world apart from its more famous sister resort. It preserves the natural simplicity characteristic of a tropical hideaway. Situated in the Gulf of Thailand, on a peninsula’s southern tip directly opposite Phuket, Koh Samui is most renowned for its soft white sands, untouched small caves, sparklingly clear waters, and dense coconut forests and farmlands. This place allows you to cast off the burdens of daily life and retreat from the clamor of civilization.

Koh Samui is Thailand’s third-largest island and falls under the jurisdiction of Surat Thani Province. The island lies about 80 kilometers from the provincial capital and approximately 560 kilometers south of Bangkok. It is only in the past decade that this once-obscure island has evolved into one of Thailand’s premier beach resorts. Owing to the government’s policy of “preferring to forgo the prestige of film location shoots in order to preserve its pristine seclusion,” Koh Samui has become one of Thailand’s most appealing destinations and a top choice for European and American travelers vacationing in Thailand.

The beauty of Koh Samui, with its snow-white beaches and abundant natural scenery, can be described as a rare unpolished gem. The island has a population of just over 32,000 people who live a laid-back life, primarily engaged in farming, with coconut production being a major economic source. Coconuts are seen everywhere on the island, and even walking along the roads, you can catch the fragrance of coconuts. On average, two million coconuts are sent from here to Bangkok every month, which is why the island is also known as the “Coconut Island.”

The entire island is 21 kilometers long and 25 kilometers wide, covering a total area of 247 square kilometers, roughly the size of Penang in Malaysia. A small mountain range runs east to west across the island, while the interior is densely forested, and the coastline fans out palm-leaf-like in all directions. Thus, the geography of the island is characterized by densely wooded hills in the background, surrounded by a multitude of large and small bays and beaches. Here, the best pleasures include lounging lazily on the beach, soaking up the sun, or trying water sports such as surfing, windsurfing, diving, and swimming — becoming a veritable sea dragon.

The beaches of Koh Samui are arguably its proudest feature. Among them, Chaweng Beach is the most developed and the hub of the island’s nightlife. Lamai Beach, on the other hand, attracts visitors with its stunning white sands.

Koh Samui Koh Samui