Koh Samui is known for its natural beauty, with white sandy beaches, coral reefs, lagoons, picturesque waterfalls and crystal clear water.

Koh Samui Hotels

Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island, located in the Golf of Thailand some 700 km (435 mi) south of Bangkok and 80 km (50 mi) from the eastern coast of Southern Thailand. The island measures some 21 km (13 mi) at its widest point, and 25 km (15.5 mi) at its longest. It is surrounded by about sixty other islands, which composes the Ang Thong Marine National Park and include other tourist destinations such as Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao and Ko Nang Yuan.

Until the early 1970s, when the first backpackers arrived, Ko Samui was a rather isolated community, having little connection with mainland Thailand. The island was even without roads at that time, and the journey from one side of the island to the other involved a whole-day trek through the mountainous central jungles. In the early 1990s tourism began to be developed, and since then the island has soared in popularity and Ko Samui is now the second most popular island destination in Thailand, after Phuket.

The most popular and commercialised beaches on Ko Samui are Chaweng and Lamai beaches. These two beaches have lots of hotels, resorts and other form for accommodation, and a wild nightlife not always attracting the best standard of tourist. If therefore it is a quiet relaxing location you are after, the Chaweng and Lamai are probably not the ideal place for you. The northern beaches and their adjacent villages of Mae Nam, Bophut, Bang Rak (Big Buddha) and Choeng Mon are more peaceful choices, and the west coast beaches are still quiet.

The old capital is Na Thon, on the southwest coast of the island. It remains a major port for fishing and inter-island transportation. Nathon is the commercial hub of the Ko Samui locals. It has a charming pace, and is small enough to walk everywhere. There are many shops and restaurants in Na Thon, and some old Chinese shop houses along the middle street. Samui Airport has daily flights to Bangkok and other major airports in Southeast Asia such as Hong Kong and Singapore.