Koh Samui Travel Guide and information

Koh Samui

The Gulf of Thailand connected to the South China Sea in southeast Asia is the location of the tropical island of Koh Samui.

The island lies 35kms northeast of the ferry terminal of Donsak on Thailand's east coast.Samui is part of the Muu Koh Samui Archipelago, made up of 82 individual islands, of which 5 are inhabited, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao, Koh Tan and Koh Pahluai.

Koh Samui is the third largest Thai island and occupies an area of 248 sq.kms. The coastline is approximately 80 kms long.

As you travel the coast you'll find exotic white sandy beaches, rocky headlands, capes covered in lush tropical greenery, tranquil��bays, impressive sea cliffs, mangrove forest,mystic Buddhist temples and shrines.

Inland Koh Samui is mountainous jungle, the highest peak is Khoa Pom at 635 mtrs, located almost dead centre of the island. The foothills are predominately coconut plantations.

Producing around 2 million coconuts per month, trained pig-tailed macaque monkeys are still used to climb the trees and harvest the ripe produce.

Tropical fruits such as durian, mangosteen, rambutan, lang sat, pineapple, banana and mango are also grown on this fertile island.

The clear blue sea waters around Samui are shallow and normally calm, with an abundance of colourful tropical fish, coral reefs, the famous pink dolphins and thousands of sea birds which colonize this area. Fishing is still an important industry for the island.

The colourful traditional long-tailed fishing boats used by the locals can be seen out to sea in the evenings with their bright lights to attract squid to the sides of the boats, then to be hand netted and sold in the morning fishmarkets.

The first settlers on the island were fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and possibly southern China around 1500 years ago. Samui, then named "Pulo Comam" is charted on Chinese maps dating from the late 1600's.

The name Samui is thought to have come from the "Mui" tree which grows around the island. Briefly occupied by the Japanese during the second world war, the local people are proud of their self -sufficient island heritage and consider themselves as Samui people first and Thai second.

The population of Samui is around 50,000 people predominantly of the Buddhist faith, along with smaller Muslim and Chinese communities, the locals of the island live together in relative peace and harmony.

The first roads where built back in the early 1970's. A slow and painstaking operation as dynamite blasting was required to clear mountainous areas between Chaweng and Lamai, the hill before Nathon coming from Maenam also proving to be a difficult section. Heavy seasonal rain slowed progress as did the difficulty with landing heavy earth moving machinery on the island.

On completion the road measured 56kms around the island and later linking up with more new roads accessing other areas.

Tourism is now the mainstay of the island economy. Starting out as a backpackers destination in the 1970's to become the world famous tourist attraction it is today.

Samui now has all the amenities expected by the modern traveler.

Exclusive luxury resorts, designer boutiques, sporting activities, hundreds of restaurants and bars catering for all tastes and budgets.

In recent years many "Spa's' or "Well Being "centers have emerged, offering a wide variety of treatments ranging from Thai foot massage to colonic irrigation.

Chaweng and Lamai on the east coast of island are the most popular destinations for visitors who want enjoy the beach along with easy access to shopping and the busy nightlife provided by these two towns.

Those wishing a quite and peaceful time may choose Maenam village in the north with an easy going atmosphere and beautifully scenic beach, looking over to the the island of Koh Phangan, famous for it's monthly Full Moon Party.

Koh Samui remains a tropical island paradise. Wonderful Thai hospitality, stunning scenic beauty, exotic fauna and wildlife, fantastic beaches and rain forest covered mountains, ensures that those who come to Samui, will return again, to this magical place in the sun.