The relaxed and leisurely pace of life, teamed with the gorgeous beaches, appealing Koh Samui hotels, and beautiful mountainous locales on this tropical island, has made Koh Samui the most popular travel destination in Thailand. The "party island" of Thailand, it is the destination of choice for many a discerning traveller. Numerous resorts, bungalows, and restaurants line the sunny and sandy beaches bordering the stunning turquoise waters here. The nightlife is quite lively too.
Visitors from all over the world love the laid back lifestyle on this little piece of paradise.
Koh Samui is one among a large group of islands, several of which are popular destinations too. For example, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, and the very impressive Angthong Marine Park. All the islands are easily accessible by boat. The island of Koh Samui is quite large, with a length of 25 km and a width of 21 km. It is big enough for trekking enthusiasts to explore but if covered by car or motorbike, the island can be circumnavigated in just a few hours.
Koh Samui was not always the favoured destination that it is now. In fact, just two decades ago, only a few adventurous travellers visited it. Today, this cosmopolitan island attracts global visitors with a number of great places to stay. On the one hand, there are the super rich who spend a weekend at one of the luxury resorts or in a villa on the hills, and on the other, there is the budget traveller who stays a month or so in a simple beach bungalow or hotel in Koh Samui. This ability of Koh Samui to attract such a broad spectrum of travellers sets it apart from the rest of Thailand's islands.
Koh Samui's attractions are not limited to its beaches and there is a lot to see and do. It has something for everyone. It is equally popular for its adventure sports, water sports, wonderful food and great shopping. Some favourite holiday activities here are diving off Koh Tao, catching all the sights on the island, enjoying the Full Moon Party in Koh Pha Ngan, or for a more relaxing day, visiting a day spa in Samui.
Every beach on the island has its own unique flavour, and you can use our map to choose your Koh Samui hotel based on its location. The beaches on the west are somewhat quiet, while Chaweng and Lamai are the busiest and most popular beaches. For visitors looking for peace and quiet, north is the direction to take. The beaches here and the neighbouring villages, such as Bang Rak or Big Buddha, Bophut, Choeng Mon and Mae Nam, are popular destinations.
Although most visitors like to spend the day on the beaches and go party hopping at night, there are other things to do on the island. Bang Rak has a huge statue of Buddha, while Lamai has a rather amusing pair of rocks. Na Muang is one among several waterfalls. Water sports are a popular activity, with the most diving being done at Koh Tao or at the Angthong Marine National Park. Diving day trips can be booked at dive shops, most of which are in Chaweng. Most dive boats leave from the Bophut pier. Taking a tour in Koh Samui to see the sites is also a poular activity and makes getting around easy.
Koh Samui has a population of around 40,000 and 90% of this population practises Buddhism. Samui is an island blessed with great variety and natural beauty. While swaying palms and coconuts line the shoreline, the coastal lowlands are ideal for growing fruits. The central part of the island has a tall granite peak, with rainforests covering the slopes of this mountain.
Historically, fishing and coconut farming were the main income generators in Samui but today tourism plays a bigger role. Of course, fishing is still practised here and there, and the warm smell of charring coconuts still floats in the air. Although the warm waters of the Gulf of Thailand are the main source of the seafood served in the local restaurants, the increasing demand has now made importing seafood a necessity.
Thai cities such as Ayutthaya, Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Chaing Rai, Nakhon Pathom, and Sukhothai are well known for their Buddhist temples, or wats, and statues. However, Koh Samui is not the place to go to if you are looking for such monuments. It is not the place for big hotels and a throbbing nightlife either - for that, the better options are Pattaya or Patong beach in Phuket. The pleasures of Samui are less luxurious but no less enjoyable; it is a place with wonderful food, bars, a few nightclubs and magnificent beaches.
The weather in Koh Samui is sunny and warm for most part of the year. The peak holiday seasons are from December to March, and again from July to August.
Travellers pick Koh Samui to get away from urban life and enjoy the island's white beaches, the unconventional beach communities and the clear warm waters. However, modern Koh Samui is no longer a quiet retreat; it is a busy international resort, offering quality hotels, Koh Samui tours, quality food and an exciting nightlife. Accommodation is seldom a problem since there are about 60,000 rooms Koh Samui's hotels, and the most complicated decision one has to make is to pick a beach!
[more info]
