Koh Samui Thailand Information
Samui Island or Koh Samui is Located in the gulf of Thailand, about 80 Kilometers from Surat Thani Province’s coast and about 560 Kilometers from the south of Bangkok. Koh Samui is a wonderful unique island. Samui Island is the Thailand's third largest island and to be measured as 25 kilometers in maximum length and 21 kilometers at its widest point. With a land area of approx. 280 sq. Km, Koh Samui has a local population of 50,000 only.
Samui Island is the unique compact paradise for your freedom, most of white sandy beaches and tropical palms, as the paradise on earth. The most popular beaches on Samui Island are Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut and Maenam. If you finding out for the quiet area away from the noisy and crowded place for your privacy holiday, Lipa Noi , Taling Ngam or Laem Set are so much interesting.
If you don’t like to spend time on the beach or join the water sports, there are many kinds of activities for choosing to do such as going to tour the Buddhist temples around the island and “Big Buddha” at Koh Faan is the popular place for the tourists to go, having a boat trip to Koh Pha-Ngan , Koh Nang Yuan or Koh Tao with Seatrans or Lom Phaya and etc. as also be your choice. If you like to play golf , there are 3 Golf Courses for you on the island.
How to go Samui Island
The best way as easiest to reach Samui Island is flying by plane from Bangkok, Phuket or Singapore with Bangkok Airways, or Thai Airways from Bangkok.
Samui airport is the most beautiful in South East Asia and further. The airport is very unique from others you used to see. There are all lovely comfortable lounges for you to sit by having snacks and drinks service , also, free internet.
Another interesting way is by transportation to reach Samui Island; self-drive air-conditioned vehicle (car or 4 wheel drive jeep)
If you come by plane, you can hire the motorbikes, but you have to be cautious of traffic hazards and always wear a crash helmet as there are many motorbike accidents be occurred all the time per day here on this Samui Island. But if you can do it carefully, then, you will have the freedom to explore yourself on this island.
It takes about an hour to drive around the island if you don't stop along the many beaches or take some of the side tracks (all of the rough trails crossing the mountainous interior are strictly 4WD or dirt bike trails).
Beaches, Sports and Activities
Samui Island is about 50-kilometre ring road of island's coastline as having the access to all the beaches. Nathon is the main center of merchandise on Samui Island with many shops and restaurants there , all the goods here very cheap and the area of all government offices.
The most popular area are Chaweng and Lamai. Both are on the East coast where you can have the wonderful sunrise for each day.
There are some water sports, such as snorkeling , kayaking and windsurfing. The coastal waters are very exciting to see all the colored fish and coral formations, if you would like to choose for diving, you can go to other smaller islands such as Koh Pha Ngan , Koh Nang Yuan or Koh Tao where the beautiful beaches with colorful coral formations in excellent conditions for Snorkeling. Sailing is also the popular water sport here.
If you interest to visit the waterfalls here, you can go to Hin Lat or Na Muang waterfalls as you can spend time with the nature and you can find many restaurants for foods and drinks around those area.
Ang Thong Marine Park is a group of 40 islands in the northwest of Samui Island. Here you will see beautiful beaches, caves, blue lagoons and spectacular limestone formations.
Dining , entertainment and Spa
There are many kind of restaurant in Samui Island, various choice of places to eat but the fresh seafood and tropical fruits are the natural specialties for Samui Island, the popular menus can find as International favorites and spicy Thai dishes. You can find more for place to eat in the pocket book of island as “Dining Guide” which you can ask for it from the hotel you stay.At the present time, Samui Island is very popular for many good hi-class spa with perfect quality, most of hotels in Samui Island , they have their spas to serve you in their hotel , also, some hotels have the special spas as retreats such as rejuvenating body, spa cuisine and etc. But if you no need for the expensive spa, you can find many massage places at Chaweng and Lamai area are the most popular for Thai massage , Oil massage and Foot massage. and also, there are massage service for you on the beaches front of hotels as well.
Weather & Climate
Samui Island has a good weather season of about 10 months in the whole year. The weather in Samui Island is different , it’s because this is an island, sometimes, you wake up with the good sunshine but the small rain may be come later, but just not too long, and then, the beautiful sunshine will come for you again.
Most of all, there are two seasons for Samui Island, the dry season is from January to May and June to September. temperatures are about 31 to 36 degrees or 36 to 40 degrees. The wet season is from October to December , temperatures are about 24 to 29 degrees.