Koh Samui

About Koh Samui

Located in the gulf of Thailand, 80 Kms off the coast of Suratthani, Koh Samui, the island of the coconut trees, is the third largest island in Thailand (only Phuket and Koh Chang are bigger).

The area is 247 km², 21 kilometers at its widest point and 25 kilometers in maximum length. A mountain ridge runs east to west and most of the inner-land comprises forested hills. The rich hues of wild vegetation are dappled throughout with the contrasting greens of coconut palms and emerald paddy fields.

It is located 700 km south of Bangkok and has a population of about 49.000 people. The main town is Nathon. The most well-known beaches are Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut, Big Buddha and Maenam.

Samui has many sister islands, a group of 80 tropical islands, most of them are deserted. Well known are Koh Tao (one of the best diving islands in Asia) and Koh Phangan.

Conserving the idyllic simplicity of a tropical hideaway, it is mostly characterized by its powdery white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters and welcoming locals where you will delight yourself in a late-day Robinson Crusoe experience in comfort.

The local population consisting mainly of Buddhist Thais is very friendly. Until the recent arrival of tourism, coconut farming and fishing were the main sources of income. The latter are still practiced though to a lesser extent.

A 56-kilometre ring road skirts Samui's coastline, giving ready access to all beaches and the little administrative center of Nathon with its beachside huddle of houses, shops and restaurants.

Koh Samui Weather

Koh Samui weather is almost always beautiful. Blue-sky days and a nice ocean breeze are the norm.

For the purists, late December to the end of March is the ideal tropical island weather experience.

Some like it hot! If so, April to June is the time to really bake. Some like it wet! Try mid-October to early December.

• Rainy Season
  
  Koh Samui is a tropical island. Inland parts of the island are a dense tropical forest, expect some rain at anytime in any month on Koh Samui. The time of heavier and more consistent rain is October through to mid December.
  
  
• Dry Season
  
  When the rains stop and the plants grow wild and beautiful is the Dry Season, or as the Thais call it, winter. Winter on Koh Samui is usually 30C / 85F and sunny. This season is typically mid December through March.
  
  
• Hot Season
  
  When the ground has dried from a lack of rain and sand dusts the road, the Hot Season has started. The over-head tropical sun is brighter and hotter than usual. Many tropical fruits ripen during this season. This season starts in April and lasts until the cooling rain, which begins in September / October.
  
  

How to get there

Koh Samui is a mere 45 to 75 minute flight away from Bangkok.

Bangkok Airways services about 22 flights a day either way. Bangkok Airways currently offers daily flights to Koh Samui from Singapore.

They also offer 5 flights a week from Hong Kong to Samui in a flight that takes about 2 hours 50 minutes. It is expected that the number of flights will be increased soon to once a day.

Finally, there is also a flight to Kuala Lumpur three times a week.

Getting around

The best and safest form of transport is a self-drive air-conditioned vehicle (car or 4 wheel drive jeep); motorbikes can also be hired (be cautious of traffic hazards and wear a crash helmet!!!).

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).

By Taxi: for many reasons, the least suitable for exploring, but the safest and easiest way to get from point A to B if you don't know where B is! Drivers of public (red) taxis have operated uncontrolled for years. Regrettably they have been the source of many complaints.

These have included rudeness, overcharging, and occasionally worse. Efforts are now being made to address all these problems.

In the meantime however: obtain a copy of TAKS "Getting the Most from Samui" guide booklet when you arrive. Use the instructions and the chart inside to ensure that you pay fair rates and avoid confrontation.