Ko Samui

Ko Samui, in the Gulf of Thailand, lies some 80 km (50 mi) from the mainland town of Surat Thani. This was the first of the Gulf's islands to receive tourists - backpackers began arriving here about 30 years ago, moving on to Ko Pha Ngan and Ko Tao as the island became more developed.




The building of an airport placed Samui firmly into the package holiday niche, leaving Pha Ngan to the partygoers and Tao to the divers. Apart from tourism, the island is a huge coconut producer, harvesting some three million nuts per month, and palm trees and golden, sandy beaches are the hallmark of the place.

At 15 km (9 mi) long and about the same in width, it's impossible not to notice that some of the development back from the beach is pretty nasty. Fortunately new construction cannot be higher than a coconut tree, although large hotel groups seem to get away with it.


Samui tries to cater for everyone, and the individual beaches that lie off the main coastal road do have their different atmospheres. Chaweng and Lamai are the most developed - some would say ruined. Maenam and Bophut are quieter while Choeng Mon, in the north east, is really the classiest, with a few smart hotels round a pretty, tranquil bay.



This is a classic Thai holiday island. People come to swim, snorkel, and wander along the beaches in the daytime, stopping for a bite to eat, a massage, or to have beads braided into their hair.

At night there are endless restaurants, bars and clubs to visit, some of which are home to Thai sex trade workers. Ko Samui really does go out of its way to provide tourists with whatever they fancy.