- Thailand Destination Guide - CBS Travel Asia

A POPULAR BACKPACKING DESTINATION AND A VACATION SPOT FOR
THOSE LOOKING FOR A LITTLE LUXURY AND PAMPERING
Koh Samui is the third largest island of
Thailand, after Koh Chang. It is located
off the country’s east coast, off the
Kra Isthmus. It is in the Chumphon
Archipelago and is part of the province
known as Surat Thani. The island is an
extremely popular tourist destination,
which is visited by many different people
with a range of different interests and
backgrounds each year. This is at one and
the same time a popular backpacking
destination and a vacation spot for those
looking for a little luxury and pampering.
Koh Samui is chic, sophisticated and
sanitised. It is a shiny place whose
wrinkles all seem to have been
airbrushed over. Yet this is also an island
of endless charm, in spite of its heavily
tourist-orientated side. This is a place
that retains little authenticity, but is none
the less perhaps what people conjure
to their minds when they think of the
perfect beach-bliss vacation, complete
with clear seas, white-sand beaches and
coconut palm fringed coastlines. The
beaches of the island itself and the access
from this island to more remote and
more unspoiled islands make this one of
Thailand’s premier destinations.
Koh Samui has an area of 228.7km sq.
It measures around 25km at its widest
point. It is surrounded by over sixty other
islands, many of which are popular tourist
destinations in their own right. These are
included within the Angthong Marine
National Park. The centre of the island is
an almost uninhabitable tropical jungle,
the highest point of which is 635m above
sea level. While it is more difficult to
penetrate the lush centre of the island, it
is easy to travel around the coast, where
the settlements are joined by a 51km road
which encircles the bulk of the island.
The centre of life on Samui was long
considered to be Nathon. But though
Nathon is still the seat of the regional
government and the centre of the fishing
industry and goods transportation, the
tourism industry has grown and the
commercial centre is shifting towards
Chaweng, due to the north-eastern
location of the airport and a range of
other factors. For most tourists, Chaweng
is an appealing place to stay as it offers
the widest range of facilities and nightlife.
CBS TRAVEL ASIA - THAILAND DESTINATION GUIDE
Lamai and Maenam are somewhat less
crowded and offer a more laid-back vibe,
popular with young backpackers. Bophut
is a more sophisticated choice of resort,
with a distinctly Mediterranean feel to its
sophisticated beach-front village.
Samui has changed dramatically in the
last fifty or so years. When you visit the
island today it is hard to believe that
until late in the 20th Century, Koh Samui
was an isolated and largely self-sufficient
community which has little connection
with mainland Thailand, let alone with
the rest of the world. There were no
roads here until the 1970s and the 15km
trek from one side of the island to the
other took a long and arduous day as one
would have to pass through the central
mountainous jungle.
The climate in Samui is one of tropical
monsoons. There is technically only one
‘dry month’ in the year, which comes
in February when rainfall drops below
60mm though it should be said that
Samui’s climate is generally a little drier
than other destinations such as Phuket
and other places in southern Thailand.
The showers are plentiful, but tend to be
short in duration. Between twenty and
sixty minutes seems to be the length of
time that rain showers will generally last.
It is easy to see why so many people are
so drawn to this beautiful and somehow
magical island destination, whether for
the rest and relaxation of the beaches,
bars and boutiques of the island, or
the waters and natural wonders found
on and off its shores. This island has
much to recommend it, which is why
it can sometimes be rather crowded in
places, especially during the Christmas
and New Year rush. But in spite of the
crowds of the tourist resorts, it is still very
easy to find somewhere for some quiet
tranquillity. At some of the lesser of the
islands off shore and in the mountainous
jungle interior, it is possible to find places
to be entirely alone and to imagine that
Koh Samui is still the remote and almost
unchanged place that it was for much of
its human history.
Intrepid explorers and adventurers will
find the vacation destination of their
dreams here, where comfort meets seat-
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GETTING THERE
The easiest way to get
to Koh Samui is to take
a flight from Bangkok or
from Singapore, Phuket or
Pattaya to the airport found
on the island. Alternatively,
you can take a train,
bus or private car from
elsewhere on the mainland
of Thailand and then a
ferry from the mainland to
the island. If you choose to
take a ferry you should be
prepared to wait for several
hours and should be aware
that ferry times change
frequently.
PLACES TO VISIT
Big Buddha
This massive golden shrine
is the island’s most famous
landmark. The huge Buddha
statue can be seen from several
kilometres away. It is around
twelve metres high.
Angthong National Marine
Park
This is a protected area of the
Gulf of Thailand, containing
42 gorgeous islands and
pristine waters that are ripe
for exploration. Discover thick
jungle, white sand beaches,
lovely lakes and secret coves
amid sparkling oceans.
SAMUI & PHANGAN
Wat Khunaram
See the fascinating sight of
the mummified monk at this
temple. Luong Pordaeng was a
monk who died in 1973 and sits
still, with little sign of decay, in
a glass case at the temple. This
sight offers an intriguing insight
into Buddhist and Thai culture.
Secret Buddha Garden
See a collection of interesting
statues hidden away in the
lush jungle high in Samui’s hills.
There are wonderful views from
this unique and tranquil spot.
Other places to visit:
Namuang Waterfalls, Hin Ta and
Hin Yai Rocks, Wat Plai Laem,
Snake Farm, Aquarium, Samui
Zoo
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