Introduction to Samui

Koh Samui, situated off the east coast in the Gulf of Thailand, is the largest inhabited area in an archipelago of more than 80 islands. It is the third largest island in the kingdom, after Phuket and Koh Chang, and has a surface area of about 250 square kilometres. The island is part of Suratthani province and has a population of around 50,000.

This beautiful island is lined with coconut palms and has numerous white sandy beaches, although modern western facilities and services are for the main restricted to the two main beach resorts of Chaweng and Lamai. The larger of the two resorts, Chaeweng, offers numerous high quality accommodation and nightlife options, while Lamai is more laid back and less developed.

The island first became known to backpackers at the beginning of the 1970’s, when there were only huts without electricity and tap water, and a population which made a living through fishing and working on coconut plantations. To this day Samui still sends more than two million coconuts a month to Bangkok.

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