Koh Samui travel info
Koh Samui, the Pearl of Thailand's Gulf, is situated about 700 km. south of Bangkok and just 35 km. to the mainland, Surat Thani province. The island is 25 km. at its widest point and 21 km. at its longest and it covers an area size of 247 sq. kilometers. Samui is the third largest island of Kingdom after Phuket and Koh Chang (see Samui Map).
The weather is pleasant all year around: the temperature ranging between 25 and 34 degrees, cooled by the sea breeze. There are three seasons in Samui: hot (June-September), very hot (February-May) and hot and wet (October-January). During this season, it may rain for only an hour or less each day, usually in the late afternoon.
The best period for visit Koh Samui is February-September.
Bangkok Airways guarantees a comfortable flight to Samui: there area available more than fifteen daily flights. Actually Koh Samui is directly connected also to Phuket, Krabi, Pattaya, Chiang Mai, Kuala Lumpur e Penang (Malaysia), Singapore and Honk Kong.
On February 14th, 2008, Thai Airways International launched twice-daily flights between Bangkok and Samui. Check availability, fares and book online your flight Bangkok-Samui (BKK-USM).
There are also available air-condition buses from Bangkok to Samui: the trpi takes about 14 hours, ferry inclusive. Seatran Ferry leaves from Don Sak to Nathon Pier; Raja Ferry to Lipa Noi Pier , located 5 km. south of Nathon.
Both ferries connect Donsak to Koh Samui in about 90 min., from 5:00 a.m. till 6:00 p.m. (departure every two hours).
Another good option is offer by Lomprayah: air-condition buses leave from Bangkok for Chumphon Province, located about 200 km. north of Surat Thani town, and than by high speed catamaran following the route Chumphon - Koh Tao - Koh Phangan - Koh Samui.
The first Samui's tourist arrived on 1971; actually Samui is an Asia's leading holiday destination with more than one million visitors every year from all over the world! Samui is a real tropical paradise: its hinterland is fully characterized by spectacular liemstone and granite hills (Khao Yai is the highest point with 635 meters s.l.m.), fully covered by the evergreen forest and the palm trees..
Chaweng and Lamai are the most popular and developed beaches: Chaweng offers you 5 km. of white sandy beach with a lots of hotels and resorts for every budget, restaurants for all the taste, pubs, discos and a huge range of shopping's options.
Lamai is located 7 km. south of Chaweng and it’s probably the best beach of the island for swimming and watersport. Lamai is a small and traditional Thai style centre, with all the services and comforts you need: its a perfect mix of sun, relaxation and nightlife.
But there is more than its miles of golden beaches: motorbikes, quad, jeeps are for rent to explore the hinterland: there are impressive waterfalls, a range of Buddhist temples to visit, jungle trekking riding an elephant., tours around the island.
Koh Samui is also a centre for water sports as diving, sea kayaking and snorkelling. There are available daily excursions to the nearby islands of Koh Phangan (snorkelling, Full Moon Party), Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan (divers paradise, snorkelling) and Angthong Marine National Park (sea kayaking, snorkelling).
