Koh Samui Thailand. Island Information

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	Koh Samui Thailand Located in the gulf of Thailand 80 Kms off the coast of Surat Thani and about 560 Kms south of Bangkok, is the magical island of Koh Samui. The island, Thailand's third largest and measuring 21 kilometers at its widest point and 25 kilometers in maximum length, is one of a group of 80 tropical islands, most of them are deserted. 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. With a land superficy of approx. 280 sq. Km, Koh Samui has a local population of a mere 34,000. Samui was the bohemians paradise - carefree, exotic with an abundance of white sandy beaches and swaying tropical palms, indeed paradise on earth. The lack of accessibility, kept Samui basking in the sunshine away from the rest of the world and especially mainstream tourism. Back then, you could get a room on the beach for as little as 200 Baht. 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. The fish you’ll eat in the many restaurants and hotel dining rooms comes from the surrounding Gulf of Thailand’ waters. The largest and most popular beaches on Samui are Chaweng, Lamai, Bophut and Maenam. For those looking for a quieter place to spend their holiday or business trip, there are another 20 or so other beaches to choose from. As to the activities and if you are not a beach or water sports type, there is still a lot to do and visit (Buddhist temples, boat trips, waterfalls, ...). Koh Samui is the rare gem of the Gulf of Thailand. 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. Getting to Koh Samui & around Located some 80 kilometers off the coast of Surat Thani and about 560 kilometers from Bangkok, the easiest and fastest way to reach Koh Samui is air from Bangkok, Phuket or Singapore with Bangkok Airways, the only airline to serve Koh Samui. The airport must rank as one of the most beautiful in Asia and further. Its tropically planted gardens burst forth with flowering glory and greenery, year round. A 50-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. 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). You then have the freedom to explore the island and its treasures at your own pace. 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). Useful Information Health - Samui has several hospitals of varying quality. By far the best is Samui International Hospital in Chaweng (North Beach Road, Tel. 077 422 272), which can deal with most medical needs. Anyone requiring long term or highly specialised treatment should get to Bangkok as quickly as possible. Immigration - visa extensions are available at the Immigration Office in Nathon. Thanon Thaweeradphakdee, Tel. 077 421 069. Post Offices - There are many sub-post offices all over the island, which are fine for buying stamps and sending postcards. For anything more urgent, go to the main post office in Nathon, which also has a telecom centre for international calls. Seaside Road. Open 8.30am - 430pm Mon - Fri and 9am - 12pm on Saturday and Sunday. Police - There are police boxes or stations in most towns, but many of the officers in them won't be able to speak any English. To overcome the language barrier, see the tourist police in Nathon. Thanon Thaweeradphakdee, Tel. 077 421 281.