Koh Samui is what a country. Open left menu Samui

Koh Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand, located 644 km south of Bangkok and 84 km from east coast Southern Thailand.

Short description

Koh Samui has about 40,000 inhabitants, 90% of whom are Buddhist. With an area of ​​247 km², it is the third largest island in Thailand (after Phuket and Koh Chang) and the most large island a local archipelago of over 80 (mostly uninhabited) islets, half of which are included in Ang Thong National Marine Park. Despite its size (25 km long and 21 km wide), you can get around it in just a couple of hours by car.

The island was settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula and southern regions of China in the 15th century. Chinese influence is still felt on Koh Samui, especially in Fishing village in Bophut. There are several Chinese temples on the island; the celebration of the Chinese New Year is one of the most pompous events. In addition to the Chinese, there is a large diaspora of English, French, Germans, Scandinavians and Russians living here. On the island there is the International School of Samui, where children of foreigners and wealthy Thais study.

Until the end of the 20th century, Koh Samui was an isolated island with little in common with mainland Thailand. Until the early 1970s, there weren't even roads here; traveling from one part to the other required a day's trek through mountain-covered jungle. In the early 1970s, the first tourists discovered the island, but for many years after that it continued to receive a minimal number of holidaymakers. Everything began to change with the completion of the construction of the international airport in 1989. Koh Samui is currently the second most popular tourist island in Thailand after Phuket. It has a number of beautiful sandy beaches, coral reefs for snorkeling, attractive lagoons and picturesque waterfalls.

The traditional collection of coconuts and Hevea brasiliensis milk for the production of natural rubber still takes place in the mountainous areas of the island, but, alas, many plantations have succumbed to large-scale tourism development, which is now the main source of income for the island's local population.

Koh Samui currently receives over a million visitors a year. Thatched bungalows on once pristine beaches have been replaced by upscale resorts, luxury hotels, spas, restaurants and bars. The influx of tourists has brought a serious shortage water resources and caused a number of environmental problems.

Map

Look at a larger map

Orientation

Samui Map

Although Koh Samui is the country's third largest island, the entire coastline You can travel around by car or motorcycle for 2.5 hours. The island's main road (Hwy. 4169, also called the "Ring Road") passes through hilly, forested terrain. The island's airport is on the northeastern edge near Bophut. Ferries and speedboats connect to the west coast and Nathon. Nathon is the most big city and the administrative center of the island with banks and a post office, but has no tourist attractions.

The main reason why tourists visit Koh Samui is to enjoy the beaches. The most popular beaches are located in the east (Chaweng and Lamai), where the bulk of hotels, bars and restaurants are concentrated. Northern Beaches and the adjacent villages of Maenam, Bophut, Bang Rak and Choeng Mon are much quieter, the western and southern coasts are relatively deserted.
Beaches

Main beaches of Koh Samui:

On a ferryboat

A cheaper but less convenient option is to fly to Surat Thani with Thai Airways and other low-cost flights Air airlines Asia and Nok Air (departure from Don Mueang Airport), then get to the pier and take the ferry. Or by train/bus from Bangkok to Surat Thani.

From railway station and Surat Thani Airport on Koh Samui A combined service (bus/ferry) is available. It includes a bus ride to Donsak pier and a subsequent ferry ride. Tickets are sold by numerous agents who meet each train at the station and the arrival of an airplane flight at the airport. The cost of the trip should cost around 300 baht.
Use the services of the Seatran Ferry company. See the company's ferry schedule at this link (the first list is departure from the Donsak pier towards Samui, the second is the return.

Alternatively, take the Raja Ferry Port (www.rajaferryport.com). It operates from Donsak Pier to Lipa Noi Pier on the west side of Koh Samui (a few kilometers south of Nathon). This ferry carries cars, you can use it if you decide to travel with your own transport. A songthaew ride from the pier at Lipa Noi to Chaweng or Lamai will cost 100 baht per person. Taxis will cost more, with starting bid prices up to 1,000 baht.

How to travel around the island

Automobile. A popular way to travel around Koh Samui is by rented car. Local branches of international companies, in particular Budget Car Rental, Avis and Hertz have their offices at the airport and popular tourist places ah islands. They all offer a wide range of vehicles, prices start from 1200-1500 baht. Local car rental companies offer cheaper options, but without insurance. Read the contract carefully, in particular the section in case of a traffic accident. The island's mountain roads have many bends and steep climbs, so traveling with a rented car is much safer than traveling with a scooter. A car makes it possible to visit almost everything interesting places islands.

Taxi. Samui taxi drivers are very reluctant to use their meters (unlike their counterparts in the capital Bangkok) and tend to charge foreigners much more than the standard rate. This is especially true for popular beaches and piers where vacationers arrive on the island. Some of them may even show some kind of document with a “fixed” price of 600-800 baht for a 25-30 km trip to Chaweng or Lamai. These prices are not at all true, and as soon as the drivers find out that you know the real prices, they begin to bargain and significantly reduce the cost of the trip.

Songthaew(songtaew). These pickups are the easiest and most economical way to get around the island. They follow Highway 4169 (Loop Road) around the island. You can stop anywhere along the road. Daytime rates are fixed at 40 – 60 baht, but after dark they charge like a taxi (500 baht and more).

Motorbike/ scooter. Motorcycles and scooters can be rented almost anywhere on Samui for approximately 120-700 baht per day depending on engine power and season (a small scooter should cost no more than 200 baht even on New Year's Day).

There is no need to chase the cheap price and it is advisable to use the services of reputable companies so as not to fall for the bait of scammers. The scam involves attributing old scratches and dents to you and charging you money for the “damage caused.” For this reason, carefully inspect the scooter, be sure to include any existing scratches and damages in the contract, and only then use the service.
The motorcycle rental shop will most likely want you to leave your passport as a deposit. This is common practice in Thailand, but leaving your passport as collateral is not advisable. Your passport may be kept as “collateral” until you pay for the “damage caused.” For this reason, avoid using your scooter rental on your last day of departure to allow time to resolve any issues that may arise. If the claims are clearly illegal and the price asked for the damage is unreasonable or it occurred before you rented the vehicle, call the tourist police.

Please note that motorcycles and scooters are the most dangerous types of transport. Tourists are killed and injured in road accidents every year. However, they are the most popular vehicle for trips around the island. Remember that the fine for driving without a helmet is 500 baht.

Bicycles. Bicycles for rent are very cheap, the price should not exceed more than 200 baht per day.

What to see

Besides lying on the beach with a cold beer in hand, take the opportunity to see the following interesting places.

Waterfalls. Koh Samui has quite a few waterfalls, but only two of them are easily accessible. These are Hin Lad and Na Muang. The best time to visit any waterfall is during or just after the monsoon season. At other times there is little water and it is hardly worth visiting the waterfalls.

Hin Lad(Hin Lad) is located about three kilometers from the city of Nathon. It's easy to navigate using road signs. From the road, a 2 km long path leads to the waterfall; you can swim in the pond at its foot.

Na Muang(Na Muang) consists of two waterfalls - Na Muang 1 and Na Muang 2. The first is actually located right next to the road (the main ring road of the island), not far from the Wat Khunaram temple. The waterfall itself is small (height 18 m), but looks good in the photographs. To enter the water and swim in its reservoir, you need to climb over slippery huge stones. Then the trail stretches to the second waterfall (Na Muang 2), you will have to walk for about 30 minutes. The water flow of the second waterfall flows in several cascades from a height of about 79 m.

Many tour operators on the island offer excursions to the Na Muang waterfalls. You can take advantage of the company's tour Ung Safari. In addition to visiting both waterfalls, get the opportunity to go down the jungle water slides (two slides 20m and 70m long), then zip lines through the jungle (4 zip lines), and before returning, taste Thai food and fruits at Samui's largest fruit market. Details of the tour follow this link. There is also the option of visiting the waterfalls riding on elephants; anyone can help organize them. tourist agency in the city.

Old House. This Chinese-style house, dating back almost 200 years, represents the cultural identity of Samui. The current owner has opened the house to visitors to the island.
Wat Khunaram. Here lies the body of monk Loung Pordaeng, mummified in 1983. Believers lay flowers and incense at the glass sarcophagus. Wat Khunaram is located on Highway 4169 (Ring Road) approximately six kilometers west of Lamai Beach.

Hin Ta(Hin Ta) and Hin Yai (Hin Yai). The names translate as grandfather and grandmother. This is the most popular attraction on Koh Samui. The strange-looking rocks bear a striking resemblance to male and female genital organs. Located approximately two kilometers south of Lamai Beach.

Aquarium and Tiger Zoo(Samui Aquarium and Tiger Zoo) The zoo is represented by Bengal tigers, leopards and lions, the aquarium has sharks, turtles, and tropical fish of the Gulf of Thailand. Judging by the reviews of visitors, the Aquarium and Tiger Zoo did not impress many. Open daily from 09:00 to 18:00, located on Ban Harn beach in the south of the island, website www.samuiaquariumandtigerzoo.com

Wat Phra Yai Temple(Wat Phra Yai, sometimes called Big Buddha Temple) is the location of Koh Samui's most important religious shrine - the Big Buddha statue. The statue and temple are located in Bang Rak.

Laem Sor Pagoda. This pagoda is another important shrine of the island. Located in the very south of the island, off road 4170 between the villages of Ban Tale and Ban Pang Ka. Follow the road to the "Waikiki Bungalows" sign.

Butterfly Garden and Insect Museum(Samui Butterful Garden/Insect Museum) has a collection of various butterflies, visitors can visit the insect museum and see many rare beetles and beehives. There is an observation deck nearby. Located in Taling Ngam.

Monkey Theater(Samui Monkey Theatre). This is some kind of menagerie under open air on the main road near Bophut beach. You can see an impressive demonstration of monkeys collecting coconuts. Open seven days a week from 10:30 to 17:30.

Paradise Park Farm(Paradise Park Farm). Visitors will have the opportunity to feed birds and animals, learn about local flora and fauna, dine at the restaurant, relax in the pool overlooking the valley, relax in the spa, and climb to the observation deck overlooking the islands of Ang Thong National Marine Park. Located near Taling Ngam beach, park website http://paradiseparkfarm.net

Snake farm (Snake Farm). Most of Thailand's tourist spots feature snake shows, and Koh Samui is no exception. The snake farm is located on the southern outskirts of Phangka, a small village near Thong Krut Bay. Snake shows twice a day: 11:00 and 14:00. The prelude is an exhibition cockfight, followed by a scorpion show. Here you can also watch crocodiles, lizards, monitor lizards, and pythons. Website http://samuisnakefarm.com

Rum distillery(Magic Alambic Rum Distillery). The French-Thai company Magic Alambic uses only natural ingredients to produce rum on the island of Koh Samui. The company offers tours that include free tasting of Thai rum. For some reason, the owners of the enterprise do not demonstrate the real processes of production and distillation of rum on their equipment, but show it all on a recorded video. So you won’t actually see the enterprise itself, but you can try the types of rum produced here. Once you've tried it, naturally you'll want to buy it. The plant is located at south coast islands, address: 44/5 Moo 3 T. Namuang, Koh Samui, website www.rhumdistillerie.com

Bullfighting. Bullfights are held on the island from time to time. Unlike the bloody battles in Spain, the Thai version of the competition is much more humane. The animals butt each other with their horns, and the loser simply runs away to compete another day. Usually two fights, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

There are several stadiums on Koh Samui, particularly in Ban Makham, Ban Saket and Nathon. It's not always possible to predict when a bullfight will take place, but there are usually advertisements around the island's main ring road before each event (or check with your hotel manager). Bullfights are a colorful and spectacular event, with rituals and prayers, the animals are decorated with ribbons and their horns are decorated with patterns. The cost for men is around 100 baht, women attend for free. The men accompany the spectacle with a fair amount of alcohol and bets on the winner.

Things to do

The most interesting Samui places can be seen on a day trip around the island. Such trips, in particular, are offered by the company Ung Safari. The most popular excursion is Full Day Jungle Safari Tours (from 09:00 am to 17:30). It includes, in particular:

Visit to Hin Ta and Hin Yai;
watching monkeys collect coconuts;
elephant ride;
swimming in a waterfall;
descent in the jungle on 2 water slides, length 20 m. and 70 m.;
off-road trip to the mountains;
visiting observation platforms in the mountains;
visit to the Buddha Garden;
visiting the Wat Khunaram temple, which houses a mummified monk;
traditional Thai lunch;
visiting the Buddha statue in Bang Rak.

Diving. The best time of year for diving in the Koh Samui area is from June to August, but scuba diving is practically practiced here all year round(unfavorable period – October and November). Most diving tours take place in the nearby Ang Thong and Koh Tao National Marine Park as visibility around Koh Samui's sandy beaches is, with few exceptions, poor. Divers are attracted by huge underwater boulders, coral gardens, the opportunity to see whale sharks, stingrays, sea turtles, schools of barracudas. Most diving centers are located in Phang Nga Bay (which has the most beautiful scenery of sea caves in Thailand), this trip is the most interesting option.

Kayak rentals are offered at all popular beaches for about 100 baht per hour.

Surfers The island is unlikely to please, since its beaches do not have waves for practicing this sport. Due to the lack of waves, stand-up paddling has become popular, lessons and equipment rentals are available in Chaweng Ang Thong National Marine Park

Lamai Beach has several clubs, but they are all aimed at lower income visitors compared to Chaweng. Bophut has a small strip of restaurants and bars. After Bophut, nightlife options are significantly reduced and revolve around individual resorts and bungalows.

Climate and best time visits

Samui's weather is different from the rest of Thailand. In April-September, which is the rainy season for most of the country, the island is still quite dry, but from October to December the island receives a lot of rainfall, while other parts of the country are already experiencing dry weather. October, November and the first half of December are the wettest months. The driest season is from January to March.

Peak tourist season from mid-December to mid-January. The best weather occurs from January to April, after which it becomes very hot, with only the occasional tropical storm providing short-term relief. During this period, the cost of a holiday can be 50% of the price during the influx of tourists. July and August usually see a short-term increase in the number of holidaymakers, but during these months there is often rainfall in the western part of the island. a large number of precipitation.

Koh Samui is an island located in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the provinces of Thailand. Located in the southeastern part of the country. It is considered the most popular after Phuket tourist center Therefore, thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Samui every year.

Koh Samui is a fairly large island with an area of ​​almost 230 square meters. km. It is located 40 km from the southern part of mainland Thailand and is extremely rich in natural and cultural attractions.

Tourists are absolutely delighted with snow-white beaches, coral reefs, ancient Buddhist temples, good tourism infrastructure and quite affordable prices. The island of Koh Samui is especially popular among Russians.

Geography

There are about 60 small islands around Samui that are part of the national marine park. All of them are uninhabited, overgrown with jungle. They try to keep them intact, only showing the curiosity to tourists as carefully as possible.

The total area of ​​Koh Samui is 228.7 km². The central part is mountainous and also overgrown with jungle, and lowlands are located on the coast. A road runs along the coast, connecting beaches, settlements and towns in a circle.

On the southwestern coast of Koh Samui is the capital of the island, Nathon. It is also the main port, through which tourists enter the island and local fish catch is exported. The island administration, shops, etc. are located here.

Climate

Koh Samui Island in Thailand is one of the best places in the world for beach holiday. It has amazing sand, sea, scenery and a great climate. The island has a lot of sun and warmth, but even in the rain there are plenty of people who like to relax on Koh Samui.

Conventionally, the entire year on the island can be divided into the Dry Season and the Rainy Season. The dry or high season starts from mid-December and ends at the end of March. At this time, the air temperature is about +30C, and the sea water is about +28C.

Light rains begin in April and continue throughout the summer. But prices drop significantly, the number of tourists decreases, so for economical holiday This time is perfect. The air temperature rises by several degrees during the day.

From August to November, strong monsoons begin, rain pours in buckets, and the daytime air temperature fluctuates around +27C. You can no longer sunbathe on the beach, but there are tourists who like to philosophize in the hotel at this time. In December the rain stops.

Story

Historians believe that on the island Samui first settlers appeared in the 6th century AD. These were fishermen from Malaysia and China. In the 17th century, during the Chinese Ming Dynasty, it was included on Chinese geographical maps.

The exact origin of the name “Samui” is unknown; there is a version that it came from the Chinese word “Saboey”, translated into Russian as “Shelter”. Indeed, for a long time the islanders lived autonomously from the whole world.

During WW2 Samui was occupied by the Japanese. At the end of the war, the island again lived autonomously for a long time, almost independently from Thailand. The first roads were built here only in the 70s.

And in the 80s of the 20th century, tourists from all over the world discovered the delights of Thailand in general, and Koh Samui in particular. Today, 45 thousand indigenous people live here; their main income comes from tourism, the collection of coconuts and rubber.

About 10 years ago, Samui received the status of an independent city, i.e. continues to be an autonomous entity. The presence of tourists on the island not only brings serious money, but also gives rise to conflicts due to damage to the once untouched nature.

Transport

1. International airport

This is the only airport on Samui, with the help of which the island maintains air communication with the outside world through air transportation of passengers and their cargo. It was built in the late 80s of the last century and is located next to Chaweng Beach.

Samui Airport was built by Bangkok Airways, which for a long time was the only air carrier on the island. Today the second air carrier, Airways International, appeared. Flights fly to Bangkok, Hong Kong, Singapore, etc.

2. Ferry service

The second way to get to or from the island to mainland Thailand is to take a ferry or high-speed catamaran. Catamarans cover a distance of 40 km in 40 minutes, and ferries - in an hour and a half.

3. Island transport

The length of the island ring road is just over 50 km. It is completely paved, has a concrete surface and two lanes - one in each direction. Popular local road transport is songthaew, taximeters and motorcycle taxis.

Beaches

The best beaches on Koh Samui are Lamai, Maenam, Chaweng. They successfully combine natural beauty and convenience, as well as the presence of beach infrastructure, hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for shopping. There are more than 30 beaches on the island.

An excellent beach for those who relax without children and do not like large crowds of people. It is located in the north of Samui, has dense buildings (hotels, restaurants, bars) and high-quality beach infrastructure. There is a road nearby.

Cons of Bang Po: muddy bottom with many large stones and muddy water. Children will feel uncomfortable on the beach. There is coarse yellow sand and not too much entertainment; lovers of nightlife will find it a bit boring here.

Ban Tai

This place was chosen by parents with small children. There is a gentle shore and a clear entrance to the shallow sea. There are many palm groves providing natural shade. There is a restaurant and the Mimosa Hotel, where you can relax and spend the night.

A calm beach, where annoying sellers with goods or drunken youth with blaring music rarely come, there are practically no parties. This is a great place to relax family vacation is located in the north of Koh Samui.

Mae Nam

Another family beach, where you can rent inexpensive housing and stay for a few days. After sunset, all the beach inhabitants move to local bars, but the stormy night life is practically absent here.

There are many palm trees on May Nam, saving vacationers from the hot sun. The sand here is yellow and soft, the sea is quite deep, but there are shallow places for kids. Young people don't stop here because... The mothers look at her with suspicion.

Chaweng Beach

One of the most beautiful and crowded beaches on Koh Samui. There is excellent infrastructure and a large number of hotels and resorts to suit every taste and budget. Tourists on the beach can find everything they need for life and a comfortable holiday.

In the center of Chaweng the sea is rapidly gaining depth. The sand is white and soft, a clean entrance to the water. Vacationers are offered a variety of options to choose from water activities. Enjoy stunning sea views as well as good food restaurants and bars.

This is the second most popular beach on Koh Samui. It is very long, so it is divided into three parts. Its central part is perhaps the best. Besides natural beauty, there is a Tesco hypermarket here.

One local resident served in this Buddhist temple almost his entire life and achieved holiness. When he died, his body did not rot and decompose, but immediately became mummified. The islanders are sure that this is a consequence of his holy life.

Since then, for many years, the mummy of this saint has been located near the Kunaram temple, and every believer or tourist can examine it and see the imperishable relics. Here you can get a wrist bracelet with special protection.

This temple was erected quite recently using donations. Plai Laem is the most beautiful and largest Buddhist attraction on Samui. The architecture of the temple combines the styles of China, India and Thailand.

The three styles symbolize the three branches of Buddhism. IN South-East Asia there are no heresies and sectarians, everyone can adhere to the Buddhism that he likes. In the center of the temple there is a statue of the Hindu deity Guanyin, the embodiment of mercy.

In the northwest, near the island of Koh Samui, you can see an archipelago in the sea, consisting of many microscopic islands. This is a national marine park, which is under state protection, requiring special environmental cleanliness to be maintained here.

Near the archipelago is amazing pure water, which you can safely drink from your palms. The picturesqueness of the islands is so incredible that it is impossible to take your eyes off. Not only tourists come here, artists and directors cannot leave here.

In the center of Koh Samui, in the mountains covered with jungle, you can see a unique creation of human hands. In the middle of the 20th century, an old man lived here; after 70 years, he suddenly decided to create a large sculpture garden near his house.

These are sculptures of Buddha, other mythical deities, real and fantastic animals and birds, snakes and frogs, created by him from stone with his own hands. After the sculptor's death, he was buried with his wife in the same garden.

The island of Koh Samui is home to many insects: beautiful and disgusting to the human eye. To admire them or be horrified by them, you can go to the butterfly garden or the insect museum located on east coast islands.

Here you will learn a lot about tropical insects and will definitely become interested in them. And as a gift you will be invited to a local observation deck to enjoy the views of the beaches of this coast of Koh Samui. Tourists left a lot of positive reviews about this place.

Next to the butterfly garden is the local zoo. It is small in size, but it contains real Bengal tigers, primates and unique tropical birds. Your children will absolutely love visiting this zoo.

Tigers give performances to visitors every day, but children will find it much more interesting to play with little tiger cubs and feed them milk from a bottle with a nipple. A visit to the zoo always brings special delight to children.

This natural attraction is located in the middle of the island in the mountains, in the middle of the jungle. There, one local river gives two beautiful waterfalls, and each of them creates several cascades. The safari park of the same name is located nearby.

After looking at the splendor of the stream of water falling from the rocks, you can go to the nearby elephant farm to ride elephants, watch the show of these natural giants, etc.

This is a significant center of religious and social life of the island for Thais. In fact, in front of us is a local cathedral. Buddhist rituals are regularly held here, festivals, holidays, bazaars, weddings and funerals are organized.

Lamai Temple is a place where foreigners must behave with emphatic respect towards the faithful. Local monks will tell tourists a lot of interesting things about the history of Samui. Next to the temple there is a pond with fish, children are allowed to feed them.

This is a huge zoo located in the center of the small island of Khao Pom, off the coast of Koh Samui. It is very similar to the biblical paradise, because... here, among beautiful trees and flowers, a person can walk next to wild animals.

These animals have long been fed with all sorts of delicacies, and they shamelessly beg people for more, but do not show aggression. Paradise Park is a wonderful natural attraction of Samui for a family holiday.

Entertainment

1. SPA salons These are medical procedures, their goal is to improve the health of the patient’s body. For this, various medicinal and cosmetic preparations, massage, therapeutic diet, etc. are used. There are a large number of centers on Samui where spa treatments are performed.
2. Elephant and horse riding. This is one of the main entertainments on Koh Samui, which both adults and children adore. Even more interesting is to communicate with a little elephant. There are also horse farms on the island, as well as horses that can give anyone a ride.
3. Diving. The Gulf of Thailand is a great place to learn diving; many people there turn into real professionals. There is a beautiful underwater world here, just a delight and a sight for sore eyes.
4. Thai massage. This is truly a fabulous massage that can completely relax your body. Many people come to Thailand just for this pleasure. Only here you can find a real and very inexpensive Thai massage.
5. Excursions. To get to know this island better, excursions around Koh Samui will be a great help. You can create a route yourself, ask for help from a professional guide or a local resident. Get an unforgettable experience.
6. Thai boxing. Today in Russia there are many fans of various martial arts, but Thai boxing is very special if you watch it in its homeland in Thailand or become a Thai boxer yourself. A very exciting sport.
7. Wakeboarding. One of the most popular types water sports in Thailand in general and Samui in particular. There are many sports camps on the island where you can get into wakeboarding.
8. Water parks. This is in demand family fun, which also occurs on Koh Samui. The local water park has a variety of roller coasters and other types of water activities, so you can spend the whole day here and not notice how time flies.
9. Nightlife on the island. Young people from all over the world flock to the island's clubs and bars at night. All this is available in abundance on Koh Samui. Most of these establishments are located on local beaches, so some vacationers get stuck on them for several days.
10. Golf. This sport is quite popular in Koh Samui. There are 18-hole golf courses, and there are smaller ones for mini-golf, football golf, etc. On vacation, such entertainment is a joy for both beginners and professionals.

Video tour of Koh Samui

Koh Samui - an island owned by the state of Thailand. If you look at the map of Thailand, the island of Koh Samui is located on the right hand of the mainland of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand South China Sea(in English the bay is called the Thai Gulf of Thailand), while the popular island of Phuket is located on the left hand (to the west) and is located in the Andaman Sea. The difference in the location of these islands makes Koh Samui safer than Phuket in the event of a tsunami. Since Samui is located in an enclosed sea, where the possibility of a large wave is extremely small.

History of Koh Samui

For a long time, Koh Samui was an unremarkable island. Koh Samui lies far from the main straits, for which historical battles have always been fought, so the history of Koh Samui is a smooth transition from an island of fishermen to a very popular resort. It is believed that people from the Malay Peninsula settled it one and a half thousand years ago; it is obvious that the island of Koh Samui was also inhabited by people from China. The island is marked on Chinese map 17th century under another name Pulo Cornam. The island lived a life of its own and was very loosely connected to the Thai mainland. It was only in the mid-19th century that a permanent ferry service was established with the mainland. At that time, the 35 km separating Samui from Surat THani on the mainland took a whole day to cover. Now you can fly from Bangkok to Samui in an hour.

During World War II the island was occupied by Japan
The island's ring road was built in 1973; before that, residents traveled on foot or by boat. The tourist history of the island began in the 70s of the last century. As elsewhere in Thailand, the main shooters were hippies, who formed entire communes on the island.
Then the Thai government realized that the island had serious potential for tourism development and began investing, and an airport was built in the late 1980s. Now Samui is the third most popular resort in Thailand after Pattaya and Phuket.

Koh Samui Island (in some sources - Samui, in English-language publications - Ko Samui, Thai version - เกาะสมุย) is a small resort island located in the Gulf of Thailand in the Pacific Ocean and approximately 35 kilometers east of the coast of the middle part of the Malacca Peninsula (Surat Thani region). . At the moment, there are two versions of the origin of the name of the island. According to one of them, the island got its name from local fishermen in honor of the ritual tree “Mui”, according to another, the Chinese gave the name to the island from their hieroglyph “Saboey”, which means “safe shelter”.

Most likely, the island of Koh Samui is volcanic-tectonic in origin, that is, formed as a result of earthquakes, thus breaking away from the Malacca Peninsula. Koh Samui, along with more than six dozen other islands and islets, is part of the Chumphon archipelago. The shape of the island, slightly elongated from south to north, very much resembles a knight's shield. The island's topography is flat off the coast with gently sloping shores and numerous sandy beaches. Closer to the central part, the altitude of the relief increases; here there are low mountains with an average height of 600 meters. Highest point Koh Samui is Khaopom Peak (635 meters above sea level).

Archaeologists cannot say exactly when people came to the island, but most likely it happened about 15 centuries ago. The first settled inhabitants of Samui were fishermen from the Malacca Peninsula, and later the Chinese also appeared here. The first mention of the island of Koh Samui appears in 1687, when it was marked on shipping charts under the name Pulo Cornam. For centuries, the island was virtually isolated from the Thai mainland. The established regularity of life for the islanders was disrupted during the Second World War, when it was occupied by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945. Until the end of the last century, the island was cut off from civilization, and its inhabitants were engaged in fishing and growing coconuts. Around 70-6 of the last century, the Thai government began to implement a program for the development of tourism in the country, which included Samui. As part of the program, car roads and other tourist infrastructure facilities, which in a short time allowed the island to become, along with, one of their centers tourism industry Thailand.

At the moment, the island of Koh Samui is administratively part of the province of Surat Thani, being an integral territorial component of the Kingdom of Thailand.

The monetary unit that is currently in circulation on the island of Koh Samui, as well as in the rest of Thailand, is the Thai baht (THB, code 764), consisting of 100 satangs. In addition to the baht, euros and US dollars, as well as other convertible currencies, are also readily accepted as means of payment almost everywhere.

The population that permanently resides on Koh Samui is approximately 45 thousand people. Ethnically, most of them are Thais, however, along with them, it is worth highlighting a significant number of Malays, Chinese and Vietnamese. The official language on the island is Thai, but in everyday life here you can hear about ten different languages ​​and dialects.

The actual administrative and business center of Koh Samui is the port city of Nathon (Nathon), populated by approximately 20 thousand inhabitants and located in the northeast of the island.

Until recently, the main activity of the local population was fishing and growing coconuts, but in Lately The tourism industry has come to the fore.

The bulk of tourists arrive to Koh Samui by air. The island currently operates international Airport Samui, which is located north two kilometers from the village of Chaweng, a suburb of Nathon. The island's airport was built by Bangkok Airways in 1989. Samui Airport is one of the most unusual in the world, as it has no interior except a small souvenir shop. It is currently one of the leading airports in Thailand, serving over a million passengers a year. You can also get to Koh Samui by sea ​​view transport, which include high-speed ferries that regularly run between the island and the port of Surat Thani. With the help of such ferries, you can get from Samui and other neighboring resort islands Chumphon archipelago.

Accommodation for numerous tourists arriving on Koh Samui is carried out mainly in fashionable hotels on the island, which are located along its entire coast. According to experts, in given time on the island there are about 30 hotels and hotel complexes with the highest level of service, as well as about 100 with an average level of service. Among them, it is worth highlighting the complexes Imperial Samui, Muang Samui Villas & Suites, The Briza Beach Resort& Spa, W Retreat Koh Samui and others.

The climate on Koh Samui is classified as tropical monsoon, according to the international Köppen climate classification. The driest month on the island is February, when the total amount of rain falling on the island does not exceed 60 millimeters. The greatest amount of precipitation in the form of heavy but short-lived rains, as a rule, falls between October and November, and their absolute amount is approximately 2000 millimeters throughout the year. Warm and humid weather prevails on the island for most of the year, with no significant seasonal variations. The average temperature in these places generally ranges from +25 to +32 degrees.

Along the entire coast of Koh Samui there are a huge number of the most beautiful beaches, which are formed in resort areas and are designated by the names of the regions of the island. Among them, several leading and world-famous beaches stand out.

Chaweng Beach, located in the east of the island, is distinguished by a six-kilometer strip of white sand and a picturesque bay, smoothly turning into each other. In the depths of the beach area there are a large number of bungalows and hotels. The bulk of entertainment venues, clubs, bars and restaurants are concentrated here.

Lamai Beach is the second largest beach area on Koh Samui. The area has beautiful coastal waters and clean White sand with granite boulders complementing the landscape. There are also many hotels and restaurants here. The main distinguishing feature of this beach is its special attraction - these are granite rocks called “Grandmother” and “Grandfather”.

Nathon Beach is located on the coast in an area adjacent to the actual administrative center islands. The convenience of this beach complex for tourists lies in its fast transport links with the mainland and other adjacent islands. This is where most of the shops are located along the internal road leading to the southern tourist complexes.

Bophut Beach is located in the northeast of Samui, stretching for more than three kilometers. A small pier with a pier has been built here, where cruise ships moor. neighboring islands boats. Along the entire beach there are several dozen cozy cafes, bars and restaurants.

Taling Ngam Beach is located in the western part of Koh Samui. There are only a few hotels on Taling Ngam, which are located at a fairly large distance from each other. The area along Taling Ngam is very picturesque, with many coconut plantations. Beach line short, fringed with palm trees, and the sea depth is shallow. Nearby is the Nara Cha Roen Suk Temple and the gate at the southern end of the road to the beach.

Maenam Beach is more than four kilometers long and is located in the north of Koh Samui. Here, in the 70-80s of the last century, the first fashionable hotels of the island began to be built. As part of this beach complex there is a Chinese village where there are many cafes and restaurants. There is also a diving club where local companies rent out diving and snorkeling equipment.

Big Buddha Beach is located almost near the island’s airport; there are about three dozen hotels of different levels of service in its area.

Hua Thanon Beach is located south of the Lamai beach complex. Within its boundaries is the fishing village of Hua Thanon, which has several restaurants, as well as several local companies that organize fishing trips and water trips to nearby islands for visiting tourists.

Bang Po Beach stretches along the coast of the island for about 4 kilometers. It is located on the northwestern peninsula and is sandwiched between the Maenam and Nathon (Nathon) beach complexes. Here in the coastal waters at shallow depths there are coral reefs that attract a huge number of divers.

Choeng Mon Beach is located on the northeastern peninsula east of the Big Buddha beach complex. Its length along the coast is about one kilometer. Only large hotels and hotel complexes with the highest level of service. On the beach, its administration provides a variety of water sports for vacationers.

Bang Kao Beach is located in the south of Koh Samui. It is worth noting that this is the most poorly developed part of the island in terms of tourism. However, the beach, stretching for about five kilometers along the coast, is surrounded by abundant picturesque tropical vegetation, and in the coastal waters not far from the shore and at shallow depths there is a massive coral reef, so there are always a lot of divers here.

Lipa Noi Beach is located south of Nathon. There are several cozy cafes, restaurants and shops here. This beach complex is characterized by the relative shallowness of the sea, even at a considerable distance from the coast, which attracts tourists with children.

Koh Samui is unusually rich in local attractions, among which the famous Big Buddha Temple (Phra Yai) stands out. It houses a twelve-meter tall golden statue of Buddha. In addition, tourists who are lovers of sights and architecture are presented with the Buddhist reserve Wat Kunaram, the Magic Garden of Buddhas, the National Marine Reserve, which unites about 60 islands and reefs of the archipelago, the Butterfly Garden, and a safari park. Wat Khunaram is the most famous temple on the island, housing the mummy of the monk Luang Pho Deng. The monk's mummy is displayed in a sitting position in a glass box, and Buddhist believers sacrifice incense and flowers to it. The Koh Samui Aquarium exhibits a huge collection of amazing tropical fish, as well as several dozen species of other marine animals (turtles, lizards, snakes, starfish). At the island's tiger zoo, tourists can see the leopards and Bengal tigers kept there.

The central part of Koh Samui is a pristine impenetrable jungle almost untouched by man in the form of vast tropical forests. Despite the fact that endemic species practically do not grow on the island, it is still worth noting several rare woody and climbing plants, which are considered the national treasure of the island. Animal world Samui is also quite diverse, and its most prominent representatives are primates, of which there are about 10 species. Several trekking routes are currently laid deep into the island, which lead tourists to the jungle at the foot of the mountains and to the main natural attractions of Samui, two the most beautiful waterfalls: Namuang and Khid Lad.

In addition to Phuket, another well-known Thai resort is the island of Koh Samui. Its territorial length is only 25 km in length and 21 km in width, but this does not prevent many of our compatriots from annually booking last-minute trips to Samui and having a full rest there. Samui is located only 700 km from the capital of Thailand, so tourists get there very quickly. You can fly there either from Bangkok (you will spend about an hour on the way) or from Pattaya (the route will take no more than 40 minutes). If you are determined to go on holiday to Koh Samui, then you definitely need to make allowances for the climatic features of this region. For example, it is not recommended to go to this island between October and December, because it often rains heavily and the sea is stormy from time to time. The most optimal time to visit this resort is considered to be from January to February, as well as from the second half of July to August.

History of the resort
For the first time (about 1,500 years ago), the island was discovered by local sailors and founded their settlement on it, but official confirmation of the existence of Samui appeared only 1,000 years later - representatives of the Chinese Ming dynasty included it on their navigation maps. It is worth noting that Samui was actively used by China and Thailand as a trading port. This is evidenced by many historical facts, as well as an abundance of sunken Chinese ships with various cargoes of ceramic products on board. During World War II, the city survived occupation by Japanese troops. The island's current population is 35,000 people. Many people book tours to Koh Samui in order not only to relax, but also to get acquainted with the traditions and culture of the Chao Samui people - this is what the indigenous inhabitants of this island call themselves.

Beaches
The most suitable part of the island for recreation is the eastern part. That's where they are best hotels in Samui. Of course, there are islands in the West too good beaches with developed infrastructure, but there are noticeably fewer of them, because the coast there is more rocky. If you are visiting the island for the first time, be sure to visit the beach complexes of Lamai and Chaweng. Here you can see the sunrise in all its glory and capture it on camera. South part Lamai Beach welcomes tourists with two cliffs, Hanai and Hinta (Grandmother and Grandfather). It is here that you can meet not only vacationers from all over the world, but also local residents who also like to spend their leisure time here. No less famous beaches Mae Nam, Bo Phut, and Big Buddha Beach are considered on the island.

Hotel complexes
Hotels in Koh Samui have only three floors. Why? - you ask. It's very simple - more than 3.5 million palm trees grow on this island, which are considered a local treasure. Absolutely everything points to this. For example, Samui laws do not allow builders to construct a building taller than the size of a palm tree. That is why you will not find skyscrapers or large hotel complexes on the island. All hotels, bungalows and villas on the island are equipped with everything necessary for a comfortable stay for tourists. Absolutely every hotel complex has a restaurant or cafe offering dishes national cuisine, so you definitely won’t have to go hungry. It is worth noting that most restaurants are open until 10 pm (these are the rules on the island), but if you wish, you can find establishments with 24-hour service.

Entertainment and leisure
​Resorts and prices in Koh Samui are ideal for 110% fun and relaxation. Tourists have access to both a regular holiday, which involves lying on the beach, and active pastime provided by various types of water transport. For example, diving enthusiasts will definitely like this resort complex, because the underwater world of Samui is very multifaceted and diverse. Here you will find virgin coral reefs, cliffs, grottoes, etc.