About Ko Samui

Samui Guide

Ko Samui (เกาะสมุย in Thai), also known as Coconut Island, is the third largest island in Thailand (only Phuket and Ko Chang are larger in size). It used to be a backpackers sanctuary, but these days Ko Samui is called a “boutique” island as it has become one of the most popular, sophisticated and fashionable destinations in Thailand. The total area of the island is about 247 km² and it is located in the Gulf of Thailand, 700 km South of Bangkok in the Surat Thani province. There is a 55 km ring road on the island which makes it convenient to travel between all locations. Samui is home to about 40,000 full-time inhabitants, 90% of whom are Buddhist. The palm fringed shoreline and coconut and fruit cultivation of the coastal lowlands rise to a central mountain area, the slopes of which are covered with virgin rainforest. See our Samui Property Guide and Samui Location Guide for more information.

Living

There is a growing expat community on Ko Samui, with many people from Europe and abroad choosing a permanent tropical lifestyle. Thailand is one of the most welcome countries in the world and Ko Samui offers all the comforts of home with the benefits of modern convenience. The island features some excellent locations for shopping, including large european chains and sometimes you may even forget you are living in a Thai environment. Ko Samui continues to develop with new shopping and entertainment centers appearing all the time.

Climate

Ko Samui's weather patterns are slightly different from the rest of Thailand. When most of the country has its rainy season, Samui stays relatively dry. The main dry season (also called high season), is from January to March

  • December - February
    The dry season. Not much rain, and normally a lot of sunshine.
  • March - August
    The weather is still dry in this time, and it is usually very sunny and humid. From May it might rain a little more though.
  • September - November
    Also known as the monsoon season or rainy season. It's still hot and normally there are many sunny days in the monsoon period. The rain showers are often short but strong

Geography

Ko Samui is the third largest island in Thailand and the largest island in an archipelago of over 80 islands which form the Ang Thong National Marine Park. At 25km long and 21km wide, Ko Samui is big enough for exploration by the adventurous and fit, but can be navigated in just a couple of hours by car or motorbike.

Entertainment, Activities and Recreation

Ko Samui offers all sorts of fun and enjoyment, from the leisure of a spa, to the excitement of parasailing. Plenty of beach activities are offered, including diving, sailing, water sports, partying and nightlife. Samui has a well developed infrastructure to cater to visitors, who make up the bulk of the population, and there's a good variety of activities to keep you busy.

Nightlife

Chaweng is the beach on Ko Samui where you will find most bars, discos, clubs and pubs, and this is where you should be if you are want to party. Chaweng Beach Road is 6-7 km long, so venues are often scattered at distances you do not wish to walk. Lamai Beach is a fun, party place packed out with bars and exciting nightlife, and the place doesn’t get quite as crowded as Chaweng.

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