Koh Samui is one of the most beloved and visited holiday destinations. It is associated with sandy beaches, orchids and pineapples, coconut plantations, warm sun and beautiful beaches.
Koh Samui Location
Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand. It is surrounded by over 60 other islands. To find out Koh Samui on the map, just look at the location of the Kingdom of Thailand.
The island is located in the Pacific Ocean, namely in the Gulf of Thailand. The nearest mainland, Surat Thani, is about 40 km apart.
It can be reached in 1.5 hours by ferry or in 40 minutes by a special high-speed catamaran. It is also possible to fly to the mainland by plane, but it will cost much more.
The distance from Koh Samui to Bangkok is approximately 690 km.
Island Features
Koh Samui is often compared to Phuket, but they are not exactly the same. These islands are located in different places and have different climatic conditions from each other. The Gulf of Thailand is a calm place where there are no high waves, as in Phuket.
The main features of Koh Samui are a harmonious combination of sparsely populated beaches, clear sea, well-preserved ecology and well-developed infrastructure. There are various beaches with white and golden sand, secluded and noisy places. Also on the island you can see the real jungle and ride elephants.
Koh Samui is suitable for those who love the clear sea, the leisurely rhythm of life and the absence of a large number of people.
Climate
The climate on Koh Samui is very hot, tropical with a high level of humidity. The whole year here can be divided into three seasons - dry, hot and rainy.
The dry season lasts from December to February. The air temperature fluctuates around 26 degrees. This time is the most fertile for travelers and residents of the island, since the tourist season is in full swing. During this period, all the hotels on the island are busy, the prices for services are quite high everywhere.
The hot season starts in March and lasts until September. The temperature is 35 degrees until April. Clouds appear in the sky, winds blow and there are occasional showers.
The rainy season lasts from September to November. The weather on Koh Samui at this time is extremely unpredictable. The winds increase, it rains for several days in a row, the sea becomes restless. Despite this, tourists still come to the island, because at this time you can relax inexpensively in a calm, sparsely populated environment.
How to get there
There is an airport on Koh Samui, but it does not receive international flights from distant countries. From Russia you can fly to Bangkok or Phuket. Then you should take a plane of local airlines and continue your way to Koh Samui. This flight will only last one hour. The island can also be reached by plane from Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.
And from the continents of Surat Thani or Nakhon Si Thammarat, it is possible to arrive by transfer by ferry and minivan.
Koh Samui is deservedly famous for its beautiful beaches.
Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. Since the South China Sea belongs to the Pacific Ocean, formally, swimming in the coastal waters of Koh Samui, you will swim in the Pacific Ocean.
Koh - in Thai means island and the name Koh Samui - translates as the island of Koh Samui.
You can get to Koh Samui from Bangkok, you can from nearby visa-free countries for Russians -
Malaysia, Singapore.
It is especially worth noting that the location of Koh Samui practically excludes the possibility of tsunami impact.
Koh Samui beaches
On some of the beaches of Koh Samui, during low tide, the bottom becomes very shallow and swimming becomes problematic. On the popular beaches of Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, ebbs and flows do not interfere with swimming, to find out about other beaches, take a look at the map. Those places that are colored yellowish-brown on the map become very shallow during low tide and expose the land. Beaches where there are many such spots are not very suitable for swimming.
The most popular beaches of Koh Samui are located in the east. These are Chaweng and Lamai beaches - these beaches are famous for their white sand, clear water. In the north, the beaches of Bophut and Maenam are popular. There the sand is yellow, the water is clean, but not transparent.
Beaches in the west Nathon and Bang Kham are not popular. The presence of a port makes the water in these places dirty and muddy.
Map of Koh Samui beaches in Russian
Best beaches in Koh Samui
| Beaches Koh Samui |
Cards | Located- ing | Infrastructure, attractions | Conditions for bathing |
To whom fits |
Hotels |
| Chaweng Chaweng |
|
6 km on the east coast |
The most popular and most developed beach on Koh Samui. Shops, bars, restaurants, market, Thai boxing, transvestite shows, nightclubs | The best places for swimming are central and southern Chaweng - clear water, fine white sand, no waves | On Chaweng Beach, all vacationers can find a place to their liking - the central part is the most party-like, the southern part is more secluded. | Hotels of all categories |
| Lamai Lamai | 4km south of Chaweng |
Entertainment in the center of the beach center with discos, small restaurants |
Very good sea especially in the southern and central part, clear water for swimming one of the best beaches, yellowish sand, steeper entry than in Chaweng, Out of season, strong waves |
For a relaxing romantic getaway, for families with children | Hotels of different categories, prices are lower than in Chaweng | |
| Mae Nam (Menam) Mae Nam |
4 km in the northern part of Koh Samui | Near the village in Chinese style with restaurants, cafes, shops. Boat dock to visit National park. View of Koh Phangan |
Yellow coarse sand, palm trees on the shore. The water is opaque. The entrance is convenient, the depth is rapidly increasing. | For family holidays, for budget holidays. | Bungalow, there are large hotels | |
| Bophut (Bo Phut) Had Bo Phut |
3 km To the north- east, between Maenam Bay and Big Buddha statue |
Good fish restaurants Few shops and nightlife |
the beach is narrow at the very beginning, then the sand is quite wide, light, the water is clean, but rarely transparent, in the eastern part there may be foam, the sand is yellow from fine to coarse. The most suitable for swimming is the central part. The least is the eastern one, where the bottom is muddy and there may be stones. | For a relaxing holiday | Many SPA hotels, five-star hotels | |
| Big Buddha Big Buddha second name Bangrak Bangrak |
2km Northeast Koh Samui east of Bo Put Beach |
Piers to send to Full Moon Party, Thai fish market, big buddha statue. The beach is directly on the course of takeoff and landing of aircraft |
A good entrance is only in the center of the beach, along the edges of the bay the beach is not very convenient for swimming. The water is often cloudy due to the many boats. The coast is strongly exposed at low tides. | Not very suitable for living and swimming Best to visit before heading to nearby islands, or in the evening for restaurants or parties |
Bungalows, hotels in a small number | |
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 side of the mainland of Thailand in the Gulf of Thailand of the South China Sea (in English, the bay is called the Thai Gulf of Tailand), while the popular island of Phuket is located on the left hand (in the west ) and is located in the Andaman Sea. The difference in the location of these islands determines the greater safety of Koh Samui than Phuket in the event of a tsunami. Since Koh Samui is located in a closed 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 away from the main straits, for which historical battles have always been fought, so the history of Koh Samui is a smooth transition from the island of anglers to a very popular resort. It is believed that immigrants 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 immigrants from China. The island is marked on a 17th century Chinese map under the other name Pulo Cornam. The island had a life of its own and was very loosely connected to the Thai mainland. Only in the middle of the 19th century was organized a permanent ferry service to the mainland. At that time, the 35 km separating Koh Samui from Surat THani on the mainland could be covered in a whole day. Now you can fly from Bangkok to Koh Samui in an hour.
During World War II, the island was occupied by Japan.
The ring road on the island was built in 1973, before that, residents traveled on foot or by boat. In the 70s of the last century, the tourist history of the island began. As elsewhere in Thailand, the main skirmishers were the hippies, who formed entire communities on the island.
Then the Thai government realized that the island had serious potential for developing tourism, and began to invest, and in the late 80s an airport was built. Now Koh Samui is the third most popular resort in Thailand after Pattaya and Phuket.
Koh Samui is white sand beaches, coconut palms, amazing rocks, islands and islets, crazy full moon parties, waterfalls and, of course, eternal summer. An important difference between Koh Samui and other resorts in Thailand is the absence of big waves on the sea all year round. And the rainy season on the island is not as pronounced as on the territory of the whole. This is a bounty resort where you can endlessly enjoy gorgeous views of virgin nature, blue sea and white sand.
Koh Samui is the second largest island after the island. Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand of the Pacific Ocean and covers an area of about 230 square kilometers. The distance to the capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is about 700 kilometers. To get from Koh Samui to the nearest point of the mainland, you need to overcome about 40 kilometers along the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
Tours in Koh Samui
Prices for tours for 2 people for 7 nights with departure from Moscow
There is everything for vacationers here, but it is still worth noting that the infrastructure of the island is not as well developed as, for example, on the island, in and in other major resorts in Thailand. If you choose a tour to Koh Samui, you make the right choice. It is worth coming here for couples in search of a romantic getaway, as well as families with children.
Weather
The climate of Koh Samui compares favorably with the climate of other resorts. The rainy season and the hot season are not so pronounced here. It is important to note that holidays on Koh Samui will be comfortable not only in winter, but also in summer. Big waves and muddy seas on Koh Samui are absent all year round. The most rainfall occurs from October to December, but short showers at this time of the year are unlikely to spoil your holiday. The average annual air temperature on Koh Samui is 30-31 °С, water - 27-29 °С.
Hotels
The main feature of the island's hotels is the proximity of buildings or bungalows to the sea. In addition to five-star hotels offering luxurious vacations, here you can even live in a small house without water and electricity.
The latter option is suitable for those who want to plunge into the atmosphere of the untouched civilization of nature as much as possible.
Beaches
The clean beaches of Koh Samui are covered with white sand and surrounded by coconut palms. In total, there are more than 30 beaches along the perimeter of the island. During your vacation, you can visit several beaches to get to know the island better.
The most beautiful beaches are located on the east coast, for example, the famous Chaweng, the largest and busiest beach on the island and the center of tourist life. Tourists with children will love Bangpo Beach. If you are looking for solitude, head to the deserted coast of Talingngam Beach surrounded by cliffs.
Interesting entertainments are available on the tourist beaches of the island: kayaking, jet skiing, banana boating.
On the territory of little-visited beaches, any infrastructure may simply be absent. Only you, the clear sea and the gentle sun above your head!
Attractions
On Koh Samui, there is something for both adults and children. If you do not want to spend your entire vacation on the seashore, you can get acquainted with a large number of interesting sights of the island. It will be comfortable for both elderly tourists and young people. For example, young people flock to the neighboring island of Koh Phangan, where there are huge open-air discos: the Full Moon Party.
Those who went on a well-deserved rest go to the cozy Maenam Beach, where you can admire the stunning sunsets. From Koh Samui, you can go to many islands, for example, to the "turtle" Tao, to go diving or snorkeling.
The very beautiful island of Madsum awaits its guests on snow-white beaches that embrace the virgin tropical jungle. In the heart of Koh Samui, waterfalls, butterfly parks, snake farms are hidden of stunning beauty. Tourists with children will not be disappointed by visiting the tiger and leopard show, an aquarium with tropical fish.
Sightseeing lovers will not miss the famous rocks of Hin Ta and Hin Yai (Grandma and Grandpa), the Big Buddha and many beautiful stupas and temples.
Kitchen
Thai restaurants of the island are located literally at every turn. Wherever you stay during your vacation, you will always find a cozy place where you can enjoy authentic Thai cuisine and a hospitable atmosphere. A large number of cafes, restaurants and bars are located on the coastline, where you can not only eat delicious food, but also admire the views of the Gulf of Thailand. In addition to restaurants offering Thai cuisine, lovers of European, Russian, Indian, Chinese cuisine can also always find an institution of interest to them.
If you want to get a complete understanding of Thai cuisine, we advise you to try some local dishes prepared on a macaroon (a scooter equipped for cooking).
Transport
The public transport of the island is songteo. Songteo is a brightly colored truck equipped to carry passengers. But it is worth noting that during the day, songthaews usually follow a certain established route, while in the evening or at night they work exclusively as an individual taxi. Prices for trips during the day and at night, of course, are very different. To avoid misunderstandings, be sure to check the cost with the driver before the start of your trip, and not at the place of arrival.
The rest of the transport options to the island will invariably consist of a ferry crossing. The nearest town on the mainland is Donsak, from whose pier ferries and boats depart daily to Koh Samui. In an hour and a half, the ferry will take you to the Bounty Island. You can get to Donsak by bus from Bangkok.
Another option on how to get from the capital of Thailand to Donsak is to take a train to Surat Thani, and from there take a regular bus to Donsak.
Souvenirs
On Koh Samui you can buy natural pearls, which will be a great gift for you or your loved ones. Another gift option is natural coconut oil, which is produced on the island.
In fact, only made famous 10 years ago, Koh Samui rivals Phuket as Thailand's most popular beach resort. On the other hand, this ideal island differs from its counterparts quite distinctly, while maintaining the natural simplicity of a tropical secluded place.
Located in the Gulf of Thailand on the opposite side of the southern peninsula from Phuket, Koh Samui is characterized by quiet beaches of powder-fine sand, deserted little bays, calming waters and hinterland of coconut plantations and rice fields. Here is a place where you can unburden yourself of problems and relax under the sun without any worries.
Despite easy access and several daily flights from Bangkok and Phuket and a ferry service from Surat Thani, Koh Samui remains as far away from everything as it has been for centuries.
Koh Samui: photos
Where is Koh Samui located?
Samui is an island in the Gulf of Thailand in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Thai province of Surat Thani. The second largest island in Thailand, after Phuket, its area is 228.7 km², the maximum altitude is 635 m. It is located about 700 km from Bangkok and 40 km from the east coast of Southern Thailand.
Koh Samui on the world map
How to get to Koh Samui
Samui Airport serves flights from various cities in Thailand (Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, Krabi, Chiang Mai), Singapore, Malaysia (Kuala Lumpur) and Hong Kong. The most popular flight is Bangkok-Samui with Thai Airways.
There are no direct flights to Koh Samui from Moscow, St. Petersburg and other Russian cities, and they are unlikely to appear in the near future.
Since there are no direct flights to Koh Samui, most tourists fly on the Russia-Bangkok-Koh Samui route. Docking time can be from 1 hour to several hours.
You can spend the time between flights usefully: go shopping for duty free, buy local SIM cards, eat at a restaurant or even enjoy the sights.
Many flights between Russia and Bangkok also have connections in the Middle East or Europe. In this case, the flight time may increase significantly, but the price of air tickets will be lower.
By plane from Bangkok in 1.5 hours or from Utapao in one hour. Trains depart from Hua Lamphong Railway Station (tel. 0-2220-4334) in Bangkok to Surat Thani Station (tel.: 0 7731 1213). Then by bus you can get to the Don Sak pier, from where ferries depart to the islands.
Buses to Koh Samui leave from Bangkok South Bus Terminal (tel. 0-2435-1199) three times a day; the fare does not include the ferry ticket. The trip takes about 14 hours.
