usm_01 In just two decades Koh Samui has blossomed into one of Asia’s leading holiday destinations. Every year more and more visitors are drawn to marvel at its beauty and relax in its sun-drenched embrace. One trip will tell you why – Samui is a magical place, the original island paradise.

But there’s a lot more to Samui than its miles of golden beaches. Jeeps, motorbikes and bicycles are for hire to explore its rugged interior. There are treks to do and soothing massages and spa treatments to enjoy. Three spectacular waterfalls await you on Samui – to be visited on foot or on the back of an elephant. Then there are famous “Grandfather and Grandmother” phallic rocks, and a dizzying range of temples and animal sanctuaries to see.

Samui is also a center for watersports, and diving, snorkeling and sea canoeing adventures set off from the main beaches every day. Some go to the nearby islands of Ang Thong Marine National Park – the unspoiled Eden which inspired the Leonardo DiCaprio movie The Beach.

And, when the sun sinks beneath the clear horizon, downtown Samui wakes up wit a dazzling dining and nightlife scene all on its own!

History

Samui's ancient history is shrouded in mystery . Influences can be found from as far afield as India and the ancient Khmer empire of what is now Cambodia . In the mid -19 th century a wave of Chinese farmers arrived on the island from Hainan province, and settled at the village of Hua Thanon . Their colorful festivals are still enthusiastically practiced.

When the first western travelers fell under Samui's spell in the 1970 's, they found a peaceful life of fishing and farming going on much as it had for centuries . But as word got out, the island began a phase of rapid development to become the top international destination it is today . In the 21 st century, the emphasis is on sustainable, environmentally - friendly progression, as Samui builds on its reputation with world - class services and amenities.

Economy – Samui’s natural riches “Samui islanders are rightly proud of their heritage, and eager to offer a warm welcome to visitor

Food

Seafood – fresh from the Gulf
Long the staple diet of the Samui islanders, seafood from the clear waters of the Gulf of Thailand is delicious, healthy and as fresh as can be. Seafood is served everywhere on the island – but is best enjoyed right on the beach, under the stars, barbecued to order!

International food – a world of choice
Cosmopolitan Samui has become a culinary crossroads, and the choicest food from the four corners of the world can be found here.

French pastries, Japanese sushi, German sausage, Italian pasta, Indian curries, Swiss fondue – whatever your favorite food, you’ll find it on Samui!

Geography

Samui is the largest of hundreds of islands in the calm, crystal seas of the Gulf of Thailand. At 250 square kilometers, it’s the third largest in the kingdom after Phuket and Ko Chang.

Situated 400 kilometers south of Bangkok, the nearest mainland town to Samui is Surat Thani, 60 kilometers to the west. To the north lies Ko Pha Ngan island, the diving haven of Ko Tao, and the 40 breathtaking islands of Ang Thong Marine National Park.

Accommodation

There is abundant accommodation to meet every need, taste and budget on Samui.

It ranges from simple, picturesque wooden beach huts to five-star international resorts with private beaches and every conceivable amenity. Hotels and bungalows are concentrated on the main beaches, but accommodation of all classes can be found off the beaten track. Tourist offices, travel agents and guides can help you find the perfect place to relax.

Weather

Sun-soaked Samui enjoys good weather all year round, with temperatures generally ranging between 27 and 34 degrees.

There are officially three seasons. The cool season – cool by Samui standards, that is – runs between October and January, the hot season between February and May, and the pleasant, cooled by the sea breeze coming in from the Gulf. The monsoon rains usually only consist of brief showers before the sun comes back out.

Samui Airport

Nestles amid coconut groves and in complete harmony with its idyllic surroundings, Samui’s award-winning airport is one of the most attractive and soothing you’ll find anywhere.

The showpiece facility combines the best of environmentally sensitive, traditional Thai design with 21st century functionality. Its open, low-rise structures are made from natural materials, thatched with palms and set in lush tropical gardens. The runway is even bordered by flowers!

Samui Airport has won no less than four design and architectural awards, including most recently the prestigious Outstanding Architect Award from the Siamese Architects’ Association, held under the patronage of His Majesty the King of Thailand in 1998.

The outward beauty of the airport is matched by a first-class range of services. Samui Airport boasts complimentary e-mail connections and refreshments in the departure lounge, souvenir, restaurant and snack bar outlets, and a limousine service direct to your hotel.

Built by Bangkok Airways in 1989, this remarkable airport put Samui on the international travel map and has grown to be the natural air hub of the region. Bangkok Airways operates more than 40 flights a day from Samui, with routes to Bangkok, Krabi, Pattaya, Phuket and Singapore. The facility has been upgraded to a customs airport for international traffic, and Bangkok Airways is improving it even further by extending the runway to more than two kilometers.

Situated on the northeast tip of the island, near Bhophut Beach, the airport is just 20 minutes from the main beach at Chaweng and well served by taxis and minibuses.

Places to visit in and around Samui Click for more information

Around Samui – a tour of the sunshine isle
“Samui is also a center of watersports, and diving, snorkeling and sea canoeing adventures set off from the main beaches every day.”

Chaweng, a stunning four-kilometer sweep of golden sand, was the first of Samui’s beaches to be “discovered”, and today it is the most popular and developed. On Chaweng you can find accommodation of any kind, excellent Thai and international cuisine, great shopping, international telecommunications and a vibrant and colorful nightlife.

Further south, Lamai is Samui’s second beach. Although it boasts some top hotels and every modern facility, a lot of the accommodation still consists of the romantic wooden beach huts that were built to house the first travelers 20 years ago. To the north of Samui are the pristine beaches of Bhophut, Maenam and Tong Sai. Quiet and serene, they are excellent sites for yachting and home to some of the best five-star resorts on the island.

Nathon, a thriving port town and capital of Samui, is situated on the west coast. Past it idyllic, undiscovered beaches and villages tell of how Samui was in the age before tourism.

In the lush interior are jungle-covered rocky peaks and coconut groves, criss-crossed with dirt tracks and waiting to be discovered by jeep, motorcycle or mountain bike.

Diving – kingdom under the waves

Diving is a passport to a new universe, a blue and weightless undersea kingdom of breathtaking vistas and fabulous creatures.

Learning to dive on Samui is easy ad comparatively inexpensive. Many well-established and professional centers can take you through internationally recognized certification courses in a variety of languages and to every level. Half-day excursions take you to top local sites. Or go on a one, two or three-day adventure to the coral and world-class diving locations of Ko Tao and Ang Thong Marine National Park.

Snorkeling – window on another world

Easy, cheap, healthy and great fun, the clear, calm waters around Samui offer excellent snorkeling.

Masks and flippers can be hired everywhere, and many professional centers offer snorkeling packages to the most spectacular sites in the Gulf of Thailand.

Canoeing – paddle power

Sea canoeing or “kayaking” is exciting, healthy and as green and clean as could be.
It is a sport that is soaring in popularity in Thailand . Many operators hire out kayaks for a small charge for visitors to explore the secret bays and coves of Samui's coast . Or you can sail out to some of the pristine islands in the Gulf of Thailand for overnight canoeing, snorkelling and beach barbecue trips.

The Big Buddha – spectacular landmark

It’s an unforgettable sight; the 12-meter high golden icon of the Big Buddha statue silhouetted against the tropical sky and sea behind.

The venerated Temple of the Big Buddha was erected in 1972 on the northern tip of the island near Bhophut Beach, and has become an enduring symbol of the island of Samui. Your trip is not complete until you’ve seen it!

Spa and herbal sauna - Rejuvenation

Therapeutic Thai massage is world-famous, and getting a soothing massage as you relax on the beach has always been a way of life on Samui.

Now this tradition is blossoming into a full-service spa industry for visitors to indulge in. The recently-established Tamarind Springs spa near Lamai Beach offers the chance to pamper yourself in the most idyllic surroundings, while The Spa just down the road offers everything from facial massage to a full course of fasting, breathing, detox, chiropody and reflexology. Other centers on Samui offer reiki, Thai massage, meditation and yoga.