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About Koh Samui |
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Location |
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Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand, approximately 84 kilometres east of Surat Thani Province, or approximately 700 kilometres south of Bangkok. Known as the Coconut Island, Koh Samui is one of the most famous and popular attractions of Thailand. With an area of 247 square kilometres, Koh Samui is the third largest island of Thailand after Phuket and Ko Chang (of Trat Province). The topography of the island is that of a plain with a mountain range in the middle and 7 important streams. In addition, there is a 50-kilometer paved road that encircles the island. Moreover, the area of the island stretches to a group of 48 surrounding islets.
Despite the fast pace of development, Koh Samui has been able to maintain its charm its classical image of a tropical beach resort fringed by coconut trees. Travelers to the island can enjoy a mixed blessing of vibrant day and nightlife along side with tranquility which can easily be found across different parts of Koh Samui as the archipelago is a peaceful home for fishermen and a natural den for seagulls and other rare birds.
Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai are Koh Samui's most beautiful and most popular beaches. Both have a huge selection of accommodations suitable for every budget. Please note that room rates increase during the high season, from December to July, when Samui sparkles. The nightlife of each beach is different: Hat Chaweng is better for couples, women and families, while single men are drawn to the beer bar culture of Hat Lamai. These resorts, as well as Na Thon (Samui's main town), have communications, exchange and car/motorcycle hire facilities. Other beaches include Hat Choeng Mon, Hat Mae Nam in the north and Hat Na Thon, the island's major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated.
Apart from its many lovely beaches and tranquil bays, Koh Samui is also noted for its high quality coconuts that grow densely everywhere. The best time to visit Ko Samui is from February to April when the sea is calm. The Southern dialect and the standard Thai language are spoken while English is widely understood in tourist areas. | |
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By air Bangkok Airways flies from Bangkok to Koh Samui 13 times daily. The flight takes about one hour and 10 minutes. It also offers daily flights between Phuket and Samui. For more information, call its Bangkok office, 0 2229 3456, 0 2229 3434, Samui office, 0 7742 2512 - 9 or Samui Airport Office 0 7724 5601-8. By bus Air-conditioned and non air-conditioned buses leave Bangkok's Southern Bus Terminal for Surat Thani several times daily. The trip takes about 11 hours. For further information, call 0 2435 1199, 0 2435 1200 (air-con), 0 2434 5557 - 8 (non-air-con). By car From Bangkok, take Highway 4 (Buddha Monthon Road) through Phetchaburi and Chumphon Provinces and then drive on to Highways 41 and 401 to Surat Thani Province. From Surat Thani, visitors can take their cars to Koh Samui through a vehicle ferry at Donsak Pier. The trip takes 1.30 hours. By rail Several trains leave Bangkok's Hualamphong Station for Surat Thani daily. The trip takes about 12 hours. Train / bus / ferry combination tickets are also available. For more information, call Hualamphong Railway Station, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020. From Surat Thani to Koh Samui 1.Express boat 1.1 An express ferry boat of Songserm Travel departs from Tha Thong Pier in Surat Thani at 8.00 a.m. and arrives at Na Thon Pier in Samui at 10.30 a.m. every day. For the return trip, the boat leaves Na Thon Pier at 2.00 p.m. and reaches Tha Thong at 4.30 p.m. 1.2 Express boats of Seatran Express operate three times a day between Ban Don and Koh Samui. Departure times are 7.00 a.m., 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. The trip takes two hours. 2. Ferry Boats of Seatran Seatran Ferry, which can accommodate 60 cars and 400 passengers, operates several trips per day between Don Sak (Surat Thani) and Koh Samui, from 5.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. The trip takes about 1.30 hours. 3. Night ferry A slow night ferry leaves Ban Don Pier nightly at 11 p.m. and reaches Na Thon Pier at Samui around 5 a.m. (6 hours). For the return trip, the boat leaves Na Thon Pier at 9.00 p.m. and arrives at Ban Don Pier at 4.00 a.m. (7 hours). | |
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Samui is an explorer's dream to discover something new. Offering a wealth of diversity of landscape, vistas, flora and fauna, and yet small enough to seek adventure in its many out-of-the-way places, Samui is best seen by taking songthaews (red local bus) which operate around the island. The fare starts at 20 baht, depending on the distance of the destination. By Taxi For many reasons, the least suitable for exploring, but the safest and easiest way to get to the destination is to go by taxi. The official taxi service time is until 9.00 p.m. Visitors are recommended to negotiate strongly for the fare and keep in mind that negotiation should always be dome before boarding. Note that the fare at night will be escalated. By a rented Jeep Rented Jeep, 4WD, is available from many family-owned agencies and some well known large companies. The vehicle will serve as the basic means of transportation taking visitors around many hillside natural and man-made attractions which are easily accessible from the ring road. Some of these vehicles come with insurance, but the coverage is limited. Always ask for details first. The minimum price is from 800 baht. By Motorcycle A more flexible way to get around the island, rented motorcycle costs approximately 200 baht / day. Beware, as roads other than the main roads on Ko Samui are quite rough in some parts. | |
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Getting to nearby Islands from Samui 1. Ko Pha-ngan 1.1 Na Thon Pier (Koh Samui) -- Thong Sala Pier (Ko Pha-ngan) Songserm Travel Co. operates ferry boats and express boats between Na Thon Pier on Ko Samui and Thong Sala Pier on Ko Pha-ngan, four times a day. The trip takes about 45 minutes for express boats, and one hour for ordinary ferry boats. 1.2 Bo Phut (Koh Samui) -- Hat Rin (Ko Pha-ngan) There is a ferry boat leaving Bo Phut for Ko Pha-ngan twice daily at 9.30 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. The return trips depart Hat Rin on Ko Pha-ngan at 10.30 a.m. and 3.30 p.m. 2. Ang Thong Islands Visitors can hire a boat on Koh Samui to Ang Thong. The charge depends on the boat size and number of passengers. The trip takes 1.30 hours. It is also possible to join a full-day excursion organized by tour operators in Koh Samui. 3. Ko Tao Boat services for Ko Tao are available at Na Thon Pier of Ko Samui. | |
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Mu Ko Ang Thong National Marine Park Located 20 kilometres northwest of Koh Samui, the park is comprised of approximately 40 islands. Covering approximately 250 square kilometres, the park is full of fascinating beaches, caves and coral formations a sign of abundant marine resources. Many oddly shaped islands, sheer limestone cliffs and hidden lagoons can also be found here. The National Park does not allow over night visits. Individual tourists will have to join a group organized by a tour agency to visit the place. Wua Ta Lap This is the largest island of the group, the site of the park office and the location of a very beautiful cave. Na Muang 1 Waterfall Located approximately 11 kilometres to the south of Na Thon Bay is the medium-sized waterfall that flows from a steep cliff, approximately 40 meters high and 20 meters wide. Activities such as elephant back riding are provided by nearby tour agents. Na Muang 2 Waterfall Located just 100 meters from Na Mueang 1, the waterfall is similar in size and beauty as its sister. The place is an ideal spot for trekking and elephant back riding, as it is surrounded by dense forest. Na Thian Butterfly Garden Located at the bottom of the hill to the south of the island, the Garden offers a unique opportunity to observe numerous species of butterflies on the island. Other interesting features are the beautifully decorated garden, the bee house, a Thai style house which allows visitors to observe the activities of bees. The insect museum, in which rare insects from Thailand and other countries are displayed, is also worth visiting. Samui Aquarium Located at Laem Set Bay, the Aquarium features a wide variety of tropical fish and marine fauna. I take my children here at least once a month as to me it is one of the best attractions on the Island - I would take them more often but the price is "up there". Give them a call before hand to confirm the show times and make sure you allow 2 or 3 hours. There is plenty to see for all including sharks, stingrays, morae eels, large turtles, clown fish (or Nemo to my kinds), star fish, sea horses plus plus plus ... and then there are also some large tigers in medium size cages (I am sure they are not as large as many people would like but they seem relatively happy). You can even get inside a cage with one tiger if you want. They also have large sea lions and plenty of birds of prey and some cheeky otters. You cannot compare it to Singapore zoo, but for Samui it is certainly worth a visit. Samui Go Kart Looking for fast-paced action? Visit this site in Bophut, on the ring road opposite the Samui Euphoria Resort, and enjoy circling the track at over 100 kilometres Call 077 425097 for more information. Golfing in Koh Samui Ko Samui offers an absolutely overwhelming experience for golfers. This par 72 course was jointly designed by Edward Theile and Pirapon Namartra. The challenge is its relentless, tumbling diversity and its degree of difficulty. The par-3s range from 155 to 214 yards, highlighted by the shortest (the audacious 6th, with a vertical drop and waterfall). The 10 par-4s are whimsical and attenuated and querulous and lengthy. The par-5s start at 458 and end at the signature 17th with 622 yards of downhill travel. The fairways are tilted and the greens are uniformly gyroscopic. A new 9 hole golf course has jus opened in Bophut. I have not had a chance to try it out but the people I have talked with who have are very impressed. All of the holes are par 3 and relatively tight, the surroundings are pleasant and the prices much more reasonable than Santiburi - just right for the casual holiday round of golf to help get over the hangover or help escape the kids for a couple of hours. Samui Paintball A non-water based activity worth trying, Samui paintball offers a unique opportunity to take a shot at families and friends without having to go to jail. Scuba Diving There are many scuba diving schools located around Koh Samui, offering a wide range of dive facilities. There are also tours available for snorkeling, fishing and excursions. The area of Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Pha-ngan and Angthong Marine National Park are very famous dive places. Spa experience at Samui Samui now boasts many excellent, world-class spas set in a truly Samui ambience. From aromatic floral baths, steaming and body masque with Thai herbs, to face and body massage, reflexology, and other well-being therapy, Samui has everything that caters to your needs rejuvenating, pampering and relaxing in utmost luxury and comfort. Thale Nai (the Inner Sea) Encircled by mountains, Thale Nai is emerald in colour and has a white powdery beach that is second to none. There are several underwater chambers connecting the Thale Nai to the outside sea. The best time to visit the place is from April to November. To get there from Samui, visitors can charter a boat from Na Thon Pier. The boat service hours is between 9.00 and 4.30 p.m. Travel time is approximately 1 hour. For more information, call 0 7742 0504 or 0 7742 0720-2. Tham Bua Bok This is where visitors can marvel at spectacular stalactites and stalagmites. In addition, the top of a 400 meter mountain on the island overlooks the picturesque Ang Thong islands. The Statue Garden The Garden features a number of Buddhist and Hindu statues recently made by Khun Nim, a local sculptor. Located near the highest point of Samui Island, the place can be reached by taking the track opposite Wat Khunaram. | |
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Its never ending. Koh Samui offers spectacular evening entertainment for all ages. This includes traditional beach bars (popular with families), western-style pubs, which feature music, videos and satellite television, and free to enter nightclubs, which are more active after midnight and usually continue through the pre-dawn hours. Bars, cabarets shows and discos are mainly located in Chaweng and Lamai. Green Mango, Reggae Pub, Full Circle and Bauhaus are the main discotheques, some open until sunrise. The most vibrant nightlife activities can be found around the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai. Resorts also provide magnificent entertainment such as dinner cabarets, where professional singers and dancers display their talents in stylish surroundings. Wat Phra Yai or Temple of the Big Buddha Established in 1972, the temple houses a 12-meter high Golden Buddha, which has recently become a spectacular landmark of Koh Samui. The monastery has become a meditation centre for both local residents and foreigners. Wat Pradoem Located approximately 12 kilometres on Route 4169 or 1 kilometre from Na Muang Waterfall is a monastery built at the end of Ayutthaya Era. The temple is believed to be the first temple on Koh Samui. At present, it is where an ancient wooden scripture hall used in storing Buddhist scriptures is located. Wat Samret This relatively old temple houses a marble Buddha image brought from Burma and many other old Buddha images. Common Misspellings of Koh Samui oh samui kh samui ko samui koh amui koh smui koh saui koh sami koh samu kkoh samui kooh samui kohh samui koh ssamui koh saamui koh sammui koh samuui koh samuii okh samui kho samui ko hsamui koh asmui koh smaui koh saumi koh samiu kohsamui joh samui ioh samui ooh samui loh samui moh samui kih samui k9h samui k0h samui kph samui klh samui kkh samui kog samui koy samui kou samui koj samui kon samui kob samui koh aamui koh wamui koh eamui koh damui koh xamui koh zamui koh sqmui koh swmui koh ssmui koh sxmui koh szmui koh sanui koh sajui koh sakui koh samyi koh sam7i koh sam8i koh samii koh samki koh samji koh samhi koh samuu koh samu8 koh samu9 koh samuo koh samul koh samuk koh samuj jkoh samui kjoh samui ikoh samui kioh samui okoh samui kooh samui lkoh samui kloh samui mkoh samui kmoh samui kioh samui koih samui k9oh samui ko9h samui k0oh samui ko0h samui kpoh samui koph samui kloh samui kolh samui kkoh samui kokh samui kogh samui kohg samui koyh samui kohy samui kouh samui kohu samui kojh samui kohj samui konh samui kohn samui kobh samui kohb samui koh asamui koh saamui koh wsamui koh swamui koh esamui koh seamui koh dsamui koh sdamui koh xsamui koh sxamui koh zsamui koh szamui koh sqamui koh saqmui koh swamui koh sawmui koh ssamui koh sasmui koh sxamui koh saxmui koh szamui koh sazmui koh sanmui koh samnui koh sajmui koh samjui koh sakmui koh samkui koh samyui koh samuyi koh sam7ui koh samu7i koh sam8ui koh samu8i koh samiui koh samuii koh samkui koh samuki koh samjui koh samuji koh samhui koh samuhi koh samuui koh samuiu koh samu8i koh samui8 koh samu9i koh samui9 koh samuoi koh samuio koh samuli koh samuil koh samuki koh samuik koh samuji koh samuij hailand Tailand Thiland Thaland Thaiand Thailnd Thailad Thailan TThailand Thhailand Thaailand Thaiiland Thailland Thailaand Thailannd Thailandd hTailand Tahiland Thialand Thaliand Thaialnd Thailnad Thailadn Tgailand Tyailand Tuailand Tjailand Tnailand Tbailand Thqiland Thwiland Thsiland Thxiland Thziland Thauland Tha8land Tha9land Thaoland Thalland Thakland Thajland Thaikand Thaioand Thaipand Thailqnd Thailwnd Thailsnd Thailxnd Thailznd Thailabd Thailahd Thailajd Thailamd Thailans Thailane Thailanr Thailanf Thailanc Thailanx Tghailand Thgailand Tyhailand Thyailand Tuhailand Thuailand Tjhailand Thjailand Tnhailand Thnailand Tbhailand Thbailand Thqailand Thaqiland Thwailand Thawiland Thsailand Thasiland Thxailand Thaxiland Thzailand Thaziland Thauiland Thaiuland Tha8iland Thai8land Tha9iland Thai9land Thaoiland Thaioland Thaliland Thailland Thakiland Thaikland Thajiland Thaijland Thaikland Thailkand Thaioland Thailoand Thaipland Thailpand Thailqand Thailaqnd Thailwand Thailawnd Thailsand Thailasnd Thailxand Thailaxnd Thailzand Thailaznd Thailabnd Thailanbd Thailahnd Thailanhd Thailajnd Thailanjd Thailamnd Thailanmd Thailansd Thailands Thailaned Thailande Thailanrd Thailandr Thailanfd Thailandf Thailancd Thailandc Thailanxd Thailandx | |
