Koh Samui Tourist Information & Travel Guide

Spending your vacation in the peaceful Koh Samui of Thailand seems a great idea. Join us and explore what makes the island so attractive.

Koh Samui, also called "coconut island", lies in the Gulf of Thailand and is one of the largest islands in the country. As a famous tourism spot, the island possesses a variety of tourist attractions that could give anyone who comes here a good chance to relax plus have fun. One of those is the stunning scenery and tranquil atmosphere blessed by the amazing nature.

As the island is separated from Thailand and for years surrounded by the crystal-clear water, there exist a lot of stunning beaches and waterfalls where you can immerse yourself in the peace while enjoying your vacation. Besides, Koh Samui also has a wide range of ancient spots such as villages and temples, etc. appropriate for those who like to explore the ancient beauty and religious features. Along with long-lasting factors of nature and history, the excellent system of tourism service is another attraction of Koh Samui.

The Island has its own airport which handles both international and national flights; in addition, many other modern transportations are offered, thus making it easy for tourists to get to Koh Samui. Also, finding accommodation on the island is not a problem, as there are plenty of hotels and resorts which vary in standard with the most convenient rooms and professional services offered for you to stay while exploring the stunning beauty. With all the features above, Koh Samui has been for years one of the most famous tourist spots of Thailand, where thousands of tourists spend their vacation each year.

For the best of your experience on the island, please keep reading, as the following information can provide you with an insight into Koh Samui.

Koh Samui - A recommended destination in Thailand

History of Koh Samui

As an isolated island of Thailand until the 20th century, Koh Samui has its own history in which developed the island's culture and now many of its tourist attractions. The island was probably inhabited around the 6th century, which means the island has existed for about a thousand and five hundred years. Certainly, during such a long time, many cultural and historical values have occurred. In the early time, the majority of the inhabitants here were fishermen from the Malay Peninsula who created the long-standing fishing culture of the island which is now shown in many of its fishing villages. Besides, the island was also found by traders from the Southern coast of China, thus appeared on the Chinese ancient map dating back to 1687, under the name of Pulo Cornam. Until now, there are still discussions on where the island's name originated. Was the word "Samui" derived from the name of a native tree, Mui? Or did it evolve from the Chinese word "saboey" which means "safe haven"? Despite all discussions, Koh Samui has been known as a famous tourism spot that is highly recommended when coming to Thailand. The island's economy now depends on the exports of coconut plus rubber, and crucially the successful tourist industry. Therefore, tourists who come here will be provided with the best experience and services. 

Things to do in Koh Samui

As a tourism spot, Koh Samui offers a wide range of interesting things to do and enjoy so that people can have unforgettable experiences during their vacation to the island.

• Enjoy the stunning beaches

Beach seems to be one of the features that make the island a must-see destination. As being for years surrounded by water, the island possesses many charming beaches with different characters. One of those is Chaweng Beach, which features a breathtaking view with white sand, clear water plus the most luxurious tourism services that can give you the best experience. Whereas Maenam Beach is more suitable for those on a budget but still has many interesting things to do, thus also makes your vacation enjoyable. Alternatively, Bophut Beaches can give you a chance to enjoy the tranquility of Koh Samui plus the fishing culture there as here stands an ancient fisherman's village which you can pay a short visit to.

A stunning beach in Koh Samui

• Visit Ang Thong National Marine Park

As the most outstanding tourism spot when coming to the island, Ang Thong National Marine Park is famous for its unusual and spectacular scenery created by thousands of steep limestone cliffs undergoing centuries of erosion, thus formed into wondrous shapes, or 4 distinct types of the forest where the wildlife takes place with hundreds of creatures, and a total of 42 islands around Koh Samui including Koh Wua Ta Lap, Koh Mae, Koh Sam Sao, etc. Once getting to the national park, you can take part in many fascinating activities such as snorkeling, hiking, sea kayaking, diving, or just simply relaxing and enjoying its breathtaking scenery blessed by Mother Nature.

You can row a small boat to explore Ang Thong National Marine Park 

• Join the nightlife in the night market 

After a long day exploring the breathtaking limestone mountains, stunning beaches, at night, you will be surprised by the energetic nightlife on this island. Anywhere in Koh Samui stand the night markets where you can dine with friends, or go shopping and find things such as clothes, jewelry, etc. varying in price and standard. Also, there are bars, pubs for those seeking some interesting activities and want to have fun. With all of those fascinating things to do and places to visit, your day would be full of amazing experiences that you could never forget later and your vacation to the pretty island of Koh Samui will be worth it.

You can enjoy a breathtaking fire-dancing performance at night 

• Enjoy the local foods

The last but also the most important thing to do when visiting the island is to enjoy the local foods. Here, we highly recommend you try coconut and seafood. As the island is an exporter of coconut, the coconut here must have an amazing quality. Therefore, you would find it extremely satisfying to taste the cool, fresh coconut water after a long day having fun.

In addition, the island also features a long-standing fishing culture, so the seafood here is fresh and delicious. You can easily enjoy the taste of them in any restaurant in Koh Samui. In case you don't know where to eat, there are some of the well-reviewed restaurants including Rocky's, Hua Thanon Market, Five islands, Moso Bistro hoặc Pee Soon.

Fresh seafood in Koh Samui 

If you are longing for an ideal vacation with interesting things to do, stunning places to visit, and delicious food to enjoy, Koh Samui would definitely satisfy all your wishes. The perfect time to visit the island is all year round but the wet season (from October to December). Also, you can easily find accommodation, as there are a variety of options for you to choose from the budget one such as Cheeky Monkey's Samui, Escape Beach resort, Aspira Samui, Samui Verticolor, Replay Residence Samui, etc. to the luxurious Conrad Koh Samui, Sala Samui Choengmon Beach, Lotus Villa by Pawanthorn Samui Villa, Baan Rawee Villa, etc.

How to get to Koh Samui

Generally, there are various ways to get to Koh Samui. Here, we present the best that can give you a convenient and interesting experience in your vacation.

• Fly from Bangkok

The most convenient way to get to Koh Samui is to take a flight. If you are in the pretty city of Bangkok, it would be easy to book a flight of Bangkok Airways from Bangkok to Koh Samui with a price of 4185 Baht (132USD). Also, there are flights from Singapore, Phuket, or Pattaya, which make it convenient for those who plan to visit these places before getting to the island.

• Take a ferry route from Surat Thani

Alternatively, If you want your way to being more interesting as well as to admire the scenery of the sea, going by ferry or speedboat could be a great idea. In this way, you will have to travel from Surat Thani, as there are ferry routes to get to Koh Samui. From Bangkok, you can book a flight, train, or bus to the city of Surat Thani respectively with 2069 Baht (65USD), 732 Baht (23USD), and 641 Baht (20USD). Then, take a ferry route to the island with a price of 151 Baht (4.77USD).

Koh Samui will be the best place for you to spend your vacation. If you are interested in the idea, why not join us in the Koh Samui tour.