Koh Samui

Samui (Koh means island) is the tropical island you dream of. Peaceful. Long sandy beaches, warm, calm clear waters, dense jungle covering high craggy hills. Samui is the perfect place to be.

People come to Samui from all over the world to relax, party, eat, read, shop, take Thai cooking lessons, dive, snorkel, sail, play golf, Jet Ski, swim in waterfalls, trek, ride elephants, watch Muay Thai (Thai boxing) visit the aquarium, butterfly garden and snake farm, drive from beach to beach and relax in spas.

Travelling around the 250 sq km (100 sq miles) island by motor bike is a thrill and going off the beaten track will take you to small villages, Thai and Chinese temples, old Chinese Thai commercial architecture, beaches you can call your own, through lush coconut groves and of course those nifty laid back little restaurants you just happen to find nestled beside the beach.

Fifty years ago Samui was home for Chinese and Thai coconut farmers and a haven for fishermen. Since then things have changed rapidly to move Samui towards the sophisticated end of the tourist spectrum, to be the fastest growing tourist destination in Thailand and the spa capital of the region.

Compared to Phuket and Pattaya, development on Samui is more controlled, so to date you will not find many buildings higher than a coconut palm. Though there is not an identifiable style, small and
large hotels and resorts are set in vibrant garden garden-scapes often