Koh Samui with it's picturesque beaches is located in the Gulf of Thailand and is also known as the Coconut Island. Most of the hills and mountains
are still covered by dense forests of coconut trees. It is also one of the largest islands of Thailand, only Phuket and Koh
Chang are larger. Sometimes the name is spelled as Ko Samui, although Ko Samui is usually seen as incorrect spelling.
Tourism in Koh Samui started with the arrival of backpacker tourists in the 1970’s, back then the
principal activities on the island were fishing and coconut farming. In fact, Koh Samui supplied the majority of all coconuts used for consumption
in Thailand. Nowadays, tourists from all over the world come to this island paradise to enjoy the sun, sea, beaches and myriad of activities on and
around the island.
Tourism is now by far the largest ‘industry’ on the island, which results in a good tourism infrastructure, accommodation types
to suit all budgets and a host of different activities. Especially the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai are known all over the world for their beauty and
popularity.
Information on the most popular beaches:
Chaweng: This beach is approximately 7km, or a little less than 4.5 miles long. Chaweng is seen as the most popular and
well-developed beach of Koh Samui. It offers a vast range of accommodations, from very simple bungalow type rooms
to 5-Star hotels and high standard resorts. The beach is for the most part kept meticulously clean and the sand looks pretty
and inviting. However, because of its popularity Chaweng beach can become quite crowded in the high season.
Lamai: The beach at Lamai is shorter than at Chaweng and generally a little less crowded. For the best beach-experience
at this location, we recommend the southern part of this beach as the northern part has more rocks and corals washed ashore.
Maenam, Big Buddha, Bophut: These are the most popular beaches in the north of Koh Samui. These beaches are
smaller than the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai but also a lot less crowded. These places also offer a large range of accommodations,
from very basic, to extremely luxurious. As an added benefit, these locations are very close to the airport, as well as the famous
attractions of the Big Buddha temple, and the Fisherman’s Village.
Choeng Mon: Choeng Mon is well-known for its near-perfect beach and classy hotels and resorts. The water is very
shallow and therefore warmed up by the sun even more than usual. A rock barrier further out in the sea keeps away virtually all waves.
For this reason, it is widely regarded as one of the best beaches for families with young children.
For more information on Koh Samui, weather conditions, Thai customs and other general information, please see the Links page of this website.
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