The island of Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand off the coast of the southern city of Surat Thani. The island is renowned around the world for its incredible natural beauty. Home to approximately 40,000 citizens, the picturesque coastlines, plantations cover the coastal lowlands while the mountainous centre regions of the island is home to some of Thailand’s finest examples of virgin rainforest.
Koh Samui is Thailand’s third largest island and the biggest of approximately 80 islands that form the Ang Thong national Marine Park. This breathtaking marine ecosystem has become a fantastic place for snorkelling or kayaking.
Samui’s runs 25 kilometres from north-to-south and 21 kilometres from east-to-west. While too big to walk around, the size of the island is perfect to explore, while easily circumnavigated within a few hours by car or motorbike.
It is estimated that Koh Samui’s first residents arrived about 1500 years ago by Malay fisherman, and featured on Chinese maps as early as 1687. It is believed that the name Samui came derived from one of the native trees on the island called ‘mui’, while another theory is that the island gained its name from the Chinese word ‘Saboey, which means “safe haven.”
It was only until the late 20th century that Koh Samui was a self-reliant community with little connection to the mainland. In fact, the first roads were built on the island in the 1970s, which served as a welcome end for the day-long trek through dense jungle to reach the other side.
It was also during the 1970s when Samui was first recognised as a tourist destination, with a few bungalows erected to cater for the small number of backpackers began arriving. Just 20 years after tourism began, tourists were flying in on ATR 72 aircraft and packed on boats from the mainland.
Today, Koh Samui is the third most popular tourist destination in Thailand, due to its incredible natural beauty consisting of stunning white sand beaches, picturesque waterfalls and mountainous central jungles.
However the natural beauty and quaint charm of Koh Samui is beginning to wear out as the island continues to be heavily developed. During the peak season, the beachside resorts of Lamai and Chawenng can be immensely overcrowded.
