Geography of Ko Samui

Ko Samui or Koh Samui as it is also known is located in the Gulf of Thailand, in the South China Sea. It is roughly 80 kilometers from the eastern coast of Thailand and about 700 kilometers from Bangkok. While Ko Samui is connected to Bangkok by air, it is also connected by a waterway to Surat Thani, the mainland town which is located 35 kilometers to the south east.

Ko Samui, is Thailand's third largest island, with a total area of 228.7 square kilometers. The official language of the island is Thai, but thanks to the large tourist influx, many of the locals speak English. The geography of Ko Samui reveals it to be a roughly circular shaped island, spanning about 15 kilometers across. The central region of the island is a mountainous jungle, which is uninhabitable, reaching a height of 635 meters at Peak Khao Pom.

The geography of Ko Samui includes a rocky center with various low-lying areas connected by one road. This road runs along the circumference of the island, making navigation from one part of the island to the other easier

The hub of Ko Samui's commercial activities, as also the administrative center, is the town of Nathon, located on the west coast of the island. It is the principal fishing port and a junction for inter-island communication and transportation. The many beaches of Ko Samui - Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, Bophut, Bangrak - are miniature towns in themselves. Each beach has its share of hotels, bars and restaurants and each is unique in its character.

Yet, wherever you choose to stay, you are never too far away from the main tourist attractions and certainly never far away from the turquoise blue ocean, pristine beaches and the rustle of coconut leaves.