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 80kms from the eastern coast of Thailand and about 700 kms from Bangkok. While Ko Samui is connected to Bangkok by air, it is also connected by a waterway to Surat Thani, the mainland town that is located 35 kms to its southeast.

Ko Samui is one of Thailand's bigger islands, with a total area of 228.7 sq. kms. The official language of the island is Thai, but thanks to the large tourist influx, many of the locals offer a smattering of English. The geography of Ko Samui reveals it to be a roughly circular shaped spanning about 15kms across the island. The belly of the island is a mountainous jungle, nearly uninhabitable, reaching a height of 635m at Peak Khao Pom.

Enclosing this rocky center are the 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 aqua blue ocean and the rustle of coconut leaves.

Hotels in Koh Samui
Sandy Resort	Samui Marina Cottage
Samui Orchid Resort	Grand Sea View Beach
Orchid Suites Hotel	Bill Resort