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Location Information:
Ko
Samui is located in the Gulf of
Thailand, about 35 km northeast of
Surat Thani town (9°N, 100°E). The
island measures some 21 kilometres
at its narrowest point, and 25 km at
its longest. It is surrounded by
about sixty other islands, which
compose the Ang Thong Marine
National Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong
National Park) and include other
tourist destinations (Ko Phangan, Ko
Tao and Ko Nang Yuan).
The
island is roughly circular in shape,
and is about 15 km across. The
central part of the island is an
almost uninhabitable mountain
jungle, Khao Pom, peaking at 635 m.
The various lowland areas are
connected together by a single 51 km
road, running mostly along the coast
to encircle the bulk of the island.
The
old capital is Nathon, on the
southwest coast of the island. It
remains the major port for fishing
and inter-island transportation.
Nathon is the seat of the regional
government, and the true commercial
hub of the Samui locals. It has a
charming pace, and is almost small
enough to walk everywhere. The old
Chinese shop houses along the middle
street whisper of an exotic history.
Each
of Samui's primary beaches is now
also nominally considered as a small
town, due to the number of hotels,
restaurants and nightlife that have
sprung up in recent years. It was
only the early 1970s that the first
backpackers traveling on a coconut
boat arrived on Ko Samui. For years
after that the island just had a few
bungalows and a trickle of
travelers. In the early 1990s, boats
of tourists began to arrive, and
since then the island has soared in
popularity. Samui is now the second
most popular island destination in
Thailand, after Phuket. Ko Samui is
an oasis of natural beauty, with its
white sandy beaches, dazzling coral,
luscious lagoons, picturesque
waterfalls, swaying coconut trees
and crystal clear water. Tourism is
now ahead of coconuts as the islands
main industry.
Local
Weather:
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