The 247sqkm (95sqmi) island, 496km(310mi) south of Bangkok, is Surat Thani’s major tourist attraction. Ko Samui, with numerous lovely beaches and bays, measures some 21km (13mi) at its widest point and 25km (16mi) at its longest. A 51km (32mi) ring road largely encircles the island.
Samui’s best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts. The most popular beaches are Chawaeng and Lamai where the most attractive accommodation is found.
Besides beaches, other island attractions include the Hin Lut and Na Muang waterfalls, the phallic rock formations at the southern end of Lamai Bay, a massive seated Buddha image on Fan isle, and Naton, the island’s major seafront settlement with shops, restaurants, tour agencies and hotels.
Festivals
Buffalo Fights
Unlike what is the case in bull fights in Spain, it’s bull fighting bull in southern Thailand. On Samui Island, such bull fights are held only on special occasions such as New Year Day and during Songkran, April 13 to 16 (they are held more often in Hat Yai). The buffaloes are decorated with jazzy ribbons and gold leafs on their horns. Holy water is used to bless the bulls before the fights. On bull fight days, two rounds are organized, one in the morning and one in the afternoon.
Transportation
Bangkok - Ko Samui
Bangkok Airways has eight non-stop flights daily from Bangkok to Ko Samui. Departures are from the early morning until mid-afternoon. While departure times might change every 6 months, the changes are likely to be minimal while the frequency is basically maintained. Flight time is around 1:10hr.
Buses from Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal on Pinklao - Nakhon Chaisi Road (in Thonburi) to a ferry terminal for Ko Samui at Donsak; 779km, non-aircon 172 Baht, 20:45; aircon 288 Baht, 20:00, 2nd cl 204 Baht, 19:30
There is always the option to travel from Bangkok just to Surat Thani and to take local means of transportation from there to Ko Samui. See entries on Surat Thani for details.
Ko Samui - Bangkok
Bangkok Airways has eight non-stop flights daily from Ko Samui to Bangkok. Departures are from mid-morning until late afternoon. Flight time is around 1:10hr.
Provincial Flights
Ko Samui - Phuket
Bangkok Airways has two flights daily from Ko Samui to Phuket. Departures are in the morning and the early afternoon. Flight time is 40min.
Phuket - Ko Samui
Bangkok Airways has two flights daily from Phuket to Ko Samui. Departures are in the late morning and the mid-afternoon. Flight time is 40min.
Local Boats
Ko Samui can be reached by ferry, speedboat and car ferry from Ban Don and Donsak.
Express boats from the Tha Thong (Thong Pier) in Surat Thani connect to Ko Samui. Most of the boats also continue to the next island, Ko Phagnan, though the late afternoon trips typically only go to Ko Samui. Departures at Tha Thong are at 7:30, 12:00 and 14:00. The trip takes 2 hours to Ko Samui, slightly more than 3 hours to Ko Phangan (with a half hours stop over at Ko Samui).
From Ko Samui, departures are at 7:30, 12:00 and 15:00.
The fare for the one way trip between Tha Thong and Ko Samui is 80 Baht, the one way fare from Ko Samui to Ko Phangan is 55 Baht (Tha Thong direct to Ko Phangan is only 105 Baht). The express boats are of the Songserm Borikarn Company, 121/7 Hua Chang Bridge, Phayathai Road, Bangkok, Tel 251-8994, 254-7318.
Ferries from Donsak near Surat Thani city depart for Ko Samui at 8:30, 10:00. 14:00 and 17:00. Sailing time is slightly over one hour. Departures on Ko Samui are at 7:30, 10:00, 14:00 and 16:30. The fare one way is 40 Baht; children pay half. There are additional trips on public holidays.
Transportation on Ko Samui is available either by rented motorcycles or jeeps, or by passenger pickups (minibuses) which circle the island. Typical prices include: Naton dock or ferry dock to Ban Mae Nam 10 Baht; to Ban Plai Laem 15 Baht; to Chawaeng Beach 20 Baht; to Lamai Beach 15 Baht.
Ang Thong Marine National Park
The park comprises some 40 islands northwest of Ko Samui covering some 250sqkm (97sqmi) of which 50sqkm (19sqmi) is land mass. The most attractive islands include Ko Wua Talap (Sleeping Cow island), Ko Mae Ko (Mother island), Ko Prayat (Economical island), Ko Sam Sao (Tripod island), Ko Nai Pud (Mr Pud’s island), and Ko Wua Teh (Kicking Cow island). Most islands are limestone masses reaching heights of up to 400m (1313ft), fringed by beaches and tropical rain forest.
The park office is on Ko Wua Talap where bungalow-style accommodation is available. Popular sites include Hat Chan Charat (Moonlight Beach), a high viewpoint and the Tham Bua Bok (Wating Lotus Cave, named after spectacular stalactite and stalagmite formations). An emerald saltwater lake known as Thale Nai on Ko Mae Ko is the park’s major attraction; to reach it requires a strenuous climb, but the resultant view is well worth the effort.
Visitors wishing to stay overnight on Ko Wua Talap should make advance bookings at the Ang Thong Marine National Park Office, 145/1 Talatlang Rd, Surat Thani city, Tel (077) 28-3025 or the National Parks Division in Bangkok (Tel 579-0529, 579-1842).
Ang Thong Marine National Park is reached most conveniently from Naton Pier on Ko Samui. Boats leave the pier everyday.
Ko PhaNgan
This 191sqkm (74sqmi) island directly north of Ko Samui can be explored largely by motorcycles along dirt trails. Attractions include the Tan Sadet Waterfall some 30km (19mi) from the district office, the Laem (Cape), Hat Rin (Rin Beach), some 12km (8mi) from the district office, and the Paen National Park, 4km (3mi) from the district office.
Attractions
Ko Taeuai
This small island, not far from Ko Phangan, is becoming increasing popular with tourists for its natural beauty. High jungle-covered hills, long stretches of golden sand beach, thriving coral reefs inhabited by fish of all sizes and colors are some of its attractions. Accommodations in bungalows are also provided on the island. Transportation is by passenger boat or cargo boat from Surat Thani via Samui Island. Details on transportation and accommodation can be obtained through the Thai Nursery Block Company, 140/1 Surat Thani - Phunphin Road, Surat Thani, Tel (077) 27-3667, Bangkok Tel (02) 573-1714
Transportation
Express boats from Tha Thong (Thong Pier) in Surat Thani connect to Ko Phangan via Ko Samui. Most of the boats for Ko Samui continue to Ko Phagnan, though the late afternoon trips typically only go to Ko Samui. Departures at the Tha Thong are at 7:30, 12:00 and 14:00. The trip takes 2 hours to Ko Samui, slightly more than 3 hours to Ko Phangan (with a half hours stop over at Ko Samui).
From Ko Phangan, the only certain departure seems to be at 12:30. The fare for the one way trip between Tha Thong and Ko Phangan is 105 Baht, the one way fare between Ko Phangan and Ko Samui is 55 Baht. The express boats are of the Songserm Borikarn Company, 121/7 Hua Chang Bridge, Phayathai Road, Bangkok, Tel 251-8994, 254-7318.
Ko Tao
The island of Ko Tao is northwest of Phangan Island and under the Phangan district administration. Unspoiled and undisturbed, the island earned a reputation for unique beautiful bays and coves and coral gardens under the crystal sea.
Transportation
A boat for Tao Island leaves daily from Phangan Island. Boats are available for Nangyuan Island from Tao Island. Details on departure times and fares can be obtained from Ko Tao Tour Company, Back House Restaurant, Ban Tong Sala, Ko Phangan, Tel (077) 28-3002.