transport network Koh Samui is determined by the features of the terrain. Due to the fact that the island is not so big, there is no need for an extensive fleet of vehicles. Therefore, there are only three ways to travel here:

• on route songthaews,
• by rented car or motorbike,
• by taxi.

For those who have with them driver's license category (A), of course, it is most convenient to rent a bike. This will allow you not to depend on the public transport schedule and move freely throughout Koh Samui. You can do this at any rental point, which is plentiful in any part of the island. The price for daily rent is most often 200-700 baht. However, in addition to this, it is necessary to leave an n-th amount as a deposit, which will be returned if vehicle will not have fresh damage, and also if all other rental conditions are met.

The second option for unhindered movement around the island is to rent a car. You can rent a car on the spot, but it is most convenient to order it on specialized sites such as RenralCars. So you can compare offers from different companies and choose the most suitable one. The price of a car rental for a day is 1200-1500 baht, depending on the model of the car, its condition and the number of days. As a rule, this option is most beneficial for companies of 4-5 people.

Taxis on the island can be rented both privately and ordered via the Internet. The second method allows you to know the exact amount of the trip, but the first one is more difficult in this regard. Taxi cars on Koh Samui are not equipped with meters, therefore, the cost of the service will depend solely on the wishes of the driver. You can get from the airport to the beach from 500 baht, around the island - about 200 baht.

The only public transport on the island, as mentioned above, is songteo. They are a pickup truck with a roof, under which two benches are installed, where passengers are accommodated. In order to get on board, you need to vote by the road, waiting for the car, and to get off at the right place, you need to ring the bell, which is located on the roof in the cabin.

Unlike Pattaya's songtheos, Koh Samui's transport is not blue, but red.

There are not so many route options - only three:

• No. 1. Nathon – Chaweng via northern part islands.
• No. 2. Nathon – Lamai via southern part islands.
• No. 3. Nathon - Chaweng via Big Buddha.

The fare starts from 20 baht, but this is for a very meager distance. On average, you need to pay 40-60 baht for a songthaew ride.

It is not so difficult to catch a transport - cars drive on the first two routes every 10 minutes, on the third - every 20 minutes.

It is important to know that all converted pickups operate as public transport only until 18:00. After that, multi-colored lights light up above the windshield of the car, and drivers begin to engage in private cabs. As for the price, it all depends on the ability to convince the interlocutor. But you should be prepared for the fact that one trip will not cost less than 150 baht.

Transport links between the islands and the mainland

Do not forget that Koh Samui is an island, which means that most likely, in order to get to another location, you will have to use water view transport.

If there is a need to be on the mainland of the state, then one of the easiest options is to sail to Surat Thani province by ferry or speedboat. The cost of the crossing starts from 150 baht. You can also purchase a single ticket, in which, in addition to water transport land will be included - bus or minibus. In this way, you can get to the Suratthani bus station, from where you can already build a route for moving overland.

The easiest way to get to Pattaya from Koh Samui is by plane. Bangkok Airways operates one flight a day at 11 am. The time in the air is 1 hour and 10 minutes. The cost of the flight is about 3500 baht.

You can also find yourself in the capital of the state as quickly as possible - in 1 hour and 15 minutes, using the services of Bangkok Airways. Every day 4 planes take off from Koh Samui airport. The ticket price is approximately the same as to Pattaya.

From the island airport you can fly to five points in Thailand: Bangkok, Pattaya, Krabi, Phuket and Chiang Mai.

The nearest resort island to Koh Samui is Koh Phangan, the distance between them is only 8 km. As you might guess, you can get to Koh Phangan only by water. To do this, you can use the services of numerous ferries and boats.

Most of the transportation from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan is carried out by the following ferry companies:

• Loprayah,
• Seatran Discovery,
• Big Buddha,
• Songserm.

A ferry ticket for any of the above companies will cost 300 baht, however, the place of departure differs (there are 4 public piers on Koh Samui, and some water carriers have their own piers) and the place of arrival (2 piers on Koh Phangan), as well as the timetable.

Denis

Koh Samui- the most picturesque resort in Thailand!

Koh Samui island in Thailand in popularity confidently competes with. So much here picturesque nature, impenetrable jungle, snow-white beaches, smiling Thais, that once you get here, you don’t want to come back at all. And for those who like to party on the nearby island, a grand party takes place every month, where you can break away until the morning so that you don’t have the strength to reach the hotel.

The waters around Koh Samui are not only rich in life, but also very transparent - depending on the season and the set (dive site), the visibility distance reaches twenty or even thirty meters. Therefore, diving on Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Nang Yuan is one of the most developed ...

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If you come to rest on Koh Samui, then an excursion to the islands of Koh Tao and Nang Yuan will definitely be included in the program of your stay there. And this is not surprising, because they are one of the most picturesque pieces of land in the middle of the water surface. All over the world you will find...

cable car Koh Samui is a very exciting and extreme excursion for those who constantly lack adrenaline in their blood. For her alone it is worth visiting this island. The total length of all routes is more than 9 kilometers and 50 intermediate...

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Thailand is one of the richest countries in the world in terms of attractions per capita. And we will not sin too much before the truth if we say that the Angthong National Marine Park near Koh Samui is the main one. This is a group of islands in the Gulf of Thailand, ...

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Samui (Koh Samui) - occupies the second position in size among the islands of Thailand - an area of ​​228.7 km². The shape resembles a rectangle with sides of 21 and 25 km. The island is located about 35 km from the mainland city of Surat Thani and 700 km from Bangkok.

Koh Samui is surrounded by 60 islands, many of which are uninhabited. Rocks, virgin impenetrable jungle in the center of the territory, banana and coconut groves on which monkeys work, luxurious snow-white beaches, pure water, silence and solitude - this is the island of Koh Samui.

The island began to acquire tourist fame since the 70s of the last century. It was pioneered by hippie tourists who were attracted by the beautiful secluded beaches and the exotic originality of the local landscapes. A little later, the island was chosen by backpackers from all over the world. All this contributed to the development of infrastructure, which in turn led to an increase in the flow of tourists, organized travelers began to come to the island in Thailand.

To date, Koh Samui can offer tourists 10 equipped beaches, and the same number have retained their original untouchedness. In general, there are about 30 beaches on the island.

You will enjoy clear azure waters South China Sea. The entire beach area is separated from the island ring road by buildings from hotels, shops, bars, and other establishments. The island has an airport, known for its uniqueness - it is built from palm trees that were cut down to equip the runway. All the benefits of civilization are concentrated in the coastal areas of Koh Samui.

How to get there

The fastest option is by plane. There is no direct regular communication with the CIS countries, only charter flights are operated. Therefore, our tourists have to fly with transfers. Transfers can be made in Bangkok, Phuket, as well as in Penang, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong. Ticket prices average 3,000-5,000 baht and can reach 7,000 baht one way from Bangkok.

A cheap but tedious way is the bus. From any city in Thailand to Koh Samui depart bus routes. Passengers have to cover the distance to the cargo pier of the city, and then another hour and a half by ferry to Koh Samui. You can get there by passenger ferry.

Most of the piers are located on Chumpon, Suratthani, as well as on Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

Most ferries arrive in the main city of Koh Samui - Nathon. The cargo pier is a little further south of Nathon. Songteos are on duty at the pier, the fare is 60 baht. There are also taxis and air-conditioned minivans. The fare in the latter is 150 baht.

Nathon Pier on the map

In the northern part, in accordance with the map of Koh Samui, there is a Big Buddha pier, ferries from Koh Phangan arrive here. There are also songteos here, but they only go to Chaweng and the airport, the price is 100 baht ($ 3). If necessary, you can use a taxi. Public transport does not run from Lipa Noi Pier, from here you can only get to the beach by taxi.

Transport

There are no problems with transport and movement on the island if you are close to the ring road. Songteos, minivans, tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, air-conditioned taxis or rented vehicles constantly run here. But the transport system is less developed than in Phuket or Pattaya. Songteo will have to wait 10-15 minutes.

• The most economical mode of transport is songteo 50-60 baht ($1.5-1.7).

• The price for an air-conditioned taxi is from 300 baht ($ 9) even if you need to go to a nearby beach.

• A trip in the back seat of a motorcycle taxi costs from 30 baht ($ 1) for 1-2 kilometers.

• Minivans carry tourist excursions, as well as deliver passengers to hotels from the airport and from the pier, located in the capital of Koh Samui - Nathon.

• Renting a motorbike will cost you 150-300 baht ($4-9) per day, and a car from 800 baht ($24).

• A popular form of transport is a bicycle, its rent is 50-70 baht ($1.5-1.8) per day. The widest offer for car rental is in Nathon, Lamai and Chaweng.

The road system here is represented by a ring road, which originates in the capital of the island and runs along all the beaches. As well as branches from it leading to hotels and beach infrastructure.

If you do not plan to lie on the same beach for the entire vacation, then it is very a good option it's a car rental. The roads here are smooth and without serpentines, and the traffic is not intense. In addition, the territory of the island is not large, and the infrastructure is very clear.

Beaches

Beach areas are located around the entire perimeter of the island. The beaches here are different: both in terms of infrastructure, and in terms of fullness with tourists, and in the variety of entertainment offered. The sand on the beaches can be coarse, or it can resemble white powder. They are also different in landscape: somewhere flat territory, and somewhere rocky.

The most developed infrastructure is the most popular on Koh Samui. There are many bars, shops, markets, restaurants, entertainment venues, massage parlors, hotels.

Less developed infrastructure on Lamai beach. Typical daytime activities on these beaches are water skiing, banana, jet skis, paragliders.

The rest of the beaches offer a more relaxed and remote from civilization vacation. They have only a few small restaurants, bars, mini - markets and hotels. And of course the sea, sun, sand and palm trees - everything is exactly like in the promotional photos of Koh Samui.

Tourists rarely stop in the capital of Koh Samui, as the beach is not very convenient here.

Entertainment

In addition to the entertainment listed above, holidays on Koh Samui involve hiking in the jungle, sea ​​excursions, in particular in the Ang Thong National Marine Reserve. Shots of the famous film "The Beach" were filmed here, so tourists try to capture memorable landscapes on video.

Visiting zoos and plantations are also popular, where monkeys are the main labor force. It is possible to travel to neighboring uninhabited islands for diving and snorkeling, as well as visiting local attractions.

Shoppers will also be pleasantly surprised. Although there are no trading giants here, as in Bangkok or Pattaya, the choice of goods is quite wide and prices are lower. It is worth orienting in the location of markets, shops and shopping centers, having previously studied the map of Koh Samui.

Most popular places for shopping: Central Festival, Tesco Lotus, Big C, Makro, Khun Chaweng Shopping Centre. Whichever beach you stop at, 7 Eleven and Family Mart will be within walking distance.

Night entertainment programs not as diverse and saturated as in Bangkok or Pattaya, but nightlife lovers have a place to spend time. Most of the establishments are located on Chaweng, these are restaurants, discos, and transvestite shows popular among tourists.

Attractions

The main ones are natural, but there are also man-made objects that attract the attention of tourists.

• Big Buddha - a 12-meter statue of a deity, designed to protect the island, is located on the tiny island of Faan, which is connected to Koh Samui by a causeway.

• Wat Khunaram is located in the south of the island, close to Lamai Beach. Here, the mummy of the former rector of the temple, who died in 1973, is placed in a glass sarcophagus.

• Wat Plai Laem Temple is located in the northeast of the island, next to Bophut Beach. This is the largest and most beautiful temple complex on Koh Samui.

• The Magic Buddha Garden was created over the course of 20 years by a local gardener. Sculptures of deities and various buildings skillfully fit into the beautiful lush vegetation.

• The Butterfly Garden and the Insect Museum are located near the local Oceanarium.

• The Tiger Zoo is located just behind the Koh Samui Aquarium. At the zoo, you can bottle feed small animals. Tourists do not leave here without photos and videos.

• Paradise Park Farm is at the top of the high mountain islands. It contains both wild and domestic animals and birds. They enjoy interacting with tourists.

• At the crocodile farm, located near the airport, crocodile artists perform twice a day.

• The Monkey Theater is located near Bophut Beach. Good mood and funny video shooting are provided to you.

Housing

There are no problems with housing on Koh Samui either. Here you will find a hotel for any budget, because there are more than 1000 of them. If you are attracted by luxury apartments with a private pool, get ready to shell out from 40,000-60,000 baht ($1175-1765) per month. You can also rent a more modest bungalow for 15,000-25,000 baht ($450-740) per month.

For lovers budget holiday in the port village of Chaweng you can rent a room with a minimum of amenities for 200-300 baht ($6-9) per day. It is also possible to set up a tent on the island.

Koh Samui is one of the islands of Thailand with many picturesque bays, great beaches and luxurious coconut palms. This great place for world-class recreation, long known and loved by Russians.

There are a lot of attractions here, so you can relax on Koh Samui not only on the beach, but also during exciting excursions and inspections of local unique historical and cultural monuments, as well as natural beauties.

Geography

The island is located in the Gulf of Thailand. The fastest way to get to it from Bangkok is by plane, only an hour's flight. There is also a ferry, but it takes much longer to get here, but the journey will turn out to be incredibly exciting.

This island is surrounded by many small islands, many of which are also inhabited by people. In the very center of Koh Samui, mountains rise several hundred meters high, covered with dense tropical forest. It is the second largest after Phuket in Thailand.

Climate

The climate of Koh Samui is similar to the climate of all of Thailand, but it is more humid. IN winter time, which in this country is called the rainy season, precipitation can last for weeks. The season starts in October and lasts until the end of December.

Then the rains give way to warmth and sun, the dry season begins, which lasts until March. This is a great time to relax and travel around Koh Samui. The air temperature is around 30C, the weather is sunny and the ocean is warm and clear.

From May to October, the hot season begins, when the air warms up to 40C, which is well tolerated by our tourists under the conditions of the island, the rains stop. At this time, the most delicious tropical fruits ripen, you can enjoy them to your heart's content.

History

Historians are convinced that this blessed island was inhabited by Chinese and Malay fishermen as early as the 6th century. It is present on the old Chinese maps 17th century Ming Dynasty. The origin of its modern name is not known.

In the 20th century, during the Second World War, Koh Samui was captured by militaristic Japan. After the war, he became part of Thailand, but he always lived an independent and secluded life. Only at the end of the 60s of the last century they began to build roads here, to equip the entire territory.

Currently, Koh Samui has the status of municipal independence and continues to live its own life. But the magnificent beaches white sand And Coral reefs always attracted tourists from all over the world. In the 70s, as soon as the first roads and hotels appeared, travelers from all over the world immediately arrived.

Today, 45 thousand local islanders live on Koh Samui, whose main income is tourist services, collecting coconuts, fishing. They still carefully keep intact wildlife islands, but every year it becomes more and more difficult.

Tourism

The tourism business required the mass construction of hotels and restaurants, the IT industry, boutiques, and sports facilities. Today it is not yet a fashionable resort, but soon it will be. Koh Samui is ideal for tourists of the middle class and above.

In the 90s of the last century, tourists tasted it beautiful place for recreation, and a real tourist boom began here. Divers especially like the island due to the nearby coral reefs.

Beaches

The entire coast of Koh Samui is magnificent beaches, bearing the names of nearby villages, capes or bays. There are more than thirty beaches in total. Let's talk about the most popular:

1) Chaweng- the most popular local beach, with white sand and the most beautiful color of the sea. A lot of entertainment is organized here: clubs, bars, restaurants. This Entertainment Center all over Koh Samui.

2) - this is the bay from which the beach with coarse white sand is located. There is a deep bottom, so the beach is not for children. But there are many boulders, you can swim around them, and hide behind them. Nearby - a restaurant and two hotels.

3) Lamai- Another popular island beach. It has considerable length and width. Its main attraction is the granite boulders near the shore in the sea, which look very impressive. There is a whole tourist infrastructure.

4) - this beach is located south of Lamai. It is interesting because it is located next to it. fishing village, and any tourist can personally observe the fishing industry. There are several excellent fish restaurants nearby.

5) - a magnificent fine beach with white sand and the most beautiful sea. But this whole place is built up with luxurious hotels, and parts of the beach are distributed between them. Therefore, Natien is open only to the elite.

6) Lipa Noi is situated on south coast Samui. There are several restaurants next to it where you can enjoy local seafood. Near white sandy beach two hundred meters - a shallow, gentle sea.

7) is a beach with a shallow bottom and slightly cloudy water. It is good because there are few tourists and many excellent restaurants. You can visit the only children's restaurant on the island with a playground.

8) Ban Tai as if created by nature for children's recreation. Shallow sea with clean sand. There is a small playground for children in the Mimoza Hotel, which is located nearby. By the name of the hotel, the beach is also often called Mimosa.

9) - a huge beach several kilometers long, located in the north of the island. Nearby is an old Chinese village with many cafes and restaurants. This favorite place divers on Koh Samui.

10) - another longest beach on east coast islands. The sea is shallow here. There are small stones. Right on the beach there is a pier from which boats can take you on excursions to the tiny islands near Koh Samui.

Attractions

1) was founded in 1980 and is more than 40 limestone islands in the Gulf of Sinai around Koh Samui, densely covered with tropical vegetation and having their own islanders.

2) is a Buddhist temple, inside which you can see the mummy of its abbot. Once he enjoyed great love and respect among his flock and had the gift of divination and foresight.

3) and tiger zoo The island has a unique collection of tropical fish and turtles. And nearby is a zoo where you can see the formidable and beautiful Bengal tigers and leopards. Another great place to stay with kids.

4) is installed on a mountain and is visible from almost anywhere on the island. This is the main relic for island Buddhists. They worship the Buddha by climbing the mountain on the high stairs of the Dragons.

5) built by a local resident and filled with various figures from Buddhist mythology, modern real heroes, creating an overall atmosphere of mystery. In the garden, in a crypt, its creator rests with his family.

Excursions

The local guides offer tourists various excursions dedicated to Buddhist sights, shows with the participation of local animals: from butterflies to elephants, sightseeing incredible beauty natural attractions.

At your service sea ​​travel on a boat in national park included in the famous UNESCO list. Here you can examine with a tube coral islands, enjoy sea ​​views, see the lake among the rocks, wild sea turtles, etc.

Entertainment

Koh Samui is a paradise for shopaholics. The island has a huge number of different shops and mini-markets where you can buy local clothes, souvenirs, jewelry, silk, toys, leather goods, Buddhist clay figurines, etc.

Among the entertainments one can note the descent from the mountain along the ropes or on hot-air balloon, paintball, football and golf. There are many yoga centers and SPA-salons on the island, famous for their qualified staff. For lovers of hot - discos, bars, nightclubs and restaurants.

Transport

Koh Samui has a small private airport with daily flights to Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and other surrounding cities and towns. You can get here by ferries, catamarans and boats. Along the coast of the island, its own ring two-lane concrete road has been laid, from which there are smaller branches. Public transport– island pickups, taxis, motorcycles.

Pros and Cons of Koh Samui

This is the second most popular tourist destination in Thailand after Phuket. It has long grown to the level of tourists of the middle European class, but the prices for all tourist services here are noticeably lower.

Koh Samui does not have such a vibrant nightlife as Phuket. Many locals oppose this, because accustomed to live quietly and alone. All Thais have a surprisingly gentle nature, but wild parties can bring anyone.

Visas

To get to Thailand on the island of Koh Samui, it is enough to issue a tourist visa. It is issued for three or six months upon submission of all required documents. In Russia, you can consult and issue such an entry document at the embassy of this state, located:

Moscow, Bolshaya Spasskaya street, 9,

tel.: +7 495 608-08-56.

Important information

Our embassy in Thailand is located:

78 Sap Road, Bangkok, 10500 Thailand,

tel.: (8-10-662) 234-9824 and 268-1169.

The Consular Section:

Tel.: (8-10-662) 234-2012.

Emergency phone numbers in Thailand:

1155 - tourist police department,

195 - Criminal Police Department,

1193 - traffic police,

199 - emergency fire service,

1554 - ambulance.

Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand. Dimensions - 21x25 km, total area- 250 sq. km. It is located in the southwestern part of the Gulf of Thailand, 30 km from the mainland (from the province of Surat Thani) and 690 km from Bangkok. Main city islands - .

The peculiarity of this resort is the combination of good developed infrastructure with sparse beaches clear sea and well-preserved nature. Everyone will like it here. Party-goers on the island will find clubs, bars and other nightlife. Gourmets will indulge in a variety of Thai and international cuisines. Lovers of secluded relaxation will stop in quiet corners, where after sunset life stops and you are left alone with nature.

Koh Samui is the third most popular resort in Thailand. Thanks to the presence of the airport, you can quickly and easily get here from anywhere in the country. The authorities soon plan to make the airport international, which means that it will be possible to fly here directly from Russia and other Western countries.

Koh Samui has a dozen beaches, and very different ones. Before choosing a place to live on the island, you need to familiarize yourself with each in detail, since some are almost "wild", while others, on the contrary, have a lot of hotels, restaurants, bars and nightlife.

Koh Samui is surrounded by a ring road, along which public transport runs. In addition, there are tuk-tuks, motorized and air-conditioned taxis, so there will be no problems with movement, you can safely travel from beach to beach and to all the sights of Koh Samui, of which there are quite a lot.

Koh Samui on the map of Thailand

History

The first foreigners who arrived on Koh Samui back in the 70s were hippies. They were followed by ordinary tourists. In the mid-80s, local authorities decided to turn Koh Samui into tourist resort. The construction of hotels, restaurants, shops and other amenities to which Europeans and Americans are so accustomed began. Fortunately, the benefits of civilization were limited to coastal areas, not affecting the center of the island.

There is still untouched jungle. By the way, there is no trace of the hippies and their dilapidated huts; now package tourists and independent travelers stop at the resort.

Tours on Koh Samui

To date the best prices they offer 4 * and 5 * hotel complexes on Koh Samui (for the Russian Federation - Anex Tour, Tui, Biblio Globus, Pegasus, Tez-tour). That is, if you want a hotel vacation, then in most cases it is more profitable to buy a package tour.

It is best to go to Koh Samui with a package tour in the following cases:

1. If you plan to stay at the hotel most of the time.

Most of the rest you plan to swim, lie on a sun lounger, eat, take part in animation, visit spa treatments. In this case, you do not need to choose several hotels for your trip, you only need one, but the best one for your money. If you want to live in several places, then this will be already individual tour, and it is more profitable to fly alone.

2. If you are traveling with children and teenagers.

Variety of food in good hotels separate children's table. Children's animation and peers with whom it will be interesting and fun.

3. If you want a quality service for your money.

Almost direct dependence on the price. The more prestigious and expensive the hotel, the higher the quality and variety of services, the more interesting the territory and food.

4. If you live in a region where there are no regular flights.

If you live far from major airports, then the choice of air travel is limited. Even if there are some regular flights, they can be with a transfer. In this case, it is easier to buy a package tour, which already includes air tickets for a direct charter, which are usually not found on free sale.

5. If you want to save.

Due to the large volumes of sales during the season, the prices of the tour operator as a whole are lower than if you buy all parts of the tour separately. Yes, it must be admitted that these parts are not always of the best quality (charter, insurance, shared transfer), but for most tourists everything is determined by the price.

What does a trip to Koh Samui include?

Usually in tourist package included:

Everything is already taken care of for you, you do not need to buy anything separately.

Where to buy tickets

First of all, tickets to Koh Samui can be bought at travel agencies. Usually employees there are well oriented in the current market situation. But, like all sellers, they are interested in selling certain tours, since tour operators can offer higher commissions. Those. you should be alerted by the particularly active imposition of a particular hotel and tour operator.

If you know exactly what you want, know how to use the Internet and find truthful reviews, then you can book a tour to Koh Samui on the tour operator's website on your own.

It is even more profitable to do this on the Travelata and Level.Travel websites (Misto.Travel for Ukraine), since there you can compare the prices of all tour operators at once. Very simple and convenient sites, booking is possible in 5 minutes, unlike most tour operator sites. An additional benefit is that there is a system of bonuses for repeat purchases, as well as from time to time discounts are offered.

How to get to Koh Samui

Cheap flights to Bangkok

You can buy tickets to Thailand as profitably as possible with the help of special search engines that collect data from all airlines.

By bus

Buses run from any city in Thailand. This is a fairly cheap, but also tiring way to get to Koh Samui. In some cases, there will be several transfers along the way. From Bangkok to the pier, transport takes at least 12 hours, from Phuket - 4.5-5 hours. Ferry to the island - 1-1.5 hours.

By land and water

Most ferries depart from the mainland from Suratthani and Chumpon (closer to Koh Tao). Goes to these places a large number of land transport, tickets for which can be bought everywhere at travel agencies or bus stations of cities and resorts in Thailand or. Koh Samui also has a water connection with Koh Tao and Koh Phangan.

From the last tuk-tuks carry tourists to the beaches. The price is fixed - up to any locality the fare is 60 baht. True, Thais often like to "breed" newcomers, asking for 100. But if you do not agree to this price, then they will take you for the standard 60 baht. It takes about 25-35 minutes to go to Chaweng and Lamai. The main road encircles the entire island around the perimeter, sometimes it runs a few meters from the coast (for example, in the north), sometimes a kilometer from it (on Chaweng). From main road there are branches that lead to the beaches.

Transport

There are no problems with movement on the island. Transportation is provided by public songthaews, tuk-tuks, motorcycle taxis, air-conditioned taxis and minivans. In addition, you can rent a motorbike or car on your own.

1. Songteo.

The cheapest way to get around is by songteo, which is exactly the same as in Pattaya - a pickup truck with two parallel seats. On them you can get to any beach, except for the northeast.

The fare is 50-60 baht per person. If you want to get to the airport and the northeast coast, then you can hire an empty songthaew as a tuk-tuk. In this case, the price is negotiable and, for example, you can get to the airport for 300 baht (not per person, but for the whole car).

2. Air-conditioned taxi.

This is the most expensive form of transport on Koh Samui, they are ordinary cars painted in bright colors.

While there are few of them, the competition is small and they ask for large fares. Meters rarely turn on, usually the price is negotiable and starts from 300 baht between neighboring beaches.

3. Motorcycle taxi.

A trip on the back seat of a motorcycle as a passenger costs, like everywhere else in Thailand - for 1-2 km, about 30 baht. On Koh Samui, the distances are large, so getting from one beach to another (which is 3-4 km) will cost around 100 baht.

4. Minibuses (minivans).

They go from the airport and the pier in Nathon, and also take tourists to places of interest as part of excursions.

5. Transport rental.

The best option for those who come for a long time. There are motorbike rental offices on any beach, as well as on the pier in Nathon, where most ships sail from the mainland. The price depends on the season and location. In Nathon you can find for 150 baht a day, and tourist places- for 200 baht.

Who should go to Koh Samui

Holidays on Koh Samui are suitable for those for whom the clean sea is a priority and uncrowded beaches. If you are interested in stormy night life with lots of discos, nightclubs, Go Go bars and thousands of available girls, you won't like Koh Samui. In a small amount, it is represented only in Chaweng, and, moreover, it is mainly limited to drinking bars under open sky where you can find a girlfriend for the night. But this is only a pitiful semblance of the incendiary Volkin Street in Pattaya or Bangla Road in Phuket.

But lovers of silence and leisurely holiday koh samui will be to your liking.

The beaches are very few people even in the high season from December to March. Here you will not feel the friendly elbow of your sunbed neighbor, simply because they are located at a great distance from each other (unlike Pattaya and Phuket, where the distance between sun loungers is no more than half a meter). And in general, there are very few sunbeds and umbrellas on Koh Samui and they are only near the hotels.

What to do and what to visit

For an initial acquaintance with the island, we recommend going to.

For those who like to buy something abroad, the most popular places for shopping are described:.

Beaches

Unlike Phuket, Koh Samui has both in the west, and in the east, and in the south, and in the north. The most popular is Chaweng. The tourist infrastructure is most strongly developed here - many hotels, shops, markets, restaurants, massage parlors, bars and entertainment. During the day you can ride jet skis, skis, bananas and paragliders, and at night you can “raid” one of the restaurants or bars with girls.

Chaweng is slightly inferior to Lamai, where all the above-mentioned benefits of civilization are smaller. And after sunset it is quieter here. All other beaches offer only sea, sun, palm trees, accommodation, several mini-markets, restaurants and drinking establishments. In the capital of Koh Samui - Nathon - there are almost no tourists, since there is no normal beach. Mostly Thais live here.

Climate

Koh Samui has a tropical humid climate. Throughout the year, the air temperature fluctuates around +30 ... +32 (in December-March a little cooler, in April-May - a little hotter). From June to November, there are heavy rains several times a week, which can last for several hours. Rainiest months: May, September, October, November. The driest: January, February, March, April. The water temperature in the sea is constant and is +27 - +28 degrees.