Ko Samui

Ko Samui
Island
เกาะสมุย
Lipa Noi Beach
Ko Samui
Coordinates: TH 9°30′N 100°00′E / 9.500°N 100.000°E / 9.500; 100.000Coordinates: TH 9°30′N 100°00′E / 9.500°N 100.000°E / 9.500; 100.000
Country	Thailand
Province	Surat Thani
Area
• Total	228.7 km2 (88.3 sq mi)
Highest elevation	635 m (2,083 ft)
Lowest elevation	0 m (0 ft)
Population (2012)
• Total	62,500
• Density	270/km2 (710/sq mi)
Time zone	ICT (UTC+7)
Country code	+66

Bo Phut Beach

Ko Samui (or Koh Samui, Thai: เกาะสมุย, Thai pronunciation: [kɔ̀ sàmūj]) is an island off the east coast of the Kra Isthmus, Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is administratively part of Surat Thani Province. Ko Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after Phuket, with an area of 228.7 km², a population of over 63,000 and a hotel occupancy rate of 73% as the number of visitors increases.^[1] Abundant tourist resources, sandy beaches, coral reefs, and coconut trees are present on the island.

History

The island was probably first inhabited about 15 centuries ago, settled by fishermen from the Malay Peninsula^[2] and southern China. It appears on Chinese maps dating back to 1687, under the name Pulo Cornam. The name samui is mysterious in itself. Perhaps it is an extension of the name of one of the native trees, mui. Some people believe that the word "samui" derives from the Malay word "saboey", or "safe haven", although there appears to be no credible corroboration of this. Ko is the Thai word for "island".

Until the late-20th century, Ko Samui was an isolated self-sufficient community, having little connection with the mainland of Thailand.^[3] The island was without roads until the early 1970s, and the 15 km journey from one side of the island to the other could involve a whole-day trek through the mountainous central jungles.

Ko Samui's economy now is based primarily on a successful tourist industry, as well as exports of coconut and rubber.

Economic growth has brought not only prosperity, but also major changes to the island's environment and culture, a source of conflict between local residents and newcomers from other parts of Thailand and elsewhere.^[4]

Geography

Sunrise, Ko Samui

Ko Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km northeast of Surat Thani town (9°N, 100°E). It is the most significant island in the Chumphon Archipelago. The island measures some 25 km at its widest point. It is surrounded by about sixty other islands, which together compose the Ang Thong Marine National Park (Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park) and include many other popular tourist destinations, including, Ko Pha Ngan, Ko Tao, and Ko Nang Yuan.

The central part of the island is an almost uninhabitable tropical jungle mountain called Khao Pom, peaking at 635 m. The various lowland and coastal areas are connected by a single 51 km road, running mostly along the coastline and encircling the bulk of the island. On the northwest coast of the island is the old capital, Nathon. Although Nathon spreads over a large area, the actual port and main business district is relatively small.

Nathon is the major port for vehicular and goods transportation from the mainland, it is the centre of the fishing industry, and remains the seat of the regional government. The majority of governmental functions are based here, as is the public hospital. Being the location of the main port and the closest inhabited area to the mainland provided the impetus for Nathon becoming the commercial centre for Samui locals. More recently, the decline in dependence on the local coconut industry, the continued growth and development of the tourist industry, and the northeastern location of the airport, has seen the slow move of the commercial centre to Chaweng.

Climate

Ko Samui features a tropical savanna climate under Köppen’s climate classification. The island has only has one true dry season month, with the average monthly precipitation in February falling below 60 mm, the threshold for a tropical dry season month. The climate is warm and humid for most of the year. However, in comparison to Phuket and most of the rest of southern Thailand, Samui's weather is relatively drier (Samui receives about 1,960 mm rain per year, Phuket 2,220 mm, while Phuket's Wet Season is spread over 6-8 months, Koh Samui's has only two months with more than 212mm of rain). The heaviest precipitation is typically seen in the months of October and November.^[5] For the rest of the year, given the tropical climate, rain showers are brief; 20–60 minutes duration is typical.

Administration

Ko Samui is an amphoe (district) of Surat Thani Province, subdivided into 7 subdistricts (tambon). The complete island is one city municipality (thesaban nakhon). The district covers the island, as well as the Ang Thong archipelago and some other small islands nearby.

1. อ่างทอง (Ang Thong) 6 villages 2. ลิปะน้อย (Lipa Noi) 5 villages 3. ตลิ่งงาม (Taling Ngam) 5 villages 4. หน้าเมือง (Na Mueang) 5 villages 5. มะเร็ต (Maret) 6 villages 6. บ่อผุด (Bo Phut) 6 villages 7. แม่น้ำ (Mae Nam) 6 villages

Economy

Historically, the island's economy has been based around subsistence agriculture and fishing, with coconuts as the main cash crop.^[6] From the 1980s onwards, tourism has become an economic factor and is now the dominant industry. Ko Samui transport links have made it a destination for tourists seeking to explore the other islands in the area.^[3]

Transportation

The old Samui international airport

Samui Airport is a private airport built and owned by Bangkok Airways, which is still the main operator and was the only airline with services to Ko Samui from mainland Thailand since the airport's construction in 1989. Due to its use of locally produced palm leaves and a natural, open-air cooling system, the terminal complex received an Environment Impact Assessment Award under the guidance of Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth. Ko Samui airport is built in an open style, drawing connections between it and traditional thai housing, and constructing a beautiful entry way to the island. In 2009, the airport handled 1.3 million passengers and 17,707 aircraft operations.^[7] The airport is now additionally served by Thai Airways International to Bangkok, Firefly Airlines to Kuala Lumpur and Penang, and SilkAir to Singapore.

Flights from Samui to Phuket and other Thai destinations are available, and in 2012, the Thai government announced the possibility of a second Ko Samui airport due to complaints of high airport fees.^[8]

Following the reopening of Don Mueang airport in early 2012, Air Asia offered flights from Kuala Lumpur to Surat Thani Airport. Flights began on 6 February 2012.^[9]

Several ferries connect the island with the mainland, including two car/passenger ferries (Raja Ferries and Seatran), and connect Don Sak to piers in the west of the island, in Lipa Noi and in Nathon. Public buses to all parts of the mainland operate from a new bus station north of Nathon. Songthaews circle the ring road like a bus service with fixed fees in daytime only, and private so-called "taxi meter" taxis are available throughout the island, From 12 August 2014 taxis drive on meter fare only, but are allowed a surcharge of 50 baht.^[10]

Tourism

The expansion of tourism in Ko Samui has resulted in growth of building resorts, bungalows, and luxury private villas on the island. The island's total inventory of 17,479 hotel rooms in 2013 will be augmented by an additional 459 new rooms by 2015. A gradual shift in demand is seeing more Asian visitors and families, but the top three source markets have been Germany, the UK, and Thailand, which contribute a combined 27% share. Bangkok Airways continues to modernise its fleet with new Airbuses, phasing out older ATR 72 propeller planes, which will provide an 189,000 additional airline seats for Samui travellers. Concurrently, Bangkok Airways is trying to raise the environmental restriction on daily flights from 36 to 50.^[11]

Events and festivals

• Buffalo Fighting Festival: One of the best-known festivals on Ko Samui is the Buffalo Fighting Festival^[12] which is held on special occasions such as New Year's Day and Songkran. Unlike Spanish bullfighting, the fighting on Ko Samui is fairly harmless. The fighting season varies according to some ancient customs and ceremonies. The buffalo are beautifully decorated with ribbons and gold-painted leaves. Before the contest, which lasts just two rounds, monks spray the buffalos with holy water. The winning owner typically takes home millions of baht in prize money.

• Samui Regatta: The Samui Regatta is a sailing tournament held every year. The tournament is internationally known and competitors come from as far away as Australia, Singapore, Japan and China. The event began in 2002.^[13]

• Ten Stars Samui Art Party: A recurring cultural event bringing together art lovers, local Thai and international artists, and their new, original artworks. The annual event, hosted at various high-end resorts and other high-end venues on the island, focus on building the art community on Ko Samui, with presentations by featured artists.

• Samui Triathlon: The International Triathlon Union organizes this event every year. This event draws more than five hundred participants from around the world.^[14]

Medical care

Samui has four private hospitals: Samui International Hospital;^[15] Thai International;^[16] Bandon Hospital; and Bangkok Samui Hospital.^[17] The government hospital is in Nathon.^[18]

Local food

Local food products of Ko Samui and Surat Thani Province include salted eggs and rambutan.

See also

• List of islands of Thailand

References

Gallery

• 

  Mountainside view of Nathon

• 

  Lipa Noi Beach

• 

  Bo Phut Beach

• 

  Sunrise, Ko Samui

• 

  Samui International Airport

• 

  Aerial view of Chaweng

• 

  Laem Yai Cape from Bang Po Beach

• 

  Chaweng Beach between Lamai and Chaweng

• 

  Namuang Waterfall

• 

  Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

• 

  Buddha statue, Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ko Samui.

• Ko Samui travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Surat Thani travel guide from Wikivoyage