With its golden sands, high-end resorts and world-class dining options, it's not hard to see why this beautiful island is such a desirable destination for a Thai luxury holiday.
Koh Samui is Thailand's third largest island, located off the South East coast of Thailand. Palm-fringed shores, quaint villages and friendly locals all wait to welcome you to the golden shores.
From days gone by the island still retains an 'island community' atmosphere and remains more unspoilt than many parts of Thailand. Koh Samui offers a vast range of accommodation and things to see and do. Accommodation now ranges from rustic beach huts to ultra-luxurious Spa villas.
The most popular beaches on the island are Chaweng, Lamai and Maenam, which are great for relaxing, with plenty of bars and restaurants nearby. Other parts of the island are much quieter and are perfect for those seeking peace and tranquillity.
Excursions can be easily arranged - popular trips include speedboat tours to Ko Tao, a small island with coral gardens excellent for diving, boat tours around Ang Tong Marine Park, Golf, hot springs, Wat Pra Yai (Big Buddha Temple), elephant trekking and Thai boxing.
Ricky
Travel Specialist
Where to go in Thailand
Thailand travel information
When to visit Thailand
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- Time zone: +7 GMT
- Flight time: 11-15 hours
- Recommended airlines: Thai Airways, Emirates, Singapore Airlines, Qatar Airways
- Currency: Thai baht
- Tipping guideline: Tipping is not customary in Thailand, but small tips for good service are appreciated.
- Health considerations: There is a risk of altitude illness when travelling to destinations of 2,500m or higher. There is a risk of dengue. There is a risk of Zika virus. There is a low risk of malaria in the rural, forested borders of Thailand with Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. There is a very low risk of malaria in the remaining areas of Thailand. There is no risk of yellow fever in Thailand, however, yellow fever vaccination is required for travellers arriving from countries with risk of yellow fever transmission.
- Capital: Bangkok
- Population: 71,650,197
- National languages: Thai, English
- Electricity and plugs: Type A, B, C, F, & O, 220 V
- Mobile phone coverage: Good coverage with several mobile service providers available.
- UK passport visa requirements: You don't need a visa for Thailand if you have a British passport - for a maximum of 30 days
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