  History
There is evidence suggesting that Ko Samui was first inhabited by men no later than 1,200 years ago. Until 1940, however, Ko Samui was almost unknown to the outside world. Those from the mainland had to take about 6 hours travelling from a harbour in Surat Thani to reach the island. Samui people themselves had only one means of transportation, i.e. walking. To illustrate, it took several hours for people to walk from Maenam district through jungles to Lamai Beach.
Road construction was hardly conceived since Samui's mountainous area would require heavy construction machines to carry out the work but the transportation of such equipment to the island was impossible. However, in 1967 the government was asked by a headman of the island to give a hand to the island's development. Then construction was launched by manual labour and the result of the long hard work was a dirt track. Some parts of the track climbing up a mountain had an unacceptable angle for a car to pass. The drivers who used the path thus had to come down and push their cars.
Samui's concrete ring road was finished in 1973 by the order of the government. The road passing beautiful beaches around the island made tourism possible. Realizing the charms of Ko Samui and its high potential to be a successful tourist destination, the Tourism Authority of Thailand ordered an exploration of the island in 1980 and made a plan to develop and promote the tourism on the island. As time passed, more schemes were initiated and revised to make it a quality island resort for both domestic and international tourists. As a result, it has become a popular tourist destination of Thailand at present.
 Location
Ko Samui or the Coconut Island is located in the Gulf of Thailand, about 700 km. to the south of Bangkok. The island is in the sea about 20 km off Surat Thani. It is situated at latitude 9° N and longitude 100° E.
Area
Samui has an area of 247 sq. km., making it the third largest island of Thailand after Phuket and Chang Island. It is the main island of a group of 48 islands.
Climate
Thailand is fast becoming a country to be visited in all seasons due to its opposite weather patterns from the east to west coast. When it’s the rainy season in Samui, it’s the dry season in Phuket for example.
The ‘wet’ season is from November to February and temperatures during this time are around the 25-degree mark. Despite the odd shower here and there, there’s still plenty of beach weather. In the ‘dry’, around March through to October, temperatures regularly reach 35 degrees. All in all Samui, like the most of Thailand, is a place for all seasons.
Topography
Most area of the island is a plain with a mountain range in the middle. There are 7 important streams. A 50-km. road is paved around the island.
 Population
44,029 (2003)
Administration
Samui is a county (amphoe) of Surat Thani province administering 7 districts (tambons).
Language
The Southern dialect and the standard Thai language are spoken. English is widely understood in tourist areas.
Products
Samui is famous for its high quality coconuts growing densely everywhere. |
Samui Hotels - Samui Travel Guide > General Information 
