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About Koh Samui

In the Gulf of the Pacific Ocean there is a truly wonderful place on Earth - the picturesque island of Koh Samui. It is one of the three largest islands in Thailand. The size of the region is slightly smaller than Phuket - its area is 228.7 km².

The capital of the resort is a city called Nathon. All the main interchanges and institutions of the island are located in Nathon, including where you can seamlessly extend a tourist visa.

The resort is only 40 km from the mainland, but 700 km from the capital of Thailand. If you look at the eastern coastline of Southern Thailand, then Koh Samui is located 80 km away. At the moment, Koh Samui is one of the most popular resorts among tourists who prefer a beach holiday.

Koh Samui is the second most popular island among tourists in Thailand.

This region has a variety of flora and fauna, for which they come here from all over the world.

About 45,000 local people live in the resort area, and 90% of them are Buddhists. That is why there are many temples dedicated to the Buddha in the region.

Koh Samui is 21 km wide and 25 km long. Luxurious palm trees grow along the entire coastline, various exotic fruits are grown, some of which can only be tasted when visiting the resorts of Thailand. And the rocky slopes are saturated with unexplored dense forests.

The island, small in area, can be easily circumnavigated by scooter or car in a couple of hours. A scooter is considered the best way to get around here and there are many points where they are rented to tourists. But despite its small size, Koh Samui is full of adventure.

The resort of Koh Samui was created for a paradise vacation, which attracts tourists. Beaches with white velvety sand, coconut palms, bright coral reefs and endless expanses of the sea - all this resembles an old advertisement for a famous chocolate bar. You can often hear that Koh Samui is called the pearl of Thailand and this is really justified.

It seems that nature itself has created such a cozy place to allow tourists to take a break from the city noise and eternal stress during everyday work. During the day it is quiet and calm, only the coast, the sea and heavenly pleasure. Although there are always an uncounted number of tourists on the island, if you wish, you can always retire to the wild deserted coast and sunbathe alone with the sound of the surf.

The resort organizes a complete holiday for tourists for all occasions and hobbies. The infrastructure includes not only equipped beaches, but also much more. For lovers of extreme and more spectacular recreation, snorkeling and diving are developed here. In addition, there are many places worth visiting. The resort area has many attractions, the incredible beauty of Buddhist temples, mesmerizing waterfalls and jungles, where guided tours are sold.

The resort offers its guests accommodation of various types and budgets. For a small fee, you can stay in modest three-star hotels, but the level of service is not so bad. And if the budget allows, then it is proposed to choose one of the fashionable five-star boutique hotels, where you will feel like a VIP guest.

How can you briefly describe Koh Samui? This is a vacation with a variety of entertainment for any budget and any preferences. Arriving here, you will not only recharge with vitamin D, but also get a lot of vivid impressions that it is impossible to ever forget. Here all year round the hot sun, comfort and tranquility. There is probably no better place to relax than Koh Samui!

Currency in Samui

The currency in Thailand is called the Thai baht and is abbreviated as THB. Kopeks of baht are satangs. Both baht and satang exist in the form of iron coins, denominations: 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht, 25 and 50 satang. For Thais, satangs are considered very small coins and they try not to pay with them, but they are still accepted in large stores. Paper banknotes in Thailand are only baht, denominations: 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000. There are no exceptions on Koh Samui and Thai coins and banknotes are also in use here.

Thais in this region do not like to take dollars or euros, they can only pay for a taxi ride, and then not in all. Therefore, it is best to immediately exchange currency for baht at the nearest exchange office upon arrival. Money is also changed in local banks and hotels, but perhaps at a different rate. It is most profitable to exchange banknotes of 50 and 100 dollars.

Food in Koh Samui

Koh Samui surprises with a variety of dishes, local unusual cuisine and places where you can eat deliciously. At the resort, catering will please both wealthy people and budget tourists. The first category includes hotels and elite restaurants, where the check for dinner will be about 2,000 baht. For a more budgetary, but no less tasty end to the day, cozy cafes and street food are suitable - the price tag here will not exceed 200 baht.

Shopping at the resort

Koh Samui has several large modern shopping centers with various boutiques. Therefore, both locals and tourists can afford to plunge into the world of shopping. In addition to the shopping center, there are hypermarkets and small clothing stores. It is better to buy souvenirs at the market, where there is a huge selection of local paraphernalia.

For shopping, we advise you to go to Nathon, Lamai or Chaweng - it is on these beaches that most markets and shops for tourists have opened.

Nightlife in the region

The island is very rich in nightlife. There are many establishments in the region that open their doors for a fun holiday only at night. Lamai and Chaweng can especially boast of their bars and clubs - here, after sunset, life begins to boil, crowds of tourists gather, drink alcoholic beverages, dance and make noise.

Most establishments are located right on the beaches or near them. Bars open from 23:00 and work until the middle of the night or even morning. So you won't be bored at night at the resort!

Areas on the island

Areas on the island are called tambons. Koh Samui is usually divided into 9 large tambons: Chaweng, Lipa Noi, Maenam, Lamai, Nathon, Bang Po, Maenam, Bophut, Choeng Mon, and Hua Thanon. But the most popular among tourists are Lamai and Chaweng. All areas somehow go to the sea, and in the center of the region there is an impenetrable rocky jungle.

Once the island lived by breeding coconut farms and fishing. But since the 80s, tourism began to develop. Now Koh Samui is a leading modern resort with many hotels, mobile communications, catering for every taste and shops with both food and clothing.

Most often, young tourists go to the east coast of the region for recreation. This is explained by a more developed entertainment system. This part of Koh Samui has the largest number of nightclubs. The northern part of the resort is ideal for a family with children, as rent is cheaper there, the sun is not so scorching on the beaches, and in general it is calm and quiet. But the southern coast, oddly enough, is considered wild and is practically not equipped for a comfortable stay. People mainly come here to survive the cold winters in their country, rent a small house and enjoy nature and warmth.

Accommodation options

Koh Samui has long become a modern resort with a rich infrastructure for tourists. The resort has a variety of places to stay for the night and new ones are constantly appearing. Here you will find hotels for budget holidays and luxury hotels with luxurious service.

Luxury boutique hotels with 4-5 stars, a buffet and other services, as a rule, are located on the first coastline. In the spacious rooms of such hotels, an obligatory condition is the presence of air conditioning. They also have their own private beach with sun loungers. In addition, they offer their guests to relax by the pool or visit the spa at the hotel with a real Thai massage. And some hotels even have their own golf course and tennis court.

Three-star hotels usually do not have their own restaurant and bar, but you should not choose an expensive hotel because of this, because you can eat and drink fun drinks at every turn of the island. But in general, such hotels do not differ much from luxury five-star hotels, except that they are located a little further from the beach. But the rooms also have air conditioning, and downstairs, most often, a communal outdoor pool for those who do not want to go sunbathing on the beach. Therefore, we can safely say that the price and quality of services and services are ideally combined.

There are also very cheap lodging options on the island. In such hotels there is definitely no air conditioning, and hot water is usually bad. People who prefer a comfortable stay are afraid to imagine living in such conditions. But even these budget hotels are in demand among tourists. People from other countries often stay in hostels with minimal requirements for comfort and little financial opportunity.

Memorable gifts for yourself and loved ones

In Thailand and specifically on the island of Koh Samui, cheap, but high-quality pearls of their own production are sold. Therefore, tourists like to bring pearl items with them after a holiday - this is a great gift for themselves and loved ones.

Koh Samui is rich in coconuts, cosmetics and even dishes are made from them. Souvenirs made from coconut shells, high-quality cosmetics and just coconut oil are sold in the markets and shops. So the second most popular keepsake from the resort is anything made from coconut.

Another no less interesting gift option is things made from local ceramics. Figurines symbolizing Thailand are made from it. Figurines in the form of an elephant and Buddha are especially in demand. Interestingly, according to the rules of Feng Shui, there should be from 4 to 7 elephants in the house, then you will have love, prosperity and well-being. And statuettes of Buddha above 13 cm cannot be exported from the country according to local legislation.

Let's open a little secret: the cheapest pearls are sold in the Naga Pearl Shop, on the south coast of the region. If you need other gifts, then go to Lamai or Chaweng Beach - this is where the main centers of tourist shopping are located.

If you find yourself in the capital of the region, in the city of Nathon, then you should definitely visit the shops and small souvenir shops where they sell local Thai cosmetics.

Sellers everywhere in Thailand are friendly and smiling, they will always help you find the best gift, if, of course, you find a common language. And do not forget to bargain, the Thais do it with a special passion and enjoy it.