Koh Samui

Koh Samui, also often locally shortened to Samui, is an island off the east coast of Thailand. Geographically in the Chumphon Archipelago, it is part of Surat Thani Province, though as of 2012, Koh Samui was granted municipal status and thus is now locally self-governing.

Koh Samui, with an area of 228.7 square kilometres (88.3 sq mi), is Thailand’s second largest island after Phuket.

In 2018, it was visited by 2.7 million tourists.

Koh Samui is in the Gulf of Thailand, about 35 km (22 mi) northeast of Surat Thani town (9°N, 100°E).
The island measures some 25 kilometres (16 mi) at its widest point. To the north are the populated resort islands of Ko Pha-ngan, Koh Tao, and Koh Nang Yuan.

To the far west are 44 other islands which together compose Mu Ko Ang Thong National Park which is accessible by a day-trip boat tour from Koh Samui.

The central part of Koh Samui is mostly tropical jungle, including its largest mountain, Khao Pom, peaking at 635 m (2,083 ft). The various lowland and coastal areas are connected by Route 4169, which is a 51 km (32 mi)-long road, encircling the island. Many other concrete roads branch off from Route 4169 to service other areas.

On the west coast of the island is the original capital, Nathon, which still houses many government offices, as well as two of the island’s five major piers. Nathon is the major port for fisheries and for vehicular and goods transportation from the mainland.

As the site of the main port and the closest city to the mainland has made Nathon the commercial centre for Samui locals. More recently, the transition from dependence on the local coconut industry along with the continued growth and development of the tourist industry, as well as the northeastern location of the airport, has led to the increase of commercial activity in Chaweng and Bophut.

Koh Samui has a tropical monsoon climate according to the Köppen climate classification. The island has a dry season month, with the average monthly precipitation in February falling below 60 mm (2 in), the threshold for a tropical dry season month.

The temperature is well above the threshold of 18 °C (64 °F) year round, indeed closer to an average temperature of 28 °C (82 °F).

The climate is warm and humid for most of the year. In comparison to Phuket and most of the rest of southern Thailand, Samui’s weather is relatively drier (Samui receives about 1,960 mm (77.2 in) rain per year, and Phuket gets 2,220 mm (87 in)).

Phuket’s wet season is spread over six to eight months. Koh Samui has only two months with more than 212 mm (8 in) of rain). The heaviest precipitation typically falls in the months of October and November.
For the rest of the year, given the tropical climate, rain showers are brief; 20–60 minutes duration is typical.