Koh Samui is the third largest island in Thailand. The island is in the main flat, apart from the mountain range in the centre that peaks at 635m, and is about 15km from west to east and north to south. This layout provides beautiful beaches around the island, the longest of which is at Chaweng, then Lamai, with other good beaches around the island at places like Choeng Mon, Bang Por, Maenam, Bophut, Lipa Noi, Laem Set, and Ban Taling-Ngam.
The island has a natural population of around 40,000, swelled by more than 50,000 Thai’s from other parts of the country who also live on Koh Samui. Over the past few years, there has been a noticeable increase in the tourist trade: 2004 – 800,000 foreign and 100,000 Thai visitors who spent more than 10 billion baht (approx 33 million USD) 2005 – 1.2 million visitors, who spent more than 14 billion baht.
| Bangkok | 1 hour |
| Pattaya | 50 Minutes |
| Phuket | 50 Minutes |
| Hong Kong | 3 Hours |
| Dubai | Direct flights expected this year! |
| Singapore | 2.5 Hours |
| Kuala Lumpor | 2 Hours |
| London | 11 Hours |