Koh Samui The 247-square-kilometre Samui island is Surat
Thani's major tourist attraction. Located 258 nautical miles south of
Bangkok, and some 84 kilometres east of the provincial capital, Koh
Samui measures some 21 kilometres at its widest point, and 25 kilometres
at its longest. A 51-kilometre ring and largely coastal road encircles the
island, which has numerous lovely beaches and bays, and is almost
literally an island of coconuts and forested hills.
Samui's best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts, the most popular
being Hat Chaweng and Hat Lamai, where generally attractive
accommodation can be found. Other beaches include Hat Choeng Mon, Hat
Mae Nam in the north and Hat Na Thon, the island's major seafront
settlement where shops, restaurants and tour agencies are concentrated. At
the southern end of Lamai Bay are phallic rock formations called Hin Ta
Hin Yai. A path connects the three waterfalls, called Namtok Hin Lat,
Namtok Lat Wanon, and Namtok Na Muang, from west to south. The
waterfalls are best visited during rainy season. Elephant riding is an
interesting activity at the Na Muang waterfall. There are some Buddhist
monuments and temples on the island: Phra Yai is a massive seated
Buddha image at Fan isle; Phrathat Hin Ngu is a stupa containing the
Buddha’s relics and Chedi Laem So, a golden stupa on the western coast;
and Wat Khunaram houses the dead body of Luang Pho Daeng which does
not decay.