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.