How long ? A few days maybe ?

When to go ? April to June is the best time to visit : less tourists and good weather. December to March & summer are crowded. July to late October is humid and from then to January, it is the monsoon and the sea can get rough.

On what beach ? The best water can be found on the east and south coasts. As for accomodation, there are more than 200 places to choose from, even so cheapies nowadays seem to be an endangered specie...

Chaweng beach :the longest strip of sand, the best water and an opposite island means the most developed area.
Lamai : another great beach plus a coral reef means the second most developed area with arguably the best nightlife. Only slightly cheaper than the above.
Bo Phut (fishing village) and Bang Rak offer more isolation, the Big Buddha island and superb sunset opportunities.
Other places offer more isolation and cheaper prices.

Samui Island is a rare gem, preserving the idyllic simplicity of a tropical hideaway. It is characterised by beaches of powdery white sand, crystal-clear waters. Here you can delight in a latter-day Robinson Crusoe experience-in comfort.

The island, Thailand's third largest, measuring 21 kilometres at its widest point and 25 kilometres in maximum length, is one of a group of more than 80 tropical islands, only a few of which are inhabited. A mountain ridge runs east to west and most of the hinterland comprises forested hills. The rich hues of wild vegetation are dappled throughout with the contrasting greens of coconut palms and emerald paddy fields.

GETTING THERE Ko Samui (the full name, with ko meaning "island" in Thai) is located some 80 kilometres off the coast of Surat Thani, about 560 kilometres from Bangkok. It can be reached by air from Bangkok, or by ferry boat from Surat Thani town.

Description : The largest and most developed island of the east coast

Comments : Ko Samui is the latest island of Thailand which has been turned from a backpacker to a tourist paradise.

What to do ? Get free copy of What's on Samui / Select your paradise / Visit fishing villages / Spot strange rocks / Tour Wat and see a 12m high Buddha (Wat Phra Yai) / Splash at waterfalls / Discover one of nature's rarity : an eight heads coconut tree ( 1km north Na Thon, on 4169 ring road, opp.. sea-front road to the post office) / Walk coconut plantations / Buy honey / Learn about snakes, butterflies or other insects / Watch a monkeys or elephant show / Trek on elephant / Bet on cock fights, buffalo fights or Thai boxing events / Walk a Muslim village / Speed on a kart / Enjoy an herbal sauna or massage / Walk Asia's longest aquarium tunnel / Party with 500 other people at Reggae Pub, the most famous night spot at Chaweng / Dream at sunset / Smell tropical flowers /

What you may not like ? "Beautiful but so commercialized !" / The size of the island, making anything but motorbike time consuming / The taxi ripp-offs / The overall cost / Having nearly everything designed for tourists / Some very mediocre attractions /