Holidays in Thailand 2011

The 3rd largest island in Thailand Samui is only 247 square km and much smaller than Phuket and Ko Chang who beat it hands down in the size department. Coming from Bangkok, a distance of some 800km, it can be reached in an hour by plane and between 10 and 13 hours if travelling by bus or train, and boat. Around a million tourists travel to the island every year by whichever route, keen to discover its beautiful beaches and sunny skies for themselves.
Samui has come a long way from its backpacker days where the only accommodation you could find was a simple wooden bungalow on the beach. Booking accommodation nowadays you'll find a wide range of options from simply furnished but tasteful beach bungalows to 5 star luxury resorts, combine this with a nice blend of entertainment and serene beaches and you have the perfect island getaway that has a lot of attractions for visitors.
One main road runs around the island's coastline and only takes around a hour to complete. Lots of other smaller roads lead off from it and if you decide to go exploring you can easily get away from the tourist areas and discover the local way of life. The inner region of the island is mountainous and the roads can be quite bad so take care if you do want to explore. You can hire motorbikes for inexpensive rates, or a jeep or car for a day and cover the whole island in a short time.
Koh Samui is located in the Gulf of Thailand and this is evident when eating out at one of the many restaurants. Fresh fish and seafood is typically offered at the many beachside restaurants whether they are local Thai run places or large resorts, the many palm trees provide fresh coconut milk which is added to Thai local dishes, and as Thai people like their food spicy you might have to ask them to refrain from adding too many red hot chili peppers.
Apart from eating and sunbathing there are lots of other activities to keep you entertained in Samui. Golf is popular with locals and holiday-makers - Santiburi Golf Course is situated close to Maenam and Bang Por beaches and set within the country club of the same name, this 18-hole championship golf course is set in a lush tropical setting with coconut trees and panoramic views of Maenam Beach and Koh Phangan. Royal Samui Golf and Country Club is another 18-hole golf and recreation facility, and there is a 9 hole course at Bophut.
Samui is one of the best places to go to learn to dive, or if you are already an experienced diver it has great dive sites to explore with an abundance of marine life. Koh Tao, the Angthong Marine Park and the famous Sail Rock are all in the local area and numerous PADI diving schools can arrange courses and diving trips for beginners and experienced divers seeking out delightful colouful corals, schools of tropical fish, reef sharks and the grand whale shark.
Muay Thai is also an option on Samui and there are a few camps dotted around the island that can teach the basics to beginners and train advanced fighters. The World Muay Thai Council in South Lamai and Thai Pinyo Boxing School in North Lamai are the best well-known. Some Muay Thai camps offer accommodation for trainees but if you prefer to stay in more lavish surroundings then check out Koh samui hotels online for an extensive choice of lodgings.
Chaweng lies on the east coast and is one of the busiest beaches, you can find all kinds of watersports here from windsurfing and catamaran dingy, to jet skiing, water skiing and parasailing. Although busy day and night with cuisines from all over the world, bars and entertainment to satisfy everyone, it's still a stunning beach where you can find yourself a quiet corner to chill out with a good book.