Koh Samui the pearl of the China Sea
The island of Koh Samui is located off the southeast cost of Thailand.
It belongs to an archipelago of 85 islands in the gulf of Siam.
Most of these islands and islets are uninhabited, they make up Ang Thong National park.The 250 square kilometers of the island makes it the third-large gest after Phuket and Koh Chang. Its highest point (656 meters) overlooks a lush jungle. Isolated for a long time from the rest of the world Koh Samui is worth seeing. The whiteness of its beaches, its lush nature, its numerous waterfalls, its constant animation and its numerous activities make the island a dream destination for all travelers looking for adventure and idleness.It is the symbol of the true tropical paradise.
Its history :
The origin of the name of Koh Samui is not known exactly, even if the first word “Koh” means island in Thai, the word “Mui” meanwhile remains unknown. Some refer to the translation of a Chinese word “saboei” which means “safe port” since the Chinese were among the first navigators to reach the beaches on the island.
The first representation of Koh Samui on Chinese maps dates from 1687, during the reign of the Ming dynasty. At that time chinese navigators nicknamed the island Pulo Conam. Koh Samui remained isolated from the rest of Thailand until the 20th century. Koh Samui was included on the map of the Kingdom of Siam during the reign of King Rama 5, his majesty King Chulalongkorn. King Rama 5 in 1887 visited Koh Samui in transit to his favorite vacation destination Koh Phangan.
At that time, a little was known about Koh Samui, except for the island’s productions : coconuts, tropical fruits, peach and bamboo.
Malaysian and Chinese traders and sailors traveled to Koh Samui from mid-17th century to protect against tropical storms in the gulf of Siam.
Some have settled there to work and start a family. They lived initially near the main fishing and trading ports of Nathon, Maenam or Bophut. They also brought Buddhism with them, which became the main religion of the island, as well as a muslim population minority and workers.
All the main towns were located along the coast and the only means of transport was the boat.
Nathon, being the closest city tot he mainland, has grown faster. It became the capital of Koh Samui and the center of the entire administration of government. Local industries : tropical fruits, bamboo, coconut, and peach have continued to grow.
The first western adventurers to venture onto this new paradise in the 60s and 70s were the hippies.
In 1967, the head of the island asked competent authorities of Bangkok to fund the building of a 52 km road network around Koh Samui.
200 men were employed for these titanic works. The hills and the rocky and mountainous terrains on the east coast of the island constituted the most formidable physical challenges… physiques des plus redoutables…
Dynamite has proven to be the most effective method of paving the way for a 52 km path which had to be wide enough for machines and vehicles to pass. This route allowed construction vehicles to access the entire 52 kilometers. The tropical climate of the island, although perfect for 11 months of the year, has caused many delays because any heavy rain or flood made any work impossible.
A large part of the population of Koh Samui has increased due to the arrival of workers from other cities in Thailand to take advantage of the booming tourism industry. In 1980, the ministry of Tourism of Thailand ordered a project to develop and promote Koh Samui as a tourist destination. Koh Samui is rapidly becoming a favorite destination for both Thai nationals and foreign tourists.
In 1989, Bangkok Airways funded the first and only private airport in Samui. Since Koh Samui has become a must-see destination in Thailand.