Koh Samui is a Beautiful Tropical Island in Thailand

     Koh Samui is the 3rd biggest island in Thailand that is located in the Gulf of Thailand, around 90 km east of Surat Thani and approximately 750 km south of Bangkok. In fact, it is really an Amphoe (district) of Surat Thani and is divided into 7 sub districts (tambon): Angthong, Bophut, Lipa Noi, Maenam, Maret, Namuang, and Taling Nam. It is also called as the Coconut Island, as it grows over 2 million coconuts each month.

     The area is a tropical paradise due to its lovely white sandy beaches, azure-blue sea, vibrant green forested hills, distinct limestone and scenic coves and bays. There is hardly any traffic and the locals are warm and friendly. Due to this, the place has become a hotspot for tourism.

     The island is renowned for its glorious shoreline, lined with a long arc of palm lined white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. Chaweng Beach is one of the busiest and most famous beaches here. It has a large number of beachside cafes, disco bars, and cocktail bars. Another famous beach here is Lamai Beach, which is full of an assortment of restaurants and amusement centers. It is not very crowded, and so a walk on this beach is actually relaxing and peaceful.

     If you want peace and privacy, then head over to Maenam Beach, which is a suitable venue for backpackers and elite. This beach houses few of the excellent deluxe resorts and hotels in the area. Bophut is another lovely beach here and has a quiet fisherman's village, full of tranquil eateries, hip boutiques, and old wooden houses.

     Other famous beaches on the island include are Big Buddha Beach, Choeng Mon Beach, and Lipa Noi Beach. Every beach on the island has facilities to let you experience a wide range of activities like diving, snorkeling, swimming, and sea canoeing.

     Besides this, there are infinite number of things to see and do in Koh Samui. For nature lovers, a trip to Na Tian Butterfly Garden to see a wide array of different types of brightly colored lepidopterans is a must. It also has a bee house and an insect museum, containing few rare breed of insects.

     For animal lovers, there is a Crocodile Farm that contains crocodile species like Caimans and saltwater crocodiles; Samui Aquarium and Zoo containing scores of fish species and specialties such as Asian tigers, sea hawks, and parrots; and Snake Farm housing few rare and most hazardous snakes in Asia.

     If you want to go sightseeing, then Koh Samui offers many enchanting attractions. One of them is Big Buddha, the most famous symbol of the island. It is a 12 m tall golden idol of Lord Buddha in sitting pose, which is visible from a distance,

     Hin Ta Hin Yai, are spectacular rocks also called as Grandfather and Grandmother rocks and are regarded as the forefather of the Mui race. Magic Statue Garden is an astonishing garden situated at the heart of the forest and accessed by traveling through precipitous cliffs and forested rivers and hills and Overlap Stone, is quite tough to arrive at these remarkable boulders.

     Other must-see attractions in Koh Samui comprise of temples like Hainan Temple, Hin Lad Waterfall Temple, Laem Sor Pagoda, and Pagoda Khao Chedi. Other things to see here also include Buffalo fighting, Monkey Show, and conventional Thai Boxing.

Koh Samui is well-connected by sea, land, and air and has excellent accommodation alternatives.

Secret Islands For Your Next Holiday in Thailand

     Thailand is one of the greatest vacation spots in the world It is inexpensive, has affable people, delicious food, a diverse culture and an amazing variety of sites to visit. You can relax on amazing beaches, hike large mountains, dive impressive coral reefs, visit ancient historical sites, explore great caves, and hang out in energetic and fast paced cities. However, most tourists come to Thailand for the beaches and, these tropical islands are the best reason to come to Thailand. However, Thailand has hundreds of tropical islands to choose from. Most tourists stick go to a few popular Thai islands and with good reason. They wouldn't be popular if they weren't good. However, despite Thailand being firmly on the tourist trail, there are still some undiscovered islands in Thailand. Here are seven islands in Thailand that are relatively not very touristy:

     Ko Lipe is a small island located in the southern Thai province of Satun and is situated in the Andaman Sea. The island is located in the Tarutao National Marine Park. The name "Ko Lipe" means paper island in the local Sea Gypsy language. Though Ko Lipe is gradually becoming more touristy, it is still a relatively quite place for now. There are coral reefs for diving right off the island, white sand beaches, inexpensive food, and nice locals. Most places only have electricity until midnight, giving you a place to watch the stars at night. Avoid the holiday season when the crowds peak.

     Ko Tarutao National Marine Park consists of 51 islands located in the Andaman Sea. Ko Tarutao is the main island and is where the park headquarters is located. There are no lodges, resorts, restaurants, or bars on the island. There is just the park's canteen and a small store that is only open until 8pm. Accommodation here is simply cheap bungalows or tents. For those looking for a cheap and rustic island in Thailand, this place is it.

     The island of Ko Chang is a tropical marine national park. Situated in the east near the Cambodian border, it's Thailand's second largest island after Phuket. Recently, with the surge in development and popularity, Ko Chang is Thailand's new popular tourist destination. With its chain of white sandy coves and beaches, pristine rain forests, abundant wildlife, coral reefs, high mountain peaks, waterfalls, and great nightlife, Ko Chang is one of Thailand's most sought after holiday destinations. If you stick to the east side of the island, there is very little development and you can still enjoy a holiday away from the crowds.

     Surin National Park is found some 60 km off the west coast of Phang Nga province. The excellent diving, snorkeling, hiking and game fishing are what most visitors come for, and those hoping to find a quiet refuge from the tourist traps will be delighted with the lack of "development." Surin Nuea is also home to a community of around 150 Moken, or "sea gypsies", who have settled there on a semi-permanent basis for several decades. The islands are protected and can only be visited by organized tours, which helps keep the diving good and the crowds thin.

     The Similan Islands are composed of nine granite islands washed by a clear blue tropical ocean and blessed with some of the world's finest beaches. Despite a rough start, the Similians and all its reefs have recovered from earlier calamities and overuse. Boats entering the Similan Islands have to follow strict rules imposed and controlled by the national park officials, have to use the moorings prepared by the national park and use closed waste water systems to avoid any pollution.

     Ko Lanta is popular with tourists seeking a holiday away from the parties. It's popular with a more relaxed crowd than nearby Ko Phi Phi: more walking on the beach and watching the sunset than drinking and dancing. And even when the island is at its fullest, there will be a quiet place for you to relax - the beaches are never full.

     Ko Mak is one of Thailand's best kept treasures. It is an ideal destination for visitors who want a tranquil environment unspoiled by mass tourism. Amongst 10,000 palm trees, there's a temple, three fishing community villages, rubber plantations, and two uninhabited beaches. Hardly anyone comes here, except couples and divers. Koh Mak is the perfect place to relax, explore, calm your mind and soothe your senses.

     Journeys to these islands in Thailand will give you peace, quiet, wide beaches, crystal blue ocean, and not a lot of people. Let's keep the secret between us though so the islands stay that way for as long as possible, otherwise these great islands will be ruined at a quick pace.