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| Suratthani the name literally means “city of the good people” and is the former seat of the Sivichaya Empire. It is the largest and most important province of the South, located 644 kms. from Bangkok. |
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| It occupies an area of 12,891 square kilonetres bordering on Chumphon and the Gulf of Thailand to the north, Nakhon Si Thammarat and Kraby to the south, Phangnga and Ranong to the west and the Gulf of Thaoland and Nokhon Si Thammarat to the east. Geographic characteristics of Surat Thani are : High plateau and mountains covered with valuable woodforest to the west, and low basins in the central and eastern seashore area. |
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| There are a tremendous number of islands along the coast and two major rivers : the Tapi River and Phum Duang River. It is administratively divided into 17 Amphoes and 1 King Amphoe i.e., Amphie Muang, Ban Na San, Ban TA Khun, Chaiya, Don Sak, Kanchanadit, Khian Sa, Khiri Ratthanikhom Ko Phangan, Ko Samui, Phanom, Phrasaeng, Phumphin, Tha Chana, Tha Clang, Wiang Sa Ban Na Doem and King Amphoe Chai Buri. |
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Samui Island is a beautiful island of Suratthani , and also it 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. |
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| KohSamui : Samui Island is a major copra producing source of the country. The island lies 80 kms offshore in the Gulf of Thailand from Surat Thani province, some 500 kms south of Bangkok. |
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| Samui has all the attributes of a south sea paradise- sunny, coconut palm- fringed beaches with bone white powdery sand meeting sparkling turquoise water and gentle sea in remote unpopulated areas. |
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There are 33,000 islanders in the total area of 250 square km’ most of which are under a sea of coconut trees that blanket the island. The majority of the hospitable Samuians tend to go about their coconut-picking business in the plantation inland than pay undue attention to sun-soakers on the beaches. |
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| It is Surat Thani’s major tourist attraction. The island has numerous lovely eaches and bays. It is almost literally an island of coconuts and forested hills, and is fast vecoming a resort of international stature. Samue’s best beaches line the northern and eastern coasts, the most popular being Chaweng and Lamai where, generally, the most attractive accommodation is found. |
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| Besides beaches, other island attractions include the Hin Lat and Na Muang waterfalls the phallic rock formations at the southern end of Lamai Bay; a massive seated Buddha inage of Fan isle and Na Thon, the island’s major seafront settlement where shops, restaurants, tour agencies and hotels are located. |
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February 2nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
[...] Tourism on Koh Lanta, like the rest of Krabi province, has exploded only very recently. In the early 1990s only the most adventurous travelers visited the island, staying in only the most basic accommodation costing the likes of 50-100baht a night. Nowadays, however, the place has turned into one of the major destinations for visitors to Krabi. The development however, is still nothing on a par with the likes of Phuket or Koh Samui. [...]