Destination: Thailand: Koh Samui
Overview Text Size A A A
Thailand’s third-largest island (roughly the size of Martha’s Vineyard) was not discovered by Western travelers until the 1970s, when wellness seekers came to practice yoga and meditation, transforming Koh Samui into a self-improvement mecca—though its gorgeous white beaches and clear, warm seas helped. Since then it has exploded with development, and tourism is now the main industry (Koh Samui is the country’s most popular beach destination after Phuket). Though some locals voice concern that the island is en route to becoming hopelessly overrun by big-name resort companies (Banyan Tree and W are slated to open in 2010), Samui has some spectacular properties, like the recently opened Four Seasons and the romantic Six Senses Hideaway. The scenery—sparkling turquoise sea, lush green jungle and expansive beaches—remains as stunning as ever, and most resorts continue to champion a wellness philosophy that’s intricately tied to the island’s past.
Facebook
Delicious
Twitter
Search By Keyword
Submit A Postcard
Popular Destinations
U.S./Canada: American West: American West
The country's most stunning landscapes and exhilarating outdoor activities center...
Europe: Spain: Spain: Madrid
The Spanish capital is buzzing with revamped hotels, authentic restaurants...
New on Indagare
Give the Gift of Indagare The perfect present for travelers: a membership to Indagare. Buy now
Indagare Insider Trips: Cuba, Myanmar and India: We’re planning trips throughout the year. Contact Indagare (212-988-2611) to be added to the wait list.
Indagare’s Mapped Out City Guides on Paris, London, Rome & more
Le Dolce Città: Rome & Florence Updates
Chile’s Landscapes: Patagonia and Atacama
Fashion Spotlight: Migrants du Monde
SPECIAL OFFERS
Member Reviews
- Community: Share advice with fellow members asking about your favorite travel discoveries.
- Indagare Insiders: Three-day itineraries for families in London and art lovers in Vienna. Plus, fashion insider Chiara Ferragamo’s picks on what not to miss in Florence, Bonnie Gokson, owner of Hong Kong’s lofty Sevva on Hong Kong, Culinary Insider: Budapest.
- Rant & Rave: Indagare members can share their advice with the community by logging in first, then clicking here: Rants & Raves.
- Give the Gift: Indagare: Give the gift of travel intelligence with a membership to Indagare. For details or to order, call us at 212-988-2611 or click here: Gift Membership.
- Indagare Plus: Remember that hotels marked by an Indagare Plus symbol offer preferential rates and benefits to members.
- Indagare Share Feature: Share articles, postcards and reviews with family and friends on such networking sites as Twitter, Facebook and Delicious. Simply click on the three small dots that symbolize our connect icon, at the end of every article, and follow the link to the networking site of your preference.
- Sample Indagare: With free bi-weekly email blasts on new hot spots and insider tips when you sign up for our mailing list.
- Profile feature: Members share your profiles, comments, favorite articles and IQs. Just click on the Profile tab on the upper right of your screen and look for the Edit My Profile blue tab.
- Indagare means to discover, explore, seek, scout in Latin.
