Once a remote tropical island, with a couple of thatched pavilions as its airport terminal, Koh Samui is now a colossus on the Thai beach scene. The backpackers who first put the island on the international map, have long since been replaced by wheelie pullers. And the bamboo beach shacks they called home have given way to some phenomenal Koh Samui luxury hotels.
For most travellers who have Yonder in their sights, Samui is simply a necessary gateway to the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. A brief stopover before catching the boat over to one of these true castaway islands. We also subscribe to this mind set. However, this doesn’t mean that Samui has nothing to offer the discerning Yonderer. On the contrary. It has become the setting for some seriously trendy designer hotels which successfully capitalise on Samui’s undoubted natural beauty.