Koh Samui

  • Thailand Hotels

    10 best luxury hotels and resorts in Koh Samui 2023

    Looking to splash out on a lavish Songkran escape? Then Koh Samui, the ultimate destination for luxury and relaxation, is the perfect place to go. With its pristine beaches, vibrant nightlife, and stunning natural beauty, Koh Samui is a paradise for travelers seeking a touch of indulgence. And with so many amazing luxury hotels and resorts to choose from, you’ll…

  • Koh Samui News

    Murky water at Koh Samui beach caused by plankton bloom, not oil spill: officials

    UPDATE The smelly, murky water putting off tourists from swimming in the sea at Maenam Beach in Koh Samui, southern Thailand, is not an oil spill but caused by a plankton bloom, which is a natural phenomenon, according to the Director of Koh Samui Harbour Authority, Arun Buppako. The photos circulating of green murky water at the beach show dead…

  • Tourism News

    Foreigners complain they can’t swim at Koh Samui beach due to smelly oil spill

    French and German tourists complained that a smelly oil spill prevented them from swimming at Maenam Beach yesterday in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, southern Thailand. A German man told reporters that he went to the beach to sunbathe and play in the water. But when he tried to go swimming, he noticed a foul smell emanating from the sea.…

  • Koh Samui News

    Bangkok Airways to launch Koh Samui – Hong Kong route

    Bangkok Airways revealed plans to launch a direct route between Koh Samui in Thailand and Hong Kong, aiming to “generate more revenue from foreign customers.” President of Bangkok Airways Puttipong Prasarttong-Osoth revealed that a nonstop Koh Samui – Hong Kong flight is in the works and could launch sometime this year. The airline has also entered discussions to lease more…

  • Sports News

    Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament boosts sports tourism

    With tourism back in full swing, a variety of diverse events and activities are taking place in tourism hotspots, offering variety to tourists and locals alike. Koh Samui recently hosted a successful volleyball tournament that organisers hope will boost sports tourism to Thailand. The 5th annual Samui Open Beach Volleyball Tournament took place from March 10 to 12, at the…

  • Tourism News

    Thailand looks to go Dutch with tourists from the Netherlands

    The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) roadshow continues to gather a head of steam with the Netherlands the latest European country on its hit list. Last week, the TAT was in Germany at the ITB Berlin 2023 event to officially launch the ‘Visit Thailand Year 2023: Amazing New Chapters’ campaign, which aims to promote sustainable and responsible tourism in Thailand,…

  • Tourism News

    Record numbers of Russian tourists affect economy

    Thailand has seen a sharp rise in the number of Russian tourists in the country. So far this year over 370,000 Russian visitors have arrived in Thailand. That’s 67% of last year’s entire total of 435,000. Pol Maj Gen Phanthana Nutchanart, the deputy commander of the Immigration Bureau assures though that the influx has not increased Russian criminal activity. The…

  • Thailand News

    Family of British man in coma needs help to bring him home from Thailand

    A British man’s family is appealing for help to bring him home from Thailand, where he is fighting for his life following a terrible motorbike crash. The man, 32 year old Jay Bridgehouse from Stockport, travelled to Thailand for a chance to ‘chase his dreams’ and look for work, Manchester Evening News reported. But tragedy struck when a pickup truck ploughed…

  • Thailand News

    Koh Samui welcomes inaugural flight from Chengdu, China

    On Sunday, Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, welcomed a flight from Chengdu in China for the first time in over three years. Chengdu Airlines flight EU2807 landed in Koh Samui at 5.40pm with 130 Chinese tourists on board. Samui Airport held a special welcome ceremony for the inaugural flight by using fire engines to spray water…

  • Koh Samui News

    German man drowns at Koh Samui beach

    There’s been another tragic drowning at one of Thailand’s holiday paradises, this time the island of Koh Samui. A 58 year old German man drowned at Koh Samui‘s Chaweng Beach on Monday. Bo Phut Police said the tourist had gone into the water with his girlfriend. When his girlfriend got out of the water, she could not find her boyfriend…

  • Crime News

    Former cop from UAE allegedly set cars on fire in Koh Samui

    A former cop from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly set cars on fire in Koh Samui. The suspect, 40 year old Muajib Ali Salim Saleh Alkarbi, allegedly set fire to a BMW, and a Toyota sedan parked near vacant land in Koh Samui’s Taling Ngam sub-district at around 1.35am on Thursday, March 2. Koh Samui Police said CCTV footage…

  • Pattaya News

    Cruise ship brings over 2,000 European tourists to Koh Samui and Chon Buri

    A cruise ship brought over 2,000 European tourists to Thailand’s lush holiday paradise of Koh Samui, before heading to Chon Buri province. The 2,409 tourists and 924 crew members arrived at Koh Samui‘s Na Thon Pier on Saturday on a Mein Schiff 5 cruise ship. The tourists would enjoy a one-day trip before heading to Sri Racha district of Chon…

  • Tourism News

    Tourism in South Thailand province jumped by over 600% last year, officials say

    South Thailand’s picturesque beaches and islands continue to reel in tourists. The number of tourists that visited South Thailand’s Surat Thani province last year jumped by over 600% from 2021, according to officials. The province includes the holiday paradise islands of Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Surat Thani Governor Witchawut Jintoe, citing the Ministry of Tourism and Sports, said the…

  • Transport News

    Seahorse Ferry relaunches Pattaya to Samui route

    After a four-month hiatus, the Seahorse Ferry Company is finally ready to set sail again, resuming its weekly service between Sattahip and Koh Samui from Thursday, February 16. After a temporary pause for essential repairs and maintenance shortly after launching, the ferry is now back in business and ready to welcome passengers on board once again. If you’re planning a…

  • Crime News

    Convicted South African drug trafficker writes letter from inside Thai prison

    A 23 year old South African woman serving a long prison sentence for drug trafficking wrote an eloquent letter offering a glimpse into how it feels to be locked away in Thailand. Ashley Oosthuizen was found guilty of international drug trafficking after she signed for a package containing MDMA at the restaurant she worked at in Koh Samui, ‘Hot in…

  • Thailand News

    Body of German tourist who jumped from Koh Pha Ngan ferry found near Koh Tao

    A body found floating in the sea near Koh Tao is believed to be the missing German tourist who jumped off a ferry shortly after it departed from Koh Pha Ngan in southern Thailand one week ago. At 4pm yesterday, the Kusol Sattha Rescue Foundation was informed that a tourist boat came across the body of a male tourist floating…

  • Environment News

    Russian tourists lend a hand by cleaning Koh Samui beach

    A group of Russian tourists demonstrated their environmental responsibility this week by lending a hand to clean up a beach on Koh Samui. On the morning of January 31, a group of Russian tourists helped to collect garbage from Baan Mae Nam Beach before enjoying their day swimming, sunbathing, and exercising. The Phuket Express reported the cleanup yesterday. The tourists found a…

  • Koh Samui News

    Body of Burmese man swept out to sea found in Koh Samui

    UPDATE The body of the Burmese man who was swept out to sea in Koh Samui on Monday has been found, according to a Thai media outlet. The outlet, One News 31, said today in an Instagram post that the man’s body was found at a beach in front of a hotel. The post reads… “The body of the Myanmar…

  • Koh Samui News

    Large waves wash away Burmese man in Koh Samui

    A recent tragedy in Koh Samui is a reminder of how dangerous large waves can be in Thailand. Large waves washed away a Burmese man in Koh Samui on Monday. Witnesses said the man was a migrant worker travelling with two other male friends, and the three appeared to be drunk. The three men walked to a viewpoint near the sea.…

  • Hot News

    German cruiseliner brings 3,000 tourists to Koh Samui

    German cruise liner Mein Schiff 5 reportedly dropped 3,000 tourists on the island of Koh Samui for a bit of shopping and sightseeing. Koh Samui’s Mayor Chayapon Intarasupa says the large group arrived at Nathon Pier on Saturday in small boats as the ship approached the island. The luxury liner dropped the guests off for a one-day trip on the…

  • Tourism News

    Koh Samui welcomes first Taiwanese tour group in 3 years

    Thailand’s tropical holiday island of Koh Samui welcomed its first Taiwanese tour group in nearly three years on Tuesday. The group of 142 tourists enjoyed Koh Samui’s nature tourism, as well as its temples and shrines. The group also plan to travel to Koh Ang Thong, Koh Tao, and Koh Nang Yuan for four days. The group had a three-night…

  • Thailand News

    Thailand’s Surat Thani Airport welcomes chartered flight from Taiwan

    A chartered Thai Lion Air flight carrying 143 tourists from Taiwan landed at Surat Thani Airport in southern Thailand yesterday. It was the first chartered flight to land on the airport’s runway in three years. Surat Thani Governor Wichawut Jinto welcomed passengers on flight SL-7391 from Taipei yesterday evening, handing out flower garlands and gifts to tourists to celebrate the…

  • Crime News

    Koh Samui parking dispute leads to violent brawl and gunshots

    Koh Samui parking dispute leads to violent brawl, photo by Naewna. A Koh Samui parking dispute lead to a violent brawl and gunshots on Friday, Thai media reported. This was after two brothers reportedly refused to move their pickup truck so that a man could leave an auto accessories shop. The two brothers, Phisit and Panuwat, parked their truck in…

  • Tourism News

    Luxury cruise brings 5 million baht to Samui

    Koh Samui recently welcomed the high-end liner Mein Schiff 5, marking the arrival of the first luxury cruise ship to the island this year. Over 3,000 tourists from Europe disembarked from the boat for a day of sightseeing and shopping, bringing in an estimated 5 million baht in tourism revenue for the island. The vessel arrived from Vietnam and docked…

  • Things To Do

    How to get around in Koh Samui

    Getting around on the island of Koh Samui can be a bit different to other areas in Thailand. As the stunning island is full of idyllic beaches and nature, one of the most popular ways of touring the island is by motorbike. But, as Thailand’s roads are considered quite dangerous, it is perfectly fine to not want to get the…

  • Crime News

    International school teacher accused of molesting kindergarten pupil in Koh Samui

    A teacher at an international school in Koh Samui in Surat Thani province, southern Thailand, has been accused of molesting a kindergarten pupil. Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police Pol. Maj. Gen. Surchate “Big Joke” Hakparn travelled to the island yesterday to attend a meeting about the progress of the case so far. The parents of a kindergarten student…

  • Koh Samui News

    Officials beautifying Koh Samui’s Fisherman’s Village, hoping to catch more tourists

    Officials are giving Koh Samui’s Fisherman’s Village a makeover to help businesses catch more tourists. Yesterday, officials started sprucing up Beach Road in Bo Phut with landscape improvements, and general cleaning. The goal of the makeover is to reel in up to 5 million baht of cash for local street vendors. Tourism operators hope to bring out the old charm…

  • Thailand News

    2 Thai women attacked by foreign mafia in Koh Samui

    A Thai woman sought help from the Thai media after she and her mother were attacked by some foreigners who claimed to be part of a mafia gang at a bar in Koh Samui on New Year’s Eve. The woman turned to the media because the police ignored her case. The local Facebook page Samui Fresh News posted a video…

  • Thailand News

    Young Welshman seriously injured in motorbike accident in Koh Samui, Thailand

    A 28 year old Welshman remains in a government hospital in Koh Samui, southern Thailand, after a motorbike collision on Boxing Day. Adam Davies, from Dinas Cross in Pembrokeshire, sustained multiple injuries including a fractured skull in three places, bleeding in the brain, a punctured lung, five broken ribs, a fractured collarbone, broken shoulder blade, fractured ankle, and other minor…

  • Expats

    Island redemption: Stray human saves himself through stray dogs

    A stray Northern Irish entrepreneur is now looking after stray dogs in Koh Samui, but only after nearly drinking himself to death. Niall Harbison founded successful Irish social media companies Simply Zesty and Lovin Dublin before selling them for seven-figure sums, according to Belfast Live. Niall moved to Brussels at an early age where his father was a diplomat and…