Koh Samui > In and Around Koh Samui - In and Around
Koh Samui is a large island and it has many beaches, the most popular by far being Chaweng and Lamai Beach which each have a wide variety of accommodation, nightlife and restaurants. Elsewhere on Koh Samui things are a little bit quieter and a little more relaxing; even on this popular island there are still hideaway beaches that offer an escape from the busyness of Chaweng and Lamai.
Just a short boat trip from Koh Samui is the main port town of Surat Thani which feeds tourists to a number of island destinations in the area. Koh Phangan holds an international reputation as a backpacking destination though many of the cheap bungalow resorts are steeping upmarket to accommodate for the many short stay tourists that visit the island, often just for the notorious full moon parties that are famous throughout the world.
Scuba diving is a popular sport in the local waters and all of the dives tour operators from Koh Samui will take scuba divers out to dive sites in the nearby Anthong National Marine Park and Koh Tao. Though you can not stay overnight in the marine park, Koh Tao has a wide range of accommodation available and is proving to be a popular holiday destination; many foreign visitors stay there every year learning to scuba dive as well as enjoying the laidback atmosphere of this quite little island. | 
