Located in the Gulf of Thailand Samui and Pha Ngan are the two most
popular tourist destinations in south east Thailand.
Since the opening of Samui International Airport in 1991, Koh
Samui has developed into a sophisticated holiday resort island with
5 star accommodation, health spas, an 18 hole golf course and many varied
activities to satisfy the most demanding visitor.
It has however retained its small island charm and still offers a more
simplistic experience and it remains
a popular destination for backpackers.
To many, Koh Pha Ngan is reminiscent of Samui 15 years ago. Quieter
and less developed, it offers an idyllic desert island life, whilst
still providing all essential services and easy links to the mainland,
making a it practically unique in South East Asia .
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At 250 square Km, Samui is the largest island in
the Gulf of Thailand. It has an international airport serviced via Bangkok,
Krabi, Phuket, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
There is also a car ferry to the mainland.
Over the last 20 years, the main industries of coconut farming and fishing
have given way to tourism and many of the small cheap beach huts favored
by backpackers have been replaced by luxury resorts.
Happily, local regulations limit the height of these resorts so there
are none of the high rise hotels seen in Phuket or Pattaya.
The primary resorts of Lamai and Chaweng offer stunning white sand, luxury
resorts, spas, water sports, restaurants to suit every pocket. Although
famous for its beaches, the interior of Samui has much more to offer.
The interior of the island is dominated by rainforest and mountains with
spectacular views.
You can explore by foot, motorbike, jeep, or for the very adventurous,
by elephant.
Property prices in Samui have risen in the
past 5 years and foreign investment is on the increase.
However, it is still far cheaper than Phuket (which is also still rising)
and for that reason, the upward trend is expected to continue
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Smaller than its sister island (173 square km), it is far less developed
and is considered by most to resemble Koh Samui in the 1980's and is the
quintessential unspoiled paradise.
ike Samui it consists of mountainous (but traversable) jungle surrounded
by white beaches. The interior is practically untouched aside from some
small roads. The roads are typically rough made which makes for slow going,
but that is in keeping with the atmosphere of the island. Here are there
no large resorts and tourists largely consist of backpackers and day trippers
from Samui. Bars and restaurants are plentiful but never in large concentration
and genuine seclusion is an option.
Koh Pha Ngam is at its busiest for the monthly Full Moon Party on Haddrin
Beach. Two docks have been built here to provide easy access for the many
visitors from Samui for this now world famous event. However, it is confined
to a single area and is as easy to ignore as it is to indulge in.
The untapped potential of Koh Pha Ngam as a major tourist destination
has not gone unnoticed by the Thai government which has recently invested
heavily in improving its infrastructure and accessibility.
The good news for investors is that prices are still low and the choices
wide. It is not expected that this will continue for long and investment
interest is on the increase.
We would strongly recommend anyone looking at
investing in Samui to also consider Koh Pha Ngam as it offers by far the
best value in South Thailand. |
