Why wait?
A sparkling jewel in the crown of Thailand's stunning island destinations, Koh Samui is a paradise found.
12 April 2018
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The third largest island in Thailand after Phuket and Koh Chang, Samui boasts of gorgeous pearl-white sandy beaches, lush tropical rainforests and magnificent waterfalls and high end luxury resorts and spas. All this with beautiful nearby anchorages and an archipelago that is a national treasure.
With so many breathtaking sights, it’s no wonder Koh Samui is receiving growing interest from superyachts, venturing from Phuket on the Andaman seas western side of Thailand to Koh Samui and the Gulf of Siam on the eastern side.
Now plans are underway for the island’s first marina, thanks to growing government and private support. However, many superyachts aren’t waiting for a marina, instead they are happily discovering some amazing anchorages around Samui, her sister islands and the Gulf from Captain Charlie Dwyer, heading up Asia Pacific Superyachts and providing professional yacht support services on Samui since 2002.
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The captain of the visiting sailing superyacht Vertigo agrees and writes of his experience when visiting Samui: “I had met Charlie while he was captaining Yanakee Too so knew he would understand our needs and also that no one would know Koh Samui and the surrounding islands better than him. His understanding of Thailand and the needs of a superyacht from a captain’s perspective is invaluable”.
Those who experience Koh Samui are rewarded with an idyllic tropical retreat, white-sand beaches, a sapphire-blue sea, an abundance of tantalising Thai cuisine and an unusually warm and friendly people. Just 21 kilometres at its widest point and 25 at its longest, Samui’s hinterland consists of forests, hills of limestone and granite and the shoreline is made up of countless palm-fringed beaches and bays.
Yachting visitors are delighted with the close proximity to the country’s national treasure, Ang Thong National Marine Park – a compact archipelago of small and virtually untouched islands best explored by sea kayak. And beyond the Samui, the main island are other islands well worth exploring – including Koh Phangan, world famous for its monthly Full Moon parties and Koh Tao, rated one of the best diving locations in Thailand and in the world.
The Gulf of Thailand, the Gulf islands and the Marine Park archipelago offer fantastic opportunities for superyacht visits, as the conditions are calm for the majority of the year with an abundance marine life.
“The construction of at least one luxury yacht marina on Samui in the near future is driving more interest from superyachts”, shared Captain Charlie Dwyer.
With the steady increase in demand for villa rentals, Samui has also become popular among investors seeking yields and a holiday home in a more remote luxury island where they can enjoy good returns on their investment – between 8-10% per year – as opposed to over populated Phuket with its link to the mainland.
Captain Charlie says the best season to visit is March to September as the rainy season is traditionally regarded as being from October to mid–December. The climate is tropical and humid throughout the year with the temperature usually ranging from 28 to 35 degrees Celsius and with no risk of tsunamis and located well out of the typhoon belt.
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