This heavenly island in the Gulf of Thailand is one of the country’s most beautiful seaside resorts. Golf, diving, spas and beaches are the essential ingredients of a successful stay in this haven of luxury.

There are some places in the world that have staked everything on harmony and a carefully considered sense of hospitality. Ko Samui is one of them, a pretty little island a short distance off the coast, in the Gulf of Thailand. First discovered by tourists in the 1970s, Ko Samui could hardly fail to lay claim to excellence, with its white sandy beaches and endless coconut trees, lush tropical forests, Buddhist temples and intense blue sea. Tourist development on this small island began to speed up some 20 years ago and has focused on upmarket accommodation and top-quality service, with Thailand’s gentle good manners doing the rest. A kingdom of open-air spas, Ko Samui is also making its mark as a golf destination, with the magnificent 18-hole Santiburi Samui Country Club & Golf Course, a wonderful course to play at sunset with views across to the neighbouring island of Ko Pha-Ngan.

A trip to Ko Samui is also a guarantee of some unforgettable diving in the Gulf of Thailand, whilst the more adventurous can try an excursion on the back of an elephant into the heart of the island. A stay also provides an opportunity to explore Buddhist temples such as Wat Phra Yai with its statue of the Great Buddha, or the pagoda of Laem Sor. Linked to the mainland and the capital Bangkok by ferries and air, Ko Samui is a perfectly safe and easily accessible destination.