The Samui Archipelago was first ˉdiscoveredˇ as a budget travelerˇs paradise back in the 1970s, but has since moved considerably upmarket. Together with Phuket, the main island of the group, Ko Samui, is Thailandˇs premier beach resort, and is truly a lovely island. The chief seaside destinations are Chaweng Beach on the islandˇs east coast and Lamai on the south coast. The island is ringed by a well-maintained metalled road, and the hilly interior is simply packed with more coconut trees than it seems possible to imagine.