The Empire (Suratthani)

Surat Thani

Surat Thani is Thailand's largest southern province, but its real estate appeal centers on its stunning Gulf of Thailand islands — particularly Koh Samui and Koh Pha-Ngan. Samui has matured into a luxury island destination with a well-established villa market, international dining, and its own airport. Pha-Ngan, famous for the Full Moon Party, is rapidly developing a more upscale property scene while retaining its bohemian character. Koh Samui — The main island. Established luxury villa market, international airport, premium resorts. Chaweng and Lamai are tourist-oriented; Bophut (Fisherman's Village) is charming and upscale; Maenam is quieter and family-friendly. The hills and west coast offer sea-view villas with more privacy. Koh Pha-Ngan — Smaller, less developed, and more affordable. Thong Sala is the main town. Sri Thanu and Haad Salad attract yoga/wellness communities. Rapidly growing interest from investors seeing it as "the next Samui." Mainland Surat Thani — The provincial capital is mainly a transit hub to the islands. Some affordable residential development along the coast at Don Sak and Kanchanadit. Villa buyers — Samui has Thailand's most mature island villa market with professional management options Wellness seekers — Pha-Ngan's yoga, detox, and mindfulness scene is world-class Holiday rental investors — Strong seasonal demand (Dec–Apr peak); managed villas can yield 6–10% gross Early-stage investors — Koh Pha-Ngan land/development is still affordable compared to Samui or Phuket Koh Samui pool villas range from 8–15 million THB (inland) to 20–80+ million THB (sea-view or beachfront). Samui condos are limited but start around 3–5 million THB. On Koh Pha-Ngan, villas start from 5–10 million THB and land from 3–8 million THB per rai depending on sea view and road access. Rental yields during high season are excellent but drop significantly May–October. Samui Airport (USM) is privately operated by Bangkok Airways, making flights more expensive than other Thai destinations. Surat Thani Airport (URT) on the mainland is cheaper and connects via ferry. Koh Pha-Ngan has no airport — access is by ferry from Samui (30 min) or the mainland (2–4 hours). On the islands, roads are hilly and motorbike-dependent. Island land titles can be complicated — many plots have Nor Sor 3 Gor titles rather than full Chanote. Always conduct thorough due diligence with a local lawyer. Construction costs on islands are 20–40% higher than the mainland due to logistics. Monsoon season (Oct–Dec) brings heavy rain to the Gulf coast — the opposite schedule from Phuket/Andaman side. Samui has good private hospitals; Pha-Ngan's medical facilities are more limited — serious cases evacuate to Samui or Surat Thani.