But despite its paradise appeal, the island in the Gulf of Thailand has become a place of nightmares, with numerous murders and disappearances taking place, leading it to be dubbed 'Death Island'.

Each year hundreds of thousands of Brits jet off to Thailand to see the sights and relax. But the sheer volume of tourists have left more popular resorts such as Phuket and Pattaya struggling to cope.

The heir apparent, and seamless alternative, to Phuket is Koh Samui, the verdant palm-lined favourite in the Gulf of Thailand. There are strong parallels between the two islands. Firstly ...

With nearly 2,000 miles of coastline spanning the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, Thailand's dramatic seascapes and stunning white sand beaches should be high on your bucket list.