Beaches | Attractions | Seasons | Get Around | Map | Hotels
The world class beaches found on Koh Samui ranging from long to short, well exploited to pure natural. This wide selection is one of the reasons all different kind of people can be found on this island. There are also shallow very child friendly beaches as well as places where the water gets deep more quick.
Going from Nathon clockwise the most popular beaches are:
Bang Por
A quiet beach along the northwest coast. The beach changes name in the east to Ban Tai beach. Bang Por beach is about 3km (1.9 miles). This area offers small restaurants along the main road and the beach is also very quiet.
Ban Tai
This stretches from Bang Por in west to Maenam in the East. The beach is about 2 km (1.3 miles) long and the area is very quiet. Many resorts will be found along the beach, both simple bungalows as well as more luxury alternatives.
Maenam
This 5 km (3 miles) long beach in the middle north of Samui is a popular location for people who want relaxation. Along the main road is numerous restaurants both for locals and for tourists. The many small roads away from the main ring road make many resorts very well hidden. The beach is a natural beach without sun beds and the palm trees are stretching themselves out over the beach along the shoreline which turns this area into an amazing scenery. The beach is not very wide and at some places there might be rocks. Since this beach is very long there are places where the water is shallow and others where it gets deep fast.
 
Bophut
Another popular destination in the north of Samui. The beach is 3 km (2 miles) long and many resorts are to be found at beachfront as well as away from the beach. In the east of Bophut the old Fisherman Village is located as a center point with restaurants and some shopping. The water will at some parts get deep fast but at other places the water is more shallow. Even if Bophut as well as other locations along the north side are quiet there are a little bit more commerce here.
Bang Rak
Also known as Big Buddha Beach are almost 2.5 km (1.5 miles) long at the south west of the Big Buddha and continues as a more empty beach in the north east side another 1.5 km (1 mile). The beach tend to tilt a lot down towards the water in the west and the sand are mixed with gravel. At the west end it is more quiet and also there use to be Thai people dining and relaxing by the public beach. In the middle and right east of Big Buddha there is more commerce. At the beachside many small bungalow resorts and also some bigger ones are located and plenty of restaurants, bars and some shopping are available here. One of the everyday markets are to be found in the far east side of this area where fruits, fish and spices are sold for a good price.
Choeng Mon
On the very far north eastern part of Samui this wonderful beach are located. The beach is perfect for children with fine white sand and most people on the beach are families or older couples. When the tide is low the water is very shallow but when the tide is high the first part will get deep because parts of the beach are tilting. There are many activities on the beach such as Jet skis, banana boat and also an air filled climbing tower and other fun outside in the water for the kids.
The beach is 1km (0.7 mile) long with several restaurants right on the beach. Along the main road many shops and some restaurants are found even though this part is considered very quiet. Less than 100 meters (350 foot), depending on the tide, from the beach there is a very small island named Koh Fan Noi. This island is only 240 meters (800 foot) wide and it is possible to wade all the way across to the island. Choeng Mon has a village feeling, secluded from other beaches though it is very close to Bophut and to Chaweng which is the most exploited location on Koh Samui.
Choeng Mon must be considered a little more expensive when it comes to accommodation but for many people this doesn’t matter, Choeng Mon will always be their first choice.
Chaweng
The number on place on Samui. With hundreds of bars and restaurants this beach are housing most of the tourists. This is a Mecca for those who like shopping or partying. Along the beach are resorts and by night they set up for food making the beach a very exotic restaurant area. Enjoy a drink or a dinner listening to the sound of the ocean. Here you also find the big shopping malls as Tesco Lotus and just north there are Macro and Big C where you will find food and some clothes and also many other stores are located in the area. Chaweng beach is a busy beach where you will find jet-ski and paragliding. The beach are wide 5 km (3 miles) long and outside the middle and north part there is a reef and a very small island named Koh Matlang taking a lot of the waves away and the water I shallow making this a safe place to play around.
Chaweng Noi
Right south of Chaweng this 700 meter (2000 foot) long beach is set. The beach is divided from Chaweng in north by a smaller cliff and it is very quiet here. The southern part of the beach is kind of rocky but otherwise very beautiful. At the beach there are resorts and places to dine. Behind the buildings is the main ring road but this is not noticeable at the beach. Along this section of the main road there are kind of empty and the distance to Chaweng is very short making this a good option for those who like to be close but not on the crowded spots.
Thong Takian
A very small paradise beach about 250 meters (800 foot) long. This beach is set in between rocks and cliffs and the rocks are very round shaped and the water is shallow. This paradise beach is extremely beautiful and is found on the very north part of Lamai. Only a few resorts and restaurants are set on this beach and the distance to Lamai center is not far.
   
Lamai
The second largest tourist destination on Samui. Lamai beach is about 4 km (2.5 miles) offering a wide range of resorts in all classes as well on the beach as on the hill side. Bars and restaurants of all kinds are found here and even though it is smaller than Chaweng this beach has its own life. For those who want a time of relaxation with everything in reach this beach is perfect. In the south end the famous grandmother and grandfather rocks “Hin Ta Hin Yai” are found. In Lamai you will also find the big mall Tesco Lotus and the most common shopping. The area are divided into two sections where the southern part is much smaller. The far north side of Lamai has very shallow water while the mid section and south in general gets deep more quick.
Bang Nam Cheut Bay
Right after Hin Ta Hin Yai and before Nathien Beach there is a small bay called Bang Nam Cheut Bay where there are a few bungalows in the eastern end and some smaller resorts in the western end. This beach is almost empty all year round and the water is very shallow but can be beautiful. There are a some small restaurants situated on the beach but other from that it is very quiet. The distance to southern parts of Lamai is very short so you will not have to feel secluded.
Nathien
This beach are found in Hua Thanon. The beach does not have that high energy feeling with attractions as other beaches while many things in reach. Some restaurants and quiet bars are to be found.
Bang Gao
Bang Gao is set on the very southern part of Samui. The name comes from the word old “gao” and the very small old village really looks old. The surroundings are beautiful and quiet with a great scenery of trees and the ocean are mixed with hills. Everything here is relaxed and you will find luxury resorts on various locations in the forests and along the shore. A few restaurants are of course found but they are scattered and there is nothing like shopping here. The beach varies but at many places the water is extremely shallow and parts are very rocky while on others it is perfect for a nice swim. The beach is long, about 4 km (2.5 miles) but in the east it is divided into smaller beach sections. In this part you will not have any problem finding your own spot.
Thong Krut
This is a small place where you will live among the Thais. Many small houses and some resorts are found. The village are set just meters from the shallow ocean where some restaurants are located along the road. The narrow beach at about 1.5 km (1 mile) are located close to the road and only one tiny row of houses separates the beach from the road at many plances.
Taling Ngam
As most places on this south west side on Samui Taling Ngam is as quiet and relaxed as the rest. Resorts are placed here and there but there is no core with commerse anywhere. Restaurants are scattered over this area but for shopping you will have to go to a bigger place.
Lipa Noi
Just south from Nathon the district Lipa Noi set offering hillside and coastline where nice resorts and housing is found. This is a Thai location but as anywhere you will be able to find food and some tourists. The beach is narrow and you will not have to search for your own spot in the sand since this part is very empty.
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