Best beaches in Ko Samui

Ko Samu offers long sandy beaches and a choice of luxurious beachfront resorts – perfect for a unique honeymoon holiday.

Ko Samui's busiest beaches lie on the east coast and boast a choice of accommodation options that ranges from budget bungalows to 5-star luxury resorts.

The island’s circular road provides easy access to neighbouring beaches.

Ko Samui’s best beaches, include…

Chaweng Beach

Crowded with a huge array of restaurants, bars, shops and resorts, palm-fringed Chaweng is the liveliest beach on Ko Samui and exudes an unbeatable carnival-like atmosphere.

It’s easy to relax on this gorgeous 7km-long crescent of powder-white sand, flanked by a rocky 300m-high headland to the south, an offshore reef and the tiny island of Ko Matlam to the north, which offers good snorkelling.

Pick a good spot to sunbathe on Chaweng, go swimming, rent a jet-ski, catamaran or kayak and unwind with a pedicure and massage from a talented beachside vendor.

The deep water of the southern and central sections of the beach are best for swimming, while the shallow water at the northern end of the beach is ideal for children.

After dark, dig your toes into the soft sand while enjoying fresh seafood at one of several beach restaurants, then head into town to sample a range of lively nightlife options.


Chaweng Noi Beach

For a quiet alternative, try this less crowded, pretty crescent of white sand, separated from Chaweng by a low headland.

Enjoy good swimming and creature comforts at the beachfront Sheraton Samui Resort (formerly Imperial Samui Beach Resort), situated at the southern end of the beach.


Phang Ka Beach

This pristine, jungle-fringed white-sand beach is located south of Ban Taling Ngam along the southwest coast and offers stunning views of Ang Thong Marine National Park as well as magical sunsets.

Come on a day trip, enjoy a tasty seafood lunch at the beachside seafood restaurant or indulge in a few days or longer at the beachfront Elements Boutique Resort & Spa.


Mae Nam Beach

Unwind on this secluded, 5km-long, narrow crescent of palm-fringed golden sand located on the northern coast and facing nearby Ko Pha Ngan.

This quiet and laid-back beach is home to a few resorts as well as a cluster of shops, cafes and restaurants. A small headland separates Mae Nam from another laid-back beach – Bophut.


Bophut Beach

Discover a quiet, 2km-long crescent of palm-fringed white sand that is perfect for sunbathing and swimming, with the charming so-called Fisherman’s Village of Bophut just a short walk away.

Explore narrow streets crowded with old Chinese shop fronts that still retain the island’s original Thai-Chinese atmosphere. To the west of the beach lie a number of fashion and jewellery boutiques, bistros and trendy bars.

Bophut Beach is especially good for couples and children, with a range of accommodation including the luxury beachside Melati Resort & Spa and the Anantara Resort Ko Samui, which offer a range of creature comforts.

Bophut is located on the northern coast, just 15 minutes drive from bustling Chaweng Beach.


Bangrak Beach

This white-sand beach is located in the northeast of Ko Samui and offers good swimming with picturesque views and numerous beachside restaurants, shops and bars.

A short causeway at the eastern end of the beach leads to the Wat Phra Yai temple, home to a 12m-tall Buddha statue known locally as the Big Buddha.


Choeng Mon Beach

Unwind on this gorgeous casuarina- and palm-fringed kilometre-long crescent of powder-white sand that faces beautiful Tongsai Bay.

Flanked by the magnificent rocky headland of Choeng Mon and the small island of Ko Fan Noi, family friendly Choeng Mon Beach boasts a number of luxury accommodation options where you can relax in comfort, including the 5-star Tongsai Bay Resort.

Kayak or swim out (or walk at low tide) to Ko Fan Noi, sunbathe on its secluded white-sand beach or search for tiny shells along the main beach before climbing up to the Choeng Mon headland for panoramic views over the surrounding rocky coves.


Lamai Beach

Unwind on this 4km-long crescent of palm-fringed powder-white sand perfect for sunbathing, with good swimming in deep water at the southern end of the beach.

Lamai offers a quiet alternative to nearby Chaweng, while still providing a good range of resorts, restaurants and bars that cluster around the centre of the beach.

When you tire of lounging on the beach stroll to the southern end to ponder the curious phallic rock formations of Hin Yai and Hin Ta, known locally as the Grandma and Grandpa rocks.

Stroll around Lamai village and people-watch local Thai villagers going about their daily life or visit nearby Wat Lamai Temple and Wat Khunaram, home to the mummified body of Loung Pordaeng, one of Ko Samui's most famous monks.


Lipa Noi Beach

This palm-fringed white-sand beach shelves very gently into turquoise waters providing shallow water out to sea for around 100m, making it an ideal spot for children to swim safely.

While there isn’t much in the way of nightlife at Lipa Noi, a few seafood restaurants and bars offer the perfect spot to enjoy a magical sunset on this west-facing beach.


Latest update: Top Beaches in Ko Samui: 5 May, 2022



Advertising