Thailand Guides - Koh Samui

Beaches on Samui

Of all of Koh Samui's beaches, Chaweng Beach gets top votes among tourists for its length and beauty, with many places to swim, sunbathe and enjoy various water sports, or stop by the shopping markets, bars and restaurants.

The four-kilometer Lamai beach has three distinct areas: Lamai Neu Beach (North Lamai), a fishing village, good for local scenery; Lamai Klang Beach (Middle Lamai), good for swimming and the liveliest spot of all, and Lamai Tai Beach (South Lamai) the rocky location of Hin Ta and Hin Yai (grandfather and grandmother), two phallic-like symbols carved by the forces of nature that have to be seen to be believed.

The private beach of Taling Ngam boasts fine, white sand and a safe swimming area. It is considered by many to be the premier beach on Samui's western coast. Situated 10 km south of Na Thon, the beach overlooks the nearby island of Koh Ha and is a great place to watch sunsets.

Thong Yang Beach is northward from Taling Ngam Beach. It is known for its peaceful and quiet atmosphere, where a few tourists drop by for a swim or just to relax. The quiet stretch of beach from Taling Ngam Beach to Thong Yang Beach is the site of coconut farms and patches of course, brown sand. The beach is bordered by a headland with a small hill with good views over the small island of Koh Ha. The waters here are quite deep and serve as a port, making the ferry at Thong Yang Beach another important center of transportation on Koh Samui with two-hour ferry crossings to Don Leuk, the port of Surat Thani.