Koh Samui is very popular among Russian, European and Asian tourists. Koh Samui has never let holidaymakers down with its beautiful tropical beaches. Koh Samui offers a wide variety of beaches, some lively and bustling with bars, beach clubs and tourist attractions, while others offer a secluded getaway amidst the island's untouched wilderness.
There are a lot of beaches on Koh Samui and they are all different. Both in terms of the availability of tourist infrastructure and the quality of the coast. Therefore, in order for you to get maximum satisfaction from your vacation, you should carefully approach the choice of accommodation and swimming places, taking into account your preferences.
Generally speaking, the best Koh Samui beaches for swimming and relaxation are located in the northern and east coast islands.
For ordinary tourist recreation, it is preferable to choose a beach near the airport (Lamai, Bo Phut, Chaweng, Chaweng Noi). This part of the island has good beaches and a well-developed tourist infrastructure. There are many hotels of different price categories, a variety of cafes, bars and restaurants. Large shopping centers are also located there.
For long-term living, the best beaches are Lamai, Maenam, Choeng Mon and Baan Tai. There is a good combination of beach quality and tourist infrastructure. Winterers may also be interested in low prices for rental housing beaches in the southwest of the island. But the coast there is very mediocre and the tourist infrastructure is poorly developed.
If we evaluate the quality of the beach itself in terms of the purity of the water and how convenient the entrance to the sea is, then the best Koh Samui beaches in our opinion, these are Tongtakian, Tongson and Coral Cove, with excellent shores and crystal clear water. But it should be noted that the tourist infrastructure on these beaches is poorly developed. If parties and the presence of a hypermarket are important to you, then choose a place closer to Chaweng.
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Chaweng Yai Beach
Chaweng is one of the largest beaches on the island, its length is more than five kilometers. Chaweng Beach can be divided into three parts: northern, central and southern. the northern part is called Chaweng Yai Beach. This section of the beach is about two kilometers long. The width of the coastline is about 15 meters. Chaweng Yai Beach is not popular among lovers beach holiday. The beach consists of two parts - shallow and deep with a rocky bottom. In general, the beach is not suitable for swimming.
However, the tourist infrastructure in the vicinity of the beach is very well developed. There are many hotels of different price categories, a variety of cafes, bars, restaurants and shops. Chaweng Yai Beach is more of a party place than a place for beach relaxation and swimming.
Chaweng Beach
The central part of Chaweng Beach has the same name (Chaweng Beach) without additional prefixes, and is perhaps the most popular beach on the island. All tourist life on the island is concentrated around this beach. The tourism infrastructure is incredibly well developed. Starting from a large number of beach activities and ending with the presence of large shopping centers.
In the vicinity of Chaweng there are famous and popular large shopping centers: “Big C”, “Tesco”, “Makro”, “Makro”, “Tesco” -
The largest shopping center on Samui, Central Festival, is also located in Chaweng.
A large number of hotels and guest houses of different price categories and a variety of services are concentrated around the beach. Lots of restaurants, bars and cafes. Large selection of travel agencies. It is on this beach that the most luxurious parties and shows on Samui are held.
Houses for rent are mainly located near Chaweng Lake. The Chaweng Beach area, due to its developed tourist infrastructure and the presence of large shopping centers, is a very good place for long-term living.
In the Chaweng area there is also the most famous hospital of Samui - Bangkok Samui Hospital, expensive (if you do not have insurance), but with high quality of service.
Chaweng Beach is beautiful and very picturesque. The entry into the sea is gentle, clean, without stones, the depth increases gradually. The depth is suitable for swimming. The sand on the beach is quite light and fine.
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Chaweng Noi Beach
The next beach after Chaweng, located further south, will be Chaweng Noi Beach or South Chaweng. It is similar to the central beach of Chaweng, only inferior in size. The coastline is about a kilometer long. On this stretch of coastline, the entire coastline between the road and the beach is occupied by hotels. Therefore, to get to the beach, you need to go either through the territory of a hotel or through the Bistro Samui restaurant. The beach is cozy, clean and well-groomed with fine, cream-colored light sand. The depth is slightly shallower than in central Chaweng. The depth sufficient for swimming begins somewhere 5-7 meters from the shore. Entry into the sea is smooth. At the northern end of the beach there is a small bay with a barrier of rocks where you can snorkel. There is a lot of natural shade on the beach, which allows you to not depend on hotel infrastructure.
One feature of this beach should be noted - the presence of strong waves in winter time and complete calm in the summer months. Perhaps this is one of the best beaches on the island.
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Lamai Beach
The second most popular beach on Koh Samui is Lamai Beach. It is located ten kilometers south of Chaweng Beach. The Lamai region occupies a fairly large area inland. The coastline alone is more than 4 kilometers long. Conventionally, Lamai beach can be divided into three: southern, central, northern. Lamai Beach is quieter and less party-heavy than Chaweng. The tourist infrastructure is very well developed. There are many hotels and guest houses of different price categories. In the interior of the island there are many offers of houses that can be rented for the long term. A wide variety of cafes, restaurants and bars to suit every taste.
A shopping street stretches along the coast, with massage parlors, travel agencies, cafes and bars, including McDonald's, clothing and fruit markets. There are also several large shopping centers near the beach: Tesco and Makro. In these shopping centers you will find everything you need: from food to clothing and household goods. There are also good food courts there. In the beach area there is a children's water park, diving centers and many spa salons. Lamai Beach can be safely recommended both for a tourist holiday and for long-term residence. From the airport the beach is about half an hour's drive.
Lamai Beach, northern part (Lamai Beach)
A very cozy and calm section of Lamai beach, located a little away from the center of the village. There is a ring road along the coast. And although there is quite a dense development here (including several hotels), in the evenings it is a very quiet place, where the noise of night discos and parties does not reach.
This part of the beach is not suitable for swimming due to the shallows and rocky bottom. The water level during low tides is very low: somewhere ankle-deep.
Lamai Beach, central and southern parts (Lamai Beach)
The southern part and the central part of Lamai beach are often distinguished separately, but since it is visually difficult to determine the boundary where the central part ends and the southern part begins, and plus there are no big differences between them, we will combine their descriptions.
The coastline is quite wide, the sand is coarse, soft and loose, golden in color. The entry into the sea in the central part of the beach is gentle, clean, without stones, the depth is sufficient for swimming already about ten meters from the shore. The water is clear only when there are no waves. In the southern part of the beach the depth is a little shallower, the entry into the sea is gentle, but there are stones and corals. You can often find sea urchins among the rocks.
There are always a lot of vacationers, but there is enough space for everyone. A large selection of water activities is offered, and there are tents where you can get a massage. The only thing you need to consider is the lack of natural shade on Lamai Beach. If umbrellas are not provided by your hotel, there is always the option of either renting an umbrella on the beach or purchasing one at one of the shopping centers. Lamai Beach is one of the centers of tourist life on the island. Various activities and parties do not stop until late in the evening.
At the southern end of Lamai Beach there is one of the famous and popular attractions of the island - the picturesque black and gray boulders Hin Yai (Grandmother) and Hin Ta (Grandfather). These are rocks created by nature that resemble male and female reproductive organs. There is even a legend about their appearance. They are very revered by the Thais and are one of the Thai shrines. This place is also very popular with tourists, who everywhere take selfies against the backdrop of these rocks.
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Coral Cove Beach
To the south of Chaweng Beach there is a very small Coral Cove Beach. The coastline of the beach is about 130 meters long. The beach is located in a secluded bay with quaint rocks along the edges. The beach itself is very beautiful. The sand on Coral Cove is coarse, crumbly, and yellowish in color. The entry into the sea is clean and gentle. The depth is sufficient for swimming. The tides are not very pronounced. Strong waves on the beach usually only occur during the winter months. The beach is constantly cleaned.
The beach is quiet and not a party place. There are only three hotels on the coast. In addition to hotel restaurants, there is also a small Thai cafe on the beach with low prices. Near the beach there is an observation deck with a cafe and a beautiful view of the bay. This is one of the best beaches on the island for swimming and beach holidays.
Maenam Beach
You can find different translations of the name of this beach: Mainam, Maenam, Maenam, Menam
Maenam Beach is located in the north of Samui. The beach is popular with couples with children. Many families choose Maenam to live for an extended period of time. Not far from the sea there are many villages with closed areas. There are quite a lot of offers for renting houses for a long period. The further inland the island, the cheaper you can rent a house. The area is very quiet, there are no noisy parties in the evenings. Maenam Beach will be attractive to those seeking relaxation and privacy. This is an ideal place for vacationers with children.
The length of Maenam beach is about five kilometers. The sand on the beach is coarse and yellow. The entry into the sea is gentle, clean, without stones. True, there are algae at the bottom. The depth for swimming begins close to the shore. It will be very difficult for children to swim. For some reason, the water is always cloudy, and when the sea is rough, it becomes completely cloudy due to the suspension lifted from the bottom by the waves. In general, the beach has good protection from waves. Even in the winter months there are rarely strong waves here. The coastline is constantly cleaned, but it is not ideally clean due to the large number of vacationers. The beach is very popular, so there are always a lot of vacationers here, but there is enough space for everyone. The beach itself is very beautiful, along the coastline there are many palm trees creating natural shade. From the shore you can see the neighboring island of Koh Phangan.
Near the beach, three rivers flow into the sea. Closer to them the number of mosquitoes increases. Therefore, it is necessary to have a repellent. The most effective are local Thai remedies, sold in many stores and pharmacies.
The location of the beach is good: not far from it are the beaches of Chalong and Lamai, where large shopping centers and the main party spots of the island are located. Lompraya catamarans moor at Maenam beach and sail to the mainland via the islands of Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. From the airport to the beach it is about 20 minutes drive.
The tourism infrastructure is very extensive. Large selection of hotels and guest houses of different price categories. There are a lot of cafes, bars and restaurants for every taste. A large number of massage and spa salons, travel agencies, laundries. There are grocery and hardware stores. Food markets are open in the morning and evening. The prices are quite low. There is even a post office.
In the evening, many cafes bring tables directly to the shore. It is very pleasant to dine by candlelight, listening to the sound of the surf.
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Bo Phut Beach
The beach is located in the northern part of Koh Samui, between Maenam Beach and Big Buddha. From the airport to the beach you can drive in 15 minutes. A ring road runs along the beach. The area between the road and the coastline is built up with hotels. You can get to the beach from the road either through the territory of one of the hotels or along the Fisherman Village embankment. The beach is very popular and crowded. The tourist infrastructure is very well developed. Large selection of accommodation from expensive hotels to affordable guest houses. Inland, there is a large selection of houses available for long-term rent. True, rental prices here are slightly higher than in other areas of the island. If we talk about prices not only for housing, but in general including fruits and vegetables at the market, dishes in cafes, then general impression It turns out that Bo Phut is a more expensive area of the island compared to Chaweng and Lamai. Lots of restaurants, bars and cafes. Travel agencies and massage parlors are literally at every turn. There are grocery and hardware stores, including large Big C and Macro supermarkets. good transport connection with other areas of the island.
The coastline is quite long. The sand is coarse and golden in color. The beach is not very wide. There are palm trees on the shore. You can only swim in the central part of the beach. The entry into the sea is clean and gentle. The depth begins immediately close to the shore. True, after about two meters the sandy bottom turns into muddy, which causes slight discomfort. The water in the sea is not entirely transparent due to suspended matter, which never sinks. There is no point in snorkeling since visibility underwater is poor. The beach is constantly kept clean. There are usually not many vacationers on the beach. The eastern and western parts of the beach are less well maintained and are mainly used for parking boats and speedboats.
Bo Phut makes a very pleasant impression. Very beautiful coast. There is, unlike other beaches, a central embankment “Fisherman Village”, where there are many restaurants and retail outlets, and which is pleasant to stroll along both during the day and in the evening.
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Lipa Noi Beach
Lipa Noi Beach is located on the west coast of Samui, a little off the ring road, near the cape where the naval base is located. A cargo pier was built in this part of the beach for the needs of a military base. But this does not cause much inconvenience. The beach is of sufficient length, and there is no need to relax directly near the pier. A hundred meters from the pier the water is clean and transparent. The sand on the beach is fine, light, grayish in color. The entry into the sea is gentle. The bottom is mostly clean, but in some places there are algae and accumulations of stones and fragments of coral. In different months, due to the level of tides, the depth of the sea varies. In the winter months the sea depth is sufficient for swimming, in the summer months the sea is rather shallow. The beach itself is very beautiful, many palm trees and natural shade.
There are several expensive hotels with large areas on the coast. There are many offers of luxury villas, houses and bungalows for long-term rent. In the interior of the island, as usual, rental prices are lower than on the coast. The area is very quiet, there are no noisy companies here. This place is very popular among couples with children and European retirees.
Tourist infrastructure is poorly developed. There are food markets and trade stalls, small shops. There are also cafes and restaurants, but not in large numbers. In the Lipa Noi area there are a large state Samui Hospital and an immigration office. On Lipa Noi Beach there is the most popular nightclub on the coast - Nikki Beach. The main tourist infrastructure is located in the nearby town of Nathon, which is about 20 minutes away by tuk-tuk. Nathon has large supermarkets and shopping centers, many cafes, bars and restaurants, travel agencies and other necessary infrastructure.
Ban Thai Beach
A well-known and popular beach among couples with children. The beach is quite long - its length is about 4 kilometers. Ban Tai Beach is very beautiful, with many palm trees along the coast creating natural shade. The sand is fine and light. The entry into the sea is gentle. The depth increases smoothly. On most of the beach, when entering the sea, there are algae and stones. There is only one hundred-meter stretch of beach with a clear entry into the sea. The areas of the beach where a few hotels are located are constantly cleaned.
The beach is located a little on the outskirts, away from the ring road. The Mimosa Hotel is located on the beach, so Ban Tai Beach is often called by the name of the hotel - Mimosa Beach. The beach is quiet and calm, there are no annoying sellers, no noisy discos or drunken youth. There are many offers for long-term rental of villas, houses and bungalows not far from the coast (on average a 10-minute walk to the sea). All this makes Ban Tai beach one of the best beaches for families with children.
The tourist infrastructure is poorly developed, but everything you need is there. Not far from the beach there is a 7/11 store, several Thai shops and stalls, several cafes and restaurants, and a pharmacy. The main tourist infrastructure is located on the nearest beach - Maenam. It can be reached from the ring road by tuk-tuk or on foot in 30 minutes. The beach also has good transport links to Nathon and Bo Put.
W-Retreat Beach (W-Retreat Koh Samui Beach)
The W-Retreat Koh Samui hotel is located on the beach - one of the most luxurious hotels on Koh Samui. It is safe to say that the quality of the beach corresponds to the level of the hotel. First of all, it is worth mentioning the cleanliness of the beach. The hotel staff maintains, one might say, the ideal cleanliness of the beach. Secondly, the beach is located in an unusual place - a sand spit extends more than a hundred meters into the sea.
Many tourists come here to take beautiful pictures. Considering that there are no private beaches in Thailand, anyone can freely access the W-Retreat Koh Samui beach. Well, the beach itself is also gorgeous. Soft, fine light sand. Clean, gentle entry into the sea. The depth is sufficient for swimming, it starts not far from the shore on the right side of the spit. There are many palm trees along the coastline, providing plenty of natural shade.
Bang Rak Beach
Bang Rak is located on the northeast coast of Koh Samui. In the area of Bang Rak beach there is one of the island's attractions - the statue of the Big Buddha. Bang Rak Beach is often referred to as Big Buddha Beach. Another feature of this beach is its location. The island's airport was built next to Bang Rak. And the flight path of the aircraft passes over Bang Rak beach. Many tourists come to the beach to photograph low-flying planes from a beautiful angle. Also in the center of Bang Rak there is a pier from where boats depart to Koh Phangan Island.
From the point of view of a purely beach holiday, Bang Rak is not the best place. Although children like the shallow sea and the beautiful nature of the beach. The coastline is not wide. The sand is fine and light. The beach is located in a U-shaped bay, and along the edges of the bay the sea is shallow and rocky. In the middle part of the beach the sea is deep, but due to the proximity of the piers and constantly cruising boats, the sea in this part is dirty.
The tourism infrastructure is very well developed. There are many hotels and guest houses of different price categories. There are many offers for renting villas, houses and bungalows for a long period. True, prices are no lower than in other areas of the island. There are many cafes, bars and restaurants for every taste. There are travel agencies, Thai massage parlors, pharmacies, shops and markets. The Bang Rak area has several large supermarkets and a large fish market. The Bang Rak area can be recommended as a good place for a long stay on Samui.
Thongson Beach
A small beach on the northeast coast of the island. There are several hotels and luxury villas on the beach. The beach infrastructure actually consists of hotel services.
The sand on the beach is soft, fine and light. The entry into the sea is gentle, and in some places there are fragments of coral. The sea is not very deep, the water is clear. The beach is constantly cleaned. The beach is not crowded. Mostly families with children relax on the beach. At low tide, there are many shallow ponds on the beach where children love to splash. On the right side of the beach, behind the rock, there is a small cozy bay where you can sunbathe topless. Thong Son is very beautiful, it is not for nothing that it is often chosen for wedding ceremonies.
Chong Mon Beach
Located on the northeast coast of Samui, next to Bang Rak Beach. Quite a long beach. The sand on the beach is light, fine and crumbly. The entry into the sea is gentle, mostly clean. In the central part of the beach the sea is deep, along the edges there is shallow water. There is a lot of vegetation on the beach, creating natural shade. Not far out to sea is the small island of Som, which can sometimes be reached on foot at low tide.
There are quite a lot of vacationers on Choeng Mon, especially in the central part of the beach. The beach is very popular with couples with children. The infrastructure is very well developed. There are many water activities on offer. The central part of the coast is occupied by hotels, and along the edges of the bay - houses and villas that are rented out for long periods. There are many restaurants, bars and cafes to suit every taste. In the beach area there are minimarkets, stalls, small markets, travel agencies and massage parlors. The beaches of Chaweng and Bang Rak are located nearby and are easily accessible by tuk-tuk. Choeng Mon beach is one of the best options for families with children.
South coast beaches: Laem Set, Bang Khao, Thong Krut, Thong Tanot
If we describe the beaches located in the south of the island, they have a lot in common. All of them are sparsely populated, one might even say deserted. The beaches are quiet, wild, with beautiful, almost untouched nature. Coast with a lot of natural debris. Mostly areas are cleaned in the immediate vicinity of hotels and expensive villas. The sand on the coastline is coarse and yellow. The sea off the coast is shallow. The tides are clearly visible. At low tides, the sea “retracts” almost half a kilometer. The bottom is rocky. The sea off the coast is practically unsuitable for swimming.
Thong Thanot and Thong Krut Beach – these are the two farthest beaches of the island. There is practically no infrastructure. You need your own transport. To get to the nearest areas of the island with developed tourist infrastructure you need to spend at least an hour.
Bang Kao Beach– one of the longest beaches of Samui, located far from the ring road, settlements And tourist centers. The coastline is very little developed: a few hotels and a small number of private houses and villas. The sea off the coast is rocky and shallow. There are many fishing boats and boats off the coast, the bottom of which is dredged in some places for mooring.
Bang Khao Beach is ideal for nature lovers who like to relax away from touristy areas. This place is also popular with fishermen. There is practically no tourist infrastructure in the Bang Khao beach area. To get to the beach you need to go through the territory of one of the hotels located on the coast.
Laem Set Beach Although it is located closer to Lamai, independent tourists rarely come here. This is due, first of all, to the fact that the beach can only be accessed through the hotel premises, which is not always possible. The beach is equipped, but the infrastructure belongs to the hotel and is available only to its guests. There are no shops, cafes or entertainment in the beach area.
Laem Set a beautiful beach, with untouched wildlife, huge trees grow along the coast, creating natural shade. Unfortunately, this is not the best place for swimming: the sea is shallow with a muddy bottom. True, a small barrier reef is located a hundred meters from the shore. You can get there by boat or kayak. There you can have a great snorkeling experience, watching the life of marine life. However, you must be careful not to damage the coral reef by stepping on it or hitting it with your kayak.
Taling Ngam Beach
Taling Ngam Beach is located on the west coast of the island, away from the ring road. This is a wonderful beach for a secluded, romantic and have a relaxing holiday. A very beautiful beach with palm trees on the coast, untouched wildlife and the turquoise color of the sea. Gorgeous sunsets overlooking the neighboring Five Islands archipelago add a certain charm to this place. Very few independent tourists get to these places. There are several expensive hotels on the coast (for example, the five-star Hotel Intercontinental), which are located at a distance from each other. In general, the beach is not crowded: there are no parties or noisy groups of drunken youth.
The sand on the beach is medium in size, light yellow in color. The entry into the sea is gentle, the bottom is muddy, and in some places there are stones and fragments of coral. The depth of the sea is greater than on the southern beaches, but still not sufficient for swimming. The Hotel Intercontinental has a long pier extending into the sea, from which you can comfortably swim in the sea. The coastline within the hotels is kept clean.
In the Taling Ngam area you can rent houses and bungalows almost on the seashore at prices lower than in other areas of the island. There is practically no infrastructure for independent tourists. There are several cafes and restaurants, a couple of shops. You need your own transport to travel to other areas of the island to get everything you need. The ring road is located far away. Almost all hotel guests use hotel services and infrastructure.
You can also see a detailed overview of all the beaches of other popular resorts in Thailand:
Updated: 02/28/2019
Oleg Lazhechnikov
74If you come to Samui for the winter and are looking for housing, you can look at the one I personally compiled, where there are more than 80 houses with a map and photos.
Main beaches
Bang Po Beach
Bang Por will appeal to those who are not suited to the depth and crowdedness of family Maenam. The beach is located in the north of Samui, next to Maenam. The coastal development density is high, there is a lot of housing for rent, well-developed infrastructure and the ring road is nearby. Bang Po is smaller than Maenam, but the sea here is muddy, the bottom is muddy, and closer to the edges of the beach there are stone deposits on the bottom. The beach is suitable for swimming, especially with small children, but it is not particularly beautiful. Not crowded, not full of beach activities, with large yellow sand and many restaurants on the shore. More, with photographs.
Ban Thai Beach
Ban Thai is a famous place among mommies on Koh Samui. The second name of the beach is Mimosa, named after the hotel and restaurant located on the shore. The beach is located on the outskirts, does not suffer from crowds, and has only one, hundred-meter, clean entrance to the water. Basically, the entire sea along Ban Tai is overgrown with algae, and the west of the beach is littered huge stones. Lots of natural shade, shallow sea, few buildings on the shore. There are no noisy parties, beach vendors and drunken youth. All these characteristics combine to create an excellent family beach in the north of Koh Samui. More, with photographs.
Mae Nam Beach
The third most popular beach on Koh Samui, after Chaweng and Lamai. The main characteristic of the beach is family. Things are very good here with self-rental housing, houses for every taste and price tag. Excellent infrastructure, but lacking nightlife. After sunset the entire area falls asleep, except for the bars. The beach is wonderful, almost all hidden under a continuous palm grove. The sand is yellow, loose, very soft. The depth of the sea allows you to swim regardless of the low tides, there are few beach vendors, there are no active party places, and there are no beach activities. More, with photographs.
W-Retreat Koh Samui Beach
The private beach of the cool W-Retreat Koh Samui hotel with rooms with prices starting from 90,000 baht per night. The beach is perfectly groomed and equipped with all amenities that are intended only for hotel guests. There are many sources of shade on the shore; the same palm grove as on Maenam grows here. The highlight of the beach is the sand spit, which extends a couple of hundred meters into the sea, allowing you to take stunning photographs. Sometimes the braid deteriorates after strong waves and becomes not so straight. Despite the closedness and exclusivity, access to the beach by outsiders is not prohibited. More, with photographs.
Bo Phut Beach
Bo Phut is located in the north of Samui, next to family-friendly Maenam. The beach runs along the ring road at a sufficient distance. The gap between the road and the sea is built up with hotels; access to the beach is possible only through the territory of one of the resorts or on the Fisherman Village embankment. Well-developed infrastructure and beach activities. Very crowded and popular due to its convenient location. Macro and Big C hypermarkets are nearby. The beach itself is heterogeneous along its entire length. There are wild, unkempt areas with fishing boats in the west, there is a lively, well-maintained central part and a deserted eastern part. The sea is suitable for swimming only in the central part of Bo Phut. More, with photographs.
Bang Rak Beach
Bang Rak is located in the north of Samui, in one of the most densely populated and lively areas of the island. The high density of buildings on the coast limits access to the sea. Mostly there are restaurants, commercial organizations, two piers, resorts and bars. Well-developed infrastructure and beach activities on the shore. The airport and the ring road are nearby. The beach is shaped like a "U" and along the edges of the beach the sea is shallow and rocky. In the middle of Bang Rak the sea is deep, but the proximity to the piers takes its toll. You can also observe oil stains and debris in the water. In winter there are high waves and very muddy water. More, with photographs.
Plai Laem Beach
Plai Lam will appeal to those who are not looking for a beach holiday in the classical sense. The shore of the beach is not crowded, it is located in the north of the island. Mostly there are poor resorts, industrial buildings and fishermen's houses. The bottom of the sea is covered with silt and small stones and is not at all suitable for swimming. The shore is mostly dirty, not cleaned, and the beach is not popular with tourists. There is almost no entertainment, houses are rarely built, but there is a choice. The infrastructure of the area is below average; only the most necessary services such as equipment rental and laundry are available. The main attractions of the island and the airport are very close. More, with photographs.
Samrong Beach
Samrong is hidden behind the walls of the only beachfront hotel in northern Koh Samui. Access to the beach is not limited by the hotel administration. It’s not particularly interesting, especially if you live in another place. The beach is shallow, covered with algae and stones. There is no entertainment, no people, no beach equipment, you can come here just out of curiosity. The infrastructure of the area is poor, since this part of the island is located on the outskirts and is occupied mainly by expensive villas and hotels. More, with photographs.
Thongson Beach
Another children's beach on Koh Samui. The shallow waters, coupled with the easy accessibility and relative liveliness of the beach, make it attractive for families. The sea here is shallow, in some places paddling pools form in the rocks after low tide. You need to move on stones very carefully; under wet feet, dry stone becomes slippery. Entry into the water is complicated in places by coral debris and algae. Behind the stone cliff to the right of the beach entrance there is a hidden cove where you can sunbathe nude. The development is sparse, the infrastructure is undeveloped. More, with photographs.
Thongsai Beach
The Thong Sai Bay Hotel's private beach is fairly easy to access. Like Samrong Beach, Thongsai is a perfectly groomed strip of shore. The sea in this place is very deep and remains unchanged at low tides. It is not suitable for visiting on your own, since they do not allow you to use hotel equipment, and there is nothing to do here without an umbrella - there is no shade anywhere. A very wide beach, about 40 -50 meters. No entertainment, beach vendors or infrastructure. Only a hotel with its own beach. More, with photographs.
Chong Mon Beach
It is considered one of the family beaches, along with Maenam, Ban Tai and Thong Son. The area has a relatively well-developed infrastructure and is not very densely populated with houses. There are four large hotels on the beach, but access to the sea is free along the bypass road. Lots of natural shade. Choeng Mon has a shallow sea and grayish fine sand. The shore is lined with bars and massage houses, many restaurants, water activities and sun lounger rentals. It’s always crowded here, whole families come. There are difficulties with parking. More, with photographs.
Chaweng Yai Beach
The most inaccessible, but exotic part of Chaweng beach. It is located north of the main Chaweng and consists of two halves - a shallow bounty and a deep rocky strip of shore. The sea is not suitable for swimming, but rather for walking along the bottom and taking photographs. Well-developed infrastructure and many hotels on the shore. Water activities and beach equipment are also presented in a wide range. The shore is crowded, there are many bars and drunken youth, as well as a stone spit on the horizon, protecting from the waves. More, with photographs.
Chaweng Beach
The most popular and one of the most beautiful beaches of Koh Samui. Excellent infrastructure, a lot of houses, hotels and resorts. Chaweng has everything you need for relaxation and life. Lively, noisy, crowded. The beach is popular and truly beautiful along its entire length. Chaweng in the central part has deep sea, almost white sand and a clear entrance to the water. Lots of beach and water activities, tons of bars and restaurants, beach vendors, animation and magnificent scenery. The most beautiful sea on the island is on Chaweng. More, with photographs.
Chaweng Noi Beach
Chaweng Noi is located south of Chaweng and is a smaller copy of it. It runs along the ring road, and a solid wall of hotels has been built on the stretch of land between the sea and the road. Entry to the beach is only possible through the territory of one of them. The beach is clean, well-groomed, deep sea with free entry into the water. Beach activities are presented in a reduced form, there is a lot of natural shade. Independent holiday is quite real, without additional costs for renting a sun lounger. The beach is of different widths, with a very beautiful horizon. The infrastructure is hotel-based; there are no residential areas in the area. More, with photographs.
Coral Cove Beach
One of the few beaches on Samui that is deservedly popular with most people who have visited it. Due to its inaccessibility, many people do not get here, but at any time of the year there are always a lot of people here. Despite the fact that the beach is isolated and closed by the hotel territory, lovers of coral sand and azure sea still come with their own rugs and umbrellas. There is no entertainment on the beach, no beach vendors and noisy young people. A very clean, beautiful, exceptionally picturesque beach in the east of Koh Samui. All the amenities of civilization are available in Chaweng or Lamai. Coral Cove is designed for contemplation and swimming. The sea is deep and clean. More, with photographs.
Thong Takian Beach
A beach with four names. One of the most beautiful small beaches on Koh Samui. Located between the beaches of Chaweng and Lamai, in a beautiful bay between huge round rocks. Separated from the entire island by the territories of three hotels. It has a hotel infrastructure, there are no marine entertainments or youth parties. Thongtakian is ideal for a beach holiday amid real tropical landscapes. A very beautiful place, very popular and always crowded. More, with photographs.
Laem Nan Beach
Laem Nan is located north of Lamai, along the territory belonging to expensive resorts. The building density here is low, but the price of housing is far from budget. Despite the presence of luxury real estate, the sea on Laem Nan is very shallow, rocky, with a muddy bottom. It’s practically not suitable for swimming, but you can see tourists walking along the bottom, half a kilometer from the shore. This is a very pleasant place to relax with children. There are many sources of shade on the shore, sparsely populated areas, no noisy or drunk neighbors. A favorite place for farangs from Europe, many of whom come with their families. More, with photographs.
Lamai Beach, Northern part (Lamai Beach)
Lamai is the most popular beach on Samui, after Chaweng. It is an impressive length, so the description of Lamai is divided into three parts. The northern part of Lamai is located near the island's ring road and is densely built and populated. However, there are mostly commercial organizations here, one large hotel, and several small ones. North Lamai is on the outskirts of this huge village, so there is no nightlife in the evening. The sea is shallow, the bottom is rocky, there is a pit for fishing boats and many of these same boats. There are no beach activities, sections of the beach with clean sand very little. More detailed, with photographs.
Lamai Beach, Central part (Lamai Beach)
Lamai is the most popular beach on Samui, after Chaweng. It is an impressive length, so the description of Lamai is divided into three parts. The central part of Lamai is an ideal place to relax on the island if you are not looking for privacy. Lamai in this part has excellent infrastructure (including a Tesco hypermarket), a large number of beach activities, and dense development of both commercial and residential buildings. There is everything you need for a good holiday on Koh Samui. The sea is deep, the sand is clean, light yellow and loose. More detailed description of the beach, with photographs. There is not a single stink river mouth. The only drawback of Lamai in the central part of the beach is the lack of sources of shade. You will have to look for an umbrella to rent or bring your own. More, with photographs.
Lamai Beach, South part (Lamai Beach)
Lamai is the most popular beach on Samui, after Chaweng. It is an impressive length, so the description of Lamai is divided into three parts. The southern part of Lamai Beach is located along large vacant lots and is somewhat abandoned, although there is a Macro hypermarket and an Orthodox temple. The sand here is worse, the entrance to the water is rocky and overgrown with algae, and there are no sources of natural shade. Beach entertainment has not reached here, even beach vendors do not come. People usually gather on the northernmost edge of Lamai, near the Hin Ta Hin Yai rocks. Access to the sea is limited to the resort areas, with the exception of a private bridge, which is built over a stinking river in a wasteland area. More, with photographs.
Not the main beaches
Hua Thanon Beach
One of the dirtiest and most unpleasant beaches on Koh Samui. Located in the east, just after Lamai Beach. Much of Hua Thanon lies along the fishing village of the same name and its surroundings. Here the beach is lined with boats and polluted with waste from fishing activities. Housing for rent is offered only in the interior of the island. The beach is located relatively close to the ring road. Very poor infrastructure, all shopping has to be done in Lamai. The sea is shallow and the bottom is rocky. It can be called more or less bathable in the area between the village and the temple. More, with photographs.
Nahai Beach
Nahai is known as a favorite place for windsurfers. Located on the east coast of Koh Samui. A very shallow, unswimable sea, which at low tide goes 300-400 meters from the shore. It is built up with private villas and resorts, which are not very friendly to outsiders. Nearby is one of the main tourist attractions - a zoo of tigers and sea animals. The area's infrastructure is weak and not designed for a large influx of tourists. There are few people, mostly because of the beach. There is no entertainment, a lot of beach, little sea. More, with photographs.
Laem Set Beach
Hard-to-reach, little-known and unpopular Koh Samui beach. A favorite place for supporters of secluded recreation and uninhabited shores. Located in the southeast of Koh Samui in a sparsely populated area of the island. Along the entire coast there are hotels or a fenced area for development. The hotels are quite expensive; they do not allow access to the beach through their territory, explaining that they value the safety of their guests. The sea is shallow and rocky along the entire coast. More, with photographs.
Na Thien Beach
Natien is hidden behind the walls of three large luxury hotels on the island. It is a winding coastline with sandy beaches in between huge round boulders. Access to the beach is only possible through the hotel premises, but not all of them allow this. The sea is shallow, rocky, and unsuitable for swimming. There are no beach activities other than those offered by the hotels themselves. Great for a one-time visit, for the picturesque coastline and horizon. The results are beautiful photographs. The Natien area is sparsely populated and has poor infrastructure. More, with photographs.
Bang Khao Beach
The longest beach in the south of Samui. It is located far from the ring road and the main densely populated areas of the island. The area around Bang Kao is poorly developed; development is presented in the form of private villas and rare resorts. There is very little housing on the shore. The sea along the beach is catastrophically shallow. There are pits dug for fishing boats, but there are practically no normal areas for swimming. The bottom is muddy and rocky. The beach is mostly wild, unkempt, with heaps of garbage. Bang Kao is a favorite place of “savages” and fishermen. There is nothing here for a beach holiday, you need to bring everything with you. More, with photographs.
Thong Krut Beach
Thong Krut, like all the beaches in the south of Samui, has one big drawback for those who like to swim in the sea. Shallow water. With low tide, the sea recedes almost half a kilometer, leaving a rocky bottom. It takes about an hour to drive to the nearest centers of island life. Thong Krut is the farthest corner of the island, further than that is only Thong Tanot. There is no infrastructure, few houses, and few tourists either. The beaches are deserted, dirty, wild. From here it is convenient to hire a boat with a boatman to take a ride to the southern satellite islands and swim on the even more uninhabited coast. More, with photographs.
Thong Tanod Beach
Thong Thanot is the farthest corner of the island. Its only attraction is its remoteness. Few people, few houses, no infrastructure. It’s a long way to the ring road; the drive to Nathon is about the same as to Lamai. This is the edge of the island. The sea here is shallow, the bottom is rocky, the sand is coarse and yellow. Ideal for those who need a desert island experience. More, with photographs.
Phang Ka Beach
Pang Ka is very similar to a flooded sand quarry. The almost perfectly square shape of the bay in which it is located creates a lasting association. The sea on Phang Ka is extremely shallow, with low tide it goes 400 meters away and the bottom dries out. With the exception of a channel dug for jet skis, boats and boats. Oddly enough, there are some sea activities, sunbeds for relaxation, and even sea tours are offered. The main user of the beach is the contingent neighboring hotels, located on the slopes of mountains and in the jungle, which do not have their own sea. More, with photographs.
Taling Ngam Beach
Taling Ngam is considered a pearl west coast Samui. Very different along its entire length, Taling Ngam is located along a wild coastline that is unpopular with ordinary tourists. The coast is partly covered with stones, partly breaks off at the rocks. The coast is mostly unkempt, dirty, with shallow seas and a muddy bottom. The main advantage of Taling Ngam is its authenticity and stunning sunsets overlooking the Five Islands. There is little housing in the area; the infrastructure consists of Thai shops and laundries. It's very far from the ring road. The edge of civilization. More, with photographs.
Lipa Noi Beach
Lipa Noi, also known as Thong Yang, is a long beach consisting of two parts. Lipa Noi is located on the west bank, immediately after the administrative center of Samui - Nathon. Fine, gray sand, clean in some places, abandoned in others. The sea is shallow, with a muddy bottom. There are many trees scattered along the beach, providing natural shade. The Lipa Noi area is located far from the ring road, and there are few houses and shops in the area. There is no infrastructure, but there is one of the coolest entertainment bars - Nikki Beach. Mostly family people relax here, many mothers with children. More, with photographs.
Nathon Beach
The administrative center of Samui, with all the ensuing consequences. Nathon is a mini-town, with two huge piers, a fleet of different-sized ships, boats and boats. Half of the conventional beach is encased in concrete and is a promenade, and the second is a wild beach with mangrove trees. The advantages of Nathon are its well-developed infrastructure, proximity to major government institutions, ferry and distance from noisy Chaweng. Cons - the sea is not swimmable, shallow, dirty. Great for photo shoots on the wet seabed after low tide. A favorite place for local photographers. There is a high density of buildings, but these are mainly houses of local residents. More, with photographs.
Bang Makham Beach
Bang Makham, or Bang Makam, is conventionally called a beach. It is located in the north of Samui, and runs along the ring road. Almost half of this road passes within five meters of the water's edge. The beach itself appears only at low tide, when the seabed is exposed. The sand is very white, but everything is littered with stones and pebbles, marine debris and teeming with marine life. There is a small area in the east of Bang Kao sandy beach, opposite the only resort. The rest of the space is unsuitable for swimming or sunbathing. This beach is suitable for a romantic photo with a motorcycle or car against the backdrop of the sea. More detailed description of Bang Makham beach
Laem Yai Beach
Laem Yai is a beach that only becomes a beach at low tide. As the sea recedes, a shallow bottom is exposed, covered with fine white sand, which quickly dries out in the sun. The water remains in small and large puddles, in the middle of which islands for relaxation are formed. The beach is located on the outskirts of the main busy areas of Samui. Development around Laem Yai is extremely sparse, with only three or four resorts and hotels. There is no infrastructure, except for a plastic pier and a reggae bar. The place is wild, uncrowded, hidden by a palm forest. There are rocks of different sizes scattered along the shore; there are no beach activities. Just like people. More detailed description of Laem Yai beach, with photographs.
Thong Plu Beach
Thong Plu is located on the very edge of the northern coast of Samui, near the beginning of Natonovskaya Hill - a pass through the mountains. There are literally 30 meters between the sea and the ring road, on which about a dozen resorts are located. The sea is not swimmable, shallow, with a rocky bottom. Sparsely populated, there are practically no tourists, except local inhabitants. The infrastructure of the area is poor; everything you need has to be purchased in Nathon, which is about 5 minutes away. The housing density is low, there are many workshops for wood and stone processing. More, with photographs.
Thanks for reading
Koh Samui, it seems, is not so big, but there are many beaches on it. And they are all very different, but your vacation largely depends on which beach you will live on. The choice of area is determined by your preferences - somewhere quiet, somewhere fun and parties. The sea is also very different, even on neighboring beaches it can be very shallow, or immediately deep, waves or complete calm. Some places are good for families with children, others for snorkeling, and others for water sports. I'll try to describe Koh Samui beaches and your opinion about them. And, of course, attach photographs without embellishment or Photoshop, so that the picture is as complete as possible. Although, be sure to keep in mind that the appearance of the beach changes greatly depending on the season, for example, from spring on the island there are pronounced low tides, the sea becomes shallower, and instead of the heavenly view from the picture you can see a bare bottom with stones. And after rains and high tides, the purest sand can be covered with algae and similar marine debris. However, all popular tourist beaches are cleaned every day.
Chaweng Beach
The most famous, and at the same time the most party beaches — Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam. Many people think that this is best beaches Samui.
The largest number of bars, places where parties take place, parties and hotels are located in Chaweng. Lamai beach is a little calmer, but also a lot of people, especially on tour packages. Previously, they say, it was just a paradise, but recently Lamai has been taken over by travel agencies and populated by Russians. And Maenam is quite close to all the “necessary” places, has a well-developed infrastructure and offers a lot of affordable housing of different levels, although the beach is not particularly suitable for families with children, as there are strong waves there. I personally like places where there are no tourists and very calm. Of course, keep in mind that my opinion about the beaches will not be complete and not particularly objective, since I lived on some, and only visited others to swim or sit on the shore in a beach restaurant. And it may well be that I found some of the beaches not at their best times, for example, during strong low tides. Or vice versa, at the right moment, and someone will get to the beach after a strong low tide...
Main beaches Samui description and reviews:
MaeNam beach Samui
Maenam Beach
Whatever they call it - Menam, Mainam, Maenam, Maenam.
An area with developed infrastructure, a bunch of bars and restaurants and a swimming sea. It is very conveniently located, because it is quite close to such popular tourist beaches as Chaweng and Lamai. At the same time, it is not so noisy and there are fewer people. Not far from the sea there are many not only hotels, but also small villages with fenced areas and cute houses. If you look for housing not by the sea, but deep into the island towards the mountains, you can save a lot; there are plenty of small villages and just houses at prices that are half the price of similar housing closer to the sea. There is a good view of Koh Phangan from the shore. It is on Maenam that the Lompraya company pier is located, from which you can get to Bangkok by ferry. Also, I almost forgot to mention the post office. It may be useful for compatriots who have shopped too much and cannot carry away their suitcases of elephants, trousers, chopsticks and other good things. Sending twenty kilograms of purchased goods home will cost three thousand rubles. True, it will take an average of a month, maybe two. (Or it won’t arrive at all)))
Maenam Beach
Maenam beach infrastructure:
Maenam has a lot of shops, even furniture shops, tourist shops, and clothing stores. A large number of fairly large markets, both food and household markets with all sorts of things. The famous Thai Morning Market is also located here. However, I personally got the impression that the prices there are the same as at a regular daily one, and the goods - fruits, vegetables and fish - are not much different. There are several laundromats in the area, and restaurants, bars and hangouts are a dime a dozen. Massage parlors are everywhere. There is also a taekwondo academy for children, where Russian children are also taken. Quite a lot of kindergartens. I used to go there, on Maenam, for peeling with Garra Rufa fish. In other places I found it only much more expensive.
Maenam Beach
Maenam Beach:
The sand on the beach is coarse and rough for the smallest children's feet. Especially for those who are still crawling. But the beach is cleaned up, because the entire coastline is built up with hotels, but the feeling that it’s still a little dirty remains. Probably due to the fairly large number of vacationers. But there are cafes right on the beach, and dining at tables on the sand by candlelight is very romantic. There are palm trees and a lot of shade.
Maenam Beach
Sea of Maenam Beach:
It will please adults because the depth begins almost immediately. However, the wind blows almost constantly and the waves are so strong that it is absolutely impossible to bathe infants. And older kids are guaranteed to get their fill. The water is almost always cloudy due to waves. There is a lot of algae at the bottom, so sometimes swimming is unpleasant.
Maenam Beach 
Maenam Beach 
Maenam Beach 
Maenam Beach
Ban Tai beach - Ban Tai beach Samui.
Ban Tai Beach
Perhaps my favorite beach. After all, it was on it that we spent the first six months of our life on Samui. And, comparing with other beaches, we were always convinced that it was the best. The best for us - because we love silence and we are with a child, and the sea there is quite shallow. Finding Ban Tai is not easy; it is simply not on many maps. In fact, this is a small area, from the ring road there are only two main streets to the sea. Inside, of course, there is a network of streets, paths and paths where you can find various houses and villas for rent.
Ban Tai Beach
If we talk about the area closer to the sea from the ring road, and not towards the mountains, then from any place you can walk to the beach in a maximum of 10 minutes. And on the beach itself, practically on the coastline, there are hotels and houses. Alas, I didn’t find any good houses at all on the sea - either expensive hotels for 6-12 thousand a day (there are three of them), or some kind of shacks, like our houses for pensioners in gardening. There are several old houses in which hot water is intermittent and terribly damp. We lived a 5-minute walk from the beach, here is a story about our first house on Samui and another one about our second. It was really good there. I also looked at the villas - you can rent a one-bedroom with a pool from 23,000, but they didn’t impress me at all. On the downside, right on the deserted beach in the spring of 2013 they decided to clear part of the territory; many palm trees were simply uprooted from a huge area. It was not at all as beautiful as in many photos. However, now (by the New Year 2014) this territory is still for sale. It is possible that it will be built up. In general, over the past six months in Ban Tai they have built houses for rent - they just stuck them wherever they could.
Ban Tai Beach
Ban Tai beach infrastructure:
Ban Tai has everything you need for life. A couple of local shops (where they deceive mercilessly, prices vary depending on how much you are “valued” today, and one carrot can cost 20-40 rubles. But if you return it back with the words, they say, you don’t need it at that price, then immediately becomes 5-7 rubles. But in any case, it’s good to know that at any time you can buy water or fruits and essential goods. Right at the exit of the roundabout there is Seven Eleven - my favorite minimarket for all kinds of necessary products, such as milk and eggs . Behind it is a pharmacy, however, with strange opening hours. From the roundabout for 50 baht you can take a tuk-tuk to Nathon, Maenam, Bo Put and Chaweng. And when you live for a long time, then to the neighboring beach for 20 baht, you pay like a local. On the main road of Ban Tai there are also a couple of restaurants - Mai Tai with a local owner and Mama Moon with a European one. In European the price of dishes is twice as high, but, as they say, in clean dishes and cooked in good water (maybe be)). There are no kindergartens in Ban Tai, nor self-service laundries, but there is a local laundry on every corner. To buy fruit (if you don’t want to buy it at exorbitant prices from the locals), you can go to Maenam or walk for about thirty minutes.
Ban Tai Beach
Ban Tai Beach:
A small strip of 4 kilometers, there is shade, as there are many palm trees. Coconuts hang on them, but once every six months they are removed and the leaves are cut off. The sand is pleasant, fine, and quite clean. Sometimes it applies algae. But every day the beach by the road, where many people sunbathe, is cleaned by a local uncle, a wonderful person. If you go right from the road, there will be more wild place, there is a ridge where the locals fish. And by going to the left, you find yourself in a paradise harbor, where mothers and children like to gather, and where couples are located good hotels, next to which the beach is well cleaned. True, recently, after heavy rains and bad weather, palm trees fell there and caused a lot of dirt, but I think this will be cleaned up quickly. After all, hotel owners pay heavy fines if the area near them is not cleaned.
Sea of Ban Tai Beach:
When we arrived, swimming was wonderful. Sloping entrance, shallow at first, good for children to swim. The water was the clearest. And if we moved further away, not very far, we were already up to our necks and above, and adults swam for fun too. In December, the sea became cloudier and algae often began to appear on the beach. From February or even earlier, it became shallower, the ebb and flow of the tides became pronounced, and until spring and summer it was so shallow that adults could only swim if they lay on their bellies. But the baby is not doing well. The bottom is clean in some places, but closer to the ridge everything is covered in stones.
Bantay Beach 
Bantay Beach
Chaweng Beach – Chaweng beach Samui
Chaweng Beach
The most party place where most tourists stay and where the hottest places on the island are located. Bars, clubs, parties for every taste. Noisy, but those who prefer this type of relaxation will have fun. Don’t expect peace and tranquility in this place; crowds of sunburnt tourists, tipsy young people, annoying traders, and the smells of overcooked local food from numerous stalls will not let you relax. And the night “boom-boom” from various establishments will complement the picture of relaxation. However, tour operators consider this beach to be the most popular and impose it on tourists. There is an airport nearby, so you can constantly admire the low-flying planes. By the way, you will hear noise from them from 5 in the morning until late in the evening. Although, given the level of noise from beach cafes, restaurants and parties, or on a one-way street from bars, cabarets and similar establishments, you may not even notice any additional noise. If you suddenly get bored on some quiet beach, the nicest thing to do is come here to relax. But for me personally, it’s even more pleasant to then go back to peace and quiet) I’ll be honest - once we passed through some resort and it was quiet there. You can't hear any music from the beach at all. The rest of the hotels through which we got from the beach to the street looked more like a passageway.
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach Infrastructure:
It is well developed, tuk-tuks operate regularly, although they charge more than in all other parts of the island. Annoying taxi drivers will not let a single tourist pass without honking their horn, creating an additional cacaphony of noise. The concentration of cafes, restaurants, bars and other establishments for every taste and budget is higher than on all neighboring beach markets. Massage parlors are a dime a dozen and prices are lower than in less touristic places, and there are masseuses on the beach every hundred meters. By the way, right on the beach, balloons are sold openly for 150 baht, filled, as the inscription on the tray says, with laughing gas. On Chaweng there are also the largest hypermarkets, the main Tesco Lotus of the island, Macro and Big C. In the same area there are various hospitals, including the best on the island of Bangkok Samui Hospital, the only place where you can go with your child without fear, and where there are the only pediatricians on the island.
Chaweng Beach
There are great fans in Chaweng budget holiday can find guesthouses for some ridiculous money, I saw an advertisement on the street from one of them, about the cost of rooms being 150 rubles per day... It is to Chaweng that those who passionately desire “Thai love” at reasonable prices, offered in large quantities almost in any local bar. By the way, there are many restaurants with European cuisine, even McDonald’s, it seemed to me that there were two of them, as well as Pizza Hut and KFS. Most restaurants are mercilessly overpriced for food. If on walking street on Bo Put a mojito costs 50 re, then on the Chaweng beach it costs from 125, and on the party street it costs from 300 and more! But there are cafes with European-style ice cream; I really missed them on other beaches. I enjoyed dining by the sea, right on the cushions on the sand. True, finding a place where the speakers are not so noisy and the music is more or less decent is not so easy. As well as a place with a more or less decent price tag. We found one minibar with a cozy atmosphere, and the food menu was brought to us from a nearby restaurant.
Chaweng Beach 
Happy birthday to me) 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng Beach:
The sand is white and very fine, pleasant to the touch. It seems to me that there is no such beautiful sand anywhere else. The beach is wide. But there are so many people that one remembers Anapa or Sochi of Soviet times. Everyone is constantly moving back and forth, Europeans are lying on trestle beds, restaurants are filled with Koreans, gays are running along the shore in large numbers, and terribly annoying merchants brazenly shove sparkling toys into the hands of children and beg money from parents.
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng beach Chaweng 
Chaweng Beach 
Chaweng beach Chaweng
Chaweng Beach
Sea of Chaweng Beach:
On Chaweng, the tides are pronounced, sometimes it’s a little shallow near the shore, but sometimes you can go to the depths and swim normally. Mostly people take a soak where the sea is “knee-deep” - during and after the party, apparently, that’s it. In the north there is a coral reef in the sea, so it is very shallow nearby. Usually the water is clear and the bottom is clean. In autumn and winter, Chaweng has terrible waves and very strong winds, making it impossible to swim with children. But you can do different types water sports. By the way, scooters are constantly rushing along the shore. It is believed that Chaweng has the most transparent and beautiful sea among other beaches, but I would not 100% say so.
Lipa Noi beach Samui.
Lipa Noi Beach
I love this beach for its silence and desertedness. It is also called the “elite pensioners zone.” It’s definitely not suitable for partygoers, although fun parties are held on Niki Beach, but in general it’s very calm here, there are practically no bars, all the large shops and generally all kinds of tourist shops are only in Nathon. By the way, you can get there in about 20 minutes. But in Lipanoi there is an immigration office where everyone goes to renew their visas. Don’t believe those who say that you can only get around Lipa Noi for a lot of money, this is just nonsense. A tuk tuk at the roundabout costs exactly 30 baht. By the way, there are not only large ones, which are called songhaews, there are also real tuk tuks, which do not operate in the Nathon-Chaweng area at all. Moreover, the driver’s phone number is written on the glass of the cab, write it down and call. If you initially designate your house (for example, Tanyas house), then upon calling within five minutes a personal tuktuker will drive up to you directly to your house and take you for the same 30 baht per person, for example, to Nathon, to Tesco Lotus, when finish your shopping, call him again, and five minutes later you are comfortably driving home for the same 30 baht per nose. We are very pleased - door to door and cheaper than tuk tuks from Ban Tai cost us. You can also find houses to suit every taste, although in general it seemed to me that they were more expensive than in other areas. There are available bungalows on the seashore, even from 14 thousand. But for this money you can rent a pretty decent house in other places. By the way, about decent, or rather, the opposite. Away from the beach, especially along various roads, you can find houses that are not super, but, for example, for 10,000 a double, even with its own territory and good internet.
Infrastructure of Lipa Noi beach :
There are a lot of purely Thai restaurants; there are few normal restaurants for tourists. There are a few expensive ones, because here is an area of elite villas, terribly expensive resorts (next to us, double houses cost 4,000 euros per month). But there are also good beach ones from time to time. For example, there is a restaurant right next to us where dishes cost an average of 50 baht, as do freshly squeezed juices. After meeting him, I became completely lazy and only cook for my child. And even then, we often feed her rice and chicken for lunch or dinner, because if you ask, they cook it without pepper and excess seasonings. There are not as many Seven Elevens as we would like, but they still exist. We are 10 minutes away on foot from the nearest one. There are also Thai shops, but they are mainly for locals; for ourselves, we only found water there if we suddenly ran out, and we’re just too lazy to go to the store. If you search, you can find local markets with fruits and vegetables. The nearest kindergartens are in Nathon. There seem to be a lot of them in Lipa Noi, but they are all closed because they can’t get enough children. There is also a large state Samui Hospital.
Lipa Noi Beach
Lipa Noi Beach:
Very pleasant, flat with a slope towards the sea, without rocks or ridges (not counting the mountains where the port is). The sand is fine, snow-white, without stones. A lot of shells and crabs. Sometimes it carries a lot of algae, but at hotels they are immediately removed, and on wild beaches it is carried out to sea with the next tide. However, in the summer there was a lot of mud and where there were areas without hotels or resorts, I didn’t want to walk barefoot. At first, sand flies bit the child’s legs, but then they probably got fed up and stopped. In all other respects, the place is ideal for parents with children during the season.
Lipa Noi Beach
Sea of Lipa Noi Beach:
In winter the sea is much deeper. We even swam ourselves, and the baby was up to her neck quite close to the shore. And in the spring and summer, it is so shallow that even my one-year-old daughter has difficulty swimming. Because like her - less than waist-deep, sometimes knee-deep. But for adults it’s generally ankle-deep, it doesn’t even reach the knees. To swim normally you have to walk more than a hundred meters! The good tide is generally only at night. During April, water came at least waist-deep only twice so far. In June, in general, it’s only ankle-deep (The entrance, by the way, is correspondingly very flat. The transparency of the water varies from day to day, sometimes crystal clear, less often cloudy. The bottom is often with algae, although there are also clean areas. In some places there are a lot of stones and fragments of coral. But I didn’t see any hedgehogs.
It also happens 
Lipa Noi Beach
Taling Ngam Beach - Taling Ngam beach Samui
Taling Ngam Beach
Known as the quietest, secluded and farthest place from tourist civilization. Some consider this place a paradise for lovers, others consider it a complete wilderness. There are mostly expensive villas here, but along the road, at a distance from the sea, there is also a lot of cheap housing. Here you can see beautiful sunsets on the shore.
Taling Ngam Beach, pier
Infrastructure of Taling Ngam beach:
Considering that the beach is quite far from the ring road, you won’t be able to just take a tuk tuk. They simply aren't there. But taxi drivers drive periodically. True, they understand better than anyone that the farangs have no choice, so the sums are simply astronomical, even to get to Nathon. People without a car or bike have nothing to do in that area. There are many cafes, mostly for locals. But there is some kind of show-off restaurant, where prices are 10 times higher (and more) than in simple Europeanized restaurants for foreigners. And the waiters walk around with such an air as if it is you who should serve them, and not they you. Out of principle, I didn’t eat in such a place. And in a simpler restaurant, which we stumbled upon by chance, at fairly high prices, the food was terribly not tasty... Although, everywhere you need to “know the places.” I didn’t find any kindergartens there, but maybe I didn’t look too hard.
Taling Ngam Beach
Taling Ngam Beach:
The sand is fine, light and clean. Due to the absence of crowds of tourists, the beaches are clean, if they do not throw out algae. During high tide it is very beautiful; photographers will be pleased with the views of wild beaches.
Sea of Taling Ngam Beach:
Calm, quite transparent. However, the entrance is very flat, the ebb and flow of the tides are pronounced, and it is very difficult to swim at low tide, in some places it is even impossible. There are so many stones emerging from the water that you can’t even go into the sea.
Nathon beach Samui
Nathon Beach
In general, I don’t dare call Nathon a beach. It's more like a local center, a port mini-town, a business part of the city. There are two piers from which you can get to the mainland, islands, Phuket or book various excursions. There are a lot of shops right next to the pier that will sell you tickets to anywhere. Not that far and bus stations, from which you can go not only to various parts of Thailand, but also to Malaysia (via ferry, of course), and at simply ridiculous prices. There is also the Catholic Church, banks, and government institutions here.
Nathon Beach
Nathon infrastructure:
Well developed. There is a tuk-tuk parking at the pier in the square; they go towards Chaweng without interruption, but in the direction of Lamai (Lipa Noi) they go worse. If you board at the terminus, be sure to discuss the price. Especially in the evenings, tuk tukers along with taxi drivers greet those who have just arrived from the mainland and begin to make money, showing their inflated fabulous prices, beautifully printed by the Samui taxi mafia and laminated for greater importance. Ordinary clients who know the real price are of very little concern to them at this moment. Because it’s too difficult to explain to other ferry passengers why they are being transported for 500, and their neighbors for 50. If you go towards Lamai, then you should walk a little along the roundabout and catch a small tuk-tuk, which carries you along its route for 30 baht.
Nathon has its own Tesco Lotus, although it is small, but all the products and essential goods are available. It’s full of all sorts of shops and stalls, and prices for clothes and tourist souvenirs are several times lower than on other beaches of Samui. There is also a separate two-story children's store, the only one of this size on the island. This is where you have the chance to buy a normal crib, an almost decent car seat, and some educational toys. There are also a lot of cafes, massage parlors, bike and car rentals, and even a doctor who sees pregnant women and children. In my opinion, there is more than one such office in Nathon. There are enough markets and kindergartens. Not far from the center of Nathon there are two small but interesting places to visit - the temple-town of Wat Chaeng and the slightly prettier Wat Khun Kharam.
Nathon Beach
Natona Beach:
It simply doesn't exist. This is a "port place". In addition, there is fishing there. Of course there is a small piece wild beach, but no one swims or sunbathes there at all.
Sea of Nathon:
Small, but surprisingly beautiful. Even at low tide. And the sunsets there are wonderful. However, in the summer, when the sea completely disappeared, the smell was as if the sellers had run away from the fish market and left their goods to rot for a week... It was difficult to even drive past without covering your nose.
Bang Po beach - Bang Po beach Samui
Bang Por Beach
Bang Por beach infrastructure:
The place is quite calm, because there are no attractions or bustling tourist life here. This beach is quite narrow, the houses are located almost close to the ring road. In my opinion, to live under the sounds of constantly passing traffic, from 5 in the morning until late at night, you need to have very strong nerves. However, in some places the strip of sand is a little wider and there are already several houses, even 3-4 here and there, but the first ones are right on the sea. Perhaps in them the sound of the sea slightly drowns out the noise of cars. But this still won’t save you from dust flying from the road. There are kindergartens. Some houses are located deeper into the island, but most of them have a steep uphill climb; for example, crawling up such a steep climb with a stroller or an elderly person is simply not realistic.
Bang Por Beach
Tuk tuks operate regularly from Bang Po in both directions. There are few shops, no large ones at all. I didn’t even see the Elevens. There are some restaurants right next to the road. There is even a pizzeria, but the local owner doesn’t particularly favor small children and walks around with a dissatisfied face. There are a couple of laundromats further inland. It seems that there is nowhere to go out there at all and there is nowhere to buy food. There are not even markets with fruits and vegetables; the nearest one is in Maenam. But in 30-40 minutes you can get to the hypermarket, or 20 to the market.
Bang Por Beach
Bang Por Beach:
A narrow strip of sand. It’s clean, beautiful, the sand is fine, but there are pebbles, shells, and fragments of coral. There are algae. It’s bad that the beach is interrupted several times by mountains and rocks; we wanted to take a walk along the shore but couldn’t. The houses are mostly old. But there are no mosquitoes on the beach, which is a huge plus. There are always few people on the beach. Nudists prefer to sunbathe in the stones.
Bang Por Beach
Sea of Bang Por Beach:
A great place to relax with children. It is very shallow, the entrance is gentle, the bottom is quite decent if you move away from the stones. Light breeze, calm sea, usually clear water. Waves are rare.
Bo Phut Beach - Bo Phut beach Samui
Bo Phut Beach
A bustling place, perfect for those who want to have fun and relax. The area is built up quite densely, everything is located along the road leading from the main ring road. The beach is either very narrow, next to the road, or almost decent in size. There are expensive villas and resorts right next to the water, but I haven’t seen any affordable housing. But there is plenty of it across the road, a little deeper. True, prices are again higher than in less tourist areas for similar products. On Bo Phut there is the famous fishing village “Fisherman Village”, where our compatriots go for a walk and eat every Thursday.
Bo Phut Beach
Infrastructure of Bo Phut beach:
The minibuses run properly. There are plenty of shops, cafes and restaurants on every corner, and even several in a row. True, it’s either completely Thaistyle, in which I won’t risk sitting at a table, or the price tag is more expensive than in quieter areas. I would even say, much more expensive, and the quality of the food is not great. At the end of the beach we found an amazing cafe with cakes, juices and ice cream. There is an airport on Bo Phut, you can hear planes.
Bo Phut Beach
Bo Phut Beach:
Very pleasant, the sand is fine and clean, although there is little shade. The strip of sand is not wide, but there is more than enough space. There are not very many vacationers on the beach; everyone mostly lies on sun loungers near the hotels. There are practically no hotel areas, just one path to the sea. Despite the road nearby, it is quiet and calm during the day.
Bo Phut Beach
Sea of Bo Phut Beach:
Calm, not particularly transparent. It’s quite shallow near the shore, the bottom half a meter to a meter from the sand is good, but if you go a meter deeper, there is silt, the feeling is quite slimy. The depth increases quite quickly. There are many places where boats and speedboats are parked.
Plai Laem beach Samui
Goddess of Mercy Guan Yin
A very small beach on which the wonderful place Plat Laiem is located. Big Buddha is nearby. In terms of recreation, the area is not at all touristy; those who come for a long period of time settle here. There is a lot of very cheap housing in this area, although there are also expensive houses. The cheap ones have generally adequate quality. For a short vacation, I would recommend other beaches, because the main attractions of the area can be easily visited in half a day if you come here specifically. Please be aware that those living on this beach may hear noise from airplanes. But you can take stunning pictures, as planes fly very low over the beach with enviable regularity.
Wat Plai Laem
Infrastructure of Pla Laem Beach:
The area is located next to the ring road, there are no problems with transport, and during the daytime it is easy and inexpensive to get to the neighboring beach. There is some tension with the shops; there are not many of them here. Although the same Seven Elevens and Family Marts are present. There are few bars and restaurants.
Pla Laem Beach:
Where it exists, the sand is fine, pleasant to the touch, and light. On the shore you can find shade from palm trees. However, this place seemed to me not very suitable for a resort holiday.
Sea Beach Pla Laem:
It’s clean, but very shallow, adults can’t swim. There may be fishing boats on the shore.
Bang Rak beach Samui, Buddha Beach
It is popularly called Buddha Beach or Big Buddha Beach, since it is this landmark - the Big Buddha or Big Buddha - that it is famous for. The place is quite calm, although there are plenty of bars and restaurants. The coast is built up with hotels and villas, all available housing is opposite across the road. The cost is clearly higher than similar housing in less tourist areas. By the way, the main road here is too close to the sea, so there is noise from cars from morning to evening.
Ban Rak Beach
Ban Rak beach infrastructure:
The road is nearby, minibuses and taxis run smoothly. There are quite a lot of shops, there are minimarkets. Prices in restaurants are slightly higher than in the areas where we lived. There aren’t that many Russians, it seemed to me. If you head deeper into the streets from the sea, you can find very budget accommodation, but with big drawbacks. In the center of the beach there is a pier from which boats sail to the island of Koh Phangan. There is a fish market in the area that sells the freshest seafood.
Ban Rak Beach
Ban Rak Beach:
The places developed for tourist recreation are beautiful, the sand is excellent, but the coastline is not wide. In some places you can't swim at all. There is no wind or waves, it is very good for children to swim.
Ban Rak Beach
Sea of Ban Rak Beach:
Small, literally a meter from the shore there may be not very pleasant silt. It seemed to me that there were very few people on the beach.
Lamai beach - Lamai beach Samui
Lamai Beach
The second most visited place by tourists. Unlike Chaweng, which holds the lead, it is much calmer here. There are many rental properties in this area to suit every taste, both expensive villas and cheap bungalows. Many tourists come to Lamai to see the famous sculptures of Grandmother and Grandfather, reminiscent of the female and male genital organs. It is believed that the main disadvantage of Lamai recently has been the too large number of Russians who have moved for permanent residence.
Children's water park
Lamai beach infrastructure:
The area is quite large, going deep into the island. But the main tourist habitats are located not so far from the ring road, so there are no problems with movement. There are plenty of shops, bars, restaurants and similar establishments to suit every taste and budget. A one-way street stretches along the shore, where a tourist can find anything: clubs, shops, massage parlors, Thai boxing, a market with fresh vegetables and fruits, clothing markets and much more, even McDonald's. And there are so many makashniks that the smells of Thai food will follow you everywhere. Here, in Lamai, there is a large Tesco Lotus hypermarket, where you can find everything you might need. It has a food court and a bunch of shops, so you simply don’t have to go to the neighboring areas. There are also diving training centers, spa centers in large quantities, as well as a children's water park.
Lamai Beach
Quite wide, large, clean, the sand is large, golden, pleasant to the touch. Lots of umbrellas and sun loungers and even more people relaxing. There is little natural shade. There are enough traders and masseuses. The beach offers water activities. An ideal place for a beach holiday, but with the possibility of active and partying.
Lamai Beach
Lamai beach sea:
The entrance to the water is gentle. However, the northern part of the beach is shallow and full of rocks and corals. And in the southern part there are plenty of them, in addition there are sea urchins. True, the sea is much deeper. But in the center there is an ideal place for swimming: deep, the bottom is good, the entrance is gentle, it will get deep pretty quickly. True, it would be good for adults without children there, because the waves are often strong at sea. The water is not particularly clear, only in the center of the beach and in complete calm.
The author of the species photographs of Lamai beach is Stepan Skvortsov.
Street near the beach 
Lamai Beach
Tongh Krut beach Samui
Thong Krut Beach
A place for a relaxing holiday, admiring the sunsets located opposite the islands. There are not very many people living there, the place is very secluded, not touristy. In the same area there is a snake farm famous for its shows and the Khao Chedi Pagoda, which is surrounded by golden Buddha statues. You can rent a boat and go on an excursion to the islands opposite and visit a pearl farm.
Infrastructure of Thong Krut beach:
The place is quite remote, far from the ring road, leaving by local transport is not so easy. To stay here you need to rent your own bike or car. There are few shops, and it’s a very, very long drive to get to supermarkets.
Thong Krut Beach:
Not a very wide strip of sand, although very fine and white. If you get there at low tide, you can take very beautiful photos.
Sea of Thong Krut Beach:
Very shallow, no place to swim. And the bottom is full of rocks, silt, and slimy. The water is cloudy. At low tide there is a huge sandbank. There are many fishing boats in the sea. In general, you shouldn’t get into the water at all.
Chaweng Noi Beach Chaweng Noi, Crystal Bay Crystal_Bay (aka Thongtakian and Silver beach)
Crystal Bay Beach
Chaweng Noi is a small beach after Chaweng, about a kilometer long. One of the corners of paradise - the sea is transparent, the sand is like in advertising. However, in its southern part there are many stones and the place is not suitable for swimming. There are usually not many people on the beach, but there are plenty of crabs and fish in the water.
Immediately after it is the secluded Crystal Bay with a calm, clear sea, excellent fine sand and a small number of people.
Chaweng Noi Beach
Chaweng Noi beach infrastructure:
There are many restaurants and bars on the beach, they have umbrellas and sun loungers. If you buy food or drinks, umbrellas and sun loungers are free to use. The beach offers various types of water activities: you can ride a banana, scooter, parachute, and so on. Since the hotels located on the shore are quite high level, you won’t be able to have a cheap meal there, but there are more than enough places to eat. Supermarkets, shops and markets are located nearby in the Chaweng area, which is very close. But on the beach itself, more precisely, outside the territory, in general there is nothing, there is nowhere to walk, there are no ordinary shops.
Crystal Bay Beach
Chaweng Noi Beach and Crystal Bay:
Quite a wide strip of snow-white sand, soft, without pebbles and shells. Very clean. There are huge boulders in the middle of the beach. The views are simply amazing. If on Chaweng Noi beach there are sometimes quite strong waves, then in Crystal Bay the sea is always ideal, because it is protected from the wind by rocks. During the season there are a lot of people there, but many consider it the most beautiful beach to Koh Samui.
Crystal Bay Beach
Sea of Chaweng Noi Beach:
Very clean, transparent, sometimes a little small. But you can swim. The waves are not big, most often it is generally calm. In some places there are a lot of boulders in the water, but you can swim between them, there is plenty of space. The largest ones are great for sunbathing and taking stunning pictures. Not far from the shore you can see fish, even quite large ones near the reef. And sometimes stingrays swim almost to the shore.
Hua Thanon beach - Hua Thanon beach Samui
Hua Thanon Beach
Not a particularly suitable place for relaxation. Although there are enough hotels there, and plenty of houses for different budgets. Firstly, the sea is very shallow and rocky, and secondly, there is a large Muslim village in the area. Get ready to listen to the singing coming from their mosque strictly on schedule. In addition, the residents live mainly by fishing, so where there is still an approach to the shore among the rocks, there will definitely be someone’s boat parked. But it’s good to come here for fishing, even if without a fishing rod, but with a bag. Here you can always choose a wide variety of freshly caught seafood and at reasonable prices.
Infrastructure of Hua Thanon Beach:
There are no supermarkets nearby, so you will have to travel long and far to buy groceries. Thai shops are unlikely to save you. The only plus is that there are many attractions nearby. The area is home to two of the largest waterfalls with stunning natural views. And on an excursion to this part of the island, tourists are brought together to look at the mummy of a monk at the Wat Thunaram temple. There is also an aquarium with a tiger zoo nearby. However, the sight is very sad and not particularly impressive for those who have been to similar places on the mainland or in any other city. And, of course, a must-visit attraction for tourists is the Grandmother and Grandfather stones, which resemble male dignity and female organs.
Hua Thanon
Hua Thanon Beach:
There are a lot of stones, coarse sand. But there are also a lot of shells. There is shade from palm trees, but this place is not particularly suitable for a beach holiday. Although, of course, if you try, you can easily find several coves for a secluded holiday. On most of the beach you can see small garbage and old abandoned boats.
Sea of Hua Thanon Beach:
Not swimmable. It’s shallow, there are a lot of stones, you can’t walk along the bottom without slippers. Although, of course, if you really want to, you can find small pieces of decent places. The tides are very pronounced.
Laem Set beach Samui
Beach Laem set
Strictly speaking, there is nothing to say about the beach in terms of tourism. It’s beautiful in places for photographs, but not suitable for a beach holiday at all. It is worth coming here for snorkeling, as there is a coral reef. However, it may be so shallow that you won’t be able to dive much.
It has begun to develop rapidly in recent decades: there are more and more hotels at resorts, and the surrounding areas are being landscaped and transformed. However, the eastern part of the coast is still the most popular, the north is also good, but the western and southern sections do not have any infrastructure and can be dirty.
All beaches on the island are free, including those belonging to hotels or restaurants, although you cannot borrow sun loungers on the latter. The road to many places passes through the hotel territory, but vacationers should not be embarrassed, no one will stop them or reprimand them.
Bang Po
In the northern part of Samui (Bang Po Beach, Mae Nam, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani) there is a 6-kilometer Bang Po beach: a well-maintained, clean and quiet space with large yellow sand. People come here often local residents and those who stay on the island for the winter - the cost of renting housing here is low. Along the sea there are several mid-price hotels and many cafes and restaurants. There is practically no entertainment, as well as tourists. The entrance to the water is gentle, the resort is perfect for families with children. There are no sun loungers, but you can sunbathe directly on a towel. There are also no toilets, changing cabins or showers, but you can go to the toilet in any hotel or cafe; as a rule, they are allowed in for free, but they may ask you to make an order.
Baan-Tai
Another north beach with fine, very light sand (65/10 Baan Tai, Koh Samui, Maenam, Surat Thani 84330). The entry into the sea is the smoothest on the entire island, but, unfortunately, the water is very bloomy, so swimming is not very pleasant. At the very end there is an area where algae is removed, but there are always a lot of vacationers there.
Palm trees grow on the shore, leaning low over the water, so Baan Tai is very popular among those who want to take photos in the “bounty” style. There are several cafes with their own sun loungers right by the water; you don’t need to pay for their rental, just order a drink or food. There are also usually locker rooms and the opportunity to visit the toilet. There are no showers on the beach, as well as entertainment and trade.
Maenam
A 5-kilometer strip of yellow coarse sand in the north of the island is called Maenam (2 Tambon Mae Nam, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani). This is a quiet, peaceful, very beautiful and not very popular place among tourists, covered with palm trees. There are few people on the beach, no entertainment or merchants. The resort is popular among vacationers with children: the entrance to the water is gentle and the bottom is soft.
During the rainy season there are usually high waves, making swimming impossible, but during the dry season the sea is calm.
Sun loungers and umbrellas can be found either on hotel premises or near cafes. Outsiders are not allowed on the hotel sun loungers, and in the establishment you need to make a reservation in order to take an empty seat. There are also several gazebos for massage. There are no toilets, changing cabins or showers on the beach.
In the eastern part of the beach on the cape there is a small area belonging to Hotel W-Resort, this is the most beautiful area of the entire island, people often come here to take photographs.
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Bo Phut
This beach is also located in the northern part of Samui (Bophut Beach Ko Samui District Surat Thani), but in popularity it is comparable to the eastern lands. There are always a lot of vacationers here, you can go parasailing, ride jet skis and experience other types of entertainment. Hotels, restaurants, bars, massage pavilions line the shore, and on Fridays there is a market on the embankment. The sand both on the beach and in the water is yellow and very soft, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and there are practically no strong waves - ideal for relaxing with kids. There is a paid toilet on the shore (10 THB), you can also go to a cafe for this purpose. There are no showers or changing rooms.
Sun loungers and umbrellas can be rented at cafes, although most provide seats for a paid food order.
Bang Rak
Less popular small place near the airport (Bangrak Pier Surat Thani Thailand Tambon Bo Put, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani). On the shore there is soft yellow sand, but swimming is not very pleasant - there are large stones at the bottom.
The infrastructure is well developed, during the high season there are water activities, for example: parasailing and jet skis, sun loungers are usually rented in a cafe “for a drink”. There are no showers or changing cabins; the toilet can be used in any cafe or hotel. There are several large shops near the beach that will be of interest to those planning to do some shopping.
Nearby is the Big Buddha Temple with a giant golden statue of Buddha - one of the most famous shrines of the island.
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Thong-Son
A romantic and secluded place where the northern coast of the island ends (2/32 Moo 5 Plai Laem soi 7, T.Bophut, Bo phut). There are few people here, very beautiful nature, impressive sunsets and poorly developed infrastructure. There is no entertainment, sun loungers can only be found next to the cafe, where they are provided for ordering food or drinks, and you can also go to the toilet there. There are no showers or changing rooms. Due to the gentle entrance to the water, families with children often come here. The only negative is the high prices in hotels.
Fine, light, very soft sand and blue sea framed by palm trees make Thong Son incredibly photogenic.
Choeng Mon
Choeng Mon Beach, Bo Put, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani opens the line eastern beaches- beautiful, with good varied infrastructure, but quite crowded. This is a small section of the coast with fine, yellow-gray sand, a gentle entrance to the water, and a clean and calm sea. Vacationers with kids like to come here.
There are hotels, restaurants, cafes, massage pavilions along the shore; merchants and people constantly walk along the beach offering all kinds of water activities: parasailing, jet skis, bananas, etc. There are paid toilets (10 THB), and occasionally there are changing cabins.
Chaweng
South of Choeng Mon is the island's most famous beach - Chaweng Beach (Ko Samui District, Surat Thani), which is famous for its parties and nightlife. This is a two-kilometer section, which is adjacent to two more zones - Chaweng Yai and Chaweng Noi. Delicate white sand, a wide coastline, a clean, warm sea with a gentle entrance - this is what the beach looks like. There are a lot of people on the shore, almost all of it is filled with sun loungers, which local cafes and hotels offer for rent for 100 THB.
There is plenty of entertainment: jet skis, water skis, banana boats, boats, parasailing, in addition, there are massage gazebos, cafes and restaurants, hotels and merchants. A small water park with inflatable slides is open for children. In the evenings, vacationers flock to discos and bars. The beach is equipped with toilets, showers and changing rooms. Prices on the page are as of November 2018.
Only those who love a noisy, fun and very active holiday should come here. Others may find it too crowded and too cheerful. A slightly quieter area is Chaweng Noi.
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Coral Cove
A small and very picturesque piece of the coast, difficult to access, but still popular among travelers (Coral Cove Beach, Bo Put, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani). The yellow sandy shore, bright blue sea and low cliffs make the place cozy and secluded. During the rainy season there can be high waves, but the rest of the time it is pleasant to swim. But this beach is not very suitable for families with children, since the sea becomes deep a few meters from the shore. There are no toilets, showers or changing rooms on the shore, but tourists are allowed to use the toilets in the hotel lobby.
Crystal Bay
Many call Crystal Bay the most beautiful on Samui (Crystal Bay Beach, Maret, Ko Samui District, Surat Thani). The coast is covered with fine snow-white sand, the water is either turquoise or azure depending on the light, large rocks and green hills around - the place is ideal for relaxing with children, for wonderful photographs, and for a relaxing pastime, since there are no entertainments or discos here. There is a paid toilet with a shower, where you can also change clothes.
Sunbeds can be rented in the cafe, for this you need to pay for the order. Hotels, as a rule, do not allow anyone other than guests onto their sun loungers.
Lamai
Lamai (Maret Ko Samui District, Surat Thani 84310) ranks second on the list of the most popular beaches on Samui. It is a little quieter and calmer than Chaweng, but there is also entertainment here for both young and older vacationers. Cafes and restaurants, massages and pedicures, jet skis and parachutes, parties and discos - all this is the busy life of Lamai. There are toilets, showers and changing cabins.
The sand is yellow, fine in the central part, and quite coarse at the edges. It is also best to swim in the middle, since there are large stones and corals on the sides at the bottom.
Renting a pair of sun loungers with an umbrella, which are offered in almost every cafe, will cost 200 THB.
Hua Thanon
The southernmost beach of the eastern part of the coast (117 Moo 2, Tambon Maret, Koh Samui, Amphoe Ko Samui, Chang Wat Surat Thani). It is not very popular among tourists, but kitesurfers often gather here, as well as those who want to play volleyball or go jogging. Yellow sand, a gentle entrance to the sea, pretty palm trees leaning towards the water, a large number of hotels and a minimum of entertainment - just right for those who prefer a calm and measured holiday. There are no sun loungers on the shore, as well as toilets, showers and changing rooms.
Near the beach there is a butterfly park, an aquarium and a zoo with tigers; travelers with children often come here.
Western and southern beaches
In the southern and western parts of the island there are the beaches of Bang Kao, Thong Krut, Taling Ngam, Nathon and Laem Yai. These are practically wild areas of the coast, where there is no developed infrastructure, hotels or restaurants. The places here may not be very clean, but the holiday is quiet and secluded.
Koh Samui is deservedly famous for its beautiful beaches.
Koh Samui Island is located in the Gulf of Thailand in the South China Sea. Since the South China Sea belongs to the Pacific Ocean, technically, when swimming in the coastal waters of Koh Samui, you will be swimming in the Pacific Ocean.
Koh - in Thai means island and the name Koh Samui - translates as Koh Samui Island.
You can get to Samui from Bangkok, or from nearby visa-free countries for Russians -
Malaysia, Singapore.
It is especially worth noting that the location of Koh Samui virtually eliminates the possibility of being affected by a tsunami.
Beaches of Koh Samui
On some of the beaches of Samui, during low tides the bottom becomes very shallow and swimming becomes problematic. On the popular beaches of Chaweng, Lamai, Maenam, low tides do not interfere with swimming; to find out about other beaches, take a look at the map. Those places that are colored yellowish-brown on the map become very shallow during low tides and expose the ground. Beaches with many such spots are not very convenient for swimming.
The most popular beaches on Koh Samui are located in the east. These are Chaweng and Lamai beaches - these beaches are famous for their white sand and clear water. In the north, popular beaches are Bophut and Maenam. The sand there is yellow, the water is clean, but not transparent.
The beaches in the west of Nathon and Bang Kham are not popular. The presence of a port makes the water in these places dirty and muddy.
Map of Samui beaches in Russian
The best beaches of Koh Samui
| Beaches Samui |
Cards | Location life | Infrastructure, attractions | Conditions for bathing |
To whom fits |
Hotels |
| Chaweng Chaweng |
|
6 km on the east coast |
The most popular and most developed beach on Koh Samui. Shops, bars, restaurants, market, Thai boxing, transvestite shows, nightclubs | Best places for swimming - central and southern Chaweng - clear water, fine white sand, no waves | On Chaweng Beach, all vacationers can find a place to their liking - the central part is the most party-oriented, the southern part is more secluded. | Hotels of all categories |
| Lamai Lamai | 4km south of Chaweng |
Entertainment in the center of the beach center with discos, small restaurants |
Very good sea especially in the southern and central parts, clear water for swimming, one of the best beaches, yellowish sand, steeper sunset than in Chaweng, Out of season, strong waves |
For a relaxing romantic getaway, for families with children | Hotels of different categories, prices lower than in Chaweng | |
| Mae Nam (Mae Nam) Mae Nam |
4 km in the northern part of Samui | Nearby village in Chinese style with restaurants, cafes, shops. Boat pier for visiting National Park. View of Koh Phangan island |
Yellow coarse sand, palm trees on the shore. The water is opaque. The entrance is convenient, the depth increases quickly. | For a family holiday, for a budget holiday. | Bungalows, there are large hotels | |
| Bophut (Bo Phut) Had Bo Phut |
3 km In the north east, between Maenam Bay and the statue big buddha |
Good fish restaurants Few shops and nightlife |
the beach is narrow at the very beginning, then the sand is quite wide, light, the water is clean, but rarely clear, in the eastern part there may be foam, the sand is yellow from fine to coarse. The central part is most suitable for swimming. The least is the eastern one, where the bottom is muddy and there may be stones. | For a relaxing holiday | Many spa hotels, five-star hotels | |
| Big Buddha Big Buddha second name Bangrak Bangrak |
2km Northeast Koh Samui east of Bo Put Beach |
Piers for sending to Full Moon Party, Thai fish market, big buddha statue. The beach is directly according to the take-off and landing course of aircraft |
There is a good entrance only in the center of the beach; along the edges of the bay the beach is not very convenient for swimming. The water is often cloudy due to the number of ships. The coast is greatly exposed at low tides. | Not very suitable for living or swimming Best to visit before heading to nearby islands, or in the evening to visit restaurants or parties |
Bungalows, hotels in a small number | |
