Sail to Thailand’s second-largest island, Koh Samui. You must have heard of Phuket’s nightlife or Krabi’s amazing places with beautiful cliffs. Each of the parts in Thailand gives you something special, and Koh Samui’s beaches offer a perfect mix of everything. You will find white sand beaches with nightlife right next to a quiet bay where the only sound is the waves.
Koh Samui keeps things more balanced and more local. Early mornings, you will see local fishermen heading out in wooden boats. Then, the same beaches transform into playgrounds for snorkelling, jet skiing, and sunset watching.
Overview of Koh Samui Beaches
| Beach | Best For | Experiences |
| Chaweng & Lamai | Nightlife & Water Sports | Beach clubs, fire shows, bars, jet skis, parasailing, paddleboarding, & banana boats |
| Silver Beach & Coral Cove | Best Snorkeling | Crystal clear water, colourful fish & easy access |
| Maenam | Family Beach Day | Shallow water, calm waves & friendly water sports |
| Lipa Noi & Taling Ngam | Romantic Sunset | Water sports, waterfalls & day trips |
| Bang Po & Maenam | Budget Travel | A lot of cheap local food & affordable stays |
| Choeng Mon | Luxury Escape | High-end resorts, pristine sand & exclusive feel |
| Bo Phut Fisherman’s Village | Local Culture | Traditional village, Friday market & authentic food |
Check the Top Beach in Koh Samui Distance from the Airport
- Chaweng: 8 minutes
- Lamai: 30 minutes
- Bo Phut: 17 minutes
- Maenam: 25 minutes
- Choeng Mon: 15 minutes
List of the Best Beaches in Koh Samui
Thailand is a country with many things. You have the best shopping in Bangkok, the full moon party in Koh Phangan, and Koh Samui has the best beaches that are super dreamy.
Let’s see the island’s top ten beaches that stand out.
Chaweng Beach
Among all the beaches in Koh Samui, Chaweng Beach is the heart of all, with a length of six kilometres.
When you are here, you can see yoga classes on the beach while fishermen start out for their catch. By midday, you have a jet ski, parasailing, and kids building sandcastles.
You can visit in the evening to watch fire dancers perform on the sand while beach clubs conduct parties with great music.
Stay in Chaweng Beach and do these activities
- Jet skiing
- Parasailing
- Banana boating
- Morning beach runs here are quieter
- Shopping at Central Festival Market
- Watch fire shows at ARKbar Beach Club & Resort at 8 PM
Must-try Restaurants: Day & Night of Koh Samui, Malee Kitchen Chaweng, and Green Bird.
Lamai Beach
Compared to Chaweng, this is a famous beach with a laid-back setting. It’s the same, with beach bars and restaurants, but without an overwhelming feeling.
The reason is that there are no loud beach parties or DJ nights. But you have
lounges and live music. The place is very simple and makes you feel at home instantly.
Do these when in Lamai Beach
- Paddleboarding
- Jet Skiing
- Thai massage on the beach
- Visit the Lamai night market
- Muay Thai training at Lamai Muay Thai Camp
Must-try Restaurants: Nana Tam, The Oyster Bar x Samui, and Imchai Thai Food
Bo Phut Beach (Fisherman’s Village)
When you are in Bo Phut Beach, it takes you back in time. You have a Chinese shop and houses that are over 100 years old. Now they have been remade into boutique hotels, restaurants, and art galleries.
This place is home to fishing. By dawn, you can see fishermen getting ready with their long-tail boats, nets, and hoping for a good amount of fish to catch.
For a calm day in Bo Phut Beach, try all this
- Kayak
- Snorkelling
- Visit Wat Plai Laem temple
- Shop the Friday market
- Dine at waterfront restaurants
- Swimming here is super calm, shallow water perfect for kids
Must-try Restaurants: Happy Elephant, The Shack, and Karma Beach Club
Maenam Beach
The beach is huge, you have seven kilometres of golden sand stretching along the north coast. One mistake you should never make is going straight to Chaweng and not stopping by here.
Maenam preserves exactly what Samui looked like 20 years ago, an authentic beach village. Not just the surroundings are gentle, even the water is calm.
Maenam Beach is the best in Koh Samui for kids, as you have no strong currents and clear water that stays warm year-round.
Activities & trips to do in Maenam Beach
- Windsurfing
- Quiet morning beach walks
- Day trip to Ang Thong National Marine Park
- Visit the Walking Street Market on Thursday
- Kids’ beach games
- Eat at seaside dining
- Paddleboarding & kayaking
Must-try Restaurants: Granny’s, Nana Beach, and Treehouse,
Silver Beach (Crystal Bay)
You can find Silver Beach hidden between Chaweng and Lamai. This beach is small, so many tourists don’t usually notice it. But Instagram makes all the best things famous.
One thing that captures everyone is the beach curves into a perfect crescent, white sand against blue-green water, which is so clear.
Try water activities in Silver Beach
- Snorkelling
- Eat at luxury beachfront restaurants
- Paddleboarding
- Find quiet spots between the boulders and relax
Must-try Restaurants: The Cliff Bar and Grill and Flower Paradise & Roestiland.
Choeng Mon Beach
If you are in chase of the most unique and must-visit beaches in Koh Samui, Choeng Mon is the one. This isn’t one big beach but several small, connected bays with that exclusive resort.
The 300 metres of fine white sand faces two small islands (Koh Fan Yai and Noi) just offshore, creating a perfect scenery.
What can you do at Choeng Mon Beach?
- Kayak to the islands
- Walk to Koh Fan Noi, an offshore island from the beach
- Paddleboard
- Beach volleyball
- Stay the night in a luxury resort
- Walk north to Choeng Mon Noi for even more privacy
- Visit the Samui Elephant Sanctuary
Must-try Restaurants: Pi Samui Beach Club and Restaurant, Mira Serene, A&B Restaurant, and The Mother Restaurant.
Lipa Noi Beach
Head to the West Coast and hardly see any tourists in this part of Koh Samui. And this is where Lipa Noi Beach is located. That’s why you need to spend a day in the quiet charm.
The sunset is the main highlight, around 5:30 PM, grab a cold beer. Then find your spot on the sand, and watch the sky turn into a painting.
This is definitely one of the offbeat places in Thailand. And it is great for couples looking for a quiet romance, as you have some of the best bungalows and luxury resorts.
Activities in Lipa Noi Beach
- Sunset watching
- Swimming, kayaking, snorkelling, and paddleboarding
- Long beach walks
- Visit Hin Lad Waterfall
- Book ATV tours
- Eat at beachfront restaurants
- Day trip to Nathon Town for local markets
Must-try Restaurants: Mango Tree, Jinda restaurant, and Think & Retro Cafe.
Coral Cove
When you are hopping all the beaches in Koh Samui, you might miss out on Coral Cove. It’s tucked between Chaweng Noi and Lamai beach. It is slightly down a steep path that keeps the crowds away.
This is a tiny 100-meter cove that is Koh Samui’s most popular snorkel spot. When you snorkel here, you have clear water, colourful coral, and tons of fish.
Relax in Coral Cove by doing these
- Snorkelling and swimming
- Meditation and Yoga on the beach
- Kayak and Jet Ski
Must-try Restaurants: Vikasa Life Cafe, Tha Ruea Samui Seafood Bar & Restaurant, and Dreez Lunchroom.
Ao Taling Ngam Beach
Southwest Samui is a place where tourists are rare, and local life continues. This is authentic Thailand, the kind where you’ll see more Thai families than foreigners; fishermen still use traditional methods, where kids play in the sand after school.
This isn’t about activities or attractions. It’s about experiencing how Thai people actually use their beaches.
Explore Ao Taling Ngam Beach wilderness
- Snorkelling around rocks offshore
- Hire a boat for sea trips
- Visit Hin Lad Waterfall nearby
- Watch real fishing village life
- Explore viewpoints in the coastal hills
- Visit Wat Phra Chedi Laem Sor
Must-try Restaurants: I-Talay & Sunset View Restaurant, Taling Ngam Beach,
Bang Po Beach
This is the longest beach on the northern coast. At Bang Po Beach, there are not many temporary tourists who come for 2-3 days. But you can see many digital nomads renting monthly bungalows, retirees spending months here, and Thai families coming here for picnics.
Honestly, if you want something entertaining, this is not the spot for you. It’s perfect if you actually want to live somewhere peaceful for a while. Plus, the accommodation here is cheaper even for long-term stays.
Must-do in Bang Po Beach for beach life experience
- Swimming in calm, shallow water
- Long beach walks
- Sunset watching
- Reading & relaxing, doing nothing
- Engage with locals
- Weekly market in Maenam for shopping
Must-try Restaurants: Haad Bang Po, Hug Samui, Bang Por Seafood, and Lay Lagom Cafe’Bar.
Conclusion
All these beaches in Koh Samui offer the best time. From Chaweng’s nonstop energy to Bang Po’s peace, you get to enjoy all kinds of experiences.
The best part is that you can visit multiple beaches in one day. They are all within 40-50 minutes of each other. With sunrise at Lamai, snorkelling at Silver Beach by midday, and sunset at Lipa Noi, you can do all these in just one day if you plan better.
So pack your sunscreen, rent a scooter, and start exploring. Whether this is your first time or your fifth, these beaches have something new to show you.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Koh Samui Beaches
What is the best time to visit Koh Samui for perfect beach weather?
You need to visit late December through early April, which gives you the best beach conditions. With sunny days, calm seas, minimal rain, and better temperatures, you enjoy all the water activities and relax on the beach.
However, January and February are peak seasons, which means you have high hotel prices and almost all the beaches are packed with tourists.
Which beach in Koh Samui has the clearest water for snorkelling?
Silver Beach (Crystal Bay) and Coral Cove are your go-to spots for snorkelling in Koh Samui. For the best snorkelling experience, go early morning (6-9 AM) between January and April when the water is calm.
When you go, don’t forget to take reef-safe sunscreen. The beaches are serious about protecting their marine ecosystems, and you don’t spoil them with some harsh chemicals.
Are Koh Samui beaches safe and sound for families with small kids?
Most of the beaches are safe for kids as long as there are some adults to supervise them.
If you had to pick the best Koh Samui beaches for a family, then Maenam Beach tops the list. Here, waves are minimal even during a windy day, and there are no hard rocks.
Then, Bo Phut Beach and Choeng Mon are also the best options. But you need to avoid Coral Cove, Silver Beach, and Taling Ngam. There you will have rocky entries, deeper water closer to shore, and limited child-friendly facilities.
What to Do on Koh Samui beaches?
Each beach shines with different things, and everything can give you the best time. Let’s see some top activities you can do-
- Surf, swim & sunbathe
- Kayaking & paddleboarding
- Morning beach walks
- Jet skiing
- Have picnics
- Parasailing
- Shopping at local markets
- Beach volleyball
- Eat fresh seafood
