Koh Samui Beach
February 16, 2008
Samui has a range of beaches for all types, with different things to see and do. Koh Samui is a beach lover’s paradise. The island has its own style of beach culture, dress, food – everything. Do yourself a favour and explore. Don’t miss a single grain of sand.
Chaweng Beach
Chaweng beach is what Samui is all about for the majority of visitors to the island. The beach is around 4km long and is full of sun seekers and party goers. A number of beach bars hold regular parties, such as Ark bar, there are top class restaurant everywhere, and the water is good for swimming. Aside from water sports, you can choose from spectacular day trips to the nearby islands and the marine park.
The main draw is the nightlife, tucked mainly away off or on the beach road, it does sometimes spill onto the beach. Traditional bars and clubs compete with high class restaurants to entertain the hordes of visitors. This is an area of Samui that is well worth exploring – dining on the island is perhaps the best in the kingdom. There are also fast food joints, ice cream parlours – the lot.
Lamai Beach
Lamai Beach is a popular tourist spot with plenty of hotel rooms to suit all budgets. The beach is large, with wide and hefty sands. It’s the place to go if you want a it of space top throw a Frisbee or kick a bal around with the family. The water is decent enough – not the most beautiful or clear on the island but ok for competent swimmers and fun for a dash into the surf. It’s relatively unshaded, so bring your own umbrella and sun cream.
Bophut Beach
Bophut beach is a family orientated stretch of white sand lined by top restaurants along quaint walking streets and the blue sea of the Gulf of the Siam. The beach is decked with sun beds, food merchants and holiday makers. There are plenty of water sports on offer, including jet skis and canoes. The views are beautiful, stretching out over to the neighbouring island of Koh Phangnan and beyond.
The bars are good for sport and live music. There’s a glut of sport bars in one concentrated area, alongside live music venues, all competing for attention. The best way to do it is to pub crawl, starting in early evening with a bite to eat at one of the many restaurants on offer.
Maenam Beach
Maenam Beach is a substantial length of beach front in the northern coast of Koh Samui. It has an authentic village feel and there are shops, markets, local Thai restaurants as well as a wide offering of hotels, resorts and spas on the beach. The beach is well regarded for its soft white sand and clean water providing good swimming throughout the year and is popular with local expatriate families.
Choeng Mon Beach
Choeng Mon is a trendy and peaceful beach village up on the north east of the island with close links to both Bophut and Big Buddha. There is a variety of hotels and accommodations available along its impressive beach frontage, and the transfer from Koh Samui International Boutique Airport only takes around ten minutes.
Many resorts convert their beach front areas into dining under the stars restaurants with a heavy dose of romance and charm. There’s plenty of fun to be had in walking along the sands in the evening and choosing a cuisine that suits your taste, whether it is Thai food, Indian Italian or BBQ that you are after – you’ll find it here.
Bang Rak Beach
Bang Rak beach is located in the north east of Koh Samui and has white sand, nice swimming options and safety for kids. Bang Rak is more than just a beach. The surrounding village and a must visit for its restaurants, low key but fun nightlife and general fun atmosphere.
It’s a quiet area, but there’s a lot on offer. The restaurants are of an international standard at one end, and impossibly cheap yet delicious at the other. A number of resorts offer dining right on the beach, close to the gentle water. Saboey and Quo Vadis is a good choice and has its own style of fusion cuisine.
