TOP 10 Beaches on Koh Samui
Koh Samui has almost 90 kilometres of coastline with well over 40 beaches — from busy main beaches packed with hotels and restaurants to quiet coves that many visitors never see. Before our ten hidden-gem beaches, here's a quick look at the big beaches that top every search for Koh Samui — plus a table to help you find the right one for your kind of holiday.
The well-known main beaches of Koh Samui
These five beaches are the island's tourist centres. They appear on every map, for good reason: this is where you'll find most of the hotels, restaurants and tour operators.
Chaweng
At around 6 kilometres, the island's longest beach and its tourist hub. The northern end is the heart of the nightlife, with bars, clubs and the well-known Soi Green Mango, while the quieter southern end blends into Chaweng Noi. Best for travellers who want a wide choice of hotels, restaurants, watersports and nightlife within walking distance.
Lamai
The island's second-largest town, generally quieter than Chaweng but with its own smaller nightlife strip in the north. A good middle ground for families and couples who still want a choice of restaurants and bars. The Hin Ta and Hin Yai rock formations lie just a few kilometres away.
Bophut
Known for the historic Fisherman's Village, with colonial-style wooden shophouses, boutiques and upmarket restaurants right along the beachfront. The beach itself is quieter than Chaweng, ideal for an evening stroll looking out towards Koh Phangan.
Maenam
The quietest of the main beaches, with a long, shallow bay and views of Koh Phangan. There's noticeably less hustle here, and accommodation is generally cheaper than in Chaweng or Lamai — popular with travellers who want peace and quiet without giving up all infrastructure.
Choeng Mon
A small, sheltered bay in the north-east with particularly shallow, calm water. It's considered one of the most family-friendly spots on the island, with several upmarket resorts but none of Chaweng's bustle.
Which beach suits you?
A quick comparison of the five main beaches by traveller type:
| Beach | Families | Nightlife | Peace and quiet | Snorkelling |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chaweng | okay (busy) | excellent (north end) | not really | no, sandy bottom |
| Lamai | good | yes, in the north | yes, in the south | not directly off the beach |
| Bophut | good | quiet evenings out | partly | no |
| Maenam | excellent | no | excellent | no |
| Choeng Mon | excellent, shallow water | no | excellent | a little, flat coral patches |
For snorkelling straight off the beach, two of our hidden gems below do far better: Silver Beach and Coral Cove. More on those, plus boat trips to reefs further out, in our article Snorkelling on Koh Samui: the best spots.
Water quality, jellyfish and the best time to visit
From October to December, the north-east monsoon brings more rain and rougher seas, mainly on the east coast (Chaweng, Lamai, Choeng Mon), while the west coast around Maenam and Lipa Noi tends to stay calmer. For swimming and snorkelling, the rule of thumb is: February to May, and again September/October, bring the clearest water, while November is generally the weakest month. Sea temperature stays pleasant year-round at around 28 to 30°C. More on the yearly pattern in Koh Samui weather and the truth about the rainy season.
Box jellyfish do occasionally turn up in Thai coastal waters, including around Koh Samui, most likely during the rainy season between July and October. Since 2021, Chaweng and Lamai have had protective nets and warning signs with vinegar stations. Pre-pandemic hospital figures on Samui averaged around 45 reported jellyfish stings a year — a low risk given the number of people swimming. Sunburn, minor coral cuts and mild stings from less dangerous jellyfish species are far more common. Still, swim carefully where warning signs are posted, and ask your hotel about current conditions if unsure.
Our top 10 hidden-gem beaches
Away from the five main beaches lie smaller, often quieter coves that are still well worth the trip. Here's our top 10, counting down from number 10 to our number 1.
10. Pang Ka Beach
The small, enchanting Pang Ka Beach connects to the southern end of Taling Ngam Beach. It sits in a very small, secluded bay especially known for its beautiful sunsets. The beach is usually quiet and not really suited to swimming, since the water is very shallow — at low tide you even have to walk more than a kilometre to reach the water. A few small restaurants have set up here, though the remoteness makes dining a little more expensive. If you want a secluded beach day with a gorgeous sunset, Pang Ka is the right choice.
9. Laem Set Beach (Natien Beach)
In the south-east of Koh Samui lies Laem Set Beach, sometimes also called Natien Beach after the peninsula at its northern end. It isn't really suited for swimming and is a bit remote, but it's great for walks along its picturesque shoreline.
8. Laem Yai Beach
Laem Yai Beach lies on the north-western coast and is surrounded by luxury resorts such as the Four Seasons. Most visitors are hotel guests, though the beach also has public access. The water is mostly shallow and not great for swimming, but the palm-lined shore is ideal for relaxing or kayaking. The best reason to visit: the sunset, which you'll often get almost entirely to yourself.
7. Yai Noi Beach
Yai Noi Beach resembles the secluded Tongsai Bay Beach and is usually only reachable through hotels such as Anantara Lawana. It's sometimes described as the northern part of the popular Chaweng Beach, since the bay borders it directly. It's swimmable at high tide, though many hotel guests prefer the pool — the view from here is unique regardless.
6. Chaweng Noi
Chaweng Noi lies not far from the well-known Lad Koh Viewpoint. The beach is clean, you'll usually meet few other visitors, and the view of Chaweng's hilly backdrop is impressive. There are a few small restaurants and a nightclub nearby.
5. Sunset Beach (Taling Ngam)
If you prefer a quiet beach visit, this is definitely the spot. The shallow water makes wading in easy, though at low tide the beach retreats a long way, while high tide brings enough water for a swim. The seabed is sandy but often muddy, and in the south there are rocks and coral too — a barefoot walk in the water isn't advisable. Sunset Beach is a wild beach without pristine cleanliness: rocks, tree stumps and coconuts are part of the scenery. Today it's mostly lined with private villas, and how long this stretch stays this quiet remains to be seen.
4. Coral Cove
A very special cove between Silver Beach and Chaweng is Coral Cove. Only about 200 metres long and beautifully framed by large granite rocks, it's ideal for swimming, snorkelling, eating or simply relaxing. Together with Silver Beach, Coral Cove is considered one of the island's best house reefs, clearest in the morning before the afternoon wind picks up.
3. Talay Beach
On the west coast, about 15 kilometres south of Nathon, lies Talay Beach. There's no sign of mass tourism here — if you're after peace and seclusion, this is the beach for you. From the water you can see striking coastal rock formations and enjoy a lovely view of the hilly landscape behind. Nearby are temple grounds and spots where you can see rubber trees being processed.
2. Shiva Beach
Shiva Beach isn't the kind of place for a spontaneous dash into the sea: it's very shallow at high tide, and at low tide you have to walk a long way to reach the water. The strip of sand is 15 to 40 metres wide in places and flows into sandbanks stretching over half a kilometre at their widest. A narrow coral reef lines the coast, and the sand ranges from snow-white to a greyish cream.
1. Silver Beach
Our number one is Silver Beach (Thong Ta Khian), a roughly 250-metre stretch of beach paradise in a charming little bay north-east of Lamai. It's the only stretch on Koh Samui with fine white powder sand — the island's other sandy beaches are somewhat coarser. By scooter you can reach Chaweng in around 10 minutes. Together with Coral Cove, Silver Beach is considered the island's best house reef, home to parrotfish, butterflyfish and the occasional blue-spotted stingray — more in Snorkelling on Koh Samui: the best spots.
Want to snorkel somewhere clearer than the beach? A day trip to the reefs off Koh Tao and Koh Nang Yuan is well worth it:
from 1,850 THBDay trip snorkeling Koh Tao & Koh Nang Yuan4.78 from 170 reviews
Beaches by coast: east or west
Roughly speaking, Koh Samui's beaches split into two different moods depending on which side of the island they're on. The east coast around Chaweng and Lamai has the longest sandy stretches, the most infrastructure and generally deeper water that's better for swimming, but it also takes the brunt of the north-east monsoon between October and December. The west coast is quieter, with shallower water most of the year and the island's best sunsets, since the sun sets directly over the Gulf of Thailand on that side.
East coast
Chaweng, Lamai and Choeng Mon among the main beaches, plus Chaweng Noi, Yai Noi, Coral Cove, Silver Beach and Laem Set (Natien) from our top 10 above, all lie on the east coast.
West coast
Laem Yai, Pang Ka, Sunset Beach (Taling Ngam) and Talay Beach from the list above are on the west coast — better suited to a quiet, scenic afternoon than a day of swimming.
Bang Makham Beach
A short drive north of Nathon, on the ring road towards Laem Yai, Bang Makham runs for almost 3 kilometres along the coast. It only really becomes a beach at low tide, when the water retreats to reveal a wide sandy flat with a view towards the Ang Thong Marine Park; at high tide it's little more than a narrow strip of coastline, and swimming isn't really an option because of the shallow water, along with shells, rocks and the occasional bit of washed-up litter. Worth a short stop for the sunset on a scenic drive rather than a dedicated beach day.
Frequently asked questions
Which beach on Koh Samui is the most beautiful?
It depends on taste: Silver Beach is often rated among the most beautiful for its fine white sand and house reef, Choeng Mon and Maenam win people over with calm, shallow water, and Chaweng scores on length and infrastructure. You're usually better off combining a few beaches than picking just one.
Which coast of Koh Samui is nicer, east or west?
The east coast, with Chaweng and Lamai, has the longest sandy beaches and the most infrastructure, though it's busier. The west coast around Maenam, Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam is quieter, with calmer seas and the best sunsets — though the water there is often a little less clear.
Are there jellyfish on Koh Samui?
Occasionally, yes, mostly during the rainy season between July and October. Since 2021, Chaweng and Lamai have had protective nets and warning signs. Overall risk is low, but pay attention to warning signs on the beach.
What is the best beach for snorkelling on Koh Samui?
Straight off the beach, Silver Beach and Coral Cove come out on top, while Choeng Mon's flatter coral patches suit families and beginners well. For clearer reefs, head out by boat to Koh Tao, Koh Nang Yuan or around Pig Island.
For more on the water around Koh Samui, see Snorkelling on Koh Samui: the best spots, Sunset on Koh Samui: the best spots and our article on Pig Island: Koh Madsum, the island of pigs.
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