12 Best Beaches in Koh Samui for Swimming and Snorkeling (2024)

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Stunning white sand beaches in Koh Samui, as if taken from a picture of a paradise island, are the main reason why tourists from all over the world come to the island.

In total, there are more than three dozen beautiful beaches, along them stretches the highway, shuttles and cabs connect the coast with the settlements, located in the interior of the island. It is believed that the best beaches in Koh Samui are on the east coast.

The west and north coasts, fringed by three charming bays, are not so busy, and tourists who appreciate peace and solitude can find quieter beaches there.

Here is the full list of best beaches in Koh Samui for swimming and snorkeling; check it to get an idea which one will satisfy your needs and worth visiting in the first place.

Koh Samui Beaches Map

Koh Samui Beaches Map 2022

1. Chaweng Beach

Chaweng beach is largest beach on the island, that stretches for 6 kilometers long, attracting many travelers with its picturesque, covered with soft white sand, bays, almost imperceptibly passing one into another. The entrance to the sea is quite gentle in the northern part. In the center and south the bottom is deeper.

This is one of the most popular and crowded beaches on Koh Samui. Its a good beach to visit and spend at least one day there, but it doesn’t suit you at all if you’re looking for tranquility and solitude.

You can still enjoy your time on Chaweng beach, but in this case go directly to its southern part, rather then stay in its center. The center of Chaweng beach is full of bars and restaurants, small shops.

It owes its popularity not only because of clear, warm waters, white sand and cool backgrounds for nice Instagram photos, but convenient location. For example, it is located 3.9 km from Samui Airport.

Best taxi rates from Samui airport to Chaweng beach you can check here.

Inspite of being one of the best Samui beaches, Chaweng has one drawback, there always a lot of trash that goes from the ocean.

Chaweng beach on Koh Samui island in Thailand

Chaweng Beach is reputed to be the noisiest spot on Koh Samui, taking in the lion’s share of all the parties and entertainment shows that take place on the island. Nearby is the romantic Coral Cove beach.

Best TripAdvisor Chaweng Hotels

1. Samui Paradise Chaweng Beach Resort and Spa
2. Banana Fan Sea Resort – 14 minutes walk to Chaweng Beach
3. Sala Samui Chaweng Beach Resort

2. Lamai Beach

Lamai Beach, located south of Chaweng and stretches for 4 kilometers, a little less crowded than its neighbor and not so noisy, but there is also plenty of entertainment.

However, Lamai beach can not boast such a fine white sand as the one that covers the coast of Chaweng. The shore in some parts is rocky, the bottom is stony in some places.

If its your first time on Koh Samui give this beautiful beach a try, there you will have all chances to enjoy your very relaxed beach vacation.

Another reason to choose Lamai beach is because of the prices, everything is much cheaper there. It’s also necessary to mention that the current on Lamai beach is not so strong, so this beach is more safe if you would like to swim.

Both stunning beaches are perfect spot for water sports, including diving, snorkeling. Tourists ride on water skis, “bananas”, kayaks, boats.

The best beaches on Koh Samui

Best TripAdvisor Lamai Beach Accommodation Options

1. Sandalwood Luxury Villas
2. Lamai Samui – located right on the beach
3. Hive Hotel – great opportunity for budget travel

3. Laem Set Beach

This beach can be considered as one of the remote among Samui beaches. You need to rent a car or bike to reach it. It can take about 40 minutes to go from Samui airport right to the place.

Be ready to take everything you need with you, as the infrastructure is almost non-existent there. Except of natural beauty of Laem Set such as white sand and lush vegetation, one of its main advantages is lack of tourists crowds.

Laem Set beach is attented mostly by nearby hotels guests or some tourists looking for privacy. If you would like to enjoy swimming be ready to go through stones and muddy ocean bottom.

Laem Set Samui Beach Hotel Options

1. Shasa Resort & Residences
2. Kamalaya Koh Samui – for your luxury vacation

4. Taling Ngam Beach

Taling Ngam beach can be called really “wild” beach on Koh Samui island. The coastline stretches for 5km. But if you’re planning to enjoy walking, make sure to put on appropriate shoes.

You will not find any bars, restaurants or food kiosks there, so its better to think about food and water in advance. As this is really wild beach in Samui, the beach can be called quite dirty, it brings algae here, rotten driftwood is washed ashore.

Several hotels located here are taking care of their territories and small part of Taling Ngam beach, but usually they are not open for random tourists. It can take about one hour to go to this beach from Samui airport.

Taling Ngam Best Accommodation Options

1. Intercontinental Koh Samui Resort
2. Avani +
3. AM Samui Resort – super budget option

Bophut Beach on Koh Samui in Thailand

5. Lipa Noi

Among the quietest beaches in Koh Samui is a 4-kilometer long Lipa Noi. The sea is rarely stirred here. Sometimes on Lamai Beach you can’t enter the water because of the waves, and Lipa Noi is completely calm.

The sand here is not loose, but rather dense, which is conducive to long walks and jogs. Entrance to the sea along the entire coastline is quite flat.

If you would like to enjoy water activities, the best option is to choose the central part of Lipa Noi beach. There you will find several renting points with all the equipment necessary for snorkeling, kayaking and diving.

This Samui island beach is one of the popular destination for family vacation. Try to avoid southern part of the beach as tons of rubbish that can be found there will add not the most pleasant impressions to your Samui vacation.

Lipa Noi Best Hotels Deals

1. Nikki Beach Resort
2. Sea Valley Hotel and Spa
3. Anahata Resort – the best budget option

6. Silver Beach

Silver beach is located in beautiful bay under the name Crystal bay and sometimes is called Crystal beach, so don’t be confused with those two.

Located in the east of Koh Samui island the best season to visit this popular beach is from December till March with June being the hottest month.

The territory of Silver beach is occupied by luxury resorts: Crystal Bay beach resort, Crystal Bay Yacht Club. For additional payment, you can rent sun loungers, umbrellas.

Silver beach is one of the Koh Samui beaches ideal for meeting the sunrise. And if you would like to get PADI certification, you can get course at yacht club.

7. Bang Makham Beach

This Samui beach can be choosen by travelers with small children. Main reason for this – shallow water even at high tide. But you can’t say that beach is clean, there you will find the rubbish of any sort.

Bang Makham beach is located close to Nathon town. Its also attractive to public because of nice views on Ang Thong Marine Park. There is a lack of luxury places to stay, but you can find several villas or bungalows for your quiet beach vacation in Koh Samui.

8. Bang Po

It will take only 16 minutes by car to go to Bang Po or Bang Por beach from Samui International Airport. Shallow depth makes it super attractive for parents with kids.

If you’re looking for opportunity to swim on Bang Po beach you can rent a canoe, swim over seaweeds and get to the deep clean water. Those, looking for some privacy during vacation should consider eastern part of the beach and its accommodation options.

But to enjoy Thai cuisine, especially meals where seafood is the main ingredient its better to visit western part of the beach.

Best Bang Po Accommodation options on TripAdvisor

1. Napasai, A Belmond Hotel
2. Mai Samui Beach Resort & Spa
3. Saree Samui

9. Maenam Beach

At the very north of Samui stretches a 5-kilometer beach Mae Nam, which was named by the village Mae Nam. Almost all of the local coast, which even in high season is never crowded, fringed by palm groves.

Most parts of Maenam beach are attracted by its optimal depth: shallow waters near the shore, so there are many vacationers with children, but in order to swim, do not have to wade through the water. There is a pier on Maenam beach from where you can go to the nearby islands.

Mae Nam Beach Best Hotel Options

1. Santiburi Koh Samui
2. Khwan Beach Resort
3. Baan Fah Beach Resort

Lipa Noi Beach on Koh Samui

10. Bophut beach

Many tourists choose to spend their time on Bophut Beach – the golden mean between the bustling resorts of Chaweng and the quiet family beaches. Bophut beach runs along both sides of the fisherman’s village.

This corner of Samui is probably the only place on the island where locals and tourists are not isolated from each other. Many restaurants and cafes with traditional Thai cuisine add color to Bophut beach.

Bophut is one of Samui’s few deep-water beaches, attracting fans of full-swimmers. In 10-15 m from the shore the depth here surpasses human height. The most popular among the tourists is the western part of the beach, where numerous hotels are lined up.

Bophut Beach Accommodation Options

1. The Lodge
2. Baan Bophut Beach Hotel
3. Celes Beach Front Resort

Ban Tai beach on Koh Samui

11. Bangrak or Big Buddha Beach

This Samui beach will definitely be the best option for those looking for some privacy. But at the same time many tourists come here to take a look at Buddha statue.

This beach is located 5.3 km from Samui airport, it will take about 12 minutes to go there by car. The coastline stretches for 3 kilometers and can be conditionally divided into three parts: western, central and eastern beach parts.

For those vacationers, whose main goal is to enjoy swimming in the clean and warm ocean waters, Bangrak beach has nothing to offer, except of muddy waters, rocky bottom and a lot of boats.

12. Choeng Mon Beach

This is a great place for family beach holidays. Choeng Mon beach can be called as “small, but very calm Samui beach”. It’s protected from the huge waves, so it’s great for swimming. At the same water there is not so clean, so Choeng Mon is not the ideal place for snorkeling or diving.

Choeng Mon beach is located 6 km away from Samui Airport, it will take about 13 minutes by car. This beach has quite developed infrastructure: you can easily find where to eat, rent equipment for kayaking and other water sports.

Choeng Mon Beach Accommodation Options

1. Samujana Villas
2. Melia Koh Samui
3. Sala Samui Choengmon Beach Resort

For family and secluded holidays: Ban Tai, Lipa Noi beach and Thongson

One of the best for a holiday with a child on Koh Samui recognized the spacious beach Ban Tai on the northwest coast of the island. It is also known as the Mimosa, after the popular hotel nearby. The best area for swimming is near the rocks. Entrance to the water here is gentle, the sea is always quiet.

Crystal Bay Beach in Koh Samui, Thailand

Another Samui beach with almost no waves is the miniature Thongson, nestled in the northeast of the island. It belongs to the category of fashionable, because almost all of its territory belongs to the two hotels. The sand here is always clean and velvety.

There are also secluded places for bathing on the usually crowded east coast. Surrounded by large boulders and tropical vegetation is Crystal Bay Beach. It lies in Silver Bay, between the locations of Chaweng and Lamai.

Samui Best Beaches Video

Best Koh Samui Beaches FAQ

What is the main beach in Koh Samui?

The most popular and crowded beach in Koh Samui is Chaweng. The coastline streches for 7 km and attracts tourists with its clear water and soft sand.

Is Koh Samui good for swimming?

There are many beaches on Koh Samui for great vacations. But not all of them are suitable for swimming: some of the beaches are full of rocks, coral formations and mud, which make the entrance to the water really uncomfortable.
On other beaches entrance to the water can be more smooth, but strong currents can make it dangerous to swim.

Is Koh Samui good for snorkeling?

Island beaches don’t offer the greatest snorkeling experience, but there are plenty of options to enjoy the diversity of marine life by visiting the nearest islands. To do so, you can join one of the many day tours.

Are the beaches nice in Koh Samui?

Koh Samui’s beaches are considered as the most picturesque ones, due to soft powdery white sand, clear turquoise water and and lush greenery fringing the coastline.

Can you snorkel from the beach in Koh Samui?

Koh Samui island attracts visitors by its clean waters, but they are not so great for snorkeling, usually because of low visibility. But tourists still can enjoy snorkeling in Koh Samui, just join one of many day tours to the nearest islands.

Is the water clear in Koh Samui?

Yes, especially during the season, when heavy rains don’t muddy the water.

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