Guide 
Koh Samui Chaweng Beach, East coast
Every beach on Koh Samui, in the order you meet them
Thirty-four Koh Samui beaches around one coastline, from ferry piers to hidden coves. Start with the shape of the island, then find yours by coast, tide or what you want to do when you get there.
Latest beach guides
Right now on the beaches
- Calm water
- Choppy all round
- Sea
- 29 °C
- Daylight
- 06:10 - 17:58
- Tonight
- Waning gibbous
Four coasts
Four ways round the island
Start with a coast
34 beaches numbered round the ring road
Open the full mapNorth coast
Calmest this monthShallow water facing Koh Phangan across the channel, tidal flats that need a rising tide, and the walking streets at Maenam and Bophut's Fisherman's Village.
- Sea in October
- Choppy
- Calm months
- Jan-Sep
- Swim all year
- 4 of 12
East coast
Sunrise over the water, the island's longest swimming beaches, the busiest nightlife at Chaweng and Lamai, and the shortest drive from the airport.
- Sea in October
- Rough
- Calm months
- Feb-Aug
- Swim all year
- 4 of 7
South coast
Fishing villages and working piers, wide tidal flats that empty out at low tide, and the steadiest cross-shore wind on the island for kitesurfing.
- Sea in October
- Choppy
- Calm months
- Dec-Apr
- Swim all year
- 0 of 8
West coast
Sunsets straight into the Gulf of Thailand, calmer water most of the year, quieter resorts, and the ferry piers that connect Samui to the mainland.
- Sea in October
- Rough
- Calm months
- Dec-Apr
- Swim all year
- 1 of 7
Best for
Eight ways to choose
What kind of beach day?
Swim any month
Calm to moderate water rated safe year-round, spread across every coast, so a rough month on one side never rules out a swim.
Snorkel from the sand
Reef or rock within wading distance, no boat needed - the beaches where a mask and fins are worth packing.
Shallow and safe for kids
Gentle slopes, calm water and enough shade that small children can wade without a fight to keep them out.
Clubs and nightlife
Beach clubs, bars and a late crowd - the stretches where the evening keeps going after the sun goes down.
Facing the sunset
West-facing sand where the sun drops straight into the Gulf of Thailand, no headland in the way.
Almost no one there
Small coves and short stretches that stay empty even in high season, mostly because the road in is easy to miss.
Local life and fishing villages
Working piers, market days and family-run cafes rather than sunbeds - the beaches that are still someone's harbour.
Private coves
Resort-backed bays with one or two hotels and no beach road, the closest thing Samui has to a private beach.
Sea and rain
The question every October
The sea by month
| Measure | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct (this month) | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rain, mm | 125 | 65 | 115 | 85 | 130 | 135 | 115 | 100 | 120 | 295 | 445 | 265 |
| Sea, °C | 28 | 28.5 | 29 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 29.5 | 29.5 | 29 | 29 | 29 | 28.5 |
| North coast | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy |
| East coast | Choppy | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Choppy | Rough | Rough | Choppy |
| South coast | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Calm |
| West coast | Calm | Calm | Calm | Calm | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Choppy | Rough | Rough | Calm |
Markets
Market days and walking streets
The week on the sand
Market days move around the island through the week: Maenam on Thursday, Bophut's Fisherman's Village on Friday, Nathon and Bang Kao on Saturday, Lamai three nights a week, Chaweng and Hua Thanon every day.
Daily Chaweng Beach, Hua Thanon
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Monday Today
Daily markets only
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Tuesday Today
Daily markets only
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Wednesday Today
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Thursday Today
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Friday Today
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Saturday Today
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Sunday Today
Compare
All 34, compared
Every beach, by coast
All 34 beaches in coastal order, one row each, every measurement drawn from our own articles: length, sand, swim rating, waves, snorkel and kids scores, nightlife, minutes from the airport and which way the beach faces.
North coast 12 beaches
| Beach | Length | Sand | Swim | Waves | Snorkel | Kids | Nightlife | From airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Thong Plu Beach Sunset | Not measured | Pale mixed | High tide only | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 25 min |
 Bang Po Beach Faces Phangan | 3 km | Golden mixed | High tide only | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 25 min |
 Na Phra Lan Beach Faces Phangan | Not measured | Pale coarse | High tide only | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Ban Tai Beach Faces Phangan | 2 km | Pale fine | High tide only | Calm | 3 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 20 min |
 Maenam Beach Faces Phangan | 5 km | Golden coarse | Year-round | Moderate | 1 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 15 min |
 W Beach Faces Phangan | Not measured | Pale coarse | Seasonal | Moderate | 1 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Bophut Faces Phangan | 2.5 km | Amber coarse | Year-round | Calm | 1 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 8 min |
 Bang Rak Beach (Big Buddha Beach) Faces Phangan | 3 km | Pale fine | Not for swimming | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 5 min |
 Plai Laem Beach Sunset | 2 km | Golden coarse | Not for swimming | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 10 min |
 Thongson Bay Beach Sunrise | 0.5 km | Pale fine | Year-round | Calm | 3 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Samrong Beach Sunrise | 0.2 km | Pale fine | Seasonal | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Choeng Mon Beach Sunrise | 1 km | Pale fine | Year-round | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 10 min |
East coast 7 beaches
| Beach | Length | Sand | Swim | Waves | Snorkel | Kids | Nightlife | From airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Tong Sai Bay Sunrise | 0.1 km | Golden coarse | Year-round | Moderate | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 10 min |
 Chaweng Beach Sunrise | 7 km | White fine | Year-round | Moderate | 1 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Chaweng Noi Beach Sunrise | 1 km | White fine | Year-round | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 15 min |
 Coral Cove Sunrise | 0.18 km | Amber mixed | Seasonal | Calm | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 20 min |
 Silver Beach (Crystal Bay) Sunrise | 0.25 km | White fine | Year-round | Calm | 3 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 20 min |
 Laem Nan Beach Sunset | 0.7 km | Pale fine | Not for swimming | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 20 min |
 Lamai Beach Sunrise | 4 km | Golden medium | Seasonal | Moderate | 2 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 25 min |
South coast 8 beaches
| Beach | Length | Sand | Swim | Waves | Snorkel | Kids | Nightlife | From airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Hua Thanon No clear facing | 1.5 km | Grey mixed | Not for swimming | Moderate | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 20 min |
 Nahai Beach (Na Khai) No clear facing | 2 km | White fine | Not for swimming | Moderate | 0 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 30 min |
 Natien Beach (Na Thian) Sunrise | 0.5 km | Grey fine | High tide only | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 35 min |
 Laem Set Beach No clear facing | 1.5 km | White mixed | High tide only | Calm | 1 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 40 min |
 Bang Kao Beach No clear facing | 3.5 km | Pale fine | High tide only | Calm | 1 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 40 min |
 Laem Sor Beach Sunset | Not measured | Pale fine | High tide only | Calm | 1 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 45 min |
 Thong Tanote Beach Sunset | 1.75 km | Brown coarse | High tide only | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 40 min |
 Thong Krut Beach Sunset | 1.5 km | Pale coarse | High tide only | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 45 min |
West coast 7 beaches
| Beach | Length | Sand | Swim | Waves | Snorkel | Kids | Nightlife | From airport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Nathon Beach Sunset | Not measured | Pale medium | Not for swimming | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 35 min |
 Bang Makham Beach Sunset | 2 km | Pale mixed | Not for swimming | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 30 min |
 Laem Yai Beach Sunset | 0.2 km | Pale medium | Year-round | Calm | 1 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 30 min |
 Phang Ka Beach Sunset | 0.55 km | Brown coarse | High tide only | Calm | 2 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 45 min |
 Taling Ngam Beach Sunset | 1.5 km | Golden coarse | High tide only | Moderate | 1 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 45 min |
 Lipa Noi Beach Sunset | 3.5 km | Pale fine | High tide only | Calm | 0 out of 3 | 3 out of 3 | 1 out of 3 | 30 min |
 Tong Yang Beach Sunset | 4 km | Pale fine | High tide only | Calm | 3 out of 3 | 2 out of 3 | 0 out of 3 | 40 min |
Wildlife and safety
Before you spread the towel
What lives on the beach
Nothing here should keep you out of the water, but seven things are worth knowing before you spread a towel.
Red flags
Most Koh Samui beaches have no lifeguard, so a posted flag or sign is often the only warning you get. Treat a red flag or a no-swimming sign as absolute, not advisory.
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Sandflies
Biting midges bite hardest at dawn, dusk and after rain on quiet, shaded beaches with seaweed lines, not on wide, wind-exposed sand. Repellent on ankles and lower legs prevents most bites.
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Box jellyfish
Sightings cluster on the east coast, roughly October to December, and call for vinegar on the sting for at least 30 seconds, never fresh water. Any serious sting needs a hospital.
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Sea urchins
They live on rock and reef, not open sand - Coral Cove, Silver Beach, Thongson Bay, Laem Set and Na Khai are the ones to watch. Water shoes solve most of the risk.
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Reef fish
Clownfish, parrotfish and Moorish idols show up on several north and east coast reef patches, and small blacktip reef sharks are occasionally seen off Ban Tai and Silver Beach - shy juveniles that keep away from people.
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Monitor lizards
Asian water monitors turn up near rivers, canals and forest edges, and occasionally on the sand itself. They are protected and not aggressive - give one space and it moves on.
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Beach dogs
Strays are common island-wide and mostly food-motivated rather than aggressive, but keep children from petting them and wash any bite immediately, since rabies is present in Thailand.
Nearby
Beyond the sand
Off the sand
Ninety percent of this page is beach. The rest is what sits closest to it: the nearest temple, waterfall and hike from every stretch of coast, by real distance, not guesswork.
Temples
- Na Phra Lan Beach to Wat Na Phra Lan 0.2 km
- Laem Sor Beach to Wat Laem Sor 0.2 km
- Laem Set Beach to Monk Cave Koh Samui 0.2 km
- Maenam Beach to Maenam Chinese Temple 0.2 km
- Laem Sor Beach to Wat Khao Chedi 0.3 km
Waterfalls
- Lamai Beach to Sivatara Waterfall 1.8 km
- Hua Thanon to Wang Sao Thong Waterfall 2.8 km
- Tong Yang Beach to Lat Wanon Waterfall 2.8 km
- Nathon Beach to Zong Raue Waterfall 3.1 km
- Hua Thanon to Khao Yai Waterfall Koh Samui 3.5 km
Hikes
- Na Phra Lan Beach to Magic Garden Samui Hike 0.4 km
- Chaweng Noi Beach to Lad Koh Viewpoint 1 km
- Lipa Noi Beach to Lardwanorn Waterfall Loop 1.1 km
- Bang Po Beach to Hog Trail 1.3 km
- Hua Thanon to Overlap Stone Samui Viewpoint 1.4 km
Guides that go deeper
- All 34 beaches ranked Every beach compared for swimming, families, snorkeling and sunsets, with in-depth picks for the top ten.
- Where to snorkel Seven shore spots ranked from Silver Beach to Tong Yang, plus boat trips to Koh Tan, Koh Tao and Ang Thong.
- Beach clubs The best beach clubs on the island, from Nikki Beach at Lipa Noi to Ark Bar at Chaweng, with prices and hours.
- East coast or west coast A straight comparison: east wins for swimming, nightlife and airport minutes, west wins for sunsets and calm water.
- Sea conditions by month Which coast runs calm, choppy or rough in any given month, plus tides, sea temperature and water clarity.
- Box jellyfish season When jellyfish sightings cluster, which beaches have had nets, and the first-aid steps if a sting happens.
FAQ
Common questions
Before you ask
Which beach in Koh Samui is the best?
It depends on what you want. For swimming, Maenam and Chaweng are calm to moderate year-round, as are sheltered coves like Thongson Bay and Choeng Mon. Pick by space, snorkeling nearby, or a busier stretch with facilities close by.
Does Koh Samui have jellyfish nets?
Not as a standard, island-wide feature. Chaweng and Lamai have had nets and vinegar stations installed at times, but coverage is inconsistent, so treat the roughly October to December window with normal caution and heed posted signs.
Which side is calm in November?
The north coast is the calmest option, turning choppy while the east and west coasts go rough under the tail of the monsoon. Base yourself near Maenam or Bophut if a calm swim matters more than anything else that month.
Can you swim at low tide on the north coast?
In places, but not everywhere. Beaches like Bang Po, Ban Tai and Thong Plu are rated for swimming at high tide only, since the water recedes over wide flats at low tide, while Maenam and Bophut stay swimmable regardless of the tide.
Which beaches have walking streets?
Bophut's Fisherman's Village runs its walking street every Friday, and Nathon and Bang Kao hold Saturday markets. Chaweng and Hua Thanon run food markets daily, and Lamai's runs Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday.
Is Chaweng or Lamai better?
Neither is simply better, they suit different trips. Chaweng is the longer, busier beach at seven kilometres with the island's biggest nightlife, while Lamai is shorter at four kilometres, calmer at night, and still has its own market three nights a week.