Guide to Samui's quietest beaches
By Dave Rudd
Lamai Beach is less boisterous than Chaweng
Most of the beaches on Samui are quiet; it’s the boisterous east coast that gives it a party reputation. Even so, there are options near to Chaweng (Samui’s most popular stretch of sand), although North Samui, West Samui and South Samui are the parts to head to for some seclusion.
The south coast has Samui's quietest beaches, followed by the bottom end of the west coast and then the north coast. Nathon beach on the west coast is the busiest beach over that side yet is nothing on the scale of Chaweng.
East coast
Lamai beach is Samui’s second beach, separated from Chaweng by a steep headland. It is much more laid-back than Chaweng, yet has many hotels and nightlife so is not really considered a quite beach. However, if you prefer the best of both worlds, head to the southern portion of the sweeping bay where it is quieter. For more on Lamai Beach.
Chaweng Noi beach is another east coast beach that blurs between built up and quiet. It is just south of the main Chaweng beach nestled up against the headland towards Lamai and has some large resorts, as well as quieter, rockier parts.
Coral Cove Bay (Ao Thong Takian) is a small bay north of Lamai. It has just a handful of resorts and boasts stunning waters that are especially good for snorkelling. The coastline here is pretty dramatic and there are also fine walks to be had up over the beach.
North coast
Plai Laem is between the busier Choeng Mon and Big Buddha beaches in northeast Samui. It’s just up from the airport and a good option for those not keen on long journeys straight off the plane. There are several private villas and nice resorts here although the beach is a bit thin and isn’t the best.
Big Buddha beach is one of the busier quiet beaches on Samui and takes its name from the huge Buddha statue here. The beach is of the white sand variety backed by lush foliage and palms, while the water is calm and shallow and good for easy swimming. Big Buddha beach also comes with fair facilities.
Taling Ngam - a good bet for castaway seclusion
Another of Samui’s popular northern beaches is Bophut beach, and although a little more built up than Big Buddha beach, it is nonetheless considered quiet. Bophut is between Big Buddha and Maenam bay and comes with a fair stretch of white sand along with several restaurants and shops.
Maenam bay is just west of Bophut, fronting a traditional village that consists of wooden shops and houses. It is positioned right in the middle of Samui’s north coast and is narrow and of the yellow sand variety. It’s not the best beach to stay at yet is especially popular during the Samui off-season (November-February), being sheltered somewhat from the southern monsoon winds.
West coast
Although right in the top corner of northwest Samui, Bang Po beach is considered west and lies between Nathon and Maenam. It is a long beach with that undeveloped, windswept look, yet has calm waters and is clean. Coral reefs offer decent snorkelling at Bang Po and there are minimal hotels.
Taling Ngam is the nicest beach on the west coast and is quiet most of the time. It is just south of the main pier at Nathon and has mostly top-end hotels and resorts that overlook the beach. There is also a quaint village at Taling Ngam and dense jungle behind it.
Lipa Noi is the closest beach to the ferry pier on the west coast, lying just to the south of it and before Taling Ngam beach. There are some secluded resorts here, but otherwise it remains peaceful and the sand and water is nice. It has a shallow shelf and there are no rocks either, making it good for kids.
South coast
Thong Tanote beach is the first southern secluded beach you come to on a trip from Nathon. The beach here isn’t the nicest to look at and there are only a handful of resorts, yet it has plenty of character and is always quiet. Sunsets and views out to nearby islands are nice.
Bang Kao beach is another quiet southern shore. It is a long, narrow beach with white sand and having an undeveloped look. There is a small pier here with trips available out to nearby Mudsum and Tan islands as well as some good trekking inland.
Laem Set is just east of Bang Kao beach on southern Samui. There are some classy resorts down here although it is thoroughly quiet and picturesque. The downer is there is no real swimming as the water is too shallow and rocky, although the rugged nature of Laem Set makes for some spectacular scenery.
Hua Thanon is the next quiet beach up and lies between Laem Set and Lamai (on the east coast). It is directly accessible via the main loop road from Nathon and Lamai and is home to a Muslim fishing village. There is a nice stretch of quiet beach here, although most people visit for the village’s bustling market and the culture of the locals.
When to enjoy Samui's quiet beaches
Koh Samui has a reversed climate to much of the rest of Thailand, including that of Phuket which lies on the Andaman (west) side of the country. While Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai are beginning to enjoy their high season from November, Samui descends into its low season courtesy of southern monsoon winds and rain. If you are in Samui at this time, head for the quiet northern beaches.
It dries up in January somewhat (the start of the first high season) and remains that way through to October with some seasonal variations. Samui gets really hot from April to June when it is also fairly quiet, while July and August has another rush of tourists in the second high season. For more on Samui beaches.
Accommodation: If you are looking for somewhere to stay on Koh Samui which won't break the bank then we recommend Hostelbookers. They have comprehensive listings for backpackers and budget travellers all over the island.
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