Koh Samui Beaches

For any tourist visiting Koh Samui, its picturesque beaches are probably a major draw card and true to its reputation, Koh Samui beaches are the white sandy havens promised in magazine pictures and travel brochures. Surrounded by calm blue-green waters, Koh Samui beaches are the hub of life and entertainment on the island as the central mountainous regions of Koh Samui remain fairly uninhabited.

Chaweng beach is the longest of all Koh Samui beaches located in the biggest town on the island. While developed for tourism, Chaweng still manages to retain the untouched Thai experience you would expect when visiting Koh Samui. However visitors to Koh Samui who want more than just the white sandy beaches will not be disappointed as the rows of restaurants and shops in Chaweng. Whether in a hotel or villa, Chaweng is a must see from all of Koh Samui's beaches, integrating the island's natural beauty with tourist expectations.

For those visitors keen on a quieter holiday experience, away from the hustle and bustle of the tourist hotspots on Koh Samui, Lamai on the east coast will surely not disappoint. Surrounded by small fishing villages, Lamai may not be as busy as Chaweng but has all the facilities and amenities to ensure that you are kept in comfort and convenience. The shallow waters of Lamai beach means that you can wade out for long distances and enjoy the peaceful sea that characterizes many of Koh Samui's beaches.

Being the third largest island in the gulf of Thailand, Koh Samui has a number of towns spread across the coastline of the island and for the more enthusiastic traveller, willing to venture beyond the tourist hubs, there are other equally stunning beaches that may be less exposed to tourists.From Nathon, to Bhoput, and Bangrak, or Big Buddha beach that houses the 12 metre tall golden Big Buddha, Koh Samui beaches live up to every traveller's expectations and lesser known beaches like Plai Laem, Bang Por, Lipa Noi, Meanam and Choeng Mon are equally promising.

A range of water sports are available at most Koh Samui beaches, ranging from kayaking to scuba diving, kite surfing, and speed boating or for the less adventurous traveller, you can just lay back and bask in the sun. Koh Samui beaches have gained international recognition, captured in both film and literary works, and lives up to its reputation of being a sun drenched paradise laced with white sandy beaches and surrounded with calm and clear bluish-green waters.