If you’re a beach-lover, one of the most yearned-after holidays is to visit a beach far away from your normal haunts, perhaps in a different part of the country. Even better would be to visit another country, preferably somewhere exotic, and the most sought-after beach holiday of all is one on a beautiful remote island.
Imagine being faced with two of the most exquisite islands anywhere in the world and being asked to choose which island has the better beaches? This was my dilemma recently, and I had to rack my brains to find any flaws. How do you compare beaches that are so close to perfection as to defy adjectives?
The islands of Samui and Pha Ngan both have magnificent beaches, and the ‘best’ to one person is very different from the ‘best’ in the opinion of another. As is often the case with pompous travelers, the comments’ over touristed, ‘over-developed, ‘too different from before,’ ‘too westernized,’ etc. are thrown about with abandon. Both islands offer busy as well as quiet beaches, as you will read below.
The best beaches: Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are:
- Impossible to determine. Phangan may edge out Samui slightly if you insist on a quiet, tranquil beach, yet Samui would triumph if you prefer a vibey beach with more amenities. Both islands have beaches that would delight the most fastidious traveler.
The truth remains that if you were dropped by helicopter onto either island, you would be utterly convinced you had landed on one of the best beaches in the world. Temperate waters, white sand, swaying coconut palms trees, abundant marine life, and gentle surf all conspire to take your breath away – literally.
Once you remember to inhale and return your lungs to their regular pattern, you will thank your lucky stars and never forget that trip. These amazing beaches are no anomaly, and there are a number on each island that are worthy of your entire vacation. Let’s take a look –
Located just off the mainland in the Gulf of Thailand, the two islands boast the same beautifully clear waters and golden-white sands, creating the archetypal tropical paradise we all desire. But how do we reach them?
The best way to get to Koh Samui is by air unless you are already on a nearby island. Bangkok Airways operate the airport, and reaching Koh Samui from Bangkok takes just over an hour. A quick 30-minute ferry ride, and you are on Koh Pha Ngan.
What Are the Best Beaches on Koh Samui?
Koh Samui has many spectacular beaches, and you may struggle to find one that isn’t fairly busy, particularly during the high season. Don’t let that put you off, however; Samui has many options.
- Bophut Beach is a former purely fishing village and now boasts arguably the best beach on Samui. The fishing ethos means you can expect fresh seafood in the local eateries.
Bophut is among the biggest beaches on the island and is certainly one of the most picturesque, with beautiful sea views towards Koh Phangan and a three-kilometer-long stretch of sand touching azure-blue waters. The Fisherman’s Village area, lined with old Chinese shopfronts, boutiques, restaurants, and night markets, has some of Samui’s finest dining options.
The beach is relatively quiet and maintained by the many beachfront hotels here, who appreciably have a vested interest in keeping the beach pristine in front of their premises. Clean water, white sand, and rows of palm trees make Bophut Beach an enticing place to start your Samui experience.
- Thongson Bay Beach is very different from Bophut, and it’s not uncommon to have it to yourself – or pretty close – if you arrive early enough out of season. Grab a kayak or just lounge around after a brisk walk at the water’s edge, but watch out for sharp bits of coral keeping you on your toes.
Near the northern end of the island, Thongson Bay offers clear views of Koh Pha Ngan, just a few kilometers away. The beach is fairly intimate at 500m in length and comprises powdery white sand leading to crystal-clear water. The water close to shore is rather shallow, and it is both safe and ideal for families with young children and the elderly.
- Haad Thong Beach – Another great spot on Koh Samui is this small bay and smaller beach. Also known as Silver Beach, Haad Thong might be less than 300 meters of snowy white sand, but don’t let her size disappoint you. This is one of the very finest on the island.
Resorts and restaurants offer al fresco dining right on the sand, and there are loungers and umbrellas available for hire to the ‘sun-lizards.’ The balmy waters of the bay are perfect for swimming, and there is also snorkeling, kayaking, and scuba courses to keep you busy.
Arrive early enough to watch the sunrise from the beach and grab a Thai massage right there. Haad Thong offers a tranquil escape under the swaying coco palms, ideal for couples and others seeking peace and harmony. If quiet is not your ‘bag,’ Lamai Beach is only 15 mins away by tuk-tuk.
- Lamai Beach is Samui’s second-largest beach and trends faster than Haad Thong but slower than Chaweng, the island’s largest and best-known beach. Restaurants, shopping, and accommodation are very reasonably priced in Lamai, making the island good for backpackers and the budget-conscious.
The beach is also a popular starting point for boats to nearby Ko Tao for diving, but the beautiful, sandy expanse and clear water will keep you there for days. A lot less populated than some other beaches, Lamai is beautifully framed by huge boulders at the water’s edge and rated very highly by most travelers with time on their hands.
- Lipa Noi Beach – If you’re looking for a perfect place on the island to enjoy a near-perfect sunset, the pink tinge given to the beach sand by the setting sun on Lipa Noi is it. The sky turns through a mélange of reds, purples, oranges, pinks, and yellows as evening approaches, so make sure you’re sharing the moment with someone special.
The water is calm and very shallow near the beach, deepening gradually, and is safe for young children. The beach is a little remote and thus attracts far fewer visitors, and there are limited options for dining and shopping, but the peace and quiet is magical.
The unique beauty and diminutive size of
- Choeng Mon offers a tangible sense of privacy and perfectly suits families with children and those seeking solitude. It has its own bay offering stunning views over the crystal blue ocean, and at the one end of the beach, you can leisurely stroll out to the tiny island of Ko Fan Noi during low tide.
Restaurants are a little pricey, but some set up tables over the sand in the evenings, allowing for stunning views out over the ocean.
- Maenam Beach remains one of the more affordable beaches in Koh Samui, with bungalows on the beach offering plenty of beautiful views without attacking your budget. There are also luxurious resorts around, so the options are available at both ends of the price scale.
Maenam is around seven kilometers long, so head towards its end in either direction for more privacy. There is no frantic activity here, and it’s easy to relax on the golden sands beside a line of coco-palms guarding the azure sea.
- Chaweng Beach – Koh Samui’s largest and most popular beach is known for its blue waters and soft white sand, but popularity comes at a price, and Chaweng can get busy, particularly in the high season.
However, it has a great vibe, some wonderful accommodation ranging from bungalows on stilts to very up-market resorts with private beach access. It is still my favorite beach on Samui.
The huge length of the beach means that, like many beaches in Thailand and the neighboring countries, Chaweng does get plastic and other floating garbage drifting in on the tides. Still, the resorts make a strong effort to remove it from in front of their properties, and it’s under control for the most part.
- Taling Ngam Beach is located in the quieter southwest corner of Koh Samui, is still very wild, and thus ideal for those who have tourist-phobia. No crowds on this beach and only basic accommodation make it a hermit’s dream. The beach is a little stony with darker-than-usual sand, and shops are a tuk-tuk ride away, so it’s not for everyone, but seclusion is there in spades.
- Bang Po Beach – Four kilometers in length, this is one of Koh Samui’s larger beaches, nestling in between the sea and thick jungle, making the white sand and blue water simply idyllic. Located on the northwest coast, it is away from the main areas, and if you’re looking for a quieter destination with great local food, this could be it.
The warm, calm waters of the beach make it ideal for swimming and kayaking, and you have the option of having a wonderful massage as you look over the blue waters to Koh Pha Ngan.
Koh Phangan (or Koh Pha Ngan)
Koh Pha Ngan is well known as the party capital of the island world, but apart from the Full Moon parties and one or two others that occur monthly, the island is rather quiet, as if it is exhausted after all of the reveling. For the most part, accommodation is not flashy, food is well priced, and the beaches are clean and calm.
Getting to the beaches is a little more difficult than on Samui, as there are more gravel/dirt roads, but those that are out-of-the-way are more than worth the effort and are possibly the best on the island. Rent a scooter for 200THB per day, and you can access most places, but where you can’t ride, there’s a boat taxi to assist you.
What Are the Best Beaches on Koh Pha Ngan?
- Haad Seekantang aka Leela Beach – Peaceful, tranquil, and calming, this white sandy beach is on the southern point of Pha Ngan, very close to the party beach of Haad Rin. Temperate waters, sans waves of any kind, Leela is bordered on both sides by beautiful stone boulders and a short, sharp cliff to the rear.
The landscape is a photographer’s dream, with immaculate colors and light, and you will snap shots here that your grandchildren will drool over, far in the future. Like many beaches on the island, you have to enter the beach through one of the resorts that run down onto the sand. As there is no real public entrance, the access system certainly gives Leela Beach a secluded feel.
Well-known for some great swings from the tall coco-palms, Leela also has an innovative walkway that allows you to walk out quite a way past the gently lapping wavelets. Perfect for a photographic fulcrum, you are guaranteed some wonderful shots, incorporating some of the clearest water in Thailand.
The waters are quite shallow, necessitating a lengthy stroll out from the beach to reach deeper water when you tire of paddling. At dusk, great food and a gorgeous sunset share the stage with a superb view of Koh Samui, making the moment as close to perfect as most of us will ever know.
- Haad Rin Beach‘s clock is always on Party Time! Chilled during the day, the beach comes alive after dark with lively fire shows outside the beachfront bars. Far and away the busiest beach on the island, the transient population can increase by 15-20 000 people during Full Moon.
Strangely, Haad Rin is not seedy or tired-looking by day, and is one of the nicest looking beaches on the island (probably why it was chosen for the parties in the first place) and is divided into:
- Haad Rin Nok is the sunrise Beach and is the most popular and lively party beach on which the Full Moon Party is held monthly. The beach also faces east, thus experiencing the illusion of the moon rising from out of the sea.
- Haad Rin Nai is a much quieter (sunset) beach.
Night in Haad Rin can get a little hectic, as one might imagine, but many families with small children also frequent the beaches, though unless you are a party animal, you might want to stay away at full moon.
- Haad Khuat, aka Bottle Beach, is located at the Northern-most point of the island is possibly the most inaccessible beach most of us will ever visit. If you’re an island-lover, this will mean no more than a challenge for you, and the reward is incredible.
There are several ways to get to Bottle Beach, but the easiest is by water taxi from Chaloklum’s Malibu Beach, which costs around 150 THB per person in each direction. Intrepid travelers are slowly making their way to Haad Khuat now, and for a good reason:
Its wide, golden sands and azure waters, bordered by hills and hundreds of coco palms, make it possibly the finest beach in Thailand. Still fairly quiet, despite the intrepid types, the beach is an oasis of peace and calm, and the isolation borders on blissful abandon.
- Malibu Beach at the northern tip of the island is nestled in the magnificent Chaloklum Bay and offers pristine white sand and blue, warm waters. Coco palm trees lining the coastline provide ample shade in front of several pop-up cafes available for meals. Accessed via a village with cafes and food stalls scattered around the bay, Chaloklum (or Malibu) Beach is a paradise.
A fairly narrow beach, Malibu has boulders holding the tide back from a coco-palm-lined road and is extremely picturesque.
- Haad Yao – Well known for wonderful sunsets, Haad Yao is also a fine snorkeling and diving spot with a cozy, warm, and laid-back feeling. Also known as Long Beach due to its shoreline of one kilometer in length, Yao provides a feeling of infinite space and has ample opportunities for sports, sunbathing, and long beach walks.
Located on the west side of Pha Ngan, about 15 kilometers from Thong Sala Pier, Yao is wonderfully scenic, with a secluded bay and a coral reef supporting a myriad of aquatic life forms.
- Haad Salad Beach – is a stunning coastal strip of pure white sand, clear blue waters, and a coral reef running 150 meters just offshore. Another beautiful and secluded beach, the beach swings and atmosphere make this another haven of sanity in a crazy, post C-19 world.
Spend time in the ubiquitous hammocks or lounge the day away in one of the resorts’ pools before dining on fresh fish and Thai vegetables under the stars at one of the excellent restaurants.
- Haad Mae Haad beach is huge and has many massage booths and resorts through which you can access the beach, and despite its popularity, its large size allows a sense of spaciousness and privacy.
Located at the northwest point of Pha Ngan, Mae Haad does not have the nicest beach-sand imaginable, but the beach’s main attraction is its proximity to the small, offshore island of Koh Ma.
Koh Ma is just a short walk away at low tide, and this is a wonderfully exciting adventure for anyone with kids. Stroll across the exposed sandbar and snorkel the island, or climb the verdant peak for stunning views of Pha Ngan. Small coves with crabs and other interesting marine life will keep the family busy for hours, but don’t forget the tide…
- Thong Nai Pan’s two beaches are located northeast of Koh Phangan and are reached either by boat or by songthaew (pick-up truck), which regularly runs from Thong Sala Pier.
Thong Nai Pan splits into two equally idyllic beaches, Thong Nai Pan Noi and Thong Nai Pan Yai. They’re separated by a rocky coastal headland surrounded by steep forested cliffs and lush foliage, contrasting with the beaches’ white sand, deep blue ocean, and swaying palm trees.
The water is wonderfully clear, with large rock formations and hidden waterfalls waiting to be found. Thong Nai Pan Yai is longer and wider than its sister beach, with water that is quite deep and offers good swimming and free-diving opportunities.
Thong Nai Pan Noi has a more bohemian atmosphere, with tightly packed shops and restaurants giving the place a 70’s vibe. Perfect. The pace is slow throughout, and peace and harmony are the order of the day, along with a side of fine dining.
