Best Beaches in Koh Samui

The best beaches in Koh Samui — from Coral Cove to Maenam Beach — are the more secluded spots, away from the crowds.

With its surrounding crystal clear waters and powdery white-sand beaches,it is little surprise that Koh Samui is one of the top island destinations in Thailand, attractingtravellers from all around the world. For nature enthusiasts and wellnesstravellers who are looking for a quiet and relaxing vacation, however, KohSamui's most well-known and crowded beaches may not be their cup of tea. Luckily, there are many other secluded, pristine beaches on Koh Samui for youto enjoy a relaxing holiday. Here are some of them.

Some of the most gorgeous beaches are part of resorts, as is the case with Banyan Tree Samui’s private beach. Tucked away on Koh Samui's southeastern coast, an air of timelessness surrounds this secluded haven, with its lush coconut trees, pristine sand and shimmering waters. The scenic beach is lined by rocky boulders, and you can either settle in on one of the sunbeds and soak up some sun or relax under the shade of the trees. Adventurous souls will be pleased to know that they can also enjoy access to snorkelling, canoeing and sailing equipment here. As this is a private beach, you can be assured that there will be minimal disturbance because you are only sharing this with other hotel guests — no vendors hawking their wares here!

In between Koh Samui's two most popular beaches, Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach, lies a 200-metre-long secluded beach called Coral Cove. Located on the east coast of Koh Samui, the shoreline of Coral Cove is dotted with gigantic rock formations that form a stunning backdrop to any sunbathing session (or Instagram post)! Don’t be put off by its relatively small size; you may be surprised to find that you have more space to yourself here than any other beaches nearby due to the lack of tourists around. The clear and deep waters make it ideal for swimming and snorkelling, but do be careful as there are large boulders underwater as well. Get close to the action by staying in one of the many cottages and holiday resorts situated close by — if you want to enjoy unspoilt beaches at your doorstep, this might be the perfect destination.

Near Coral Cove is another tiny, unspoilt beach promising postcard-worthy views and minimal crowd: Thong Takhian beach, also known as Silver Beach. Tucked between the lively Chaweng Beach and Lamai Beach, it may be easy to miss this hidden gem, so keep your eyes peeled when you are driving on the main road for a sign that tells you to turn to head into the beach! If you manage to stumble upon it, you’ll be rewarded by white sand, clean shores and relative privacy. Similar to Coral Cove, rock formations decorate the shoreline here at Silver Beach. If you are adventurous enough, climb up onto one for a great photo opportunity — but remember to be careful, please! Hurry up and enjoy Silver Beach while you can, as more and more tourists are discovering it each year.

Situated on the northern coast of the island, the serene Maenam Beach retains the charm of an area forgotten by time. Large resorts (and huge crowd of guests) are not a common sight here, making it easy for you to find a private spot to spread out and relax. No wonder then that Maenam Beach remains a firm favourite with backpackers, offering the hard-to-beat combination of affordable accommodation and scenic views.The seven-kilometre stretch of sand, which ranges from fairly coarse to soft, makes for a romantic walk along the shoreline as the sun goes down. Once you have worked up an appetite, head over to Thai restaurant Café Talay, located on Maenam Beach itself, where you can enjoy an affordable and delicious meal — served with spectacular views of the sea. As night falls, you can continue to explore the long stretch of sandy beachfront to discover an eclectic mix of restaurants, bars and backpacking travellers. The shops and bars here tend to close at around 10pm, so if you are expecting to party the night away you may want to head over to other beaches instead.