Best Beaches in Koh Samui

The southwest coast is the Samui most visitors never see, and this is its flagship beach: a long, quiet stretch of village shoreline with shallow water, fishing boats, and sunset views out to the Five Islands that end the day better than anywhere on the east coast.

Small, boulder-framed and almost absurdly photogenic, this is the cove everyone means when they talk about Samui's prettiest quick swim.

A calm stretch of sand for people who want to swim, eat and do very little else.

Quiet north-coast sand where the sea stays calm and a lunch order gets you a beach chair.

Water so flat it looks like a lake, and a sandbar where waves from both sides collide.

A small rocky cove with proper snorkeling, best before the 10am crowd rolls in.

Samui's quiet north coast, calm water and palms, though the sand quality shifts as you walk it.

Chaweng's calmer sibling: long, clean sand, easy swimming, and coconut shacks instead of five-star polish.

A tranquil palm-fringed beach on Koh Samui split between a private hotel section and a public stretch with water sports.

Quieter than its big neighbor, with clear water and rock formations, but sea lice can spoil a few days.

Come for sunset drinks and seafood with a view, not for a swim, and you'll get the best of it.

Come for the sunset, bring your own snacks, and don't expect much in the way of beach bars.

The island's longest, loudest stretch of sand, and it makes no apology for it.

A sheltered, quiet beach on Koh Samui with calm waters, palm shade, and a noticeably relaxed atmosphere.

A fine place to walk and eat by the water, but I wouldn't plan on swimming here.

Clear water, almost nobody about, and a shoreline of rocks and pebbles rather than sand.