Mae Nam · Beaches
Maenam Beach
About 4-4.5 km of golden sand and leaning coconut palms on the north coast, facing Koh Phangan. Calm, quiet and family-friendly with natural palm shade; shallow at low tide. Weekly Thursday walking street in the village. Free access lanes from the ring road; about 20-25 minutes from the airport.
- Free
- Mae Nam
- about 3 hours
Insider tips
- One of the island's quieter north-coast beaches with coarse golden sand and deep swimming water; Mae Nam village holds a Thursday evening walking-street market.
The story
5 kilometres of golden sand backed by tall, curving coconut palms that give natural shade most of the day, with a postcard view of Koh Phangan across the strait. The atmosphere is noticeably calmer and more local than Chaweng or Lamai - low-key resorts, small local restaurants and long stretches of empty sand even in high season. Swimming: the north coast is sheltered by Koh Phangan, so the water is usually calm, and one local guide describes Maenam's water as deep enough for year-round swimming; however, another detailed source notes the beach shelves very gradually, making low tide a long walk out - so mid to high tide is the reliable time for a proper swim, and low tide is paddling.
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Sources disagree slightly, so check the tide. The village behind has a morning market and a weekly Thursday walking street (evening, at the main road by the Chinese temple Wat Na Phra Lan). The Lomprayah pier at the west end has ferries to Koh Phangan and Koh Tao.
Reach Maenam by songthaew on the ring road, taxi or scooter; about 20-25 minutes from the airport.
Good to know
- Open 24 hours
- Free
- about 3 hours
- Mid to high tide for swimming; December-April for clearest water; Thursday evening for the walking street
- Fully weather dependent
- Family friendly: Yes
- Good for couples: Yes
- Good for groups: Yes
- Scooter access: Yes
- Car access: Yes
Plan a visit
Free route: you go by your own scooter, car or on foot and we work out the order. Private tour: a local driver picks you up and takes you.
Researched, not yet checked on site · 9 sources
Sources and last check
- Last checked
- Not yet checked by our team — researched from published sources
Official sources
No official source published yet for this page.
Plus 9 other references and local research.
