Lamai · Beaches
Silver Beach
Thong Takian / Crystal Bay
A small 250-metre cove of very white sand between granite boulders, between Chaweng and Lamai. Some of the clearest water on the island and the best shore snorkeling together with Coral Cove. Calm and sheltered; small and can feel busy at midday.
- Free
- Lamai
- about 2 hours
Insider tips
- A ~250 m granite-framed cove (also called Crystal Bay) between Chaweng Noi and Lamai; arrive before mid-morning as space is limited, and bring snorkel gear for the rocks at both ends.
The story
Silver Beach is a small, sheltered cove on the east coast between Chaweng and Lamai. Three names are used for the same 250-metre beach: Thong Takian (the Thai name), Silver Beach (common on travel sites) and Crystal Bay (used by the two small resorts on the sand). The sand is very fine and white, the cove is framed by jungle-covered granite boulders at both ends, and the water is unusually clear and calm because the rocks block the swell.
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Swimming is easy in the sandy middle; the rocky ends offer good snorkeling straight from the shore - swim out 2-3 metres along the boulder line and you can see parrotfish, damselfish, butterflyfish, wrasse and sometimes small moray eels, in water 1-4 metres deep. No boat is needed. The beach is free to enter (a lane leads down from the ring road between Chaweng and Lamai, with a small parking area near the entrance).
Because the cove is tiny and now well known, it can feel crowded between about 10:00 and 15:00, and there is little dry sand at high tide; come early morning or late afternoon for the quiet experience. Best conditions are roughly December to April; visibility for snorkeling is reported best from about March to September. Water shoes are recommended - the rocks are sharp and sea urchins live around them.
Good to know
- Open 24 hours
- Free
- about 2 hours
- Early morning (before 10:00) or after 15:00; best sea conditions December-April
- Fully weather dependent
- Family friendly: Yes
- Good for couples: Yes
- Good for groups: Yes
- Scooter access: Yes
Live view
Crystal Bay Yacht Club - beach cam
Crystal Bay Beach Resort - beach cam
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 · 8 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 8 other references and local research.
