Koh Samui FAQ: Beaches

What is the best beach in Koh Samui?

It depends what you want. Chaweng (about 7 km) is the longest beach with the most reliable swimming and the most services. Lamai is the scenic second choice. Choeng Mon is a small sheltered bay with calm shallow water near the airport. Maenam offers quiet golden sand and low prices. Lipa Noi has shallow, calm, coral-free water on the sunset side. Silver Beach is a small cove with some of the clearest water. All beaches are public by law, so you can walk and swim anywhere.

Are Koh Samui beaches free and public?

Yes. By Thai law all beaches and the sea are public. Anyone may walk and swim on any beach, including in front of hotels and resorts. Hotels may control their own land behind the sand, but they cannot legally close the sand or the water. Some small coves are hard to reach because the only land path crosses hotel land; access by boat is always possible. There are no entrance fees for any beach on Koh Samui.

Are there jellyfish in Koh Samui?

Box jellyfish occur in the Gulf of Thailand around Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao. Stings are rare but can be life-threatening; most reports are from July to October. If stung, pour vinegar on the sting for at least 30 seconds and call the ambulance hotline 1669. Some beaches have vinegar stations. Wearing a rash guard or water shoes reduces risk, and many beaches put up warning signs when jellyfish are seen.

What do the red flags on Koh Samui beaches mean?

A red flag means do not swim. Dangerous rip currents can occur on the east coast (Chaweng, Lamai), worst during the northeast monsoon roughly November to January when onshore wind and waves are strongest. If a current pulls you out to sea, do not fight it - swim parallel to the beach until you are out of the current, then swim back. Choose west-coast beaches like Lipa Noi during rough monsoon periods; they stay calmer then.

Can I snorkel from the beach in Koh Samui?

Yes, with your own mask and snorkel it is free. Coral Cove (between Chaweng and Lamai) has the clearest water on the island and the best free shore snorkeling. Silver Beach is another good rocky-edged cove. Koh Samui's fringing reefs are modest compared with Koh Tao, so for serious snorkeling or diving take a day trip to Koh Tao or Koh Nang Yuan, or a boat tour in Ang Thong Marine Park. Best underwater visibility is roughly January to June.

Why does the sea sometimes 'disappear' at Koh Samui beaches?

It is the tides. The Gulf of Thailand often has only one tide cycle per day, and around May to September the sea level is seasonally lower (about 20-30 cm). On flat beaches on the north and west coasts the water can then become very shallow or retreat far out at low tide - good for paddling, not for swimming. November to February the beaches hold the most water. Check tide times if swimming matters to you.