Your essential guide to Koh Samui's beaches

With plentiful resorts, boutiques, restaurants, bars, and nightclubs, Chaweng Beach is Koh Samui's most popular beach.  The southern and middle stretches of the five-kilometer beach have the deepest waters, best for swimming and water sports; however, in a more child-friendly setting, the northern portion is fairly shallow with an offshore reef.

Lamai Beach is calm and relatively shallow, except for the water sport-focused central portion with sufficient depth.  It is not as congested as Chaweng but a great deal of dining and shopping options lie just off the sand, which can bring in quite a bit of crowds.

Bophut is within a close proximity to the airport; a beach decorated with shops and restaurants, this area has kept its unspoiled charm, all the while offering a high caliber of shopping, dining and entertainment.  Much of this is attested to the area formerly acting as the main French outpost.

Maenam still possesses a great deal of the island's backpacker charm - quaint, natural and discreet.  Whilst sitting on the sand, a beach-goer has an excellent view of Koh Phangon, the home of the ever infamous Full Moon Party.

Choengmon Beach has mystical secluded bays, quiet back roads and breaking surf on huge granite rocks.  Home to many upmarket resorts, Chongmoen is an exclusive area in the north of Samui.

Taling Ngam is as far remote as you can get on the island.  The serene atmosphere and crisp white sand is undeniably breathtaking, as this beach is one of the few unspoiled and untouched beaches on Koh Samui.  This beach is ideal for an extremely relaxing day in the sun.

Lipa Noi is a flawless beach, void of rocks and coral.  The drive to Lipa Noi is one of serenity, as the tropical feel comes alive with the coconut plantations on either side of the road.  This beach provides one of the island's best sunsets.

Hua Thanon/ Bang Kao offers the island one last chunk of beach that appears to have been unaffected by tourism, despite the beach's resorts.  The Muslim village offers an organic beach experience.

Big Buddha is a quiet and peaceful stretch of sand.  Its location allows for easy access to Chaweng and Fisherman's Village in Bophut, making this the ideal stop for a visitor seeking tranquility with the option of amusement.

Source: Samui Lifestyle Magazine

Most visitors to Koh Samui happily discover the island's beaches, shopping centers, eateries and main attractions. However there is a lot more to Koh Samui once you get off the beaten track. As well as the main ring around the island, there is also a network of small roads, sometimes concreted sometimes not that snake around the beaches and pristine interior rain forests.

A great way of discovering hidden Koh Samui and its shady paths is by mountain bike. The beauty of cycling is that it is an activity that can be as challenging or as relaxing as you choose to make it and with the right guide it is a partime that will take you to some of the most intersting corners of the island.

Whether you choose to go fast and furious or gentle and ralaxing there is no doubt that any phusical activity will leave you feeling fit and invigorated.

By bike you can also reach some of Koh Samui's most remote and virtually untouched beaches, the one that most visitors and residents do not find. With the maps on Koh Samui being notoriously inadequate, finding a good guide is your only hope of discovering these little gems.

If you would like more information on cycling on Koh Samui, please visit www.rainbowsamui.com

Source:   Samui Express

In light of its spectacular Thailand Gulf with its clear water and coral reefs, rich animal and plant life, top-notch resorts and intense party scene, Samui has set itself apart as one of Thailand's most popular resort destinations. There is plenty to do in the towns as wkk as it and about on the water, underwater and in the forest. The monthly Full Moon party that take place on the neighbouring island are an absolute requirement for all fullthrottle parties. All of this together makes fir a first-class holiday in one of Thailand's most coveted locations.

KOH PHANGAN

The home to the notorious Full Moon Party is just fifteen kilometers from Koh Samui. Ferries depart three times a day from major landmark, Big Buddha, directly to koh Phangan; departures to Thong Sala, the main ferry port of Koh Phangan, are available in Nathon and Mae Nam. Roughly 20,000 to 30,000 visitors swarm the island once a month for the infamous Haad Rin Full Moon party featuring fire skipping ropes and cocktails in buckets that lasts until the sunrise. For those unable to make it for the full moon, there is a Half moon party twice a month, Black moon, Jungle Parties and the Shiva Moon Party. A side from the party entertainment, Koh Phangan has become a major backpacker destintion for a reason. In addition to spectacular waterfalls, "Ngan" is the southern dialect word for sand bar, and off the shores of the island are a great deal and excellent for ocean lounging.

KOH TAO

An important breeding ground for Hawksbill turtles and green turtles, Koh Tao is most popular for its excellent diving conditions, as there are minimal currents. Koh Samui businesses, such as Lompraya High Speed Catamaran and Seatran, offers day trips and diving charters twice a day. Among a plethora of small fish, dives will include many sights of turtles, stingrays, barracudas, reef sharks, and the occasional whale shark. For the beachcomber, ferries can provide escort to Sairee Beach on the west coast of Koh Tao-a 1.7 kilometer stretch of white sandy beach, and Chalok Baan Khao, the ideal beach for visitors seeking a tranquil and isolated space to enjoy the sun and crystal clear water.

ANGTHONG MARINE PARK

This location is most notable for it being the basis of 1996 Alex Garland novel, "The Beach" Caves with intriguing rock formations, hidden lagoons and stark white sand beaches draw in visitors seeking serenity and organic beauty. Snorkeling is an excellent activity to engage in, as the shallow coral gardens enable a sightseeing tour unlike any other. A major draw of angthong Marine Park is Ko Mae Ko, an emerald seawater lake in the middle of the island, encircled on all sides by limestine cliffs. A relatively grueling climb of approximately forty minutes over the limestone to reach the lake is a worthy task visitor should come preapared for.


                                                                                                                        Credit to Life Style Samui Magazine