Beaches in Koh Samet

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North for convenience, south for space

Koh Samet is the closest good beach to Bangkok, about four hours door to door, which is why it fills at weekends. The north-east beaches are busy; the south is nearly empty.

Here is the list of 8 Beaches in Koh Samet

1. Ao Wai Beach

Ao Wai Beach is a white sand seashore with crystal clear water located to the south of Koh. It doesn't have much tumult, so it allows for a more peaceful experience of the Thai seaside. Samed Villa Resort serves some of the best food, with excellent bed and breakfast options, which is at a walking distance from the beach. Another one is Koh Wai beach resort, which is an average place to stay.

2. Ao Phrao Beach

Ao Phrao Beach is one of the most isolated beaches which is located to the Northern side of Koh Samet. It has a relatively more extended seashore and offers more resorts than Ao Wai. Buzz is a small restaurant that is famous for soft shell crabs and salads. Korkut Ao Phrao Beach Resort, The Sunshine Resort, Lima Coco Resort and Le Vimarn Cottages are good places to spend the night.

3. Ao Wong Duean Beach

Ao Wong Duean Beach is a fairly busier beach than others and offers a broader range of restaurants. You'll also find small sellers of fruits, drinks and snacks. The la luna Cafe n Bar and Baywatch shacks are famous for cocktails, mojitos and seafood. You'll find many ferries by the shore. This is the best beach to do water sports like snorkelling etc. The Samed Cabana Resort is the best hotel at this beach.

4. Ao Cho Beach

Ao Cho is a beautiful beach that is shaped like a crescent. It's the ideal place for a relaxing sunbathe and swim due to its low calm tides all year round. The freedom bar here is really cosy and chill as it makes the best cocktails here and allows you to play your own music. The Lung Wung Bar makes lip-smacking seafood and offers comfortable beach beds with umbrellas.

5. Ao Nuan Beach

Ao Nuan is a rocky beach with pretty strong waves but is again quiet and tranquil. The Noina's Mystic Mountain Resort and Bungalow serves excellent seafood and have comfy treehouse rooms for the night. The seaside is covered with immense greenery and nature. Due to its low level of activity and quietness, you might feel lonely here, but if that's something that doesn't bother you, then this is a good stop for a while.

6. Ao Tubtim Beach

Tubitim stretches to about a shoreline of just 200 metres but is more popular than other beaches in Koh Samet, and its speciality is that it offers cheap bungalows and hotels. This beach for some unknown reason attracts many gay couples and has been informally titled as 'the gay beach'. It is rocky and has sliver-ish sand on its shore. You wouldn't find any speedboats or jetskis here.

7. Ao Noi Na Beach

Ao Noi Na Beach beach is on the northern tip of the island. This too is a serene and calm beach. If you're looking for some nightlife or shopping hubs, then head to Sai Keaw beach instead. You can enjoy the white sandy shore, collect seashells, read a book and order some mocktails from Mooban Talay Resort. You'll experience many new species of underwater creatures and coral reefs by snorkelling here.

8. Sai Kaew Beach, Koh-samet

Also known as Haad Sai Kaew, Sai Kaew Beach is located towards northern Phuket Island. It is one of the very developed beaches and hence subject to mass tourism. One will find umpteen restaurants along with with a lively nightlife scene, loud music, and a good crowd as well.

Samet is the standard Bangkok weekend escape. Day trips from Bangkok covers the alternatives inland, and beaches in Thailand the coast as a whole.

This post was published by Joysurjya Hagjer

Top Hotels In Koh Samet

FAQs on Beaches in Koh Samet

Which beach should I choose on Koh Samet?

Sai Kaew for facilities and the widest sand, Ao Phai and Ao Tub Tim for a quieter version of the same, and Ao Wai or Ao Kiu in the south if you want almost nobody around.

How do I get to Koh Samet from Bangkok?

Bus or minivan to Ban Phe, about three hours, then a ferry or speedboat taking thirty to forty minutes. Total journey is around four hours, which makes it the closest proper island to the capital.

Is there a national park fee?

Yes. Koh Samet is inside Khao Laem Ya National Park and there is an entry fee collected on arrival, charged at a higher rate for foreign visitors. Keep the ticket.

When is it busiest?

Weekends and Thai public holidays, when Bangkok arrives en masse and room rates jump. Midweek the island is markedly quieter, and the southern beaches stay calm even at weekends.

Is Koh Samet good year-round?

It is drier than the Andaman coast in the mid-year monsoon, which is part of the appeal, but it still gets rain from May to October. The clearest water is roughly November to April.