My favorite beaches in Koh Samui are far away from the chaos of tourist crowds.
This gorgeous island in the Gulf of Thailand is perfect blend of jungle-covered mountains and dreamy beaches that just steals your heart.
I need to warn you though – since White Lotus filmed their newest season here, the island has gotten much more popular.
All those Instagram fans are swarming the main spots trying to recreate scenes from the show.
And honestly? They’re mostly hitting up Chaweng Beach, which was already packed with Australian tourists and is been my least favorite spot.
When I arrived in town I stayed at COSI Koh Samui and LOVED the hotel. Unfortunately it was the only thing I loved about Chaweng.
Chaweng beach is beautiful but there are so many people there. And because it appears that every 3rd store in Chaweng is a weed shop it’s tough to find a place to sit at times even though you are legally not allowed to smoke on the beach.
After a week I moved to Bangrak, which felt less like Spring Break. It was close enough to Chaweng if I needed to go in (I didn’t) but even better for exploring the island.
I stayed at this Bangrak hotel for a month and it made a huge difference.
This is when I discovered all the great beaches in Koh Samui.
The beaches where you can actually hear the waves instead of beach club music.
Where you can get a $2 fresh coconut instead of a $15 cocktail.
When you can be the only person on the beach.
And I’m going to tell you exactly where to go.
Best Beaches in Koh Samui
Silver Beach: My Chill-but-not-too-Remote Favorite
The first time I found Silver Beach, I literally gasped. I was tired of the Chaweng madness and took a drive south, and suddenly there it was – this perfect little bay tucked between two rocky headlands.
To be fair, this small beach is still full of tourists. But instead of beach clubs, smoking and loud music you find the old school beach experience.
Just towels and the sound of waves.
What I love about this beach is how the sand actually sparkles in the sunlight – it’s got this silvery quality that’s so pretty.
The water here is crystal clear and usually super calm, perfect for floating around without waves crashing on you.
There are these huge granite boulders at each end that create the most incredible swimming spots.
There are no beach chairs here, everyone lays their towels out. And there are enough palm trees that you can find shade, which is necessary in this intense sun.
The crowd here is more laid-back travelers rather than party people.
There are a couple of small restaurants with very reasonable prices. You can find both Western and Thai food here. Crystal Bay Restaurant is the priciest but still far less than what you’d pay in Chaweng.
Next door there are less formal spots that also have great food.
Note this beach has several names: Silver Beach, Crystal Bay, Thongtakian Bay or Haad Thong Ta-khian. Use Google Maps and search for Silver Beach Resort. There’s no charge for parking a motorbike.
Bang Po Beach: Where I Go to Escape Everything
On the northern coast, this is where locals actually go on their days off, which is always a good sign.
I love this beach so much I think it would be great to stay in this area. It’s mostly local and foreigners with long term rentals.
The beach runs alongside the road for what feels like forever, and you can just pull over wherever looks good to you.
I love how different the sand is here – more golden than white, and a bit more textured under your feet. The water stays shallow for ages, which means it gets gorgeously warm in the afternoon.
During low tide, you can walk out forever, and there are little tide pools filled with tiny crabs and shells. My inner child goes crazy for this as it reminds me of the Bay of Fundy in Nova Scotia.
The best part? The trees. They grow right up to the water’s edge, creating these perfect natural shade spots.
No need to rent an umbrella – just throw your towel down under a tree and you’re set for the day.
Bang Po is food heaven. So many tiny family-run seafood places line the beach road. There are so many options for fantastic seafood at great prices.
We stopped into HUG Samui a few times, it’s not a budget spot but does have great local food, just a warning that it can be very spicy.
Lipa Noi: My Secret Sunset Spot
If you only take one piece of advice from me, make it this: spend at least one sunset at Lipa Noi. This west-facing beach on the quiet side of the island has ruined me for sunsets anywhere else.
All over Koh Samui you’ll see billboards advertising Nikki Beach Club, proclaiming it had the best sunset on the island.
If you’re feeling fancy, Nikki Beach Club has a popular Sunday brunch with foreigners, though it’s the one spot on this beach that draws a crowd.
We wanted something less crowded so we set Google Maps to Nikki Beach Club and then looked for a shaded spot.
As always I am so nosey and saw locals down a road with lots of trees. Turns it it’s where they all go because it’s covered.
I knew immediately it was my kind of place.
The moment your feet hit the sand at Lipa Noi, you’ll notice how incredibly soft it is – like walking on powder.
The beach slopes so gently into the water that you can wade out for ages, with no surprise drop-offs. I’ve spent entire afternoons just floating here, watching clouds drift by.
What I really love about Lipa Noi is the emptiness.
On weekdays, I’ve had entire stretches of beach completely to myself, with just the occasional local dog walker passing by and kayaker in the calm water.
On weekends, Thai families come for picnics, which adds this lovely local vibe.
Food options are more limited here, but that’s part of the charm.
Sometimes in the late afternoon, local vendors set up in the locals spot selling drinks skewers and fruit. But if you want to stay a while best to bring your own because the vendors aren’t always there.
In my video I share the road you need to go down because it’s not marked.
Essential Koh Samui Beaches Tips
- Check tide times. This changed my beach experience completely. Low tide at Bang Po means basically no swimming, but amazing shell hunting.
- Rent a scooter if you’re an experienced driver and have an international drivers license designated for motorbikes. Koh Samui is one of the most dangerous places in the world to drive a motorbike because of reckless foreigners (no helmet, shirt or shoes kind of people) and inexperienced drivers. There are several accidents involving foreigners every day. Make sure you have good insurance that covers motorbike accidents.
- Bring cash. I learned this the hard way when I got stuck at a beach restaurant with no ATM in sight.
- Pack reef-safe sunscreen. The coral around Koh Samui is struggling with tourism impact, and this small choice makes a big difference.
- The golden hours are magical here. Visit beaches early morning (7-10 AM) or late afternoon (3-6 PM) for the best light, fewer people and cooler temperatures.
- Fresh coconuts are nature’s perfect beach drink. More hydrating than alcohol and they come in their own biodegradable container.
- Learn a few Thai phrases. I can’t tell you how many smiles (and secret local tips) I’ve gotten just by saying “hello” and “thank you” in Thai.
- Support the local food vendors instead of bringing packaged snacks from 7-Eleven. It creates less waste and the food is way better anyway.
I promise you, while the White Lotus fans crowd into Chaweng taking selfies, you’ll be living the real Koh Samui dream on these beaches.
I’m kind of jealous you get to discover them for the first time.