Chaweng Beach
หาดเฉวง
The longest and liveliest 7 km white-sand beach on Koh Samui, and the island's centre, with resorts, beach restaurants, a night market and a bar street all concentrated here.
Chaweng Beach lies on Koh Samui's east coast. About 7 km long, it is the island's longest and most famous beach, with fine white sand and a gently sloping, shallow sea. The northern and central sections are occupied by resorts, although the beach itself is open to the public. The southern section, Chaweng Noi, is a small bay separated by a headland and is quieter. Behind the beach, Chaweng Beach Road is the island's commercial hub, stretching for several kilometres with restaurants, bars, massage parlours, tattoo studios, convenience stores and the Central Samui shopping centre. At night, the area around Soi Green Mango and Ark Bar is the core of the island's nightlife, with beach parties and fire-dancing shows. Chaweng Night Market (also known as Laem Din Market) and the food stalls along the beach road offer cheap Thai snacks and grilled seafood. Beach chairs can be rented for about 100-200 baht (free at most resorts), and banana boats, jet skis and windsurfing boards are available. The small islands offshore to the north and the area around Chaweng Lake are quieter spots for a stroll. Visitor tips: most visitors stay here. Swim at the beach in the morning, stroll along the sand in the evening, then eat and browse the night market along Beach Road at night, and head to Ark Bar or Green Mango for fire shows. Big Buddha, Fisherman's Village and Lamai are all within 20-30 minutes' drive from here. Getting there: Chaweng is about 15 minutes from the airport (airport minibus 150 baht, taxi about 400-500 baht). Songthaew shared pickups run along the island's ring road past Chaweng Beach Road. Note: during the rainy season (especially October-December), waves are large and there are rip currents, so heed the red flag warnings. Vendors may approach you on the beach; politely decline. Watch your belongings and drinks in the nightlife areas. Motorbike traffic on Beach Road is heavy at night.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Samui Elephant Sanctuary
- Choeng Mon Beach
- Fisherman's Village Bophut
- Silver Beach (Crystal Bay)
- Big Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Yai)
- Wat Plai Laem
- Lamai Beach
- Hin Ta & Hin Yai (Grandfather and Grandmother Rocks)