Koh Samui is the second largest island in the Kingdom of Thailand, and its dimensions are 20 by 16 kilometers. For comparison, this is slightly more than the city of Tver. Those who have spent more than one month on Koh Samui do not need to use the card, but for beginners it can be very useful, especially when preparing for a trip. I also have similar cards for Phuket.
I personally like Google Maps, which I consider to be one of the best online maps for Thailand: there are photos of places, almost all streets and paths are present, there is a map search and navigation. In addition to them, it is also convenient to use paper maps on site or their scans on a computer. They give a clear idea of what areas and beaches on the island are and where they are located. And you can also immediately estimate where the attractions are located. Yes, the detail of such maps sometimes leaves much to be desired, but every time I take them on the spot, put them in the glove compartment of a bike or a car, and the first days with them are very, very convenient.
These cards are available at the airport, shops, hotel counters or car rental offices. If you are flying directly to Koh Samui, then do not rush to buy a card in a shop at Suvarnapumi Airport. Excellent free maps of several types, on good paper, are located in the lounge area of Bangkok Airways, the only carrier from Suvarnapumi to Koh Samui.
The content of the article
- one About the beaches of Koh Samui in general
- 2 Samui beaches on the map
- 3 Individual beach maps
- 4 Nathon Map
About the beaches of Koh Samui in general
If we look at the island globally, then the most lively and interesting for swimming are the northern, northeastern and eastern coasts. The south of the island has an extremely shallow and rocky bottom. It is not safe to swim here in some places, but the landscapes and the color of the sea leave the impression of a bounty fairy tale. The western part of the island is not popular with mass tourists, but it is distinguished by beautiful sunsets and sections of the coast, on which there are completely wild beaches isolated from people. In the west, there are two main piers of Koh Samui, which does not add to the purity of the local ecology..
The most popular beaches of Koh Samui are: Chaweng, Lamai and Maenam. Chaweng Beach is considered the island's unofficial entertainment capital. Lamai Beach is a light version of Chaweng, although both beaches are almost the same length. Mae Nam Beach has long established a reputation for being a relaxed and family-friendly place with life that falls asleep after sunset. «in the area».
Maenam became my favorite beach on Koh Samui. Lots of shade, deep sea, no noisy parties and entertainment venues, a decent selection of cafes and two whole markets. As well as a convenient geographical location between the airport and the piers. There is an excellent combination of tranquility and infrastructure, and there are not many people on the beach due to the small number of hotels, mainly those who come for a long time live here..
The second beach, where we rented the first house, was no less attractive for us - Bang Po. Being «through the wall» from Maenam, this beach is deserted and quiet. Bang Po is an even more secluded version of Maenam. The sea is not for everyone there (children feel good, adults are not very good), but I personally am ready to forgive him for the almost complete absence of people on the shore. True, after a month, more services are needed within walking distance, and I want to go to a more civilized place..
If you come to Koh Samui and are looking for accommodation, you can see our personally compiled directory of houses on Koh Samui, where more than 80 houses with a map and a photo. Housing for a short period, while you are looking for a house, you can buy it through RoomGuru, this is just a mega-service, you can immediately see in which booking system (Booking, Agoda, Hotels, etc.) the hotel you need is cheaper. We also have our own detailed review. best hotels in Koh Samui.
Supermarkets (Big C, Tesco, Macro) and the Central Festival shopping center are located between Bo Phutom and Chaweng, as well as medium-sized Tesco, are located right on Lamai, which makes Lamai a rather attractive beach for many. Actually, if I were to choose where to live with the child, I would choose between Maenam and Lamai.
Samui beaches on the map
First of all, take a note of the Google map, where I have marked all the beaches on Koh Samui. Private beaches, private beaches, secret beaches, public beaches on Koh Samui - I had to work hard to visit all of them. But now I have something to share with you. By clicking on the icon with the name, you will open a short summary with a link to the full description of the beach. I described the characteristics in great detail, accompanying the article with photographs and coordinates of landmarks.
Koh Samui beaches
Koh Samui beaches:
Below are 2 different paper maps of Koh Samui, which I used while on Saumi and photographed for you. Only the most famous beaches are marked on them. Almost all pictures are clickable and by clicking on the map you can download to your computer in good resolution (files 2-4 mb).
Location of Koh Samui, Phangan and Tao in the Gulf of Thailand
Koh Samui map in full
North Koh Samui Map
South Koh Samui Map
North Koh Samui Map
South Koh Samui Map
Another map of Koh Samui with hotels and attractions
You can clearly see how the ring road passes on Koh Samui
Individual beach maps
Now zoomed sections of the most popular beaches are also clickable and can be downloaded.
Bo Phut and Maenam Beach Map
Chong Mon and Thong Son beach map
Chaweng and Chaweng Noi beach map
Sketchy map of Chaweng
Lamai Beach Map
Nathon Map
The official administrative center of Koh Samui, from which your acquaintance with the island begins, if you arrive on the SeaTran Ferry from Surat Thani. And from here from Nathon you can sail to the islands of Phangan and Tao.
There are government offices in Nathon (in particular, Immigration, where visa can be extended), several hotels, a fairly large number of rental housing and a bunch of shops, with lower prices than elsewhere on the island.
Map of Nathon on Koh Samui
Map of Nathon Town on Koh Samui
P.S. But that's not all, here on the blog we have made a detailed description of all the beaches on Koh Samui, with photos, valuable info and reviews..
