Koh Samui beaches by scooter (2026)
Some beaches sit close to the 4169 ring road; others need a longer detour. This page groups beaches by area and by the approach, explains when each side works best, and shows which of my routes pass them.
Grey — every road I have ridden; colour — this route. Tap a pin for Google Maps navigation. GPX works in Maps.me, Organic Maps, OsmAnd, Garmin.
Places on the map
-
Photo: Dirk Enthoven, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachHin Ta Hin Yai (Grandfather & Grandmother Rocks)
Famous rock formations by Lamai beach
This is a short detour at the south end of Lamai and gets crowded with tour groups by midday, so come in the morning.
-
Photo: FullofTravel, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachSilver Beach (Crystal Bay)
Small cove between Chaweng and Lamai
South of Coral Cove, closer to Lamai; the approach includes very steep sections. There is parking nearby, and I prefer to go early.
-
Photo: Wikimedia Commons, Public domain, Wikimedia Commons BeachChaweng Beach
Longest, liveliest beach on east coast
-
Photo: Roma Neus, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachChaweng Noi Beach
Quieter cove just south of Chaweng
-
Photo: Christophe95, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachLamai Beach
Second-largest beach, southeast coast
-
Photo: Mark Stepanov, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachCoral Cove Beach
Tiny boulder-framed snorkeling cove
The cove is below the hilly stretch of the 4169 between Chaweng Noi and Lamai; pull fully off the lane to park, traffic on that bend does not slow down.
-
Photo: Dirk Enthoven, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachBophut Beach
North coast beach by Fisherman's Village
-
Photo: Roma Neus, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachBig Buddha Beach (Bangrak)
Beach below Big Buddha, near airport
-
Photo: Fabio Achilli from Milano, Italy, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachMaenam Beach
Long quiet north-coast beach, Phangan views
-
Beach
Ban Tai Beach
Calm undeveloped beach west of Maenam
-
Beach
Bang Por Beach
Secluded north-coast beach, local seafood
-
Photo: OwlofDoom, CC BY 1.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachChoeng Mon Beach
Calm crescent bay, northeast tip
-
Beach
Tongsai Bay Beach
Secluded resort bay, northeast coast
This is a resort bay, so check public access at the entrance before you park.
-
Beach
Samrong Bay Beach
Quiet bay at island's northern tip
-
Photo: Tsui, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons BeachLipa Noi Beach
Best sunset beach, west coast
Arrive about an hour before sunset to get a spot and ride back on the 4169 while there is still some light.
-
Beach
Taling Ngam Beach
Tranquil southwest beach, Five Islands sunsets
-
Beach
Thong Tanote Beach
Remote palm-fringed southwest corner
The pin is not verified yet, so confirm the last turn with a local before committing to a side road.
Beaches by coast and by the road down
This is how I sort the beaches when planning a ride: first the coast, then how easy the last few hundred metres are. The cards below have the exact pins.
| Area | Beaches | The road down |
|---|---|---|
| East, Chaweng to Lamai | Chaweng, Chaweng Noi, Silver Beach, Coral Cove, Lamai, Hin Ta Hin Yai | Chaweng has its own beach road, 4171. Silver Beach and Coral Cove lie between Chaweng Noi and Lamai, with steep sections on the approach, especially near Silver Beach. Both coves have nearby parking. |
| Northeast tip | Choeng Mon, Tongsai Bay, Samrong Bay | Smaller roads around the headland past the airport. The approaches to Choeng Mon and Tongsai have some slopes. Tongsai is a resort bay, so check public access on site. |
| North | Big Buddha (Bangrak), Bophut, Maenam, Ban Tai, Bang Por | Generally gentle approaches. Bang Por is close to the 4169; Bangrak is reached from the Bophut–Plai Laem road. This coast is a good choice for a first ride. |
| West and southwest | Lipa Noi, Taling Ngam, Thong Tanote | Side roads lead towards the sea. My coordinates for Thong Tanote are not verified yet. |
When to go
Morning is the best time for any beach. The roads are light, the sand is not yet hot and there are scooter spots left at the small coves. By early afternoon the sun is hard on the east coast and the lanes into Chaweng and Lamai fill up.
- Sunrise and morning: the east coast and the northeast tip.
- Midday: the north coast is another option; choose a beach where the water is calm that day.
- Sunset: Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam face west. Leave enough daylight for the ride home if you prefer to avoid riding after dark.
Routes that string them together
You do not need a special beach route. Most of my loops pass several beaches anyway, so choose by the coast you want.
- Ring road 4169 (63.7 km, easy) touches Lamai, Hin Ta Hin Yai, Taling Ngam, Lipa Noi, Bang Por, Maenam and Choeng Mon. Do the loop and pick one beach for a proper swim rather than stopping at all of them.
- South-west (36.3 km, easy) is the route for Thong Tanote, Taling Ngam and Lipa Noi, timed for sunset.
- North coast (27.2 km, easy) covers Maenam and Bang Por on flat roads. It is a good half day for someone new to the scooter.
The temples route ends at Choeng Mon, and the one-day classic passes Lamai and Hin Ta Hin Yai. If you want a swim with either, those are your stops.
What "hidden" really means on Samui
There are no secret beaches on an island this size. For alternatives to the main beach towns, consider Silver Beach, Coral Cove, Tongsai, Samrong, Ban Tai, Bang Por and Thong Tanote. Facilities vary between them; bring water.
- Parking: park on firm ground. Sand swallows a side stand and a loaded scooter tips over. Check on site whether there is a parking fee.
- Valuables: leave nothing in the seat box that you cannot afford to lose. Take the key with you.
- Water: the small coves have rocks and usually no lifeguard. Look at the water before you swim, and skip it on rough days.
- Food and shade: expect little or none at the remote ones. Bring water.
Questions
What are the best Koh Samui beaches to reach by scooter?
For an easy ride, choose the north coast: Maenam and Bang Por are flat and right off the 4169. For small coves, Coral Cove is about 9 km from central Chaweng and Silver Beach about 11 km: allow roughly 15–20 and 20–25 minutes of relaxed riding respectively. Their approaches include steep sections.
Are there hidden beaches on Koh Samui?
There are no truly secret ones, but several small bays are invisible from the main road and much quieter: Samrong, Tongsai, Ban Tai and Thong Tanote. Go in the morning and bring water.
Which Samui beach is best for sunset?
Lipa Noi and Taling Ngam on the west coast. Plan the ride home and leave enough daylight if you prefer to avoid riding after dark.
Do I need a license to ride to the beaches?
Yes. Thai law requires a motorcycle license (category A; a foreign one only together with an IDP showing A) and a helmet. Police checkpoints near the busy beach towns are common, and fines change, so check locally.
Anton A.
I live on Koh Samui and have been riding the island for several years. Every road on these maps I rode myself — the track is a real GPS log. Spotted an error? Message me on Telegram: @abrameicev