Flickr, travelfishery

Maenam Beach is known for its calm atmosphere of relaxed recreation, the lack of noisy entertainment, and some distinctive features of the coastline.

The strip of shore is rather narrow, only a couple dozen meters wide, so the jungle comes almost right up to the surf line. This makes Maenam Beach ideal for those who do not like roasting in the open sun, because it is far more pleasant to lie in the patterned shade of the palms and look at the sea than under an umbrella or awning.

The sand on Maenam also differs from the usual fine white sand: here it is caramel-colored and resembles cane sugar in texture.

The sea here is quite deep; to be up to your neck, it is enough to walk just a few meters. But the water is not as clear as on other Samui beaches, since several streams and rivers flow into the sea in the Maenam area, bringing silt down from the hills and clouding the water.

The beach offers a wonderful view of the neighboring island of Ko Pha Ngan, whose mountains against the backdrop of the sea look like a watercolor illustration in an old book. The idyllic combination of palms and sea, a cozy and peaceful atmosphere, and quite moderate prices make Maenam Beach popular for family vacations with children.

Along the four kilometers of Maenam Beach, there are as many as three temples that gladly welcome tourists - the Buddhist temples Na Pra Lan and Phukao Thong, and the Chinese Temple. And, of course, there are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and little shops here, as well as hotels and bungalow complexes, massage salons, and even a market.

Flickr, felixdengg

Bophut Beach in the northern part of Samui is perfect for a calm and upscale vacation. Several hotel complexes are located here, and tourist services are well organized. Everyone will be able to find something to their taste.

The sea at Bophut is deep enough to allow boats, yachts, and small motorboats to moor right in the center of the beach by the piers. For swimming, it is preferable to choose the western shore, where the hotels are located. In the eastern part of the beach you will see a sand spit - a picturesque place for an unhurried walk or a romantic date.

Besides beach relaxation, you can feel the true atmosphere of Bophut by visiting the coastal shops, boutiques, and cafes, of which there are quite a lot here.

Local restaurants are famous for their refined cuisine aimed, so to speak, at a discerning clientele. Each establishment is unique in its own way: there is a German bar, an Irish pub, and a Spanish restaurant. Everything is very stylish and prestigious.

Bophut's main attraction is the fishing village, which nowadays has nothing to do with fishing. Here you will find expensive boutiques and restaurants, very elaborate and fashionable.

Flickr, novice photo

The eastern coast of Samui is known for being home to the island's most popular beach - Chaweng, which stretches for seven kilometers along the shoreline.

The sand on the beach is perfect, white and clean, and the sea is clear, emerald, and calm, because large waves dissipate far from the shore as they break against the coral reefs.

This place will be especially attractive to young people. It is crowded and noisy here even in bad weather, because the entertainment scene in Chaweng thrives.

Excellent conditions have been created here for vacationers, allowing them to take home not only beautiful photographs, but also a host of positive impressions from carefree leisure.

There is plenty of entertainment on the beach - jet skis, banana boats, catamarans, and sightseeing boats. Music plays everywhere, and its volume rises sharply after dark, when nightclubs and discos open.

Even if you do not like spending all your time in the sun and water, you will find plenty to do here - there are several spa and massage salons, fitness centers, two large shopping centers - Makro and Tesco Lotus - as well as markets, bars, restaurants, and karaoke clubs at your service.

Flickr, travelfishery

Just 200 meters of coastline in the east of Samui form the stunningly beautiful Coral Bay. It is an ideally quiet and peaceful place, literally created for relaxation and enjoyment of the sea, beach, and sun.

Coral Bay is located next to the ultra-popular party beach of Chaweng, but is free from noise and excessive activity. Nevertheless, from here you can reach Chaweng with its dazzling nightclubs, discos, and other entertainment in ten minutes.

The beach of Coral Bay is seemingly hidden among large boulders and palm groves. Here, a feeling of complete isolation from the outside world is created, something some vacationers need so much.

The depth of the sea here is moderate and suitable for swimming for both children and adults, so families with children often come here who want to combine calm and active recreation or alternate between the two depending on their mood.

Higher up on the slopes there are various cafes and restaurants where local residents like to spend Sunday evenings overlooking the serene Gulf of Thailand.

Access to the beach is through the hotel of the same name, although the beach itself does not belong to it. It is easy to make arrangements with the staff and, for a moderate fee, gain access to a piece of paradise on Samui.

Flickr, Alessio72

Lamai Beach is second in size only to Chaweng Beach and is considered the cleanest and most beautiful of Samui's beaches. Against the backdrop of golden sand and the clean, deep sea, the ancient granite rocks look especially striking. It is in Lamai, in the southern part of the beach, that the famous Grandmother and Grandfather rocks are located, their outlines resembling male and female genitals.

The enormous granite boulders, smoothed by thousands of tides and shaped by sea winds, look incredibly picturesque, which is why the rocky ridge next to these symbols of fertility is very popular among tourists.

Moreover, people believe that these symbols have mystical power, and some even say that Grandmother and Grandfather can help with sexual problems or with conceiving a child.

In the north of Lamai there are beauties of its own: lush jungle stretches there, surrounding a quiet bay that is sheltered from the forces of nature by a rocky cape. It is a very calm and rather secluded place for lazy and pleasant beach relaxation.

The central part of the beach is livelier, with many cafes, bars, and little shops. In the Lamai area you can find several spa salons where you will be offered Thai massage, mud masks, and traditional beauty treatments.