The island of Koh Samui has been a popular holiday destination for over 30 years now. Many people tend to keep on re-visiting the same beach. Often this is the beach that they first went to. Such is human nature that people will often stick with what they know. For this reason, I will look at a few of the beaches in the north of Koh Samui to perhaps give readers a fresh insight into the possibilities that Koh Samui holds.
The great thing about the north of Koh Samui is that this is where the airport is located so all the northern beaches are just a short and cheap taxi journey away. Another advantage of the north is that many of the important resources on the island are placed in the north. For example, the only full size golf course in Koh Samui is located near the northern beach of Maenam.
The most popular beach in the north of Koh Samui is Bophut. It has a great beach without a coastal road disturbing the atmosphere. The resorts in Bophut are laid out in tropical gardens that lead down to the golden sands. Bophut is famous for its boutique atmosphere. This is due to the stylish resorts such as Zazen Boutique Resort and Spa, and Anantara Bophut Resort and Spa. Moreover, next to the beach is Fisherman’s Village that is free of go-go bars. Instead there are several cafes, bars and restaurants that have preserved the original Chinese wooden architecture. Fisherman’s Village is the most attractive shopping and entertainment center in Koh Samui.
To the west of Bophut is the long beach of Maenam. The beach has plenty of tree cover and there are some of the best value rooms on offer in Maenam. The small town of Maenam has more of a backpacker atmosphere with just a few nightspots. Maenam is also popular with those wanting to go the Full Moon Party as there are boats directly to Haad Rin in Koh Phangan.
To the east of Bophut is the beach of Big Buddha. This area is famous for the large golden statue that has come to represent Koh Samui. The beach at Big Buddha is not as good as other northern beaches in Koh Samui as it is directly under the flight paths of planes coming and going from Bangkok.
A much better option is the quiet and peaceful beach of Choeng Mon on the north east peninsula. It is a lesser known beach that is as good for swimming as Chaweng and Lamai. It has very few businesses and bars. The focus in Choeng Mon is on stylish architecture and interior design. The Q Signature Samui and the Sala Samui Resort and Spa are two of the stand out resorts on the whole island. Both combine the best of modern Thai architecture with stunning interiors and great facilities. The Sala Samui even has floating massage salas.
If you normally go to the popular west coast beaches of Lamai and Chaweng but are fed up of the noise and ‘beer bar’ culture then the perfect antidote are the beaches in the north of Koh Samui.