Chaweng (Koh Samui) is a large beach located on the east coast of the Thai island of Koh Samui. Chaweng is characterized by clean white sand, clear water with a convenient gentle entrance, as well as access to all the entertainment and benefits of civilization. This popular tourist destination is home to many hotels, cafes, bars, and shops. Chaweng Beach is hardly suitable for hermits who want to be alone with nature, but for those who appreciate everything that the leisure industry offers, it is a real expanse.
Most of the tourists on Chaweng are Europeans, for whom the tourist service is designed. In addition to traditional Thai cuisine, there are many establishments with Italian, German and Mediterranean dishes, and the accommodation is mainly designed for short-term holidays. If you want to come to Koh Samui for the winter, you are more likely to find apartments or bungalows on the nearby Lamai Beach.
Beach Description
Chaweng Beach stretches a white strip for 6 km along the eastern edge of Koh Samui. The width of the coastline is from 5-6 meters in the southern part to 20-60 meters in the center and in the north. Travelers claim that compared to other good beaches on the island, the sand here is the whitest, and the water is the bluest.
Most of the year, the coastal waters are clear and calm, only for three months: in November, December and January, winds from the east catch up with waves.
In general, the weather on Chaweng, as well as on the whole of Koh Samui, contrasts with the climate of the mainland of Thailand. While the mainland resorts are overcast from May to October, and monsoon rains are constantly pouring, Koh Samui is dominated by sunny weather with frequent but fast-passing precipitation. Here, the period May-October is considered the most favorable for a beach holiday.
Chaweng Beach along its length has sections with various features, so it is conditionally divided into 3 parts: north, central and south.
North Chaweng
It stretches from the north to Samui International Hospital, which separates it from the central part. The main feature of north Chaweng is the very gentle entrance to the sea. To go into the water at least waist-deep at low tide, you need to walk a hundred meters here. The sand here is dense and fine, it is convenient to walk on it. But it is better to go into the water in beach shoes, so as not to injure yourself on sharp coral fragments.
From north Chaweng Beach, the small green island of Koh Matlang can be seen out to sea. It can be reached by wading, but only at low tide. At high tide, walking to the shore is not possible, so keep this in mind if you decide to take a walk on the water to the picturesque island.
Along north Chaweng Beach, there are luxury hotels, the most beautiful views and a calm, peaceful atmosphere, if you do not pay attention to the periodic noise of planes taking off from the nearby airfield.
Central Chaweng
The central part of Koh Samui Chaweng Beach, as befits the center – the busiest place on the east coast of Koh Samui. It is here that most discos, restaurants with Thai cuisine and only, as well as night clubs are concentrated. It offers guests all kinds of water activities, food and drink sales, outdoor areas of cafes and bars with music playing day and night.
Central Chaweng Beach is characterized by a wide coastal strip with loose and soft sand. The entrance to the sea is not as gentle as on the northern beach, here you can swim without going far from the shore. Due to the large width and length of the central Chaweng Beach, it is not crowded even in the middle of the tourist season, it is always possible to find sparsely populated places. Although this is a central beach, the water and sand on Chaweng Beach are clean.
Chaweng Noi
The southern part of the beach is called Chaweng Noi, the beach is separated by a rocky promontory that stands out in the sea, so it is impossible to reach it along the shore. You can get here from the side of the ring road, passing through the territory of one of the coastal hotels or restaurants.
Chaweng Noi Beach is located in a cozy bay surrounded by jungle-covered mountains, its length is approximately 1 km. A stream flowing into the sea divides the beach into two halves. On one of them, the mountains approach close to the sea, so in the afternoon a shadow falls on the coastal strip.
The sand on Chaweng Noi is fine and clean, free of sharp shells and corals, and pleasant to walk on. The water is clear, the entrance to the sea is gentle, but not too long. Many vacationers consider Chaweng Noi Beach (Koh Samui)the best on the island.
Infrastructure
Along Chaweng Beach, there are numerous hotels, cafes, bars and restaurants along its entire length. Here you can have lunch and dinner, choose the appropriate menu and prices, and in the evening-spend a pleasant time on the beach, enjoying cocktails to soft music.
Each hotel bar or cafe has its own sun beds and umbrellas, most provide them to their customers for free. It is enough to buy something at the bar, and you can use the sun beds belonging to it at no extra cost. However, this service is not available everywhere. To avoid misunderstandings, you should ask about it in advance. Showers and toilets on the beach are paid, most of them also belong to hotels.
From entertainment, vacationers are offered jet skiing, water skiing, bananas, paddle boards, kayaks, Flyboard. Prices depend on the season. The cheapest price is kayak rental (in summer – from $6 per hour), jet skiing or skiing – from $30 for 15 minutes, the same number of minutes of flying on a Flyboard will cost about $46.
Chaweng Central Beach has a children’s water park. The cost of a visit is about $9 per hour or $21 for the whole day.
Right on Chaweng Beach, you can get a Thai massage, one hour of which will cost from $7.5.
Within walking distance from the center of the beach – Chaweng Central Street, where there are many shops, markets, restaurants, cafes, discos, night clubs. Chaweng Street fills up in the evening with vacationers, it is a favorite place for evening promenade and night entertainment. There is a currency exchange and bike rental, a shopping center with a cinema, sports clubs, and medical facilities. Every vacationer here will find everything you need for a comfortable stay and entertainment.
Features of Lamai Beach holidays — what you need to know
Hotels
The most populous part of Koh Samui is Chaweng, hotels are found here at every turn. There are about 300 hotels of various levels, not counting small guesthouses.
Hotels located along the coast and with access to the beach, as a rule, are not cheap. The cost of a double room in a five-star hotel starts from $250 per day, and a villa with a pool for two will cost from $550.
Prices for a double room in a coastal hotel of 3-4 stars on average start from $100 per day.
The Library
Five-star luxury The Library is one of the most respectable hotels in Koh Samui Chaweng. It is located in close proximity to the central Chaweng Beach. The Library has a modern and stylish design, its spectacular red swimming pool has become a real business card of Koh Samui, photos of this pool are widely used in advertising brochures.
The hotel has a fitness room, spa and a famous library with over 1,400 volumes. It offers comfortable reading areas, computers and free Wi-Fi in every room. This creates The Library’s reputation as an elite hotel where highly educated people stay.
An excellent breakfast is included in the room rate. The hotel’s restaurant serves a wide selection of fine dishes and fine wines, while the bars offer a variety of cocktails and snacks with room service.
Accommodation options are available in villas with swimming pools, suites and studios. Suites and villas are equipped with a Jacuzzi and a meter-long plasma TV. Cost of accommodation for two people per night:
- studio-from $230;
- deluxe rooms-from $340;
- villas-from $475.
Samui Paradise
This 4-star hotel is located on Chaweng Noi Beach in a quiet and peaceful location, with the lively city center just a 10-minute walk away. The hotel attracts with its well-groomed green territory, clean modern rooms and a magnificent beach, one of the best on the island.
It features a spa, an outdoor pool, and 2 restaurants. Rooms with views of the sea or picturesque gardens are particularly cozy. An excellent breakfast is included in the room rate. The suites have hot tubs on their balconies and patios.
The restaurant serves a variety of Thai and international dishes. Sitting by the window, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the bay. The bars offer a wide range of chilled drinks.
- The most economical option to stay in the villa “Grand Villa” will cost for two-from $126 / day;
- double Junior Suite-from $205;
- family room with sea view-from $439.
Chalala Samui
Located on North Chaweng Beach, this economy hotel is surrounded by lush tropical plants. The hotel is located in a quiet location, a five-minute walk from the lively center. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, free Wi-Fi, and comfortable bungalows with a refrigerator, hot shower, and TV. A good breakfast is included in the price.
The hotel has a restaurant, bar, laundry service. Chalala Samui offers shuttle service, Thai massage and tour services. The sea near the hotel, as well as on the entire northern Chaweng Beach, is shallow, which is ideal for families with small children.
Cost of accommodation:
- standard double bungalow-from $43;
- superior bungalow for two-from $60;
- family bungalow for 4 people-from $101.
How to get
Getting to Chaweng while on Koh Samui is easy. You can use:
- bike rental service;
- by public transport, so-called songteo-an open pickup truck without windows, but with a roof;
- taxi.
All songteos have a specific route and timetable, but after 18.00 they start working in taxi mode and increase fares by 2-3 times. The same thing can happen if you start asking about the cost of travel during business hours – the driver will not mind giving you a ride at the price of a taxi. Therefore, if you don’t want to spend extra money, get in a minibus at the bus stop without asking questions about the fare, and if necessary, wait until it is filled up.
Travel from the most remote point of Koh Samui to Chaweng on Songteo will cost a maximum of $1.8 per person, by taxi, respectively, 2-3 times more expensive. Koh Samui Airport is 2 km from the northern part of Chaweng Beach, so you can get there quickly and inexpensively by taxi. You can book a transfer in advance, in which case the driver will meet you at the airport with a sign.
Conclusion
Chaweng (Koh Samui) is a beautiful holiday destination with white sand and clear warm water. The best season here is from May to October. Relax at this resort will appeal to both lovers of parties, and connoisseurs of a quiet and comfortable holiday, and families with children.
