Chaweng – located at the mid-point of Samui’s eastern coast is the largest and most popular resort town on the island. With its well developed restaurant, shopping and entertainment infrastructure it mainly attracts young singles, but has much to offer families and generally provides good value for money.
Although often crowded in high season, Chaweng’s beach is a gem. Almost 7km long, the shallow emerald-blue sea washing the white, powdery sand of the shoreline, fringed by swaying coconut palms, the beach lives-up to everyone’s fantasy of a paradise island setting. If you could remove the people, you could be forgiven for believing you’d arrived in a tropical screensaver.
Barely submerged reefs offshore, particularly noticeable at either end of the beach, protects the bay from rough seas, generally ensuring calm waters for relaxing and play. The northern end of the beach is defined by a rock promontory, at the end of which sits Koh Matlang, easily wadeable at low tide. The south of the beach is known as Chaweng Noi and provides quieter options, but a taxi distance from Chaweng’s nightlife.
Unfortunately, the most popular, central area of the beach can only be accessed by walking through one of the numerous hotels that crowd the space between the beach road and the sea. No one will complain of the temporary intrusion, but a popular access point is through the Soi (side-street) opposite the Islander Pub to the ever popular Ark Bar. Many other restaurants and bars fringe the shoreline where hotel properties meet the beach, mostly offering al fresco dining at very reasonable cost.
Chaweng beach is served by many vendors who pass by offering beverages, fruit, ice cream and local street food. A variety of Thai crafts, sarongs, souvenirs and offers of traditional massage predominate among non-food items for sale, but at a premium on the prices available on the towns shopping and entertainment strip that runs the length of the beach, which is just 300m away, inland.
Slightly further inland a large freshwater lake divides the Laem Din market area and entertainment district, its southern end playing host to the ever popular Reggae Bar, and a cluster of hostess bars, for those who must rent their company, provide an alternative to the dubious delights of similar enterprises that make-up Soi Green Mango, located off Chaweng’s main street. Laem Din Market, a haven of Thai street food, and the Muay Thai stadium both lie to the southern end of the lake.
Chaweng
Chaweng – located at the mid-point of Samui’s eastern coast is the largest and most popular resort town on the island. With its well developed restaurant, shopping and entertainment infrastructure it mainly attracts young singles, but has much to offer families and generally provides good value for money.
Although often crowded in high season, Chaweng’s beach is a gem. Almost 7km long, the shallow emerald-blue sea washing the white, powdery sand of the shoreline, fringed by swaying coconut palms, the beach lives-up to everyone’s fantasy of a paradise island setting. If you could remove the people, you could be forgiven for believing you’d arrived in a tropical screensaver.
Barely submerged reefs offshore, particularly noticeable at either end of the beach, protects the bay from rough seas, generally ensuring calm waters for relaxing and play. The northern end of the beach is defined by a rock promontory, at the end of which sits Koh Matlang, easily wadeable at low tide. The south of the beach is known as Chaweng Noi and provides quieter options, but a taxi distance from Chaweng’s nightlife.
Unfortunately, the most popular, central area of the beach can only be accessed by walking through one of the numerous hotels that crowd the space between the beach road and the sea. No one will complain of the temporary intrusion, but a popular access point is through the Soi (side-street) opposite the Islander Pub to the ever popular Ark Bar. Many other restaurants and bars fringe the shoreline where hotel properties meet the beach, mostly offering al fresco dining at very reasonable cost.
Chaweng beach is served by many vendors who pass by offering beverages, fruit, ice cream and local street food. A variety of Thai crafts, sarongs, souvenirs and offers of traditional massage predominate among non-food items for sale, but at a premium on the prices available on the towns shopping and entertainment strip that runs the length of the beach, which is just 300m away, inland.
Slightly further inland a large freshwater lake divides the Laem Din market area and entertainment district, its southern end playing host to the ever popular Reggae Bar, and a cluster of hostess bars, for those who must rent their company, provide an alternative to the dubious delights of similar enterprises that make-up Soi Green Mango, located off Chaweng’s main street. Laem Din Market, a haven of Thai street food, and the Muay Thai stadium both lie to the southern end of the lake.