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MAENAM BEACH
Maenam Beach is a lovely beach located on Koh Samui for travelers looking for relaxation and tranquility. From the elongated golden beach you have a beautiful view of the island of Koh Phangan. On the long beach of Maenam are restaurants, budget bungalows and luxury resorts. There are also a number of bars, but for a party with loud music you don’t have to be here. Instead, read a good book or take a massage on the beach.
In some places the sea gets deep pretty quickly, which makes Maenam Beach possibly a less suitable beach for families with small children. The water is generally quite calm. During high tide the beach is narrow, making a walk on the beach more difficult. An advantage is that the water at Maenam Beach is almost always deep enough for swimming. Under the influence of the current, the water here can be less clear.
From Maenam to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan
The evenings at Maenam Beach are usually friendly and relaxed. Maybe a little too convivial for you? You can easily take the boat to Koh Tao or Koh Phangan from the pier on Maenam Beach. On Koh Phangan they have a party if it is dark, half moon or full moon, in other words on Koh Phangan there is always a reason for a party! The boats to Koh Tao and Koh Phangan leave from the Maenam pier at noon.
Costs: depending on destination, 300-350 baht per person one way.
SAVE MONEY
If you want to travel cheap to Chaweng Beach, Bophut Beach or any other beach on Koh Samui, walk to the main road and use the red Songthaew vans there. These red mini vans drive a fixed route across the island. Sometimes you have to wait a while but it is much cheaper than renting a taxi.
Golf and Country Club at Koh Samui
Maenam is also close to the beautiful Santiburi Golf and Country Club. A luxury 18 hole golf course amidst the palm trees and rolling hills of Koh Samui. This golf club belongs to the luxurious Santiburi Koh Samui Resort on the beach of Maenam. The resort has luxurious villas and suites, some with private pool or sea views. The hotel organizes daily activities for the youngest guests and every Friday evening there is a parents night off, the children are entertained until 10 PM so that parents can have some time for themselves and each other. Guests of Santiburi Koh Samui are given priority for start times on the golf course and there is a free shuttle bus to the golf course.
Spending the night at Maenam Beach – which accommodation?
Despite the super luxury accommodations like Santiburi Resort Koh Samui and W Koh Samui, Maenam Beach is also a great beach if you want to spend less. Most hotels offer bungalows or hotel rooms in different price ranges. There are also middle class and budget accommodations located right on the beach. You don’t have to worry about noise pollution on the beach at Maenam Beach. Many travellers stay longer than planned on Maenam Beach because there is a very relaxed atmosphere!
The beautiful bungalows of Coco Palm Beach Resort are spread out in a nice quiet garden. The hotel has a restaurant and swimming pool on the beach. The bungalows come in all shapes and sizes, from nice basic bungalows to luxury cottages with private swimming pool.
In the middle of the bay of Maenam you find the Hacienda Beach Resort, this popular resort is located directly on the beach and near the Walking Street of Maenam. There are bungalows in different price ranges, all bungalows are cleaned daily.
SENSIMAR is a beautiful luxury resort where everything has been thought of. It has a beautiful swimming pool, excellent service and very comfortable rooms and villas. There are free activities such as yoga and cocktail workshops. To ensure peace and quiet, only children from the age of 16 are allowed in this resort.
Walking Street Maenam
Parallel to the beach are here and there side streets with shops and restaurants. In the middle of the bay of Maenam is Walking Street. You can recognize it by the golden arch with Chinatown Maenam on it. Nearby is a Chinese temple that you can visit. Also in the streets around the Maenam pier are a number of restaurants, bars and massage parlors. Every Thursday evening from 5 PM to about 10 PM there is a cozy evening market in China Town Maenam. Most stalls offer tasty snacks and souvenirs. Don’t expect to wander around for hours because Maenam’s Walking Street is not very large. But don’t worry because the biggest and most famous weekend market of Koh Samui is at Bophut Beach and that is only a ten minute drive from Maenam!
Travel further from Maenam Beach
The airport of Koh Samui is located ten kilometers from Maenam Beach, so you are as free as a bird to explore the rest of Thailand! Flying to/from Koh Samui is affordable but on the high side compared to other destinations in Thailand. The flight tickets are cheaper if you book early, last minute bookings are not recommended. Flights are fully booked on a regular basis or you pay the main price. A cheaper option is flying at the airport of Surat Thani. From Surat Thani take a boat / bus combi-ticket. This can be bought locally or in advance via 12Go Asia.
