Coral Cove Beach gets its name from the bay on the eastern side of Samui, located between Chaweng Noi and Thongtakian beaches. For easier navigation, you can think of Coral Cove as being between Chaweng Noi and Lamai—these are beaches you’re likely familiar with.
Beach Overview
Coral Cove means “Coral Bay.” The beach is only 176 meters long, with large boulders that hide a small sandy area from the main beach. The entire 176-meter stretch of shoreline, which is 25 meters wide, is covered with coarse reddish sand mixed with coral fragments.
The area behind the boulders has even coarser sand, making it uncomfortable to walk barefoot, especially under the midday sun. The sand is loose, similar to Maenam, which makes walking difficult and hinders stability on the steep slope at the water’s edge.
Due to its size and lack of infrastructure, Coral Cove is one of the cleanest and most well-maintained beaches on Samui. Even the presence of a small stream, which almost dries up in the heat and acts as a drainage channel during the rainy season, does not spoil it.
Swimming
The water at Coral Cove is free of silt and marine debris, very clear. The depth increases rapidly, making it hard to see what lies on the seabed. The shore quickly drops off, and your feet leave the bottom after just three steps from the beach.
This beach is not ideal for children, and it is better not to let them swim alone. Because of the deep water, Coral Cove is not affected by tides but is subject to high waves, especially in windy and stormy weather.
Sunbeds and Shade
Sunbeds are available at the nearby hotels, but they are intended only for guests. The abundance of natural shade from palm trees and rocks makes it comfortable for independent visitors. Most people arrive on motorbikes with just a towel in the trunk.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Coral Cove is 3 km from Chaweng and 4 km from Lamai, where you’ll find the nearest amenities. The Lotus’s hypermarket in Lamai is 5 km from Coral Cove, and the “big three” hypermarkets in Chaweng are 8 km away, about 15-20 minutes by car through Chaweng’s traffic. Nearby attractions within a five-minute drive from Coral Cove include:
- Snorkeling
- Elephant Rock—a rock overlooking the ring road in one of the sharp turns towards Lamai
- Several viewpoints
There is a volleyball net on the beach and one small Thai restaurant. If you turn right after reaching the beach, go through the boulders and a separate sandy area, you’ll find a secluded beach rarely visited—good to note for nudists.
Accommodation
Coral Cove is 50 meters from the ring road. This distance is enough to accommodate only one hotel—Coral Cove Chalet 4, which is divided into two types of buildings: resort and chalet, differing in comfort and price. On the other side of the road, the mountain slope begins, where three more resorts are located, but there are no private homes for rent in this area.
The nearest rental accommodations are in Lamai. If you want to book a hotel here in advance or find accommodation on other beaches, I have a selection of highly-rated hotels on Samui.
How to Find the Beach
There is only one entrance to the beach, and access is straightforward. The main thing is not to speed on the section of the road where the blue Beach Republic sign is visible if you’re coming from Chaweng. A landmark is a well-trodden area on the shoulder where people park their vehicles.
Directly opposite this is the descent towards the sea. There is parking below, but it’s small and often crowded with cars. Two or three pickup trucks are enough to fill the space, especially when there is an influx of visitors on scooters.
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