Hua Thanon Beach begins opposite the Red Temple (Wat Ratchathammaram), passes through stone boulders, past a narrow strip of shore with hotels and resorts, past Hua Thanon village and ends at the grand parking area for fishing boats near the Muslim fishing village.
Beach Overview
Hua Thanon Beach stretches for about one mile (1.5 km). Its width varies from place to place – from thirty feet to nothing at all. From the Red Temple to the Chinese Guan Yu temple it’s still a relatively normal beach, albeit heavily polluted, but further towards the fishing village there’s no beach left.
There are stones, a concrete parapet, a ruined pier and channels dug near the shore for anchoring boats. The beach surface is very contrasting – fine grey sand and large brown pebbles. All mixed up with rubbish.Cleanliness isn’t maintained anywhere on the beach except for sections directly adjacent to hotels.
The sea at Hua Thanon is shallow – water rises high during high tides, bringing rubbish, and carries some of it away with the ebb tide.The rubbish is mainly of natural origin, but along the fishing village nature gives way significantly to human activity.
For unprepared or squeamish people, it’s better not to venture into the fishing village.The stench from dried fish, peelings, sewage, fishing gear, piles of rubbish along houses and on the shore – it’s not a sight for Greenpeace members.
There aren’t many people on the beach – typically just hotel and resort guests squeezed into the 130-160 feet (40-50 metres) of space between the Ring Road and the sea.Tourists do drop by, but usually just to take photos and move on.
Swimming
Shallow areas at Hua Thanon alternate with deep-water sections that allow small vessels to approach the shore closely, but they also allow waves to erode the coastline.You’ll often find concrete rings on the beach used to reinforce sandy slopes along hotels. The water entry is spoiled by stones and rubbish, with seaweed encountered in places.
If you really fancy a swim at Hua Thanon Beach, the safest and cleanest spot for entering the water is near the boulders at its northern section. Family holidays with children at Hua Thanon aren’t recommended – it’s an unsettled place, dirty, noisy and close to the road.
Sunbeds and Shade
Along Hua Thanon beach, fishermen have occupied the entire shore with boats, gear, rubbish and bamboo huts where they rest. There are sun loungers opposite the hotels, but on their own territory. There are no sun loungers, umbrellas, inflatable mattresses or other beach equipment on the publicly accessible part of the beach.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Hua Thanon Beach is located just five minutes from Lamai, and Hua Thanon village itself is quite lively and rich in various services and shops. The nearest Lotus hypermarket is ten minutes away by car if you fancy a big shopping trip.Small items are sold at markets, numerous Thai shops and several mini-markets in the village. There’s a large IT complex nearby, several gyms, a mosque, transport rentals and tourist agencies.Local attractions near Hua Thanon include:
- Marine Animal and Tiger Show (Samui Aquatic Animal and Tiger Zoo);
- Butterfly Garden;
- Samret Temple (Wat Samret);
- Guan Yu Temple;
- Nurun Mosque (Koh Samui Nurun EIA San Mosque).
Accommodation
About twenty small hotels and resorts are located along Hua Thanon’s coastline on both sides of the Ring Road. The development around Hua Thanon Beach allows you to find a suitable option for independent rental.
- Villa Nalinnadda Petite Hotel & SPA, Adults Only 4
- Tropical Sea View Residence 3
- Samui Garden Home 3
How to Find the Beach
To reach Hua Thanon Beach, you need to drive along the Ring Road until you reach the Chinese temple with the red-faced head of Guan Di sticking out above it. This is the middle of the beach – you can turn towards the sea anywhere. Just don’t miss the 90° turn after which the Ring Road starts moving away from Hua Thanon.
