Plai Laem Beach (Plai Laem) is located on the northeastern tip of the island, where Samui stretches towards Ko Phangan. Despite the small size of this tip, a whole seven beaches are spread along its shores.
Due to the geographical location of this part of Samui, all seven beaches face west, north and east. Plai Laem faces west.
Beach Overview
Plai Laem is 1.6 miles (2.6 km) long. The beach begins opposite the water sculptures of Ko Fan islet, which houses Samui’s main attraction – Big Buddha. Plai Laem Beach ends at the rocks on the northern part of Samui.
The beach width near Big Buddha is about 33 feet (10 m) and remains so until the artificial canal dug closer to the middle of the beach for fishermen’s needs. The Sunset Pier and a large cluster of boats are located here too. After the pier and all the way to its end, the beach gradually widens to 65 feet (20 m).
The sand throughout is coarse and brown, mixed with coral fragments. Beach cleanliness is maintained in front of the resorts, of which there are many here. The rest of Plai Laem retains its pristine appearance, which includes sea debris, seaweed and old coconuts.
The sea around Plai Laem is swimmable but is more suitable for contemplation, not really making you want to go in. There aren’t as many people as on the neighbouring Bang Rak, Tong Sai and Chong Mon. The overall impression of Plai Laem beach is an unkempt paradise for fishermen and free spirits.
This is the only place where you can see four Samui beaches at once from a single point: Plai Laem, Bang Rak, Bo Phut and Mae Nam. In case you’re interested in reading about other places, I have a brief overview of all Samui beaches to help you decide which beach to choose.
Swimming
Getting into the water at Plai Laem is difficult due to rocks, shallow water and coral fragments. From Big Buddha to the pier, the bottom has a silty covering with small pebbles, which is unpleasant to walk on barefoot.
You can especially examine the contents of the seabed during low tide when the sea recedes 650 feet (200 metres) from the shore. There’s also a stream mouth here that drains water from Wat Plai Laem temple, which stands on a pond. A relatively clean, proper beach begins after the pier.
Waves at Plai Laem occur during storms and strong winds. For the most part, the sea is very calm; however, it’s better to swim with children at the neighbouring Tongson or Tong Sai.
Sunbeds and Shade
There’s plenty of natural shade on the beach with palm trees often tilting towards the water, allowing for excellent island-mood photos. Sunbeds are hard to come by because only about a dozen resorts are along the shore, and they don’t rent out loungers. Restaurants and cafes are virtually non-existent.
Beach Photos
Amenities
Entertainment options at Plai Laem are modest: boat hire with a driver for sea trips, fishing and kayak rental. There are several Thai food shops in the area, but the main activity begins on the Ring Road. That’s where you’ll find 7/11 mini-markets, laundries, water vending machines and Thai cafes.
It’s about 3-4.5 miles (5-7 km) to large supermarkets, a ten-minute drive if there’s no traffic and you’re not in a hurry. A shop selling latex products is nearby. The nearest attractions for those living in the Plai Laem area:
- Plai Laem Sor temple;
- Big Buddha;
- Hongsa Alley;
Samui Island Airport is located 1.2 miles (2 kilometres) from the beach. You can get good photos of planes heading for landing towards Bang Rak, where the runway is located. The planes make some noise but without discomfort to the ears.
The taxi fare to the airport is one of the lowest on Samui. And in the sea, opposite the stream mouth that drains water from Plai Laem Sor Temple, stands a mermaid sculpture. With large breasts, like all female figures on Samui Island.
Accommodation
The entire Plai Laem beachfront is occupied by a dozen resorts of varying comfort levels and rental costs. Half a kilometre from the beach is the recently built condominium Tse Residence by Samui Emerald Condominiums.
There are several serious hotels and plenty of vacant lots. Industrial facilities can also be found: a water pumping station, port, fishing houses, warehouses. House rentals are available for those not looking for beachfront properties.
Inland, there are several options at different prices, which you can check in the relevant section of the website. Major construction is underway on the rocks and coastal area at the northern edge of the beach. The island is gradually being developed.
Besides hotels, you can rent villas of various interiors and sizes on the beach, from more standard ones like Shower of Sunshine, using natural materials and Thai motifs in decoration like Angthong Villa, to ultra-modern ones like the bright and stylish Shades of Blue 5.
- Shower of Sunshine 4
- Angthong Villa 3
If you want to book a hotel here in advance or look for accommodation on other beaches, I have a selection of hotels on Samui with good ratings and reviews.
How to Find the Beach
To get to the beach, simply turn towards the sea at any point along the road after you pass Big Buddha. There are many access roads, both separate and through the territory of seaside resorts.
For this article, I chose the happy medium – parking near the pumping station and free access to the beach, just after the artificial canal.
