Thong Plu Bay with its namesake beach is located in the northern part of the island, between Bang Po beach and the mountain where the expensive Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui 5 hotel is built.
Beach Overview
Thong Plu Beach is one mile long (1.5 km), of which 1,600 feet (500 metres) lie on Four Seasons’ private territory and are separated from the rest of the beach by a stone scree. The remaining 3,000 feet (900 metres) represent a shore of uniform width stretching along the Ring Road up to the rocky reef in the east. The sand at Thong Plu is divided by the surf line into two types:
- Fine, white and loose, further from the sea;
- Coarse, yellow with stones, closer to the water.
The water at the beach is so clean that you can clearly see boulders and coral sections through it, which won’t let you walk normally on the seabed. The sea at Thong Plu Beach isn’t suitable for swimming. The beach is clean – at most you might stumble upon coconuts washed up by waves. Cleanliness is maintained by resort staff, but rubbish can be found at the far edges of the beach.
Considering its unsuitability for swimming, the nature of development and distance from large settlements on Koh Samui, Thong Plu Beach can’t be called crowded.
Swimming
Low tide takes the sea 16-23 feet (5-7 metres) away, exposing a flat, gently sloping shore. During high tide there’s a possibility to use these 16-23 feet for inadequate swimming.
This is still better than stumbling over coral fragments in special swimming shoes. Like all Koh Samui beaches, the sea at Thong Plu is subject to waves during windy and stormy weather.
Sunbeds and Shade
Among the amenities on the beach there are several sun loungers belonging to resorts and intended for their guests. There’s no rental of deck chairs or other beach accessories at Thong Plu.
Beach Photos
Amenities
The area of the island where Thong Plu Bay beach is located is quite remote. It sits at the base of Nathon Hill – the pass connecting the north and west of Koh Samui. The nearest settlement with all amenities is Nathon, three miles (5 kilometres) to the south, or Bang Po.
It’s about half an hour’s drive to hypermarkets. The nearest mini-market/café/market is one and a quarter miles (2 kilometres) to the east, towards Bang Po. Right near Thong Plu resorts there’s only laundry service – for everything else you’ll have to drive around. Nearest attractions:
- At the highest point of the pass there’s a gazebo viewpoint with views of Thong Plu, Bang Po and neighbouring Koh Phangan.
- A hundred metres from the gazebo there’s a road going steeply uphill to mountain villas. There’s a platform there with stunning sunset views.
- Closer to Nathon, inland, there’s the Zong Raue waterfall, unpopular with tourists but extraordinarily pretty.
Accommodation
The coastal part of the beach represents a green triangle between water and motorway, on which about five resorts are located. This is the only private rental accommodation available at Thong Plu Beach. Additionally, villas are available for rent on the beach, for example luxury options like Baan Laem Noi Seaside Cottages and the budget-friendly shore cottages option – Footprints Hotel.
- Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui 5
- Villa Riva Samui 5
- Baan Laem Noi Villa 4
- The Emerald Residence 4
Behind the ring road stand large shop-workshops for processing wood, stone and growing garden plants. Across the road, opposite the granite workshop, sits Citin Urbana Hotel villa, whose residents listen to circular saws even at weekends.
How to Find the Beach
To reach Thong Plu Beach, you need to drive along the Ring Road to Nathon Hill. If you’re coming from Nathon, you need to get over the hill and immediately after the descent turn left. If coming from Maenam, before reaching the climb you should turn right. Beach access is available through any resort’s territory, each of which has its own parking.
