Surfing Koh Samui

From October through to December, there’s no doubt Samui has got surf. The Koh Samui surfing scene is alive with dedicated local surfers and tourists, all out there to grab the most fun out of 3-4 foot beach breaks.

The surf is usually created by wind swell in the Gulf of Thailand, so conditions can change quickly. Some days are small and messy, some days are fun, and every now and then one of the reefs or beach breaks turns on properly.

Koh Samui has several surf spots that can suit different levels, from smaller beach breaks for newer surfers to reef waves for more experienced surfers. You still need the right swell, wind and tide though. Samui is not an everyday surf destination.

Here are some of the better-known surf spots in Koh Samui:

Lamai Beach: This can be a good place to check for smaller waves. It is one of Samui’s more popular beaches and can suit beginners when the surf is small and clean.

Chaweng Beach: This is definitely the most popular surfing beach in Koh Samui. There are surfboards and bodyboards for rent along the beach and many of the local surfers are happy to give you tips on surfing if you are a first timer.

Coral Cove: This is a smaller, more secluded beach with reef around it. If there are waves here, it is better suited to surfers who know what they are doing, or visitors surfing with someone local.

Taling Ngam Beach: This is a quieter west coast area, better known for sunsets and views of the Five Islands. There are reef waves in this area, but they are for experienced surfers and need the right conditions.

Chaweng Beach is definitely the most popular surfing beach in Koh Samui. There are surfboards and bodyboards for rent along the beach and many of the local surfers are happy to give you tips on surfing if you are a first timer.

The ‘Left Alone’ reef break off Chaweng Beach is rarely ridden. The ‘Left Alone’ gives a long surfable left hander and is best surfed at mid to high tide, when the waves are over 4 feet. At low tide it can become too shallow for surfing.

In front of the InterContinental Koh Samui Resort, formerly Baan Taling Ngam Resort, is a reef break suitable for experienced surfers only. It breaks on a shallow coral reef and as reports go can get quite fast and sucky.

It is not as consistent as Chaweng Beach, but when the conditions are right this reef break produces very long waves that break along the reef, finishing in front of the Five Islands Restaurant area. It relies on swells from the north.

There are a few other spots in Samui, but keep in mind that they don’t break every day and access makes it difficult to get waves at these surf spots when it is good. You have to be lucky and watch every day.

One surf spot rarely spoken of here is a reef break, in the photo above, out off the Kamalaya Resort. This reef can produce very long and fast waves. But as mentioned before, you have to be there on the right day.

Another spot is only accessible by boat and is actually not on Samui Island but on a small island to the south. The long breaking waves start from behind a small islet and break towards the island. Reef break and isolated, for the experienced and adventurous only.

Surfing in Koh Samui is a case of exploring and looking every day, checking weather patterns and swell directions. If you do get one of these places working well though, it will be a surfing memory that will stay with you forever.

Webcam of Chaweng Beach Koh Samui

You can find plenty of places to stay in Koh Samui as the hotel, guesthouse and resort industry is well established.

You might want to start looking here for hotels in Koh Samui.