> > by Craig Tansley
Many travellers will never leave the bars, hotels, shops and cafes of bustling Chaweng on Koh Samui; which means beaches like Mae Nam remain the perfect retreat for any couple seeking the classic Thai beach escape. The prettiest and quietest beach on Koh Samui, Mae Nam, on Samui’s north coast, is just ten minutes from Chaweng and only seven minutes from Koh Samui’s international airport, yet it offers couples a tranquillity that can be hard to find amongst holiday crowds.
Mae Nam has some excellent five-star accommodation options, but all its resorts are located at the end of long pathways offering beach-goers privacy. It’s also far from the traffic noise of the island’s main coastal road. The most under-rated beach on Koh Samui, Mae Nam is that idyllic Asian beach utopia you imagined, with its stunning views of Ko Pha Ngan and its drop-dead glorious sunsets, while the beach itself is long and deserted. Getting There:
Thai Airways flies 45 times a week from Australia to Bangkok with onward connections to Koh Samui. www.thaiairways.com.au
Perfect for the couple who:
Seek privacy, but still want some social interaction. Mae Nam was once the domain of low-key backpacker-style accommodation, but it now offers a level of sophistication in its accommodation, restaurants and bars. Don’t expect all night dance parties, but the beach-side bars are romantic and get busier around sun-down when those in the know come for the best sunsets on Samui.