Luxury Villas in Chaweng

Chaweng is Koh Samui’s best-known beach, a long sweep of fine, pale sand running for several kilometres down the island’s east coast. It is the busiest and most developed part of Samui, with the greatest choice of restaurants, shops, spas and nightlife, yet the beach itself is wide enough to feel open and relaxed for most of the day. The water is a clear turquoise in the calmer months, and the sunrises over the Gulf of Thailand are a reason to be up early.

The beach changes character along its length. North Chaweng is quieter, with a reef offshore that keeps the water shallow and sheltered. Central Chaweng is the lively stretch, backed by the main road of shops and restaurants. To the south, around a rocky point, Chaweng Noi is a smaller, calmer bay with a more peaceful feel, and beyond it the coast road climbs towards the Lad Koh viewpoint and the small cove at Crystal Bay on the way to Lamai.

Many of the finest villas sit in the hills above Chaweng and Chaweng Noi, where the land rises steeply behind the coast. From here the views take in the whole bay, Chaweng Lake behind it and the open sea beyond, and the evenings are noticeably cooler and quieter than down at sea level. The beach, restaurants and shops are usually only a few minutes away by car.

Chaweng is also one of the most convenient bases on the island. Samui International Airport is around ten to fifteen minutes north, Choeng Mon and Bophut are close by, and Lamai is a short drive south. It suits groups of friends and families with teenagers who want plenty going on nearby, as well as couples happy to retreat to a hillside villa at the end of the day.