Taling Ngam Beach

Taling Ngam is the quiet southwest corner where Koh Samui turns scenic and remote. The bay is backed by steep green hills, the road peters out, and the dominant feature is the view, a wide west facing panorama across the water to the cluster known as the Five Islands and, on a clear evening, the Ang Thong marine park beyond. It is one of the prettier outlooks on Samui and the reason the island's most design conscious resorts chose this hillside.

The beach itself is calm and fairly narrow, soft underfoot and genuinely secluded, with little of the bustle you find on the east coast. The water is sheltered and gentle for a swim when the tide is up, though it shallows at low tide as it does along this coast, so timing helps. What you will not find is a developed beachfront, since the bay is given over to resorts on the slope rather than public bars and lounger hire, and that is the trade for the seclusion and the view.

The signature experience here is the sunset from above. The clifftop Air Bar at the InterContinental Koh Samui is widely rated one of the best sundowner spots on the island, perched over the bay with the Five Islands laid out below, and the nearby Conrad occupies a similar cliff position. Come to Taling Ngam to stay quietly, to swim gently and to watch the sun drop from the cliff. The Koh Samui beach clubs guide has the venues and booking through our form.