Bang Por takes up the north west corner of Koh Samui located between the towns of Maenam in the north and Nathon in the west. This tranquil area boasts a stunning coastline of white sand beaches, swaying palms and amazing views of the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan from the hills above. A stunning location to relax with family and friends and enjoy one of our Bang Por holiday villas.
Bang Por is located on the north west coast of Koh Samui midway between the towns of Maenam and Nathon and covers quite a large area on this corner of Koh Samui.
With it's stunning coastline of beaches with white sands, clear water, swaying palms and beautiful views over to the neighbouring island of Koh Phangan it was chosen as one of the first places for the development of luxury ocean view villas on Koh Samui in the hills above the beach. Some of these villas also have the advantage of breathtaking west facing ocean views over the beautiful Angthong Marine Park in the Gulf of Siam.
The Thai beach land owners held on to their land much longer and are slowly releasing this to small resorts and luxury villa developments, which appear to have been planned to fit in with the environment. Many of the bungalow resorts remain.
The Bang Por area is considered peaceful and really just reflects what life on tropical island should be, retaining its original charm and enhanced by the palm-fringed beaches line with rustic style restaurants and enjoying beautiful scenery creating a true paradise for a family get together with family or friends .
The two main beaches within this area are a length of 4km stretching from Ban Tai in the east to Bang Po in the west.
A small headland separates Bang Po beach from the bays of Laem Noi and Laem Yai that continue round to the extreme north west corner headland of Koh Samui, where the high end Four Seasons Resort is located.
There is no village street as such and the locals mostly live in clusters of accommodation, hidden within the palms in roads or tracks off the main Samui ring road close to the school and temple. There are a few shopping outlets scattered along the ring road and a 7/11 convenience store is never far away.
Although the area is tranquil, Bang Por is just 5 to 10 minutes drive to the less sleepy village of Maenam. There are a number of banks, restaurants, markets and convenience stores here. A further 5 to 10 minutes to the Old Fisherman's village of Bophut, beyond which is the nightlife of Chaweng.
10 minutes drive in the other direction takes you to the ferryport and authentic town of Nathon with ample tourist shops and cafes to browse and enjoy during the day.
In general, the area of Bang Por is an ideal location for a tropical Koh Samui holiday to chill out and relax and enjoy this paradise and perhaps socialize with many like-minded holidaymakers in the various local restaurants.
Bang Por Beaches
Ban Tai beach is located at the east end of the Bang Por area, joining up with Maenam beach via a rocky headland, due to the curve of the bay it is a good spot for enjoying the sunsets. The beach is hard to find unless you know about it already.
The beach, like most in this area are what you would expect on a tropical island with white sands and bordered by small resorts nestled in the palms. Whilst it is fine to paddle in the sea on the shoreline, there is a coral reef further out which restricts swimming. On the most eastern section of the beach however, there is a small coral free zone creating ideal swimming conditions.
Bang Po is the longest of the two beaches and again a palm-fringed beach that looks like it came out of a brochure, but there is an offshore coral reef which restricts swimming in places here too. The road gets narrower the further you travel west and this beach is easier to discover and has easy access and more amenities. The western most stretch of the beach in particular only has room for a single dwelling between the road and the beach, this strip features many eateries. The restaurants here serve mainly Thai dishes, but western favourites as well.
As with many of the north and west coasts of Koh Samui, there is an offshore coral reef and whilst swimming is best between the months December to March, during the summer months the coral is exposed.
Spa and Wellness
Natural Wing Health Spa is a stand alone spa and is renowned for being the leading wellness centre on Koh Samui specializing in detoxing slimming programs, several different types of massage and body scrubs.
Bang Por is a quiet and tranquil destination so the main activities centre around the peaceful beach which is great for snorkelling and kayaks are available to hire from restaurants in some parts of the beach. The area however is well located for travel to other more lively areas if you want to join in with the many activities Koh Samui has to offer.
There are a number of rustic Thai style restaurants along the beach stretching from Ban Tai at the east to Bang Po at the west and all offering the stunning views over to the island of Koh Phangan
On the beach you will find the following eateries and some provide sun loungers for you to relax on the beach after your meal. Also along the Bang Po bay guests can find several laid-back beach bars set in thatch-roof shacks all with sunset views and cocktail menus
Bang Po Seafood Takho, Krua Ban Po and Khanom Jeen Pla Khiao
Discover some of the best seafood in Samui at the above beach restaurants
Cow Man Gai
A rustic beach side restaurant offers delicious organic chicken with steamed rice or stewed pork that just falls off the bone with rice, unbelievably delicious, another short beach walk away.
4 Monkeys
A funky small beach coffee shop and bar has some delicious coffee creations. .
Koh
The high end KOH restaurant at the 5 star Four Seasons hotel at Laem Yai beach perched on a breezy hilltop amid with stunning views is recommended to explore the island’s exciting flavors of the Southern Thailand’s cuisine.
Relax Sunset Bar & Restaurant
Dressed cabanas and fairy lights create a perfect spot a perfect for a tasty Thai early evening meal and enjoy the amazing sunset views.
Celli's Pizzeria Italiano
This can be found on the ring road in Bang Por opposite the beach.
The Terrace
Should you wish to have ultra delicious and very good value Thai food - visit The Terrace restaurant run by a local Thai familylocated at Ban Tai come highly recommended. It is not in the best position just a few steps from the busy roadside, but in just a few minutes the environment you are in seated in a tropical garden has taken you to another place !
"Nightlife" mainly consists of an evening on the beach over a candlelit dinner and iistening to live music whilst the sun sets. The night markets in Maenam and Nathon 10 mins drive away are also popular with visitors.
For extensive beach dining and entertainment The Fisherman's Village at Bophut is just 20 minutes drive with bars, restaurants and coffee bars providing excellent atmosphere. The quaint shop houses selllng quirky items and anyhing and everything is a "must visit" especially on a Friday evening when a large walking street market takes over the main street.
For those looking for something a bit more lively, the famous Chaweng Beach approximately 30 minutes drive will keep you entertained until the early hours.
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