Mae Nam Place guide

Mae Nam is located on Ko Samui’s northern shores. The town is on the main Ring Road and has a wide stretch of beach and calm, soothing waters. The beach is situated far away from the main road, meaning there’s a definite feel of privacy that’s uncommon in most beaches here. The beach has white sand, lined with coconut trees and beautiful blue waters. If you’re eager for a quiet getaway, Trip Guru can reassure you, you’ll find no better backpacker beach than Mae Nam.

On Thursday evenings, everyone—from locals to tourists, expats, and travelers—flock to Mae Nam’s own version of a walking street market, where delicacies such as deep-fried crickets, Thai seafood and cocktails are in abundance. With a drink in hand, you can look towards the sea at Mae Nam for a wonderful view of pretty lights. If you’re looking to unwind after a busy day, Mae Nam has spas available, as well as a golf course and country club where you can play across well-maintained greens with beautiful views of the neighboring islands.

Aside from the walking street market, Mae Nam is laid-back and more relaxed but you can dine well and grab a drink from one of the many restaurants and lounges available. If you’re looking for more daytime activities, try out a Mae Nam zipline complete with training and safety instructions, where you zip-line through 500 meters of forests and waterfalls. Afterward, feel free to cool off with a bath in one of the basins, located at the foot of the waterfall. The zipline is located in the Mae Nam hinterlands and is open from 9:00am to 6:00pm.

To get to Mae Nam, you can get a direct transfer from Bangkok with a direct flight, or a songthaew from Chaweng can take you there every 15 to 20 minutes. A lesser-known route is the Thong Nai Pan express ferry and goes between Mae Nam pier and the east coast of Ko Pha Ngan. It stops at Haad Rin, Haad Tien, Than Sadet and Thong Nai Pan and departures start at 9:00am and Mae Nam towards midday. The ferry doesn’t run during monsoon season, so visit from January to September if you want to take a route by boat.