Ko-Sichang has many beaches, all with cleaner, clear water than any mainland beach on the Gulf.
By far the biggest, best and most popular is Haad Tham Phang (Collapsed Cave Beach). There you'll find umbrellas, deck chairs, drinks and snacks, plus kayaks, inner tubes and other swimming aids.
Others
are smaller, more secluded and often pristine. None of these places have lifeguards,
but the drop-off is very gradual at all the beaches, and the surf is seldom
any threat
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Tham Phang (Collapsed Cave) Beach is far the
most popular on the island.
As the picture shows, it boasts canvas deck chairs and umbrellas for rent;
further inland there's a modest restaurant, some bungalows, and facilities
for a shower and change after your swim. Samlor fare from the market area
is about B80--which was fair enough when the road was an unpaved track.
Coming or going, ask to take the road over the hill by Wat Tham Yaai Prik,
which offers some spectacular views.
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Haad Saai Kaew is the most secluded of Ko-Sichang's accessible beaches. Especially during the southwest monsoon, it can have calm, crystal clear water, and no people. There's a variety of coral and some large fish waiting for the snorkeler with a good enough sense of direction (or one of the local youngsters trained as guides) to find the somewhat overgrown stairway down the cliff about 500 meters south of the Old Palace, immediately north of the pier of the less-than-scenic oil tank farm.
The beach at Tham Saai (Sandy Cave) disappears at high tide,
but is very nice when the water's low. (At high tide you can swim off the
rocks, but watch out
for cuts from the very sharp oyster shells.) It is just to the seaward side
of Wat Tham Yai Prik, and from time to time one may see the monks and nuns
from the temple swimming, or sitting in meditation on the cliffs above. Be
prepared for some heavy breathing when you climb 136 steps back up to Sripitsanu
Bungalows, where you can get a cold drink and a snack.
There's a nice little beach--not in the least secluded, very
popular with the islanders--on the south side of the lighthouse promontory,
just in front of the Emerald Pavilion in the Old Palace grounds. It can make
a good place for young kids to take a swim, or grown-ups who want to cool
off after a thorough exploration of the palace grounds. You can get a fresh-water
shower
in the bathrooms at the entrance to the palace.
Just south of Ko-Sichang is the island of Koh Khaangkhaao. It has a few bits of good beach, and the best snorkeling in the archipelago, particularly on its southern side. It makes a good destination for a day or half-day fishing/ swimming/snorkeling trip. There are bungalow accomodations on the beach facing the main island, where you may or may not find cold drinks for sale. Since you'll have to rent a boat to get to the island in any case, it's prudent to bring your own supplies
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