Chaloklum Beach

What the beach is actually like

Chaloklum's beach isn't the postcard white-sand cove you'll find on the west coast — it's a wide, working bay where fishing is still a real livelihood, not a photo prop. Longtail boats moor along the sand, and depending on the day you might see squid drying in the sun. The water is calm and generally good for swimming, especially toward the eastern end of the bay.

What makes Chaloklum worth the trip isn't dramatic scenery — it's the atmosphere. Chinese-style wooden shophouses and seafood restaurants line the street by the pier, and the whole place feels lived-in rather than built for tourists.

The village itself

Chaloklum village has grown into a small hub for water sports — it's home to the island's main freediving school and a well-established wakeboarding operation. On Sundays, a Walking Street market sets up around the pier from about 5pm. For the full rundown of the village, temple and boat connections, see our Chaloklum village guide.

Diving from Chaloklum

Chaloklum is genuinely the island's main diving hub — three well-known operators are based right in the village: Chaloklum Diving, Lotus Diving (running since 1999) and the 5-star Sail Rock Divers. All three run trips out to Sail Rock and Ang Thong Marine Park.

Getting there

About 10–15 minutes by bike from Thong Sala, heading north on reasonable roads — no mountain climbing required, unlike the routes to the east coast.

Good to know

• This is also where boats depart for the remote, boat-access-only Bottle Beach
• Fresh seafood here is genuinely good and reasonably priced — Cucina Italiana is the pick if you want a break from Thai food
• Quieter and more low-key than the west coast tourist beaches — bring your own entertainment after dark