Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet)
- Freeride, Wave
- Best for
- Intermediate
- Skill Level
- Flat, Chop
- Spot Type
- Quiet
- Crowd Level
This spot information is AI-assisted and has not been human verified. It may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect. Verify safety, access, local rules, and current conditions with official or local sources before riding.
About
Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) is a small east-coast beach with crystal-clear, generally flat-to-choppy water. The beach is sandy but narrow, and it is bordered by rocks on the headlands/ends, with trees near the launch area—so safe launch and landing depend heavily on using the center sandy section and keeping clear of hazards. For wind-powered sports, conditions are best during the dry season months (December through April, with January–April highlighted as top wind months). Winds are described as influenced by monsoon flow plus thermal/sea-breeze development, with the more reliable build tending to occur later in the day on sunnier periods. Typical wind strength is around 10–20 knots (with light gustiness), but sources also describe only moderate/fair reliability, so plan for light-wind days and bring appropriate equipment. Kitesurfing is the primary fit: the water is clear and usable, and the spot can deliver freeride and some wave opportunities. However, the extremely limited beach length restricts safe maneuvering and run-out space, and the spot may require permission or special permit for kitesurfing. One of the key operational notes is to confirm whether kitesurfing is allowed at the spot and to respect designated swimming areas, particularly around resort beachfront sections. Surfing information is limited and points to inconsistent, weak beach-break surf with short rides on suitable tides; obstacles (including buoys) are present and the break is described as exposed. Wingfoiling can be workable due to close-to-shore depth reports, but the narrow cove and rocky edges reduce the margin for safe foil runs—so intermediate riders should treat it as an obstacle-managed spot rather than a dedicated long-run foiling venue.
- Crystal-clear water
- Flat-to-choppy conditions
- Very small ~200 m beach with rock-bordered ends
- Dry-season wind window supports kitesurfing and wingfoiling
- Crystal-clear water with flat-to-choppy conditions.
- Generally calm water in a small cove setting; good visibility for riding.
- Best season months align with dry-season monsoon/thermal patterns for wind-powered sports.
- Relaxed, low-profile atmosphere relative to larger mainland hubs (spot described as a niche/hidden-gem).
- Very small beach (~200 m) limits ride length and upwind/downwind space.
- Rocks/tress/nearby buoys create launch and landing hazards; timing and launch choice matter.
- Wind and surf can be inconsistent for beginners; crowd can increase in peak periods/holidays.
Wind, water and seasons
Wind
- Direction
- N, NNE, NE, E, ESE, SE
- Wind Range
- 10–20 kts
- Wind Type
- Thermal — Providers describe north/east-to-southeast wind influence consistent with monsoon-season flow plus thermal effects; strongest during sunnier daytime windows.
- Reliability
- moderate
- Gust Factor
- Light gusts — Light gusts reported by enrichment providers.
- Best Months
- January, February, March, April, December
- Recommended Kite Sizes
- 12–17 m²
Water & beach
- Water Type
- Flat, Chop
- Beach
- Sand — Sandy beach.
- Beach Size
- Small
- Waves
- Small — Small waves reported by one provider; surfing notes indicate generally weak surf.
- Chop Level
- Light chop — Providers describe flat-to-choppy water; generally manageable chop for wind sports.
- Launch
- Small — Narrow sandy beach bordered by rocks and trees; no detailed large descent steps reported.
Through the year
Higher during December–January and Thai public holidays; generally quiet/empty otherwise.
May to October
By sport
What to expect for each.
Small, quiet east-coast beach with crystal-clear water and flat-to-choppy conditions. Works best in the dry season (around Nov–Apr) when winds from the north/NE to east-south-east provide cross-shore/onshore flow; expect very limited ride length due to beach size (~200 m). Verify permissions/launch rules before going.
- Kite Sizes
- 12–17 m²
Flat-to-choppy water can support foiling, but the narrow/tiny beach and rocky edges reduce safe space for upwind/downwind runs. Foil friendliness is described as limited by one source and yes by another; minimum depth is reported by a provider.
- Foil Friendly
- Limited — Sources conflict: one provider says foil-friendly is limited due to constraints; another provider says it is foil friendly due to close-to-shore depth.
- Min Depth
- 1.5m
- Wing Sizes
- 5–7 m²
Check the forecast before you go
See wind, waves, weather and session windows for Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) in the full forecast view.
Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) wind and wave forecast summary
- Wind
- 2–7 ktsGusts 15 kts
- Direction
- ESE113°
- Strongest day
- Sat, Oct 247 kts
- Windy days
- 0/712 kts or more
- Waves
- 0.1–0.3 m3s period
- Temperature
- 25–31 °C
Over the next 7 days, Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) is forecast for daytime winds of 2–7 kts, peaking around 7 kts on Saturday, October 24 with gusts to 15 kts. The prevailing direction is ESE. Waves run 0.1–0.3 m with a period of about 3s. Based on the Wavind model, in the spot’s local time.
Other spots in the area
What to know before you launch
Safety, access, restrictions, rescue, and local rules can change. Treat these details as informational and confirm them locally before launching.
Hazards
- Rocks at the edges/headlands
- Trees near the launch area
- Man-made buoys in the water
- Crowded cove sections with sunbathers/tourists
Rescue & support
- Lifeguard
- None — No lifeguards reported.
- Rescue & Self-Rescue
- Limited — Regional context describes rescue as limited; spot-level data also states no dedicated water-sports rescue.
- Emergency Info
- No dedicated water-sports rescue is described at the spot. For serious incidents, emergency care is coordinated via the mainland (Rayong Hospital reported as the nearest major facility).
- Localism / Vibe
- None — No localism friction specifically described beyond general respect for swimming areas.
Rules of the spot
Verify whether kitesurfing is allowed at this specific spot; it may require a special permit or local kite-organization membership. Respect designated swimming areas and avoid kiting too close to resort beachfronts.
- National Park entry fee required (provider note).
- Launch/land in the center sandy section (rocks at both ends).
- If launching on a small beach, consider lower tide to gain more beach space (reported tip).
- Be prepared for light wind and limited room for maneuvers due to the beach length.
- Access involves walking/vehicle movement over a rough track; expect difficulty around rocks when moving near the beach.
Getting there & access
- Nearest City
- Ao Phutsa
- Nearest Town
- Ban Phe
- Nearest Airport
- U-Tapao Rayong-Pattaya International Airport (UTP) and Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) (regional context).
- Parking
- Parking available at Tubtim Resort for car arrivals; limited parking for scooters near the beach entrance (provider note).
- Public Transport
- Bus from Bangkok area to Pattaya then boat, or bus to Ban Phe followed by ferry/speedboat to Ko Samet (provider notes).
- Access
- Boat required from the Bangkok area to Ban Phe, then ferry/speedboat to Ko Samet; on-island access typically uses local taxi (songthaew) or scooter. From Ban Phe: ~30 min ferry/speedboat then short taxi/scooter ride to east-coast beaches. Parking is described as available/limited for vehicles/scooters at the beach entrance area or nearby resort.
- Cost Level
- Moderate
- Local Language
- Thai
What's on the beach
- Accommodation
- Nearby town — Resort/bungalow accommodation around Ao Phutsa and Ao Nuan; nearby beachfront resorts mentioned include Tubtim Resort and Tamarind Resort.
- Food & Drink
- Limited on-beach options at the resorts; multiple beach restaurants/bars serve local and international cuisine nearby.
No schools or services are listed for this spot yet.
Off the water
Ko Samet is a Gulf of Thailand island with protected marine areas and year-round warm, clear water, where monsoon-influenced winds support wind-powered sports in the driest months.
From riders who've been here
Latest reported conditions
Spot questions
Frequently asked questions
When is the best season at Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet)?
The best overall months at Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) are November, December, January, February. The best wind months are January, February, March, April, December.
Which wind directions work at Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet)?
Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) works with N, NNE, NE, E, ESE, SE winds.
What equipment sizes are recommended at Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet)?
Recommended equipment sizes at Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet): Kitesurfing: 12–17 m² · Wingfoiling: 5–7 m². The typical wind range is 10–20 kts.
What skill level is Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) suitable for?
Tubtim Beach (Ko Samet) suits these riding levels: Kitesurfing: Intermediate · Wingfoiling: Intermediate.