Western beaches of Koh Phangan island. Where to eat on Haad Yao
It is no less densely populated than the southern one, and in terms of beauty and picturesqueness it is in no way inferior. The main difference between the beaches is probably that the south of the island of Koh Phangan has long, kilometer-long beaches, and the west is a series of small cozy beaches, some of them not exceeding hundreds of meters in length. There are, of course, a couple of long beaches, but they can be ignored. Why? You can read about this further.
In our opinion, if you are looking for a quiet, relatively inexpensive beach holiday on Koh Phangan, and for you, in addition to the beach itself and swimming, good hotel, then it is best to take a closer look at this side of Koh Phangan.
The first three beaches, if you move from Thong Sala along the west coast - Plaay Laem beach, Ao Wok Tum beach and Hin Kong beach - are very long and practically untouched by the tourism industry. There are almost no hotels here and on the picturesque coast, under hanging palm trees, you can always retire and take a break from the hustle and bustle or take a walk through the coconut groves. So quiet heavenly place. However, all this splendor is shattered into pieces on one underwater, or rather on land, rock - swimming here even at maximum tides is not easy. During low tide it is impossible. It’s not that there’s not enough water, there’s none at all. Those. For beach holiday This area is completely unsuitable. Mostly people who live here are looking for the peace and quiet of village life. However, if you have your own vehicle, then getting to the swimming spots will not be difficult.
Sri Thanu Beach
After passing these long beaches you will come to a fishing village called Baan Sri Thanu (though it seemed to us that there were few fishermen there) and to Sri Thanu Beach (Ao Sri Thanu). From this point on, the beaches become more conducive to swimming, note, specifically for swimming, not swimming. The beach itself is very wide, even during high tides, and there is always plenty of space to lie on the white coral sand. There is a reef 100-150 meters from the shore where you can try to snorkel. But you shouldn’t expect anything fantastic from this action. In the village there are many cafes, restaurants and even several Thai eateries, and you can also find macarons. They say there is a good and inexpensive restaurant Big Mountain with Indian cuisine, but we have not visited it and therefore cannot say whether it is really tasty and inexpensive. To be honest, Indian food in Thailand sometimes turns out to be simply inedible and resembles an Indian dish only in name. It seemed to us that things weren't going well with fruits. Let us pay special attention - further to the village of Chaloklum, located on the northern coast of Koh Phangan, it is almost impossible to find decent and inexpensive Thai cafes and fruit markets with reasonable prices. Catering points will be represented mainly only by hotel and beach restaurants and cafes. The cost of housing in the Sri Thanu beach area is on average 300-600 baht, but of course there are more expensive ones. You can swim, but at low tide it is quite shallow. The beach did not impress with its beauty and scenery.
Haad Chao Pao Beach
Further north of the island of Koh Phangan is a rather cozy and beautiful beach Haad Chao Phao. We only managed to drop by a short time and we have nothing special to say about him. However, the beach produced good impression: clean, spacious, a lot of greenery and very cozy. The possibility of swimming, as on the previous beach, depends significantly on the strength of the tide. A reef and rocks were visible, probably you can try snorkeling there. Accommodation is represented by resorts with prices ranging from 500 to 1,500 baht per day, but there seem to be more expensive ones. Some hotels have swimming pools. I repeat, overall the beach made a positive impression.
Secret beach
In general, in this area we were looking for a tiny beach called Secret beach. The name and rumors about it were too tempting. If my memory serves me correctly, then we found it right here, between Sri Thanu and Ao Chao Pao, but I could be wrong, just in case, here is a photo of the sign for it. 
If you arrive on a bike, it is better to leave it on the road near this sign. The descent down is in the best traditions of the island of Koh Phangan, it is very steep, but it is not yet paved and washed away by waters from the slope. It's not worth the risk. However, the Secret beach itself is not worth it. There is nothing special there, the only thing we managed to do was swim tolerably and even swim a little at low tide. For accommodation on the shore there are several very inexpensive bungalows, and at the northern end of the beach there is a large and, apparently, not very budget resort. You won’t find silence and solitude here, but you won’t find any special views either.
Haad Yao Beach
Well, here we are business cards beach holidays on the island of Koh Phangan, it is photographs of these beaches that can most often be seen on advertising brochures. The first beach in this series will be Haad Yao Beach, or as it is also called Long Beach. The beach is really beautiful. Lots of greenery, lots of clean and white sand. At low tide there is, however, not very much water, but still enough for swimming. Svetlana, showing some persistence and dexterity, even managed to swim there during the period of maximum low tides. On the shore and on the slopes everything is strewn with attractive resorts, however, it is quiet and calm here. The exception is the resort... in whose bungalow we were lucky enough to spend three “wonderful” nights. Before settling on this beach, you can find a few words about this cheerful hotel. Please note that in the evening and at night sounds travel especially well and over considerable distances.
In short, Haad Yao Beach is one of the best places for those who are looking for a classic beach holiday, and in the evenings they like to enjoy sunsets while sitting in a cafe or at a table right on the beach. Despite the fact that Had Yao and the vacation it offers are not to our taste, we liked the beach itself. The only thing you shouldn’t believe in travel agencies is promises of excellent snorkeling. Nothing interesting in terms of underwater world there is no.
Well, take into account what we wrote about food in these parts, be prepared to spend significant sums on it. To save money, we recommend walking to the 7-Eleven store. If you don’t know what kind of stores these are, we recommend reading the article 7 eleven stores in Thailand. The store is located on the highway that runs above the beach. If you need rum or beer, then you should definitely not be lazy. We also recommend stocking up here drinking water. And, if you go up the road running from the northern end of the beach, 50-70 meters before joining the highway, you can find a couple of not very expensive cafes that do not belong to hotels. The fruit thing is a complete... ambush.
BeachHaadSalad
Mae Haad Beach
Mae Haad beach is located in the most northern point west coast of Koh Phangan and is considered one of the most beautiful and best beaches on the island. We won’t say how true this is, let’s just say that we really liked Mae Haad in many respects. It is very picturesque, wide, a lot of greenery, it has very clean sand and sea. Also here the best place for snorkeling on Koh Phangan. It’s not that you can see anything amazing, but of all the many places on the island where we dived, this is the most interesting. But, unfortunately, the reef is being intensively destroyed by the anchors of yachts and ships that bring snorkelers here. It will probably be completely dead in about five years.
During the day, Mae Had beach is quite crowded due to its popularity. A lot of people come here to dive, swim, and just sunbathe, but there is enough space for everyone, and there is no overcrowding. In the evening, the beach is empty, only those who live here remain, and since there are not very many hotels, there are few people. Accordingly, it is quiet and calm. Well, another feature of this beach is the sunsets! We won’t praise or describe it. Just come and take a look. The downside is the same problems with food and fruit.
As a quick summary, let's say the following. During the period when we were looking for accommodation, Mae Had Beach was one of the main candidates. And even though we chose Chaloklum, people still came here very often to swim and admire the sunsets. See all hotels on Mae Haad Beach General conclusion If you are going to Koh Phangan for a beach holiday and at the same time dreaming of peace and tranquility, take a closer look at this west coast. This may be just what you are looking for. But don't expect to find it here nightlife. If suddenly during your vacation you still have a need for it, then you can easily go for it to the south coast of Koh Phangan.
updated: April 10, 2017 by: Sergei
Haad Yao Beach is located in the western part of Koh Phangan. Haad Yao beach is considered one of the most popular beaches in Koh Phangan according to guidebooks. We stopped at Had Yao for a few days to form our own opinion about this beach and show you what it really looks like.
Haad Yao Beach Review
The beach is quite large. Some even consider it the longest on Phanagna. Coastline about 700 meters. During low tides, the beach becomes wide, and during the high tide season, on the right side the water can reach almost to the palm trees. The sand is light, almost white. It's nice to walk barefoot.
Hotels on Haad Yao beach
- See Through Resort
- Sun Moon Star Resort
- Haad Yao Bayview Resort
- High Life Bungalow
- Longbay Resort Koh Phangan
All hotels on Koh Phangan
On the right side (if you are facing the sea) there is a non-swimming place. There are boats there, even smaller and the bottom is more rocky. You should go to the left to swim.
Almost the entire coastline, except for a few sections, is built up with hotels. There are massage parlors in several places. Massage costs 300 baht. Several beach restaurants. Prices are reasonable. There is even one Indian costume store. But what we like most about Hat Yao are the tall palm trees!
Few tourists
There are few vacationers on Had Yao Beach. Even on the eve of the Full Moon Party there were no crowds here. And on ordinary days the beach can be almost deserted.
The contingent of vacationers on Had Yao are European youth, especially during the Full Moon period, and middle-aged people. There are tourists with small children. There are few Russians; in 6 days we heard only one Russian-speaking company. By the way, large tattoos on the thigh or back are now in fashion for European girls. Literally every first Euro girl on Koh Phangan has these weird tattoos.
Sunbeds
There are no sun loungers at Had Yao. Only near hotels can there be sun loungers for guests of these hotels. On the beach itself you can only sleep on your own mat.
Where can I order a transfer from the airport?
We use the service - KiwiTaxi
We ordered a taxi online and paid by card. We were met at the airport with a sign with our name on it. We were taken to the hotel in a comfortable car. You've already talked about your experience In this article.
Shadow
There is very little natural shade. If there is shade in the morning until 12-13 o'clock, then after lunch there is almost no shade left. This is due to the fact that the beach is western. In the afternoon, the sun shines from the sea and there is almost nowhere to hide from it. A little shade can be found in the central part under the coniferous trees.
Where to eat on Haad Yao
There are several beach cafes in the central part of the beach. There is also a 7 Eleven further in the area. All hotels have restaurants. Therefore, there will be no problem with nutrition.
Where to swim on Haad Yao
It seems that everything should be fine, the beach is large and beautiful, the water is blue, there are not many people. So why such a question? In fact, it turned out that swimming on Haad Yao is problematic due to the shallow sea and rocky bottom in most of the beach. All tourists swim on the left side of the beach near the Haad Yao Resort hotel and the IBIZZA cafe. For swimming in the sea, choose these bright clearings with a sandy bottom.
There is no depth, but you can swim even at low tide. The water does not go away completely, it remains somewhere knee-deep, or at best waist-deep. Therefore, swimming at Haad Yao is not swimming, but simply sitting at the bottom.
That’s what everyone does here, they went in and plopped into the water. It will not be possible to swim further, since the dark spots in the sea that are visible in the photo are stones, corals and algae. But people like it at Had Yao. We ourselves have also become accustomed to this feature of the western beaches of Koh Phangan; we lie in the shallow water with pleasure. The main thing is that the water is clear and there are no waves.
Sunsets
Sunsets are visible every evening on Haad Yao. You can admire the sunsets from a restaurant while having dinner or just during an evening walk on the beach.
By the way, while we were watching the sunset, we noticed that a pig was running on the left side of the beach. We found out that she lives in one of the cafes, like a pet, and sometimes she is let out to run around to the joy and surprise of tourists. We also saw a large green parrot. Perhaps he also lives in a cafe and sometimes flies out for a walk.
There are also dogs on the beach in the evenings, as on all Koh Phangan beaches. Therefore, walking in the evening may not be very comfortable. Especially if you have warmed up food from 7-11 in your bag.
Haad Yao video
Watch an overview video of the beach from different angles.
Updated: 2019-3-3
Oleg Lazhechnikov
19I continue my series of review articles on the beaches of the main resorts in Thailand. I already have reviews of beaches, and. Now take a look at the beaches of Koh Phangan.
All of them are divided into major and minor, and are also listed from Tong Sala in the south (as from the main pier of the island) - and then clockwise. To better navigate where and what is on Koh Phangan, look at the map of beaches at the end of the post, there you can click on the beach marker and go to detailed description with photos. Below I present a description of the main beaches of Koh Phangan, although there is still a small piece of work left there, since there are a little more secondary beaches than I managed to visit.
If you are traveling for a long time, then I would start choosing a place to stay in the area. Here a good choice housing, with many options by the sea. Developed infrastructure, and in general a good place for wintering. As an option for a long stay, it’s perfect - one of the best beaches on the island and a developed area by Koh Phangan standards. And if you don’t mind living far from the sea, then feel free to consider it, with its excellent infrastructure.
If you are going on vacation for a couple of weeks, then choosing the best beach depends on your preferences. , which smoothly flows into Tong Sala, is not suitable for a beach holiday, but as a convenient location for active travel around the island; in addition, there are quite a few budget hotels there. Famous for its parties, Full Moon Party is suitable for partygoers on party days, and for sealing enthusiasts at other times, as Haad Rin itself is an excellent beach.
For a relaxing and inexpensive beach holiday, the beaches and. These are western, shallow beaches, but they look attractive and have some infrastructure. It makes sense for yogis and vegans to settle in, there are at least two yoga centers and a bunch of different healthy cafes. For those who are looking for an expensive beach holiday in a reasonable distance from civilization, I recommend the beaches. Well, for those who want to see lost paradise without people and almost without civilization at all - you’re welcome.
Phangan is a small island that can be crossed from north to south in 15-20 minutes, no more. If you live on the western, more developed half of the island, then wherever you live, everything will be “nearby”. And here east side it is still very little inhabited (with the exception of Haad Rin in the southeast), and personally I would not consider it for myself. But this is my opinion, and in fact it may not coincide with anyone else’s. Be sure to ask questions in the comments, I’ll try to recommend something specific. And your advice is also welcome.
Main beaches
Thong Sala is the main port town of Koh Phangan, which also has its own beach, although it is called a beach conventionally. It is difficult to relax on the shore, where the two largest piers on the island are located with fairly dense traffic traffic. The piers receive boats and ferries with thousands of tourists who fly through Thong Sal without stopping and disappear into the jungle of Koh Phangan. There really is nothing to see in Tong Sala - it is administrative and shopping mall islands where a lot of commercial and government institutions are concentrated. People come here to buy food or clothes, change money or buy ferry tickets.
But few people can boast that they spent their holidays on Thong Sala beach. Part of the shore here is covered in concrete, and the rest does not look the most attractive for a beach holiday. Diesel oil stains in the water, marine debris on the shore - all this does not look the most terrible, but not the most seductive way. Thong Sala is more of a technical beach, a place for contemplation, a snack, a couple of photos or to wait for your ferry to the mainland. All more or less decent beaches begin after the outskirts of the town of Thong Sala, and I strongly recommend moving there. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Sri Thanu Beach and Ao Niad Beach
In addition to Srithanu Beach, which is actually Si Tanu, there are also Zen Beach and Naked Beach, which, as it turns out, are not independent beaches, but simply local names for the Srithanu areas. Difficult? In fact, it’s not very good when you drive around and see with your own eyes the differences and features of all the beach locations. Be that as it may, Sritanu is good wherever you decide to go to the sea. I would call it a paradise for children and yogis, because there are many secluded places for solitude and self-contemplation, and the sea is so shallow that even a cat cannot drown there.
Srithanu at the very beginning of the beach is a classic of the genre. Clean sand, resorts, restaurants, sun loungers with umbrellas made of palm leaves, cocktails, beautiful sea, the first line is completely busy. Zen Beach is a place for parties, meetings with like-minded people, beach holidays and escapism from the world. In a word - Zen. But Naked Beach is already a savage compared to the first two, and it is chosen when nothing else helps. There are few people, resorts and bars on Naked Beach, but there is a lot of silence, waves and grass on the shore. Overall, the beauty of Srithanu is that there is a place for every taste. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
If we talk about the beaches on the western part of Koh Phangan, then I would say that Chao Pao is secret beach. Not because everyone who finds out about Chao Pao is immediately thrown into the sea, but because you can’t just find it right away. The beach is hidden from casual glances behind a large palm grove, there are no large signs to the beach, and there are almost no particularly enthusiastic reviews about it on the Internet. And Chao Pao, with all this, deserves at least one day for visiting and sealing, which I did with pleasure in my time.
The first line of Chao Pao is occupied by resorts, whose clients are almost the only visitors to the beach. The stunning sparseness of the beach, combined with tropical tranquility, small, but beautiful sea and a pirate bar by the rocks create a very soulful atmosphere. Clean sand, palm trees, a smooth entrance to the sea, without stones, and it’s all yours. You can actually get here either by mistakenly turning the wrong way, or after carefully studying the map - only then will you find out that in this part of Koh Phangan there is a beach that you didn’t even know about. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
If you are allergic to your fellow countrymen, then I do not recommend Haad Yao as a long-term holiday destination. This doesn’t bother me at all, just from my observations (and this is very subjective) I heard Russian speech very often on Haad Yao. And this is not surprising - our people love to hang out on good beaches, and Haad Yao is just in this category. Long, without broken bends, clean, well-groomed, with good tourist infrastructure and a lot of services.
The sea, of course, is shallow in Phangan style, but incredibly beautiful, especially in sunny weather. A beach holiday on Haad Yao is suitable for those who do not require serious infrastructure, although in general there is everything you need, from shade to cocktails. You can come as a savage, with your own rug, the main thing is to carefully look at your feet, and if you come across a blue plastic pipe that leads from the houses to the sea, then choose a place further away, and preferably upstream. Local peculiarities cannot be avoided. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Haad Salad is considered one of the average beaches on Koh Phangan. Average in the sense that in its size, in its distance from the benefits of civilization, in its infrastructure and external characteristics - Haad Salad is not something outstanding. It is located at the entrance to the most (or one of the most popular) beach on the island, on the far, northwestern edge of Koh Phangan and occupies no more than half a kilometer of coastline. The infrastructure is mainly that offered by several resorts adjacent to the beach, that is, there is even less civilization here than on Haad Yao.
The beach itself has a standard Phangan set of characteristics: relatively shallow water, fine light sand, a small number of palm trees on the shore, a clear entrance to the sea in the center of the beach, a rocky bottom along the edges and crowded. The beach is quite famous and is not located in the wilds, so people come here both for permanent residence and when passing through from other beaches. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
A fairy tale beach, a joy beach and just a beautiful place for a beach holiday. One of the most famous, revered and visited beaches of Koh Phangan, which is always popular among tourists with and without cameras. Its main feature is the coastal profile and the neighboring island, with which Mae Haad is connected by an underwater sand spit. At low tide, the spit is exposed and guests of the island are treated to a stunning landscape like in a movie - a path in the middle of the sea. In general, people really like it and Mae Haad remains a constant photo model for most who have visited Koh Phangan. After .
The infrastructure around Mae Haad does not really correspond to its popularity; here, just like in Haad Yao and Haad Salad, there are no large entertainment and shopping establishments. There are hotels, a couple of shops, cafes. There are two big attractions near the beach: Wang Sai Waterfall with its adjacent nature park and. Mae Haad is a fairly crowded place during the day and during the high season, but the prices for everything are, in principle, average for the hospital. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Malibu Beach and Chaloklam Bay
One of the most famous and beloved beaches of Koh Phangan. I'm talking about Malibu, which is part of big beach Chaloklam on the northern edge of the island. You can get here in a straight line from Tong Sala and this is used by thousands of tourists. The beach is really crowded, popular and popular. It has already been photographed from all sides and described by bloggers of all stripes. But Malibu is worth it, it's a really cool tourist beach with excellent sea, clean coast, excellent infrastructure and service.
Malibu is located on the left half of Chaloklam, slightly isolated, in its own separate corner of the coast. It is strikingly different in appearance from the Phangan beaches: a large expanse of snow-white sand, a beautiful garden with casuarina balls, shallow water with the exciting color of the sea - this is a real bounty on the least famous island in the world. That's why they call it Malibu - it's great. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
The northernmost and most inaccessible beach on this part of the island. With all this, it is one of the most famous and popular among admirers of exoticism and a real island holiday. Bottle Beach is at the end of a challenging dirt road that is crossed twice by streams (and you have to wade through them up to your knees). Get here on personal transport Only drivers of SUVs or scooters will be able to do so, and passengers will have to be unseated in some places. Well, or you can take a taxi boat and get to the beach by sea, this is already a way for cheaters.
A very beautiful, long beach, with fine and light sand, several resorts on the shore, the services of which make up the beach infrastructure. Several bars and massage pavilions, kayak rentals and sun loungers along the entire beach - there is everything for non-stop and worry-free sealing. Visiting tourists rarely come here, so the beach remains sparsely populated even during high season. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Pearl east coast Pangana. In principle, the entire east of the island can be considered a pearl simply because it is difficult to get here. There are more untouched lands here and you can still feel the atmosphere wild island. Uninhabited, not dug up by construction equipment, with terrible roads through the jungle, this region hides such nice beaches as the Tong Nai Pan brothers. True, recently the road to these two beaches has been significantly improved and this has led to an increase in the influx of independent tourists.
All that said, Thong Nai Pan Noi remains a charming place with classic beach-baby infrastructure, although there is little more than a couple of bars and a massage parlour. There is a chain mini-market, a number of pharmacies and Thai shops, and many offers for tourists, from rentals to tours to other regions of the kingdom. And the beach is a shady paradise. White sand, dense vegetation, sun loungers, shallow water, infrequent waves, and the absolute absence of any kind of shore protection. The beach retains its natural beauty and is remembered forever. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
And this beach is the neighbor of Thong Nai Pan Noi. They are approximately equal in size, but each has its own infrastructure and Nai Pan Noi is slightly different greater depth sea, which may become a criterion for someone when choosing a beach on Koh Phangan. In principle, if you look in a straight line, they are within walking distance of each other, but separated by a rather high hill. So moving between beaches on foot is too tiring. Even despite the presence of relatively good roads between them.
Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach is wide, with a clean entrance, good light sand and under the constant supervision of the staff of the adjacent resorts. The place attracts with its authenticity and the absence of tall buildings or various types of shore fortifications, which are so often and willingly abused by landowners in attempts to protect the monstrous erosion dear land on the coast. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
The same beach. Yes, yes, this is the same Haad Rin where the original Full Moon Parties take place. I especially emphasize “original” because the entertainment format has become very popular, parties attract crowds of thousands, and the full moon only happens once a month. Therefore, throughout Koh Phangan you can already count three or four clones created for the same purposes - to collect money from drunken youth and to entertain mass tourist. Haad Rin Nok was and remains the first, main and most famous among them. All these buckets of alcohol, a specific musical format and non-stop dancing until dawn - this is Haad Rin Nok.
In the morning, the beach is licked clean after drunken battles, and Haad Rin Nok turns into a huge space, flat as a football field. Trees remain in isolated cases, the entire first line is built up with bars and restaurants, there is no shade at all. The shallow water is such that at low tide the water runs away 50-60 meters, leaving you with a dense wet bottom on which you can walk in heels (I haven’t tried it, but I’m guessing). Swimming here is only possible at high tide. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Not everyone likes Lila Beach at first sight, so it is strongly recommended to come here only in good weather. The peculiarity of Haad Seekantang (this is the original toponym of the beach) is that mangrove trees grow along the entire coastline, between which you can hide from people and the sun or lie in a hammock, and during high tide the beach is almost completely hidden under water. Swimming, beautiful, wild, with a couple of vacant lots under development and a fairly popular techno bar.
Most of the coast is built up with very simple bungalows, which were literally put together on the knee from what the sea washed ashore. On the one hand, it looks unattractive, but on the other hand, the beach does not remain uninhabited; hippie savages and people simply tired of hot water constantly come here. There are a couple of capital resorts, a beautiful bridge on the rocks and a sunset horizon overlooking Koh Samui. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
One of two Haad Rin beaches, which are located on the southern tip of Koh Phangan. Had Rin Nai is a long beach facing west and is NOT home to the famous Full Moon Parties. But there is good food here developed infrastructure with services for tourists and chain stores, a huge selection of housing of different levels, good roads, pier and rental offices. Haad Rin Nai is more of a resort-technical beach than a party beach. Koh Phangan is considered an island of youth and fun, but all this refers to another Haad Rin.
The beach itself is a rather narrow strip of sand, which is flooded when the water is high, in some places completely blocking the pedestrian passage along the sea. Local resorts are forced to somehow protect their property from erosion, and here they often come across sections of the beach that are disfigured by stone or concrete superstructures. This, of course, helps, preserves the shore, but fundamentally harms the attractiveness of Haad Rin Naya. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
The best option for those who are going to see a lot, sunbathe a little and live independently, and not in a hotel. Ban Tai is one of the longest beaches of Koh Phangan with good infrastructure, which even includes hypermarkets and a world-class hospital. There is a lot of inexpensive housing here, a very convenient location relative to key locations: piers, tourist infrastructure, road junctions. The beach has average characteristics, in my opinion. It’s nice to look at, but not everyone wants to swim.
Ban Tai has harsh shallow waters, not the cleanest bottom, muddy water, a lot of wastelands, and many unkempt areas where there are deposits of marine debris. Again, this is one of the most eroded shores. In general, Ban Tai does not count best beach Koh Phangan in terms of beach holidays; there are a lot of more attractive and photogenic places on the island. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Not the main beaches
Across the river from the town of Tong Sala (we are now moving from south to west, you remember, right?) there is a small splash pool beach called Ao Nai Wok. I call it a paddling pool not because it is overgrown with algae or has a swampy shore, but because of its shallow water and artificial lagoon, which evoke a strong association with a kind of beach, safe paddock for children. The lagoon was formed after the mouth of the river was widened, adapting it for use by small sea vessels, and the soil dumps were piled right there, near the shore. The result was an L-shaped sand spit with an island at the end.
The spit closes a decent section of the beach from the rest of the sea, forming a very calm and shallow backwater where you can walk your children. The coastline of Ao Nai Woka is a bastion of fortifications, which significantly disfigures the appearance of the beach. On the one hand, the Thais reliably protected the shore from erosion with concrete and stones, but on the other hand, I personally did not find it attractive. In general, the beach is more practical than entertaining. It is close to the infrastructure of Thong Sala, there are beautiful sunsets and several simple resorts on the first line. But the swimability and attractiveness let us down. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
I recommend going to Play Lam for those who are looking for truly secret, unpromoted and beautiful beaches of Koh Phangan. It is, of course, not without its comments, but it is still worthy of attention for its location and features. And Play Lam is located at the foot of the mountain, below the main road of the island and therefore cannot be seen from it, which is why it constantly remains out of sight of tourists. And thanks to the same foot, the beach is a broken line, in which huge rocks, large rocks, small rocks, mangroves and patches of soft sand, hidden from prying eyes, alternate.
The advantages of Play Lam include convenient proximity to the infrastructure of Thong Sala, sparsely populated areas and coziness. It’s not crowded here because people don’t know about this beach, and for those who know, very little housing has been built on the shore. Because of the mountain, on the slope of which it is quite expensive and not so easy to build. So the light sand and azure tints are available only to the most inquisitive seekers of a break from civilization. In good weather, it is incredibly beautiful here, thanks to the light sand, which reflects the sun's rays underwater and illuminates the sea from below. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
As in the case of Thong Sala, calling Ao Hin Kong a beach can only be done with a bunch of reservations. It is located on the shore of a fairly large bay, which was chosen by fishermen, and where these comrades are based, as a rule, it is not clean. Partly due to the peculiarities of the profession, and to a greater extent due to their mentality, fishing settlements in Thailand “delight” the eye with deposits of unusable gear, household garbage and marine organics that were not sold. Together with the fishermen, small transport companies have settled here and use the left edge of the beach with the pier for their own purposes.
The right side of Ao Hin Kong is more suitable for living, so there are places near the beach that can surprise you. Not everywhere it is clean and well-groomed, not all areas are suitable for swimming and the water is often cloudy. It is also small and does not boast of infrastructure, in general, I would call it the last option on Koh Phangan, like Wok Tum, which adjoins Hin Kong on the left. Wok Tum is a shorter and more winding version of Hin Kong, where some of the small beaches are used by tourists, and the more or less spacious backwaters are given to the same fishermen. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Haad Son Beach, which still has the local name Secret Beach, which does not need translation, is living proof that good secret place could be good popular place. I envy those pioneer tourists who were the first to set foot on the shores of Haad Son and kept it a secret. To be the only living soul in such beautiful place- these are emotions for life. But globalization and tourism are doing their dirty work, and you get to visit the crowded, noisy, very young and cheerful Haad Son, as it has become now.
Finding it is no longer difficult (there are only two descents to the beach), either by the name of the hotel or by a large number bikes parked on the road. The bay is hidden by the jungle and uneven terrain, and Haad Son beach itself is very short and is now built up with bungalows along the first line. Nearby there is a cult place - Ko Raham, with a bar and rocks from which those who like to jump into the sea love to jump into the sea - it’s safe. Well, right there, under the rocks, you can often meet people with diving masks, I haven’t seen them myself, but people who are keen on snorkeling say that there is something to see there. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Haad Kruad Beach is a small beach, so to speak - private, although the privacy of a beach in Thailand is an ambiguous thing and is often dictated not by legislation and law, but by the fact of the construction of a resort, which slightly less than completely blocks the passage to the sea. In the case of Haad Kruat, we have the loyal administration of the only resort on the beach, which also represents its only infrastructure. This part of Koh Phangan is still sparsely populated and even the access to the beach runs through open and empty spaces, with roads but no houses.
The beach itself is very short and relatively cozy. It is kept in order, there are few people and it is mainly used by guests of the adjacent resort. The infrastructure represents only the resort and its services. The sand, bottom and sea are not the most attractive on Koh Phangan, although I have seen worse beaches. The main advantage of Haad Kruat so far remains its privacy, isolation, and it is perfect for a couple of weeks away from civilization, if you have a rented bike to get out somewhere, if necessary. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
A very conventional beach, rather a place where there could be a beautiful beach if instead of slippery boulders there was at least some sand and a couple of shabby palm trees. But essentially there is only convenient descent to the sea there is a concrete staircase with railings. But you can’t climb into the sea itself - it’s dangerous. During high tide, you can still try to snorkel over the rocks and snorkel in the beach area, but at low tide there is nothing to do here except contemplate, meditate or relax on the way from point A to point B. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Haad Khom Beach is also called Coconut Beach and it belongs to small beaches, although with one small clarification - to small and good beaches. It is located at the edge of geography, in fact at the end of the main island road, which runs along the entire western coast of Koh Phangan and ends in the hills in the north. The beach is hidden at the bottom of a fairly steep slope, behind the territory of a small bungalow resort. This resort makes up the entire infrastructure of Coconut Beach, with the exception of one bar, which is located in three minutes drive further north.
Haad Khom is cozy, green, with palm trees and swings, with good sand, not the most convenient entrance to the water and rocks along the edges. The downside of Haad Khom is that it faces north, so you won’t see either sunset or sunrise here, but there is always shade. Haad Khom is chosen only by knowledgeable people who have either been here before or have received a tip from someone who is well acquainted with the island. The place is wonderful, secluded and uncrowded. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Vainam Beach is located in a small secluded bay and is a hundred-meter strip of sand. The place is very cozy and secluded, which, however, can be said about any beach on the eastern shore of Koh Phangan. Probably because of its beauty, I liked it almost more than anyone else. Vainam differs from its other colleagues in its small size, small population and lack of popularity on the Internet. This is used by tourists who care about silence and tropical tranquility. Local parties sometimes gather here strange people who communicate, play and listen to music. Mostly these parties spill over from neighboring Haad Tian and Haad Yuan during parties at Guyz Bar and Eden Bar. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Haad Tien is the middle beach in the trinity of hermits on this edge of Koh Phangan: Vai Nam, Thian and Yuan. Haad Tien is famous for its Guy’s Bar, which is considered a cult place and one of the most interesting viewpoints in the east. Only the strongest can come here on their own, and only the most generous by sea, so Haad Tien scares away the average tourist, allowing true connoisseurs of the wild lifestyle to feel at home here. The beach is not particularly beautiful, but calm and uncrowded. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
If I were to describe Haad Yuan in three words, I would choose: rocks, sand and sea. Yes, that's exactly what he is. Small in size, beautiful, in its own private cove between the huge rocks on which people settled, they built bungalows and cafes, and built bamboo bridges along the shore. It’s difficult to come here by car, and coming here by boat is a bit expensive, so either the most desperate or the most curious come here. The rest of the beach population are connoisseurs of secluded recreation. A bonus to the sea and authenticity are techno parties in Eden and Gaiza. More detailed description of the beach with photographs.
Ban Kai Beach (Ao Baan Kai)
Ban Kai is one of the “melting” beaches in the southwest of Koh Phangan. By melting I mean excessive erosion of the coast due to sea waves. Such beaches look beautiful in sunny weather, but every storm for them means washed away centimeters of the coast, which landowners are strenuously struggling with. Therefore, Ban Kai is thoroughly covered with concrete rings. This beach is usually chosen by people who came not to seal, but to ride and explore the area. For approximately the same purposes that they choose Ban Tai, which is a continuation of Ban Kai, or vice versa, as it suits you.
It is conveniently close to the Ban Tai and Thong Sala hypermarkets, as well as to the party center of Koh Phangan - Haad Rin. Nearby are the main roads towards the northern and eastern shores islands. And houses on Ban Kai are cheaper, although the infrastructure is so-so, and the beach also leaves much to be desired. Here you have a shallow and rocky bottom, but there are no problems with shadow at all, and the sunsets from Ban Kai are truly beautiful. For a more detailed description of the beach with photographs, see here
Map of Koh Phangan beaches, south
P.S. Likes and shares are welcome :)
P.P.S. I will also be very glad to express your opinions regarding the various beaches on Koh Phangan where you vacationed. Which ones did you like and why?
Life hack 1 - how to buy good insurance
It’s incredibly difficult to choose insurance now, so I’m compiling a rating to help all travelers. To do this, I constantly monitor forums, study insurance contracts and use insurance myself.
Life hack 2 - how to find a hotel 20% cheaper
First, choose a hotel on Booking. They have a good base of offers, but the prices are NOT the best! The same hotel can often be found 20% cheaper in other systems.
Haad Yao Beach. Photo credit: Ian Duffield, Flickr
A pleasant place with a hospitable, friendly atmosphere, so you want to come back here again and again. Haad Yao is a universal beach. It is suitable for young couples, families with children, as well as singles who prefer a quiet, relaxing holiday. There is enough space for everyone on the beach and, even more, in some places it remains almost empty.
Haad Yao. Photo credit: Ian Duffield, Flickr
Haad Yao Beach. Photo credit: eric molina, Flickr
The beach has all the amenities for a comfortable and pleasant stay: massage parlors, yoga classes, diving schools and beach restaurants with cocktails and barbecues at sunset. Some of the latter work until late at night.
Beach restaurants. Photo credit: eric molina, Flickr
Beach volleyball. Photo credit: pethamguy, Flickr
Restaurant on the beach. Photo credit: Christian Fusi, Flickr
Photo credit: Koji Kominami, Flickr
About the beach
Along the beach from the road there are shops, restaurants, pharmacies and ATMs. By the way, in small Thai restaurants located along the road you can eat a little cheaper than on the beach itself. The cost of main dishes here starts from 50 baht, on the beach - from 100 baht.
The island's main infrastructure is approximately 20 minutes away, in Thong Sala. You can take a car to the Thong Sala pier at the hotel or along the road, near 7-Eleven ( international network small shops).
There is not much walking around the beach, because... everything is completely covered with greenery, but if you wish, you can ride a bike to the neighboring beaches, go to the Thong Sala night market or to the famous Full Moon Party in the southern part of the island (taxi can be ordered from the hotel).
Among the attractions nearby are the Wang Sai waterfall and Laem Son lake, where you can have a picnic, but it is better to avoid swimming - its bottom is dotted with dense plants in which it is easy to get entangled. Wat Phu Khao Noi Temple near Thong Sala Pier or the Chinese Temple just past the Chaloklum diving village. Mae Haad Beach is the best snorkeling spot on the island and the small idyllic beaches of Malibu and Haad Khom. See more about Koh Phangan.
The road above Had Yao Beach. Photo credit: Alexis Padilla, Flickr
Beach Features
Soft White sand literally merges with the turquoise water - this perfect place for swimming. Haad Yao Beach has high and low tides. At the same time, they are not critical and also facilitate recreation with children in shallow water. During low tides, little ones can play on the shore in complete safety.
Haad Yao Beach. Photo credit: Caffeinehit, Flickr
Low tides on Haad Yao during low tide season. Photo credit: Jurgen Menu, Flickr
Baby on the beach. Photo credit: Katya Stavitskaya, Flickr
400 meters from the beach stretches coral reef with lots of colorful life, making it a great place for snorkeling. The strip of beach on the south side is quite wide, while closer to the north the sand narrows so that during high tides the water rises to the foot of the restaurants.
Haad Yao Beach. Photo credit: Ursel Ramsch, Flickr
Haad Yao Beach. Photo credit: Samantha Rodrigues, Flickr
Where to live on Haad Yao Beach
Haad Yao Beach belongs to the category of beaches where it is better to book accommodation in advance, especially during high season.
Traditional Thai bungalows on the beach. Photo credit: James Evans, Flickr
View of the beach from the hotel. Photo credit: TNP Life, Flickr
How to get to the beach
Haad Yao Beach is located in the northwestern part. From the port of Thong Sala you can get there in 15-20 minutes by songthaew (pick-up trucks), taxi or motorbike. The beach is connected to everyone western beaches and the diving village of Chaloklum, a large good road along which regular songthaews run. Remote beaches on the east coast can be reached by taxi boats.