Sometimes it is also sometimes called Long Beach. This beach, about a kilometer long, quite wide, with fine white sand, is considered one of the most beautiful beaches on Koh Phangan. Near the shore there are picturesque palm trees, coniferous and deciduous trees, which create a pleasant shade for relaxation.
Haad Yao Beach has very fine white sand and clear turquoise sea. But there are noticeable low tides in the sea, of course the low tides are not as bad as on the beaches in the southwest of the island, but still it’s not very comfortable to swim in the sea in the evening. Not far from the shore there is a reef where you can snorkel and look at the fish and corals.
On the shore on the beach Haad Yao(Haad Yao) there are no local settlements, but only hotels and bungalows for every taste and budget. We lived at the very beginning of Haad Yao beach (if you come from the Thong Sala port) in a hotel. There is a normal road from Thong Sala port to the hotel, travel time is 15-20 minutes.
The beach on this side of Haad Yao is wide and there is room for playing football or volleyball. But towards the end of the bay, near the cape, a lot of algae was noticed, which is why swimming in this place was not very comfortable.
On the opposite side of the beach, the beach strip is narrower and in the morning, at high tide, the water reaches almost to the hotel restaurants.
There are restaurants and bars on the beach that offer Thai and European dishes.
Very nice bar on the beach - Vaga Bar 
Vaga Bar in the evening In the evening, closer to sunset, many restaurants set up tables on the sand and people gather to first drink a cocktail and watch the sunset, and then try BBQ or other delicious dishes.
Evening gatherings on the beach with a cocktail 
My favorite Thai cocktail is Mai Tai :) In the evening, all bars are beautifully illuminated and many host fakir shows.
Haad Yao is located in the west of Koh Phangan and offers stunning sunsets.
On Haad Yao beach there are many salons with Thai massage for 300 baht (I can’t say anything about the quality of the massage - they didn’t do massage there, as there was always no time) and, for some reason, many shops for tailoring suits!!! We haven’t seen this on the beach for a long time 😎
There is a rocking chair on Haad Yao Beach that is so nice to ride on 😎
A little further, on the road parallel to the beach, there is a 7 eleven store, which opened in 2011. You can buy water, coffee, nuts, chocolate, wine and other small items there. Prices at this 7 eleven are cheaper than on the beach, but more expensive than at . And what surprised me was that there were queues at 7 eleven! This is the first time I've seen this!
Near 7 eleven in the evening they bake and sell delicious Thai pancakes. And here is the fruit market on the beach Haad Yao was not noticed. But we didn’t really look, because we specifically went to the market in Tong Sala and to Tesco Lotus for fruit and water.
There are many houses for rent in the Haad Yao Beach area. As we understand, many winterers from Russia also live in this place 😎
Here are some offers for houses for rent on the island of Koh Phangan - there are phone numbers in the photo, you can call and find out the rental conditions and book your house:
Contingent on the beach Haad Yao different from the contingent on Thong Nai Pan Yai Beach. If a more respectable public relaxes on Tong Nai Pan Yai beach, then on Haad Yao beach there are more young people and more informal people, and there are a lot of families with children and many Russians. We haven't heard so much Russian speech since...
If we compare the two beaches where we lived on the island of Koh Phangan, I liked the beach more than Haad Yai beach. Firstly, because of the contingent living on the beach, and secondly, because Haad Yai is somehow less well maintained, the beach is less well cleaned, and the cafes are not so nice 😎 . And there are much more people on Haad Yao beach.
Although for those who need at least a minimal party and the ability to easily get to the largest town on Koh Phangan - Thong Sala, Tesco Lotus, the market, other attractions and beaches of Koh Phangan, I recommend the beach for accommodation Haad Yao.
If you are going to independently vacation on the island of Koh Phangan in Thailand, then this photo article will help you decide which Koh Phangan beach to choose and which area of the island is more convenient to live in if you come on vacation or for the winter.
Choosing a beach on Koh Phangan is a very important issue, because due to low tides, some areas are unsuitable for swimming for six months.
Koh Phangan (aka Koh Phangan, aka Koh Phangan) is my favorite island in Thailand. What about in Thailand - on the whole planet. I’ve been there 8 times in different years, traveled far and wide, rented accommodation on different beaches, so I have some idea about the subject.
The content of the article:
When to go to Koh Phangan?
The tourist season on Koh Phangan is from December to March and from August to September. It is very hot here from April-May, and in October-November it is the rainy season on Koh Phangan.
Why go to Koh Phangan?
They say that Koh Phangan is the island of Karma, where what was deep inside is revealed. Its atmosphere is compared to Indian Goa, but this is only one side of the island.
On Koh Phangan, freaks in acid T-shirts, weed smokers with dreadlocks and quiet tattooed alcoholics coexist peacefully with yogis, prana-eaters and people who do not go to extremes and just came to Koh Phangan on vacation/wintering/reconnaissance.
My Koh Phangan is a ride along the hills on a scooter, along a rutted road to secret beaches. It's a fresh wind in your face and cold in the evenings. These are unhealthy fried potatoes from a bowl of oil at the market. And Had Salad. And madly in love. And Hadrin at night. And a hammock with mosquitoes. And Malibu. And I’m in love again... But all this is my island. You will have it yours.
Haad Rin beach in the south of Koh Phangan
Rental housing on Koh Phangan
Hotels and bungalows in advance or on site?
Koh Phangan is the place where it's better in advance book accommodation if you are traveling for a short period of time ( up to 1 month) and know exactly the dates of your trip.
Especially if the trip occurs in December-March or August-September.
Housing on Koh Phangan is very specific. Cheapest bungalows ( 10-20$ ), which are located near the beaches, are usually very simple and dark, and sometimes without hot water. Not everyone wants to spend their holidays there.
Cheap good hotels ( 25-40$ ) are often occupied during the season, and rooms in expensive hotels (from 80$ ) there is no point in renting on location because the prices on booking sites are the same or lower.
If you are traveling during the Full Moon Party, then especially book in advance, because all budget options are always booked.
I once had to sleep for three nights in a hammock on my friends’ veranda, because the only available accommodation on the island was $200 hotels. Prices for the simplest bungalows had doubled or tripled, and even those storage rooms that had risen sharply in price were quickly booked by someone else while I was turning up my nose.
On normal days and in the low season, you can find accommodation on the spot (you need to ride a scooter and look, and know where exactly to look), but there is not much point in this.
I had an experience when, while on Koh Phangan, I looked for accommodation locally, asked prices at the hotel reception or in a bungalow and it turned out that the price for these same hotels on the Internet was lower than when paying on the spot. In the end, I still booked at Agoda while standing at the reception.
Full Moon Party, 2017 schedule:
January 12
12th of February
March 12
11 April
May 11
the 9th of June
July 10
August 7
September 5
October 6
the 3rd of November
December 3
Which websites to book accommodation on?
Who you book with is your personal choice. If I need a hotel or condo in Asia, I use the search engine roomguru. It allows you to compare prices for the same hotel in all popular booking systems (agoda, booking, ozon, etc.) and shows where it is cheaper.
Then I book on the Agoda website (because sometimes it’s 5-10% cheaper) or Booking (because you can book without prepayment). On rumguru indicated final price per room including all taxes and surcharges.
Below are examples of prices for the Shiralea Resort hotel, found through roomguru. We see that the price for the same room when booking it on Booking is - 22$ , on agoda - 25$ , plus the booking provides free cancellation and deferred payment (you can book without paying). Therefore, it is more profitable to book this hotel through Booking.
BUT! Agoda has three big disadvantages:
- Prepayment. Payment must always be made immediately or two weeks before check-in. On booking, some hotels can be booked without payment
- Taxes. The price shown in Thailand hotel search results on Agoda does not include the Service Charge 10% and Hotel Tax 7% . The final amount to be paid can only be found out after clicking the “Book” button. But even taking into account the tax, the amount often turns out to be more profitable than on a booking. Need to check.
- Cancellation of reservation. If the booking booking conditions for most hotels provide for free cancellation, Agoda often states that the booking amount is non-refundable. If the trip is in doubt, it's better to overpay a few dollars and book on Booking.
If you go to booking on Agada, the price will increase to $165 (taxes 10+7%) House on Koh Phangan for a month or more
If you are going for the winter for several months, then you need to look for long-term houses locally. You arrive, take a bike to Thongsala (the main town of Koh Phangan) and go on a journey around the island in search of a cozy nest.
Where do the winterers live? If you need a quiet and inexpensive place, this is most likely the central part of the island in the palm groves (not on the beach), as well as the west or northwest: Sritanu, Vung Tau, Had Yao.
In the north - near the fishing village Chaloklam. In the southwest in the Thongsala area, if you haven’t found it, then go towards Ban Tai (many cheap bungalows). The beaches there are very bad, so if you need a beach near your home, then it’s better not to look at the Ban Tai and Thongsala areas.
There are many houses on Koh Phangan, but they are often booked in advance by people who constantly go to the island for the winter. If you go during the high season (November-February), then good inexpensive houses will be 80 percent occupied.
Mostly houses are not located on the beach, but in the central part of the island away from the beaches. You need to drive on internal roads and ask Thais. The average price for renting a house on Koh Phangan is 9-12,000 baht ( 250-350$ ) for six months to a year, and 12-16,000 baht ( 330-450$ ) for one month. During peak season prices may increase.
You can also look for a house for a short period of time (up to a month), but, firstly, during the season, Thais do not want to rent out houses for less than a month, and if they do, they ask for the same price as for daily rentals.
How to get to Koh Phangan and public transport
The only way to get to Koh Phangan is by ferry. There is no airport on the island. If you are coming from Bangkok or Phuket, then you can buy a bus + ferry package, if from Samui, then by ferry or boat.
You can find out prices and buy tickets to Koh Phangan from other cities in Thailand (it’s better in advance, especially if you’re going during the Full Moon Party).
If you don’t want to stand in line (for some reason there is always a line for ferry tickets), you can check prices on the Internet and book tickets in advance using the Asian local search engine for local transport. They also sell tickets from Bangkok (bus+ferry) and other cities. Find tickets to Koh Phangan ↓↓↓
Public transport on Koh Phangan is provided in the form of a taxi - songthaew. They charge from 50 to 300 baht for the trip depending on the distance. For more information about transport on Koh Phangan, I recommend reading my article about - there I write where to rent a bike or car, how much it costs, what to do if you fall off a motorbike.
Where are there no low tides on Koh Phangan?
Koh Phangan means “sandbar island” in Thai. The island has very pronounced ebb and flow. They are especially noticeable with May to October, but even in winter the sea travels long distances.
Strong low tides occur on most Koh Phangan beaches in the middle of the month during full moon. On such days, the water can go 100 meters, and sometimes even 300, completely exposing the bottom. The tides are mostly low in the afternoon, so swimming is possible at most beaches before lunch. Low tides are especially noticeable in the south and west of Koh Phangan, but the northern beaches also suffer from a lack of water.
Koh Phangan beaches where you can always swim:
South: Haad Rin (Ful Moon Party Beach) - there are low tides, but you can always swim and Had Lila (neighboring) - at low tide the water is knee-deep
Northwest: Sri Thanu, Haad Yao, Had Salad - you can swim at low tides (knee-deep water)
North: Mae Had and Ko Ma, Malibu - low tides from March, not very annoying in winter
Northeast: Thong Nai Pan Yai, Thong Nai Pan Noi, Bottle Beach
East and southeast: all beaches are suitable for swimming at any time of the year, there are waves in winter
Malibu beach in the north of Koh Phangan Which Koh Phangan beach should you choose?
The choice of beach depends on your interests and needs, and whether you can drive a bike. In general, Koh Phangan is a youth island where independent travelers come. Each beach is good in its own way and each has its drawbacks.
If you drive a bike, then it really doesn’t matter where you live. The island is relatively small, so almost any beach from any point can be reached by bike in 20-50 minutes. If you you don't know how If you drive a bike, then you need to approach the choice of a beach more responsibly.
Youth party- This Haad rin(many foreigners). Young people also often live in Thong Sala. The beach there is so-so, but there is cheap food and shops. Nightlife - south Had Rin and Ban Tai, evening life - bar Amsterdam
Family holiday with children- Sri Thanu, Haad Salad, Had Yao, Mae Had, Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai (in the northeast), Haad Leela - there are no waves on all these beaches.
View of the neighboring island of Koh Ma from the observation deck above Mae Had Beach Infrastructure. The main market and supermarkets are located in the city area Thong Sala and partially Baan Tai. If you need cheap food, then it is better to buy it in Tong Sala at the market or in Tesco and Big C supermarkets. Prices in cafes in Tong Sala are also lower than on other beaches.
The infrastructure is well developed in the south on the beach Haad Rin and on the beaches Thong Nai Pan in the north-east. There are also many cafes, shops and fruit stands.
On other beaches there are mini markets, maybe one store and a couple of fruit stalls. You will mainly have to eat in cafes and restaurants at inflated prices or go to the Tongsala supermarket to shop.
Koh Phangan Beach Map
Click on the name and a description of the beach with a photo will open:
1. Thong Sala is the largest city
Thong Sala is the main and largest city of Koh Phangan. There is also a pier where ferries from Koh Samui, Koh Tao and Surat Thani arrive. This is the very first city that most people see when they come to Koh Phangan.
pros- infrastructure, a lot of young people. Minus- bad beaches.
Infrastructure
■ Exchangers and ATMs are concentrated on the main street, which begins immediately behind the pier. It is now more profitable to travel to Thailand with dollars. It's better not to take rubles. Cards are accepted only in expensive cafes and hotels; in stores only cash is accepted. For withdrawing money from a card at an ATM, a commission of 150-180 baht is charged
■ Transport. There are about 15 car and motorbike rental points in Tongsala. The cheapest place to rent a vehicle is on the main street.
■ Lots of cafes with Thai and international cuisine. Prices for food in cafes are also higher by 20%, and sometimes 40%, than on Samui and in Thailand in general
■ Buying clothes. In Thong Sala you can buy clothes and souvenirs. If you plan to buy T-shirts for the Full Moon Party on the day of the party, then the prices for them are the same everywhere on the island (two to three times higher than on regular days).
If the Full Moon Party is still far away, then it is more profitable to buy clothes in Tongsala. Unless, of course, you have the opportunity to shop in Bangkok, where things are even cheaper.
■ Koh Phangan Hospital (Koh Phangan Hospital) is located 4 km from the center of Thongsal.
■ Bangkok Hospital Samui Clinic (Koh Phangan) branch is located 3 km from Thongsala Pier. In case of insured events, insurers usually refer you here. You can read. The main thing is not to take insurance that has assistance from GVA
■ Evening market with Thai food. Located on the main street of Tong Sala. Opens at 12 noon. Most traders come in the evening - around 5 o'clock. At the market you can buy grilled fish (70 baht), salads (50-60 baht), necks, spring rolls, chicken, donuts, fruits and Thai dishes. The market is open until 10 pm, some traders stay even later. If you want to find a Russian-speaking company for your vacation or meet someone who has lived on Koh Phangan for a long time, come to the market in the evening.
■ Food market. There is a market on the main street that sells vegetables and fruits. There are shops of local residents that sell a minimum set of products. Prices are higher than on Koh Samui.
■ 2 supermarkets. Big C supermarket on the road from Thong Sala towards Ban Tai and Tesco Lotus in Thongsala. The selection of products there is not as large as in Tesco on , but still better than nothing.
■ Apart from Thongsala, there are no other large stores on Koh Phangan. There are 7/11 shops on every beach, but even at 7/11 on Koh Phangan the prices are higher than in other chain stores around the country. At 7/11 you can buy cookies, coffee, drinks, sandwiches, water, ice cream, alcohol, tobacco and hygiene products. Here and there there are small stalls with fruit, but it is still better to buy fruit in Tong Sala at the street market or in supermarkets - they are cheaper there. 
Contingent.
There are a lot of young people, especially foreigners, on the streets and on the beach in Thongsala. The secret is that Tong Sala has the cheapest housing and infrastructure, and you can even ride a bike to good beaches.
Beach at Thong Sala.
The beach is so-so. The tides are pronounced there and the sea is dirty. Not the best place for swimming, but there is a beach, and this is a big plus. On Thong Sala Beach there is a branch of the largest kitesurfing school in Thailand, Kiteboarding Asia.
Although Thong Sala does not have a very good beach compared to other beaches on Koh Phangan, bungalows and hotels in the main town area are rarely empty. The bungalows stretch from the pier to the south along the coast.
Thongsala Beach can’t even be called a beach
Southern beaches of Koh Phangan
2 Baan Tai
If you move south from Thong Sala along the coast, the Baan Tai zone immediately begins (not to be confused with the paradise beaches of Ban Tai on Samui). On Koh Phangan, Ban Tai has disgusting beaches. There are some palm trees, branches, and garbage on the shore. Strong low tides, when the sea goes 200-300 meters away. It's shallow near the shore.
This is an area of inexpensive bungalows and hostels. The main guests are guys who came to the Full Moon Party and could not find accommodation on Haad Rin (the southern beach where the party takes place). So that people don’t get too bored, a week before the Full Moon Party on Ban Tai they hold the Full Moon Festival and Shiva Moon Party
Bungalows in Ban Tai are very cheap (250-300 baht each), but there are more expensive accommodations. I would not choose these beaches for a holiday on Koh Phangan, although there are several quite decent hotels and resorts with green areas on Bantay.
3 Baan Kai beach
Starts immediately behind the beaches of Ban Tai. The views here are more pleasant, hills.
I wouldn’t live there, but the beach is not bad for a relaxing holiday for a couple of weeks if you are looking for privacy and quiet. Huge boulders, fruit trees, palm trees, tropical greenery. There is a coral reef 200 meters from the beach.
The main problem of these beaches, as well as neighboring Ban Tai, is low tides. From April to September-October the sea is very shallow, and sometimes there is none at all. You don't buy it.
After the observation deck above Baan Kai Beach, the road leading to Had Rin begins to wind. If you're not used to it, it can be scary to drive along it.
4** Haad Rin Beach
Full Moon Party Beach. Located on the “tail” in the southeast of Koh Phangan. There is a sunrise beach - Haad Rin Nok and a sunset beach - Haad Rin Nai, between them there is a settlement where travelers usually stop.
Haad Rin Nai is a sunset beach located on the other side of Haad Rin village. There is a pier where boats from Samui arrive during the Full Moon Party.
Haad Rin Nok (Dawn Beach) hosts the famous Full Moon Party every month. I wrote more about this party and how to get to Haad Rin in the post:
Infrastructure
Since Haad Rin is the busiest and most party-oriented of Koh Phangan’s beaches, its infrastructure is well developed. There are several 7/11 stores, but the prices are higher than the stores in Thongsala. They sell clothes and souvenirs on the streets. Lots of cafes, bars and restaurants.
Who is it suitable for?
If your goal is hang out, drink, walk and have fun, then feel free to rent accommodation in Had Rin
Even though there is a party on Haad Rin Nok and the beach is considered not very clean, I really like it there because of the waves and the turquoise color of the water. There is music playing on the shore, there are a lot of young people.
If you, while in Thailand, only meet compatriots (as in, where almost everyone speaks Russian), and miss talking in English, you can fill the gap at Haad Rin - that’s where Europeans like to hang out. If you want peace and quiet, you can always escape from the noise to the rocks or to the nearby Had Lila beach.
Had Rin Beach During the party, thousands of people come to Haad Rin for several days, and the rest of the time this Phangan beach is quite deserted and calm.
If the goal is simple relax in silence, then you can go to Haad Rin, but not on the days of the Full Moon Party. The nature around the beach is very beautiful; you can go on foot to other calmer and even wild beaches.
How to get there? The road to Haad Rin is steep mountains with sharp turns, so if you are not confident in your bike driving skills, it is better to take a taxi to Haad Rin ( 100 baht from Thongsal to Songthaew). If you are comfortable with a bike, then you can rent a bike in Thongsala and then ride the bike, but be very careful. On the eve of the party, there are checkpoints on the roads. Police check people for alcohol.
Before the party there are a lot of people on Had Rin Bungalows and hotels on Full Moon Party Beach
There are a number of bungalows, prices for which start from 400 baht, and on party days they increase to 800-900 baht. There are also more expensive resorts ($100-200 per night). You can live in a bungalow right on the beach. Please note that in addition to full moon parties, Half Moon parties and other parties are held on Koh Phangan, therefore, living on Had Rin beach, you will hear music day and night.
I usually rented accommodation closer to Had Rin Nai beach (speed boats from Samui arrive there). There is a huge complex of simple bungalows for 400-800 baht per day (at booking, these bungalows can be rented for $8-15 per day). The advantage is that you can’t hear the music from the party, you can sleep peacefully, but at the same time it’s a 5-minute walk to the center of the fun.
Popular hotels in Had Rin:
5* Haad Leela Beach
Had Leela- the southernmost beach of Koh Phangan island. He is one of the most romantic and calm. Located just behind Haad Rin Nai. You can get to Haad Leela from Haad Rin on foot in about 5 minutes.
The length of the beach is 500 meters. There are wooden bridges on both sides of the beach - you can walk along them or sit in the gazebo. There are several viewing areas and a Buddhist temple. There are shops and cafes in Had Rin. It takes literally 7 minutes to get there from Had Lila.
The sea is shallow, and at high tide the water comes very close and floods the trees. The tides are clearly visible. At low tide, the water remains, but you won't be able to swim. You can only lie in the water. It will be convenient for children to learn to swim. The landscapes are idyllic. White sand, blue water, palm trees hanging over the water. Here and there on the shore there are sun loungers and hammocks for hotel guests.
You can come to Haad Leela the morning after the Full Moon Party, when it is extremely undesirable to swim at Haad Rin due to the garbage left after the party. If you are looking for a mix between a relaxing holiday and parties, you can rent an apartment on Lila Beach and go have fun in the evenings on Had Rin. In summer, it is better to choose another beach for relaxation or live on this one and go swimming at Haad Rin - there is always water there.
Koh Phangan hotels, Lila beach
On Haad Lila there are both very cheap bungalows and a couple of excellent resorts. For example, these:
I chose hotels because they had internet. Other housing on Koh Phangan in my price category was occupied at that time. By bike it’s about 10 minutes from here to normal beaches, so if you know how to drive a bike, you can look at housing in the Voktum and Hin Kong areas.
8 Sri Thanu
Sri Thanu (Baan Sri Thanu, Sritanu, Stirana) is a fishing village with developed infrastructure. Families with children love to relax on this beach; those who come to Koh Phangan for a long period of time often live in the Sritanu area.
The region of good beaches of Koh Phangan begins in Sritanu. This beach is wide, clean, with white sand. There are sunbeds with umbrellas and hammocks hanging. There are no waves. During low tides, the sea moves only 3-4 meters from the shore, so you can swim even at low tide.
The infrastructure is well developed. There are cafes, including traditional Thai cuisine, makashnits, an Indian restaurant, a lagoon with entertainment (you can jump into the lake from a mattress), yoga centers and schools. Starting this year, Sunset parties are also being organized in Sritanu, like in Arambol, only on a smaller scale. Jugglers, yogis and those simply wishing to say goodbye to the sun gather on the beach.
Bungalow in Sritanu:
11* Haad Salad
Haad Salat, aka Had Salad. This used to be one of my favorite beaches in the north-west of Koh Phangan, but now it has become too touristy and crowded.
There is some infrastructure there. There are several cafes (including a cafe with normal Thai cuisine), massage parlors, and several shops with a meager selection of food and clothing. Wooden bungalows on the shore, hotels.
This beach is more suitable for a romantic getaway or a holiday with children. There are no waves, the depth is insignificant, there is the possibility of snorkeling, you can swim to the reef, but there is no one specially under the water. The downside is the low tides, but even during low tide you can move away from the shore to lie in the water or swim.
When I first visited Haad Salad a few years ago, there were almost no people there. Now this beach enjoys unprecedented popularity, mainly among tourists from Russia and the CIS countries.
12* Mae Haad and Koh Maa Island
This is one of the most popular beaches located in the north of Koh Phangan. Here you can walk along the sand spit to another island - Ko Ma. If you are looking for a beach on Koh Phangan for families with children, you can consider Mae Had.
The water on Mae Had is clean, transparent, the entrance to the sea is gentle, and the depth is insignificant. There is plenty of housing right on the shore, there are several cafes and a couple of shops. There is nowhere to buy Thai food or fruit. The place is popular, so the prices in the cafe are overpriced.
The tides are strong, but you can swim in the sea even at low tide. Around Koh Ma you can snorkel or kayak.
Hotels on Mae Had (Koh Phangan)
13 Chaloklum
This is essentially a fishing village, which is famous for its seafood (not cheap, but fresh and tasty).
Average prices for seafood in Chaloklama cafe:
Grilled fish - 250 - 300 baht
Grilled shrimp – 300 baht per serving
The beach on one side is filled with fishing boats and there is a pier. Chaloklam has pronounced low tides, even during high tides it is quite shallow. You can swim at the western end of the bay, but it’s better to go to the neighboring Malibu Beach.
14* Malibu Beach
Not everyone knows that in Chaloklum Bay there is another paradise beach called Malibu. It has a separate entrance. It’s easy to miss the turn; you need to look for the “Malibu Beach Bungalows” sign, then turn and drive along the sandy path until it stops. There you will find white sand, small trees creating shade, hammocks, turquoise water, and mountain views.
All infrastructure (cafes, shops, market, fish restaurants) is in the neighboring fishing village of Chaloklam. There is only one restaurant on Malibu beach (expensive and tasteless for Ty), and there are hammocks hanging on the trees.
Hotels on Malibu Beach
As for housing, there is only one bungalow complex, called Malibu bungalows. Prices on agoda 30-70$, Moreover, when I was in Malibu and asked the price at the reception, they called 60-100$ , so it's better to book online.
Eastern beaches of Koh Phangan
There are several isolated beaches in the southeast and east of Koh Phangan; they can only be reached on foot or by boat for 200-300 baht. I describe them in the order in which they are presented on the map - from south to north.
15 – Haad Yuan– suitable for a quiet holiday. There are bungalows and hotels, but you can only get there on foot (2 hours) or by boat (250 baht). Prices for housing and food are inflated. The beach itself is good: white sand, there are low tides, but they won’t interfere with swimming, there are waves in the sea, there are not many people.
16 - Haad Tian eats (Haad Thian east) — a small isolated cove surrounded by palm trees and bushes. There are several hotels, a good beach, waves in the sea, you can swim all year round. Prices for food and cafes are 2 times higher than the average on Koh Phangan. A boat to Had Rin will cost 300-350 baht
17 - Haad Sadet - steep white sand beach surrounded by tropical jungle. There are several hotels and expensive resorts on the beach, but that’s where the infrastructure ends. Unlike the previous ones, this beach is approached by a new concrete road with markings, fences and reflectors.
There are several more bays between Haad Sadet and Haad Tian; getting to them is not easy, but if you want to find silence on Koh Phangan and at least a partial absence of civilization and people, then go to the eastern beaches in one of the bays. On northeast civilization begins again and the part of the island inhabited by holidaymakers - the beaches of Thong Nai Pan. The rock divides Thong Nai Pan Beach into two bays: Yai and Noah.
18* Tong Nai Pan Yai
Ao Thong Nai Pan Yai- a long beach in a bay in the extreme northeast of Koh Phangan.
Fine white sand, gently sloping entrance. There are no waves, the sea is knee-deep near the shore. You can move 100 meters from the shore - there is sea up to your chest. There are enough people, but not very many. There are cafes on the beach; there are not only tourist cafes, but also cafes with traditional Thai cuisine.
The town has a hospital branch, an ATM, pop-up shops, a 7-eleven store, and fruit stalls. Developed infrastructure. Prices in cafes and shops are 30% higher than in Thongsala.
If you need infrastructure and a swimmable sea all year round, you can consider this beach as an alternative. There are low tides here, but you can swim in the sea even at low tide. Good for a beach holiday. There are no parties or much fun.
Koh Phangan hotels on Thong Nai Pan
There are cheap bungalows and several expensive resorts with a closed area, the best of which is:
20* Bottle Beach
The road to Bottle Beach is disgusting, but the beach itself is pleasant. There is this bungalow complex on it and this one behind 11$ .
There are several cafes and a lot of young people on Bottle Beach. The ebb tides are almost invisible.
You can choose Bottle Beach for your holiday only if you do not plan to frequently visit other attractions of Koh Phangan. The road from the beach is bad; it can take up to 40 minutes to get to the highway. It’s also scary to go there on a bike. You could easily fall.
My favorite Koh Phangan beaches
I summed up the results at the very beginning of this article, when I answered the question about which beach to choose. I hope the situation with the beaches of Koh Phangan is now clear to you. All that remains is to choose your own vacation spot on Koh Phangan and prepare for the trip.
List of my favorite beaches:
1. Malibu— you can only live in one place in Malibu, so many people live in other areas of the island, and come to Malibu to swim and sunbathe. You can eat either in a cafe on the beach or in nearby Chaloklum in the fishing village
2.Haad Rin, when there are no people gathered for the party. There are also many cafes on Haad Rin, the beach itself is good (when there are few people).
3. Had Leela- you can always run away from Haad Rin
4. Beach of nudist lovers
5. Had Salad when there is no tide
6. Bottle Beach
Dangers on Koh Phangan
1. Motorbikes.
90% of people who get on a bike for the first time fall off sooner or later. Not on the first day, but after a week.
If you are a bad driver or don’t know how to drive at all, find yourself an instructor, learn how to drive, and only then get on the road, especially if you plan to drive in the south, east or northwest.
There are slides there. 22 degree tilt, sharp turns. Be sure to take out medical insurance before your trip. You can read.
2. Wild animals.
If you are traveling to Thailand or Asia in general for the first time, watch videos, films, and read about the country. Phangan is an island, 70% of which is jungle and forests, 30% is areas developed thanks to tourism near the sea.
They live in Thailand Geckos. This is their home. You can watch a video about geckos so as not to be surprised and then write such reviews:
There was a small gecko in the room. In the morning, huge geckos the size of a small cat run across the roof. They stomp and make sounds similar to hiccups.
At night, various sounds disturbed me - rats running and squeaking in the attic ( approx. most likely not rats, but geckos), some unidentified animal making terrible sounds, alternating the bleating of a sheep, a toad and a cuckoo. At times it seemed that “it” was screaming right in our room. In general, I wanted to escape from the island the very next day.
Have heavenly beaches and deep seas!
Your Mila Demenkova
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, a good hotel is also important, 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 shore, 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. A kind of quiet paradise. 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. This area is completely unsuitable for a beach holiday. 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 areas 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 that there is a good and inexpensive Big Mountain restaurant 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 Koh Phangan is the rather cozy and beautiful Haad Chao Phao Beach. We were able to visit it only for a short time and have nothing special to say about it. However, the beach made a 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, now we have reached the business cards of a beach holiday 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. There is nothing interesting in terms of the underwater world here.
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 on drinking water here. 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 at the northernmost point of the 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. It is also the best snorkeling spot 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 close look at the west coast. This may be just what you are looking for. But don't expect to find nightlife here. 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
They are very different from each other. Therefore, it is very important not to make a mistake when choosing a vacation spot, otherwise lovers of silence may well find themselves in the party town of Haad Rin, and vice versa, active young people - in the wilderness, where they will have to ride a motorcycle or tuk-tuk to get to entertainment. In total, there are more than three dozen beaches on the island, if you count the smallest ones.
List of Koh Phangan beaches:
Basic tips for choosing a vacation spot are as follows. In the east and north of Koh Phangan there are secluded places where, apart from hotels and a few restaurants, there is practically nothing else. Some of them don’t have a normal road at all (not even gravel) and you have to get there by boat. Such inaccessibility makes them not particularly popular with tourists and, as a result, there are few people there, in general - an ideal place for those who want to retire.
For partygoers, there is simply no better place to visit than the southeastern beaches of Koh Phangan. It is here that the famous Haad Rin is located, where every month a grandiose disco on the coast is held, attracting thousands of people. On other days (high season) there is also usually music after sunset, so this is not a place for a relaxing holiday. But if you come in the low season, for example, in May and don’t get to the Full Moon Party, then in the evenings the beach is quite calm and there are not many people.
The western coast of the island is heterogeneous - there are calm sections of the coast, where there are only a few hotels with bungalows, and there are also more lively ones, where there are even bars with music. But in any case, they do not reach Haad Rin and there is not much noise or crowds here.
Haad Rin Nok, Sunrise Beach
This beach hosts parties every day and a Full Moon Party once a month. Had Rin Nok - for lovers of large companies and entertainment until the morning. For this, there is everything you need - bars with powerful sound systems, restaurants, a large selection of accommodation, water activities, volleyball and football on the beach. This is the youngest beach on Koh Phangan.
Video of Haad Rin Nok
Haad Rin Nai, Sunset Beach
The second name “Sunset Beach” speaks for itself: there are very beautiful sunsets here. But this is not the best place for a beach holiday, since its width is only a few meters, and in some areas the water even comes right up to the trees that stand on the shore.
Despite this, there are plenty of hotels, because from here you can walk to Haad Rin Nok, where the main party of Koh Phangan is located. There is also a pier from which you can sail for 200 baht. Nearby there is a small town that has everything: restaurants, clubs, bars, massage parlors, travel agencies, banks, motorbike rentals and much more.
Video by Haad Rin Nay
Mae Haad
The beach is located 3 km west of the bay and the village of Chaloklum. One of the best places for diving and snorkeling, as Mae Had is surrounded by a magnificent coral reef.
The coast is divided into 2 parts - western and eastern. There are many more hotels and tourists in the west, as this part is longer and more comfortable. In the east there are much fewer vacationers; it is not as clean as in the western part. It is mainly used by local residents to store their boats. But the main feature of Mae Had is the island of Koh Ma located opposite it, which can be reached on the sand in 3 minutes during low tide, and during high tide - knee-deep or waist-deep water. The island also has its own beach.
Haad Yao West
One of the most touristy beaches in the west of Koh Phangan. There is quite a lot of entertainment here: bars, restaurants, supermarkets, souvenir shops, massage parlors, car and motorcycle rentals and many other attributes of civilization. This is a place for those who don't like to be bored.
Chao Phao
A popular beach on Koh Phangan with developed infrastructure and low cost of living. It consists of several bays and coves, fenced off from other beaches by rocky formations. Here the depth of the sea does not depend on the ebb and flow of the tides, as in most other places. You can rent a boat and go sailing on the sea. There is a coral reef 150 m away, so it is a good place for diving and snorkeling.
Haad Salad
There are quite expensive hotels on Haad Salad Beach, but there are several places with bungalows where you can stay for much less.
This is a popular tourist spot on Koh Phangan with a supermarket, restaurants, bars, massage parlours, ATMs and internet cafes. Many travel agencies have their offices here. If you wish, you can rent a kayak. At 200 meters there is a coral reef - a favorite place for divers.
Seekantang Beach
This beach on Koh Phangan is popular because it is located behind Haad Rin, but at the same time it is not particularly popular. The place is very beautiful, not many people. It is quiet in the evenings (especially in the eastern part), only on the days of the Full Moon Party you can hear music from your neighbor. In the west, in , there is a bar with a sound system, so sometimes discos are held here too.
Video from Seekantang Beach
Ban Kai Beach
In ancient times, gold was mined in this area of Koh Phangan, and now there is a fairly popular beach with bars, hotels and shops. But it is much calmer here than on Haad Rin.
Ban Tai
Another beach for lovers of entertainment and nightlife. Black Moon Culture Parties are held here once a month. The party takes place in the western part of the coast, closer to Ban Kai.
All life is concentrated near the coast, and if Haad Rin is full of bars, restaurants and hotels far from the sea, then there is nothing like that here. In the western part of Ban Tai there is a pier from which you can get to Koh Samui.
Chaloklum Beach
Chaloklum is one of the ports, so there are quite a lot of ships and local boats. Cheap seafood is available for sale.
It is believed that this is the best place on Koh Phangan for surfing, as there are often high waves in the sea when there is wind. But only the eastern and western parts are suitable for swimming (rather shallow), since there is a pier in the center, and the beach there is not particularly pretty. The infrastructure is well developed, there is a 7/11 store, restaurants, hotels. But since this is largely a Thai village, you won’t find discos or much entertainment. In general, in our opinion, this is not the best place for a beach holiday; it’s hard to feel the tropical idyll here.
Thongsala
This is the main settlement on the island of Koh Phangan. It is here that almost all ships from the mainland, Koh Samui and Koh Tao arrive. Here is the best place for shopping, a large selection of inexpensive guesthouses (in low season you can stay for 300 baht in a room with air conditioning, a refrigerator and a TV), many travel agencies and motorbike rentals (almost at every turn), there is a night market and the only supermarket on the entire island Tesco Lotus with groceries and some household goods, such as electric stoves.
If you come to Koh Phangan for a beach holiday, then it’s better not to settle here, as the proximity to the pier leaves its mark - the sea is not particularly clean, there are a lot of boats, the coast is narrow. Although a compromise can be found, since the neighboring uncrowded and good Nai Wok beach can actually be reached in 15-20 minutes. There is no nightlife in the town itself, but on the way to the east you will find drinking bars with available girls.
Bang Charu
Bang Charu Beach is a great alternative to Thongsal. They follow each other, but the coast of Bang Charu is very nice, there are not many people. At the same time, you will have access to shopping in Thongsala and bars on the main road. The coast is wide, there is a lot of sand. There is also a stadium and a Thai boxing school here.
Srithanu Beach
If you are interested in the real life of Thais, then settle on this beach. There is a village nearby, the life in which is the same as many decades ago on Koh Phangan. You will see how the locals lived before the “conquest” of the island by tourists. One of the attractions of Srithanu is the Laem Son lake, which has improvised water rides. There are not very many people resting on Sritanu. At the same time, if you move a little away from the coast, you will come across travel agencies, a 7/11 store, and motorbike rentals.
Thong Nai Pan
The beach is located in the northeast of Koh Phangan. It consists of two sections, similar to each other and separated by a rock. The infrastructure is more developed in the south - there is even. Since it is not so easy to get here, prices in stores are higher than in other places. Thong Nai Pan is quite crowded, there is an observation deck with a magnificent view of the island and the bay. Housing is available both expensive and cheap. It is quite possible to get there by motorbike through the center of the island. True, the road turns from asphalt to gravel halfway, so novice bikers are better off not taking risks. Thong Nai Pan is a good place to watch the sunrise (around 6 am).
On the island of Koh Phangan there is a wonderful beach called Haad Yao, although it is sometimes called Logn Beach. His landscapes could decorate any postcard.
Architecture
Haad Yao is an ideal location for football and volleyball championships. The length of the sandy coast is about one kilometer. Coconut palm trees grow around, under the shadow of which more than one resort and hotel are hidden; bar with restaurant; massage parlor and minimarket, facing west. The sea sunsets here are simply amazing. The beach is perfect thanks to its unforgettable sea views.
Neighborhood
Of the islands to the west coast of Phangan, perhaps the closest is a small island called Ko Ma. They were connected by an artificially created sand spit. And in Koh Phangan's only national marine park, your attention will be attracted by turtles, reef sharks and a wide variety of tropical fish. The areas surrounding Haat Yao Beach are mountainous, but numerous paths and paths allow for pedestrian crossings between neighboring beaches. Particular attention should be paid to the freshwater Laem Son Lake and Vang Sai Waterfall. The Chorenrit Muau Thai camp is considered the first sports institution in this area. His age is over 15 years. It is equipped with a gym and sports hall where boxers train. More than 1000 athletes have been trained at this camp. It is notable for the fact that it welcomes not only local residents, but also tourists. Thanks to special courses, people with different levels of training can study here. Tourists prefer to spend time in the fitness room. To attend classes, they only need to acquire a subscription that gives them the right to take a two-week course, although they can use a one-time entrance ticket. The camp is ready to receive its clients any day throughout the year. And in the local sports store you will find sportswear and food. Behind the picturesque hills you will find Paeng Waterfall. Climbing up the path, you can take a break and plunge into a wide pool of fresh water. A little higher there will be another level of the waterfall. Having thoroughly enjoyed its view, you can go to the Wat Phu Khao Noi temple - one of the oldest religious institutions in Phangan. Translated, its name means temple of a small mountain. Everything here breathes antiquity. Numerous relics of Buddha can be seen in this active temple. The atmosphere of this place is really special, not the same as in a young temple.
Note to tourists
Haad Yao Beach is a wonderful place for walking. Diving enthusiasts are keen to get to the island of Koh Phangan, because the opportunity to swim next to a coral reef is a chance to see the local marine fauna. Haad Yao Beach has a light, relaxed atmosphere. Everything you might need can be found within its borders or in nearby areas.
